Shirley Wajda
@stwajda.bsky.social
Historian, curator, knitter of the American experience, daughter & granddaughter of immigrants, waiting for Lefty & CLE World Series win. American material & visual culture, museum studies, craftivism, women's history, everyday life. Too many projects.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
"For me, it came from an internal place; a moral place; a place of unquestioning certitude. Even in that dark moment of history, I had discovered that inside the fear and dismay and rage, there was also a calm center, with a strong word inside of it, and that word was: no."
The American Resistance
It, too, is here. It's been here all along, even if they mocked it.
www.awritersnotebook.org
January 18, 2026 at 4:53 PM
"For me, it came from an internal place; a moral place; a place of unquestioning certitude. Even in that dark moment of history, I had discovered that inside the fear and dismay and rage, there was also a calm center, with a strong word inside of it, and that word was: no."
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Blueskis, studies have shown that when folks see or hear about a book more than five times, they are likely to check it out, and buy it.
So in the spirit of creating buzz, here is the gorgeous cover of THE WESTERNERS, which will be published on March 31!
So in the spirit of creating buzz, here is the gorgeous cover of THE WESTERNERS, which will be published on March 31!
January 18, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Blueskis, studies have shown that when folks see or hear about a book more than five times, they are likely to check it out, and buy it.
So in the spirit of creating buzz, here is the gorgeous cover of THE WESTERNERS, which will be published on March 31!
So in the spirit of creating buzz, here is the gorgeous cover of THE WESTERNERS, which will be published on March 31!
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
This reminds me of one of the earliest sociological texts on domination.
Weber wrote that violence is a form of illegitimate domination, which makes it inherently weak and unstable. Whenever someone resorts to violence, it’s an indicator that they are losing control.
Weber wrote that violence is a form of illegitimate domination, which makes it inherently weak and unstable. Whenever someone resorts to violence, it’s an indicator that they are losing control.
January 17, 2026 at 6:46 PM
This reminds me of one of the earliest sociological texts on domination.
Weber wrote that violence is a form of illegitimate domination, which makes it inherently weak and unstable. Whenever someone resorts to violence, it’s an indicator that they are losing control.
Weber wrote that violence is a form of illegitimate domination, which makes it inherently weak and unstable. Whenever someone resorts to violence, it’s an indicator that they are losing control.
Second shingles shot= tea and electric blanket.
January 17, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Second shingles shot= tea and electric blanket.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
If you are in Seattle, please go patronize this store because this is amazing content/promo 😂 (laughing to keep from crying, and I do kind of low-key want that orange spider plant I have never seen that before)
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
January 17, 2026 at 1:33 AM
If you are in Seattle, please go patronize this store because this is amazing content/promo 😂 (laughing to keep from crying, and I do kind of low-key want that orange spider plant I have never seen that before)
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
RIP German anthropologist Johannes Fabian, who passed away last Tuesday. Fabian was most widely known as the author of "Time and the Other: How Anthropology Makes its Object" (1983), a then-radical & still-influential critique of anthropological writing, knowledge-making & fieldwork relations. RIP.
January 15, 2026 at 10:39 PM
RIP German anthropologist Johannes Fabian, who passed away last Tuesday. Fabian was most widely known as the author of "Time and the Other: How Anthropology Makes its Object" (1983), a then-radical & still-influential critique of anthropological writing, knowledge-making & fieldwork relations. RIP.
I am a First Class Girl Scout, and I endorse this message.
(The First Class designation is now the Girl Scout Gold Award. My award is not going anywhere near the White House.)
(The First Class designation is now the Girl Scout Gold Award. My award is not going anywhere near the White House.)
Everything's terrible, but you can buy Girls Scout cookies from Troop 6000, a group of girls in NYC's shelter system. It's totes for a good cause and you can also donate the cookies if you are watching your girlish figure.
cc @joshuajfriedman.com
cc @joshuajfriedman.com
Troop 6000
www.girlscoutsnyc.org
January 17, 2026 at 2:28 AM
I am a First Class Girl Scout, and I endorse this message.
