Betsy Schlabach
@schlabetsy.bsky.social
History professor at a SLAC. Midwesterner. Author of Dream Books and Gamblers (UIP 2022) and Along the Streets of Bronzeville (UIP 2013). Sports fan. Mom. Usually reading and writing stuff about Chicago or New Orleans.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
You’ve seen the halftime show … now read my friend Petra’s new book from @dukepress.bsky.social about how Bad Bunny became the global voice of Puerto Rican resistance! 👏🏽👏🏽
www.dukeupress.edu/p-fkn-r
www.dukeupress.edu/p-fkn-r
February 9, 2026 at 1:53 AM
You’ve seen the halftime show … now read my friend Petra’s new book from @dukepress.bsky.social about how Bad Bunny became the global voice of Puerto Rican resistance! 👏🏽👏🏽
www.dukeupress.edu/p-fkn-r
www.dukeupress.edu/p-fkn-r
Spectacular. I need to see that again.
February 9, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Spectacular. I need to see that again.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
New from the Throughline Podcast🎧 🎙️: The Man Who Took on the Klan
www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n... In 1871, Ku Klux Klan violence in South Carolina got so bad that the governor sent a telegram to President Ulysses S. Grant warning that he was facing a state of war.
You might hear someone you know. 😉
www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n... In 1871, Ku Klux Klan violence in South Carolina got so bad that the governor sent a telegram to President Ulysses S. Grant warning that he was facing a state of war.
You might hear someone you know. 😉
The Man Who Took On The Klan : Throughline
In 1871, Ku Klux Klan violence in South Carolina got so bad that the governor sent a telegram to President Ulysses S. Grant warning that he was facing a state of war. Grant sent him Amos Akerman: a fo...
www.npr.org
February 7, 2026 at 12:09 PM
New from the Throughline Podcast🎧 🎙️: The Man Who Took on the Klan
www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n... In 1871, Ku Klux Klan violence in South Carolina got so bad that the governor sent a telegram to President Ulysses S. Grant warning that he was facing a state of war.
You might hear someone you know. 😉
www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n... In 1871, Ku Klux Klan violence in South Carolina got so bad that the governor sent a telegram to President Ulysses S. Grant warning that he was facing a state of war.
You might hear someone you know. 😉
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
On today's AI slop from the president: The world is watching us. Our children are watching us. And anything short of outright condemnation, outrage and reflection on the systemic failures that brought us here—the consistent apologies or obscuring of racism in our national discourse—is unacceptable.
February 6, 2026 at 11:47 PM
On today's AI slop from the president: The world is watching us. Our children are watching us. And anything short of outright condemnation, outrage and reflection on the systemic failures that brought us here—the consistent apologies or obscuring of racism in our national discourse—is unacceptable.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
Libraries in Chicago rock.
The library? Yes, the library is hosting a series for Chicagoans to learn about Puerto Rican history ahead of Bad Bunny’s historical Super Bowl halftime show performance this weekend.
Bad Bunny's hottest local Super Bowl pregame is at the Chicago Public Library
www.wbez.org
February 4, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Libraries in Chicago rock.
Ooof.
"We had to eliminate merit increases, but our president’s life coach swears that extrinsic motivation doesn’t work anyway, and my masseur agrees. Also, our Morale Boosting Consultant has T-shirts."
News, Bad and Good, from the Dean of Arts and Sciences
We have no money for copies. But our Live, Love, Learn program now includes two Undergraduate Scribe Fellows. We have no money for raises, but we’v...
buff.ly
February 4, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Ooof.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
Want to start #BlackHistoryMonth off on a good note? Come listen to @kcarterjackson.bsky.social + @profblmkelley.bsky.social talk about researching their own family histories.
February 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Want to start #BlackHistoryMonth off on a good note? Come listen to @kcarterjackson.bsky.social + @profblmkelley.bsky.social talk about researching their own family histories.
This is absolutely true. Don’t pile more on us. I don’t care about anything but getting me and my students through this intact. All inane requests can wait.
I don't know who needs to hear this, but teachers (ECE- graduate school) are fucking exhausted right now and have to keep teaching during *points to world*. It's rough normally, it's been extra rough for years, and right now it's basically boss levels rough. Don't beat yourself up, fellow educators.
February 3, 2026 at 1:29 PM
This is absolutely true. Don’t pile more on us. I don’t care about anything but getting me and my students through this intact. All inane requests can wait.
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. History of China
2. Balkan History
3. German
4. Political Philosophy
5. Art History
1. History of China
2. Balkan History
3. German
4. Political Philosophy
5. Art History
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Origins of Nazism
2. Dante’s Divine Comedy
3. Behavioral Ecology & Conservation Biology
4. Principles of Evolution
5. Thinking and Speaking About Thinking and Speaking
1. Origins of Nazism
2. Dante’s Divine Comedy
3. Behavioral Ecology & Conservation Biology
4. Principles of Evolution
5. Thinking and Speaking About Thinking and Speaking
January 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. History of China
2. Balkan History
3. German
4. Political Philosophy
5. Art History
1. History of China
2. Balkan History
3. German
4. Political Philosophy
5. Art History
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
Hi #skystorians i’m preparing to teach a lower level undergraduate course on the history of 20th century American consumerism. Please send me your secondary reading recs. Thank you!
