Marcus Rediker

@marcusrediker.bsky.social

11K followers 370 following 440 posts

Historian (from below), award-winning author, filmmaker, playwright, Distinguished Professor, University of Pittsburgh
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Marcus Buford Rediker is an American historian, writer, professor, and social activist. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976 and attended the University of Pennsylvania for graduate study, earning a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in history. He taught at Georgetown University from 1982 to 1994 and is currently a Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History of the Department of History at the University of Pittsburgh. .. more

Political science 43%

Sociology 20%

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Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 3d

Ron Schatz wrote an excellent piece about the exhibition "Labor and Art," made from art in the collection of dear friends, Joe and Delsa White. In the Bost Building, 623 East 8th Ave., Homestead, PA, until Dec. 23, MWF 10 am - 12 noon and by appointment. Check it out!

lawcha.org/2025/11/04/l...

“Labor & Art” in Homestead, Pennsylvania | LAWCHA

I am a historian who studied with David Montgomery at the University of Pittsburgh in the mid-1970s, a tumultuous time in labor and working-class history.

lawcha.org

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 7d

Artist Leah Gordon’s exhibition, “Monument to the Vanquished Peasant,” is now up and running at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry through Jan. 26, 2026. Leah designed a special wallpaper for the show, featuring the many-headed hydra. I love it!

www.theherbert.org/news/333/a-n...

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 7d

I have, and loved it.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 7d

In Bologna tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 pm I will be in conversation with my dear friend Matilde Cazzola about “history from below” at the Libreria modo infoshop, via Mascarella, 24/b. Join us!

www.facebook.com/events/79022...

Un altro modo di fare la storia, un dialogo con Marcus Rediker

Event in Bologna by Libreria modo infoshop on Tuesday, November 4 2025 with 122 people interested.

www.facebook.com

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 8d

1606

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 8d

Must see that one!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 8d

😂😂 Thanks, Justin!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 8d

Last week I saw another painting by Caravaggio in person: “Supper at Emmaus” (1606), at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. For his technical mastery, innovative methods, and psychological/emotional depth, I regard him as the world’s greatest painter. I wish I could write history the way he paints.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 18d

Next Thursday, October 30, in Milan, at 6:30 pm, I will speak, at the invitation of my friend and editor Raf Scelsi, on the theme “Piracy and the Maritime Origins of the Working Class.” Join us at the Shake Bookshop, Via Ingegnoli 13.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 19d

Next week in Milan, Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 pm, I will meet with the excellent historian Carlo Greppi and members of the research group "Laboratorio Lapsus” to discuss “history from below.” The event is organized by my publisher, elèuthera editrice.
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Register here: shorturl.at/kjq2A and join us!

La storia dal basso: origini, metodi e sviluppi

La storia dal basso: origini, metodi e sviluppi di un originale sguardo sulla ricerca storica

shorturl.at

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 21d

The smile on my face as I lectured at the University of St. Thomas two weeks ago says it all. I had a great time on my visit, thanks to Kanishka Chowdhury, his colleagues, and his students.

Reposted by Harvey J. Kaye

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 22d

We offer through @pmpress.bsky.social a special discount on our children’s book, *Fearless Benjamin: The Quaker Dwarf who Fought Slavery*, co-written with Michelle Markel and illustrated by Sarah Bachman. Use OCTOBER at checkout for a 20% discount.

pmpress.org/index.php?l=...

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 23d

Also from my collection, the great Haitian artist, Frantz Zéphirin's painting entitled *The Spirit of the Indian Facing Colonization*, depicting the Spanish ship, *Conquistador*; the mask of red death killing an indigenous woman; and the face of the African who will replace her.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 24d

As many of you know, I collect Haitian art. The most famous painting in my collection is Frantz Zephirin’s *The Slave Ship Brooks*, which has been exhibited around the world, including the 2022 Venice Biennale. Here are photos of the painting and of Frantz when he had just completed it.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 25d

Benjamin Lay republished “The Selling of Joseph” in 1738, but I am not aware of any other printings.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 25d

Thank, Seth. Congratulations on your well-deserved book prize!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 25d

Here is a review I wrote for the *New York Times*.

A Horrific Tale of the Slave Trade, Destined to Become a Classic www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...

A Horrific Tale of the Slave Trade, Destined to Become a Classic

www.nytimes.com

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 26d

Here is a lovely blog post by @leehall.bsky.social, for our book launch of *Fearless Benjamin*, Tues., Nov 11. I love the title: "It’s Never Too Late to Have a Truth-Filled Childhood.” Please mark your calendars, spread the word, and join us for the event!

www.radnorquakers.net/its-never-to...

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 27d

Happy to say, we have and will continue to do so. The actor in our play, *The Return of Benjamin Lay*, was Mark Povinelli, past president of LPA. We performed a reading of the play at the LPA convention in Baltimore in 2024.

Reposted by Marcus Rediker

Dr Lily Chadwick @lilyrchadwick.bsky.social · 27d

FHA is very pleased to announce that registration is now open for our annual fall event!

Please join us online Sunday, 16 November for a book talk given by Professor Marcus Rediker featuring his new work, Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea @marcusrediker.bsky.social

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 27d

Sarah is brilliant, literally and figuratively!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 27d

Thanks, Thom!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 27d

Thank you, Ali. Ben Lay is coming back from the dead to inspire us!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · 27d

It’s publication day! Our children’s book, *Fearless Benjamin: The Quaker Dwarf who Fought Slavery*, co-written with Michelle Markel and illustrated by Sarah Bachman, is out today with @pmpress.bsky.social. Use BEN! at checkout for a 20% discount. Help spread the word!

pmpress.org/index.php?l=...

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · Oct 9

Thank you, Chris!

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Marcus Rediker

Chris Dixon @withmovements.bsky.social · Oct 9

I loved listening to this interview @marcusrediker.bsky.social did on @kpfa.org about his new book *Freedom Ship*! Rediker tells the inspiring history of enslaved Black people in the U.S. deep South who escaped by ship with the help of free Black communities and abolitionist white sailors.

Escaping Over Water | KPFA

In the decades leading up to the Civil War, enslaved people who traveled to freedom on foot did so mainly from Southern states that bordered free states. But those in the deep South didn’t have that o...

kpfa.org

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · Oct 8

I’ll apply.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · Oct 7

It was my great pleasure last night to speak, along with James Robinson, organizer Peter Rachleff, Walter Greason, and Ben Mchie at the East Side Freedom Library, an inspiring community center and liberated zone in St. Paul, MN! Thanks to Ry Siggelkow for the photo.

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · Oct 6

Excited to announce, two new translations of *The Many-Headed Hydra* appear this month: in Catalán, translated by Marta Cazorla Rodríguez, Manifest Books, Barcelona, and in Polish, translated by Andrzej Wojtasik, by Praktyka Teoretyczna, Warsaw. Thanks to all who gave new life to a 25-year old book!

Marcus Rediker @marcusrediker.bsky.social · Oct 5

Thanks, Alex!

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