(The First Class designation is now the Girl Scout Gold Award. My award is not going anywhere near the White House.)
(The First Class designation is now the Girl Scout Gold Award. My award is not going anywhere near the White House.)
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Incredible piece of Search Engine Optimisation
January 16, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Incredible piece of Search Engine Optimisation
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Trump joins a not-so-long list of people who have acquired someone else's Nobel medal, including... uh... Joseph Goebbels. www.nobelpeaceprize.org/press/press-...
January 16, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Trump joins a not-so-long list of people who have acquired someone else's Nobel medal, including... uh... Joseph Goebbels. www.nobelpeaceprize.org/press/press-...
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
I think about this William H. Gass quote all the time: "You have to be grimly determined." Great advice for writers at any stage
January 16, 2026 at 11:23 AM
I think about this William H. Gass quote all the time: "You have to be grimly determined." Great advice for writers at any stage
Whiskey a Gone-Gone.
can’t wait to kick back on this day, Whiskey Friday with Tony Dokoupil
We all made it to Whiskey Friday with Tony Dokoupil
January 16, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Whiskey a Gone-Gone.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
I have seen Aaron’s syllabus game in person, and I can ratify it’s got the juice.
Tomorrow’s the first day of my grad seminar for @utaustin.bsky.social English, How to Read an Old Book, 1450–1830.
Just finished stitching up my syllabuses, which we’ll spend quite a bit of time with—as bibliographical objects—for the first half or so of the term.
Just finished stitching up my syllabuses, which we’ll spend quite a bit of time with—as bibliographical objects—for the first half or so of the term.
January 15, 2026 at 11:20 PM
I have seen Aaron’s syllabus game in person, and I can ratify it’s got the juice.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Unfortunately, this is the part where I remind people that Black 10th graders get beat up by cops every day.
This is the part where I remind people about modern civil asset forfeiture, where US police steal more value from people (mostly Black) than every form of theft other than wage theft.
This is the part where I remind people about modern civil asset forfeiture, where US police steal more value from people (mostly Black) than every form of theft other than wage theft.
It is in no way “law enforcement” to beat up an American 10th grader and steal and sell his possessions.
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
January 14, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Unfortunately, this is the part where I remind people that Black 10th graders get beat up by cops every day.
This is the part where I remind people about modern civil asset forfeiture, where US police steal more value from people (mostly Black) than every form of theft other than wage theft.
This is the part where I remind people about modern civil asset forfeiture, where US police steal more value from people (mostly Black) than every form of theft other than wage theft.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
LOL
LMAO
LMAO
UPDATE: Jack Daniel’s parent co. Brown-Forman tells me it has nothing to do with CBS’ “Whiskey Friday” concept. “Jack Daniel’s is not involved in any such segment, nor do we have any awareness of the segment and any potential partnerships or sponsorships.”
Update — Here is what the new apparent CBS News segment "Whiskey Fridays with Tony Dokoupil" may look like:
January 14, 2026 at 3:35 PM
LOL
LMAO
LMAO
Here's how the Founding Generation made wise use of the fingers and hands:
January 14, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Here's how the Founding Generation made wise use of the fingers and hands:
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
🚨"They've got guns and pepper spray but there's more of us out here; I admit we are scared—but we are not gonna back down! We will protect our city, we will protect our neighbors," -Minneapolis protester in Pickle Rick costume. WE'RE LIVE NOW ⬇️
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 AM
🚨"They've got guns and pepper spray but there's more of us out here; I admit we are scared—but we are not gonna back down! We will protect our city, we will protect our neighbors," -Minneapolis protester in Pickle Rick costume. WE'RE LIVE NOW ⬇️
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Oh man, I just realized the seed art at the State Fair this year is going to be *something*.
January 14, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Oh man, I just realized the seed art at the State Fair this year is going to be *something*.
Yup, that'll tamp down the calls for releasing the Epstein files.