January 29, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Hi #skystorians i’m preparing to teach a lower level undergraduate course on the history of 20th century American consumerism. Please send me your secondary reading recs. Thank you!
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
Today is publication day! Wow. Thanks to everyone who preordered the book. I really appreciate it. If you have not preordered, then you can go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy.
Please send me a pic if you already have a copy or when you go pick it up! I'd love to see it!
Please send me a pic if you already have a copy or when you go pick it up! I'd love to see it!
January 27, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Today is publication day! Wow. Thanks to everyone who preordered the book. I really appreciate it. If you have not preordered, then you can go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy.
Please send me a pic if you already have a copy or when you go pick it up! I'd love to see it!
Please send me a pic if you already have a copy or when you go pick it up! I'd love to see it!
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
I hope all the AI boosters understand that they’re training their kids that only chumps do things the hard way—by working diligently and going through the discomfort and hassle of learning and acquiring skills.
And also teaching them that a 30% error rate is good enough.
And also teaching them that a 30% error rate is good enough.
January 27, 2026 at 11:31 AM
I hope all the AI boosters understand that they’re training their kids that only chumps do things the hard way—by working diligently and going through the discomfort and hassle of learning and acquiring skills.
And also teaching them that a 30% error rate is good enough.
And also teaching them that a 30% error rate is good enough.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
"ICE OUT" on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, as seen from my flight leaving MSP airport
January 26, 2026 at 6:28 PM
"ICE OUT" on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, as seen from my flight leaving MSP airport
Yup.
I think @sarahjeong.bsky.social said it's because they devalue women's labor and a LOT of this Scary Logistics stuff comes from people who don't understand that basically all of the civic life they enjoy is created with the help of free labor, largely by women.
Tho I will say, in his defense, he's not the first person to be confused by how quickly the romance authors & readers can whip up finely tuned logistics out of nothing. 😂
January 26, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Yup.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
The National Basketball Players Association has released a statement on the killings in Minneapolis:
“Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent”
“Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent”
January 25, 2026 at 9:25 PM
The National Basketball Players Association has released a statement on the killings in Minneapolis:
“Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent”
“Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent”
Proud of my town for showing up today.
January 25, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Proud of my town for showing up today.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
The Rodney King video is one of the most important moments in American history because it showed people, particularly comfortable white people, irrefutable evidence that marginalized people’s stories of how police behaved - which were never believed - were in fact true.
Imagine how much they’d be lying about what happened without all the videos showing it from multiple angles.
January 24, 2026 at 11:37 PM
The Rodney King video is one of the most important moments in American history because it showed people, particularly comfortable white people, irrefutable evidence that marginalized people’s stories of how police behaved - which were never believed - were in fact true.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
Q: They defied a search warrant this morning. Do you think they'll abide by a federal court order?
FREY: Everybody listen to that question. The question is 'will this administration abide by a court order.' These are the underpinnings of our democracy and Constitution. The answer better be yes.
FREY: Everybody listen to that question. The question is 'will this administration abide by a court order.' These are the underpinnings of our democracy and Constitution. The answer better be yes.
January 24, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Q: They defied a search warrant this morning. Do you think they'll abide by a federal court order?
FREY: Everybody listen to that question. The question is 'will this administration abide by a court order.' These are the underpinnings of our democracy and Constitution. The answer better be yes.
FREY: Everybody listen to that question. The question is 'will this administration abide by a court order.' These are the underpinnings of our democracy and Constitution. The answer better be yes.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
the nba postponed a game because the united states government is killing its citizens
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 PM
the nba postponed a game because the united states government is killing its citizens
We can do this everyone. We can do it.
It’s time.
I want the see Steve Kerr’s Warriors and Minneapolis’ Timberwolves agree that they simply cannot play this game tonight.
A strike in solidarity with the besieged city and its murdered and abducted residents.
I want the see Steve Kerr’s Warriors and Minneapolis’ Timberwolves agree that they simply cannot play this game tonight.
A strike in solidarity with the besieged city and its murdered and abducted residents.
January 24, 2026 at 7:15 PM
We can do this everyone. We can do it.
The Olympics, too.
A German soccer federation executive committee member says it's time to consider a World Cup boycott because of the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
German soccer federation official wants World Cup boycott considered because of Trump
A German soccer federation executive committee member says it’s time to consider a World Cup boycott because of the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
bit.ly
January 24, 2026 at 12:35 PM
The Olympics, too.
Reposted by Betsy Schlabach
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.
January 23, 2026 at 12:04 AM
I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.
Hey #skystorians If you’d like to invite me to campus to talk about Influenza and Black Chicago, the Chicago Black Renaissance, Policy Gambling in Black Chicago (some 4th Amendment stuff in there, too), or the Louisiana State Lottery and Homer Plessy let me know! I’m on sabbatical and available.
January 22, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Hey #skystorians If you’d like to invite me to campus to talk about Influenza and Black Chicago, the Chicago Black Renaissance, Policy Gambling in Black Chicago (some 4th Amendment stuff in there, too), or the Louisiana State Lottery and Homer Plessy let me know! I’m on sabbatical and available.