President Trump made an obscene gesture with his middle finger and mouthed “f--- you” twice to a person who can be heard yelling “pedophile protector” at him during a tour of a Ford factory in Michigan — a reaction the White House said was “appropriate.”
Trump makes obscene gesture, mouths expletive at Detroit factory heckler
A cellphone video captured Trump twice mouthing “f--- you” and raising his middle finger toward someone shouting at him inside the Ford factory.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Yup, that'll tamp down the calls for releasing the Epstein files.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Just because I love history, literally no other reason 😇
January 14, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Just because I love history, literally no other reason 😇
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
It is impossible to properly calculate the depth and breadth of the courage and sacrifice of those prepared to confront white supremacy and assert their right to full citizenship.
We - and by that I mean ALL Americans - owe them a great debt. Rest in Peace & Power Claudette Colvin.
We - and by that I mean ALL Americans - owe them a great debt. Rest in Peace & Power Claudette Colvin.
"I knew then and I know now, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. You can't sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say, 'This is not right.' And I did."
Rest in power, Ms. Claudette Colvin.
The fight for equality continues.
❤️
Rest in power, Ms. Claudette Colvin.
The fight for equality continues.
❤️
January 13, 2026 at 11:21 PM
It is impossible to properly calculate the depth and breadth of the courage and sacrifice of those prepared to confront white supremacy and assert their right to full citizenship.
We - and by that I mean ALL Americans - owe them a great debt. Rest in Peace & Power Claudette Colvin.
We - and by that I mean ALL Americans - owe them a great debt. Rest in Peace & Power Claudette Colvin.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
The Bull Connor analogy is also why calls for “better training” for ICE agents fall flat. Connor’s problem wasn’t training, it was racist policing doing what it was designed to do.
I'm struck by MAGA pearl-clutching for the poor ICE and CBP agents allegedly threatened by peaceful citizens trying to monitor and limit their lawlessness. A half century ago MAGA types were denouncing the trouble "outside agitators" were causing for poor, beleaguered Bull Connor and his men.
January 11, 2026 at 11:19 PM
The Bull Connor analogy is also why calls for “better training” for ICE agents fall flat. Connor’s problem wasn’t training, it was racist policing doing what it was designed to do.
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
Scott Beardsley was chosen to be UVA president by a search firm that had blurbed his book and a very partisan and ideological Board of Visitors. Turns out his CV greatly exaggerated his peer-reviewed publications (it appears that he has not actually written any) augustafreepress.com/news/vanishi...
How UVA’s presidential search missed what took us an hour to find
Inside Higher Ed frames the controversy surrounding Scott C. Beardsley's appointment as the University of Virginia's president.
augustafreepress.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Scott Beardsley was chosen to be UVA president by a search firm that had blurbed his book and a very partisan and ideological Board of Visitors. Turns out his CV greatly exaggerated his peer-reviewed publications (it appears that he has not actually written any) augustafreepress.com/news/vanishi...
Me in the past. Me now with the added sass that comes with age (and anger and fear in our current moment).
January 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Me in the past. Me now with the added sass that comes with age (and anger and fear in our current moment).
Reposted by Shirley Wajda
🎉 Join us January 21 for a virtual #PublicDomainDay celebration! We’re throwing an online party to mark the latest wave of creativity entering the #publicdomain .
Works from 1930 & sound recordings from 1925 are now free, and we’re celebrating together.
🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/the-case-o...
Works from 1930 & sound recordings from 1925 are now free, and we’re celebrating together.
🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/the-case-o...
January 11, 2026 at 4:08 PM
🎉 Join us January 21 for a virtual #PublicDomainDay celebration! We’re throwing an online party to mark the latest wave of creativity entering the #publicdomain .
Works from 1930 & sound recordings from 1925 are now free, and we’re celebrating together.
🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/the-case-o...
Works from 1930 & sound recordings from 1925 are now free, and we’re celebrating together.
🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/the-case-o...