Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
@jasonhiggins.bsky.social
Digital Scholarship Coordinator, Virginia Tech Press; assistant prof. Author of Prisoners after War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration (OHA Best Book Award 2025) Editor. Educator. My views don’t reflect my employer. https://shorturl.at/HpPO7
Pinned
Prisoners after War - University Press Library Open
The United States has both the largest, most expensive, and most powerful military and the largest, most expensive, and most punitive carceral system in the history of the world. Since the American Wa...
uplopen.com
The #OpenAccess version of my new book, Prisoners after War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration (UMass Press) is now available for free. This is made possible with support from a TOME grant, UMass Press, Virginia Tech, and the new University Press Library Open site. uplopen.com/books/m/356
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
For this #VeteransDay, listen to my interview with @jasonhiggins.bsky.social about his book "Prisoners after War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration" on @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social
newbooksnetwork.com/prisoners-af...
newbooksnetwork.com/prisoners-af...
Jason A. Higgins, "Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration" (U Massachusetts Press, 2024) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
For this #VeteransDay, listen to my interview with @jasonhiggins.bsky.social about his book "Prisoners after War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration" on @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social
newbooksnetwork.com/prisoners-af...
newbooksnetwork.com/prisoners-af...
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
The Oral History Association awarded the 2025 Book Award to @jasonhiggins.bsky.social, for "Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration."
🏆 A national honor recognizing outstanding oral history scholarship—congrats, Dr. Higgins!
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
🏆 A national honor recognizing outstanding oral history scholarship—congrats, Dr. Higgins!
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
Jason Higgins wins national book award for “Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration”
news.vt.edu
October 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The Oral History Association awarded the 2025 Book Award to @jasonhiggins.bsky.social, for "Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration."
🏆 A national honor recognizing outstanding oral history scholarship—congrats, Dr. Higgins!
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
🏆 A national honor recognizing outstanding oral history scholarship—congrats, Dr. Higgins!
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
Last night was such a great celebration! I am honored to receive the Oral History Association Book Award in 2025 for Prisoners after War (@umasspress). Always great to reconnect with all the amazing people at OHA.
October 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Last night was such a great celebration! I am honored to receive the Oral History Association Book Award in 2025 for Prisoners after War (@umasspress). Always great to reconnect with all the amazing people at OHA.
Dear conference apps,
I do not want a constant stream of emails.
Thank you,
Everyone who has enough emails.
I do not want a constant stream of emails.
Thank you,
Everyone who has enough emails.
October 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Dear conference apps,
I do not want a constant stream of emails.
Thank you,
Everyone who has enough emails.
I do not want a constant stream of emails.
Thank you,
Everyone who has enough emails.
An important critique of the carceral logic of treatment courts: inquest.org/punishment-i...
Punishment in All but Name - Mary Ellen Stitt - Inquest
Drug diversion programs are hyped by reformists as alternatives to prison—but they function just like punishment and people often end up incarcerated anyway.
inquest.org
October 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
An important critique of the carceral logic of treatment courts: inquest.org/punishment-i...
On days like today, I am reminded how fortunate we are to have shared our short time on this planet with incredible humans like Jane Goodall, Daniel Ellsberg, and John Lewis. Keeping the light alive today are new generations, like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Ta’Nehisi Coates, and many more.
October 2, 2025 at 1:18 AM
On days like today, I am reminded how fortunate we are to have shared our short time on this planet with incredible humans like Jane Goodall, Daniel Ellsberg, and John Lewis. Keeping the light alive today are new generations, like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Ta’Nehisi Coates, and many more.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
"Americans deserve history that is researched, peer-reviewed, and responsibly interpreted—not history edited by politicians. Attempts to scrub, minimize, or euphemize the history of slavery do not “unify” the nation; ... blackpast.org/in-defense-o...
Why Honest Museums Make a Stronger America
When a nation tells the truth about itself, it gives future generations the tools to do better. That is why the Smithsonian Institution and other museums that document the history and afterlives of sl...
blackpast.org
September 30, 2025 at 12:48 PM
"Americans deserve history that is researched, peer-reviewed, and responsibly interpreted—not history edited by politicians. Attempts to scrub, minimize, or euphemize the history of slavery do not “unify” the nation; ... blackpast.org/in-defense-o...
The Society for Military History and the Veterans Studies Association conferences are during the same dates. Decisions will need to be made.
September 30, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The Society for Military History and the Veterans Studies Association conferences are during the same dates. Decisions will need to be made.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
I do not want the video. I will never watch the video. I usually won’t even give the video the effort of complaint.
I just want to read the news story. Give me the text. This would be my Ted Talk but that would be text too.
I just want to read the news story. Give me the text. This would be my Ted Talk but that would be text too.
September 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I do not want the video. I will never watch the video. I usually won’t even give the video the effort of complaint.
I just want to read the news story. Give me the text. This would be my Ted Talk but that would be text too.
I just want to read the news story. Give me the text. This would be my Ted Talk but that would be text too.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
George Hardy, last of the Tuskegee Airmen's World War II combat pilots, dies at 100
George Hardy, last of the Tuskegee Airmen's World War II combat pilots, dies at 100
Hardy, a lieutenant colonel, became the youngest Tuskegee fighter pilot at 19, and was among the first Black military pilots in the United States.
www.nbcnews.com
September 27, 2025 at 10:24 PM
George Hardy, last of the Tuskegee Airmen's World War II combat pilots, dies at 100
I don’t know what it means, but I do not like it.
Just learnt that “syzygy” is a real English word
September 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I don’t know what it means, but I do not like it.
It takes years of study and research to create new knowledge and advance understanding of the sciences or humanities. There are no shortcuts.
This administration is pedaling conspiracies, grifting, and lying. It has nothing of value to offer the world.
And it’ll take years of work to refute it.
This administration is pedaling conspiracies, grifting, and lying. It has nothing of value to offer the world.
And it’ll take years of work to refute it.
September 23, 2025 at 11:39 AM
It takes years of study and research to create new knowledge and advance understanding of the sciences or humanities. There are no shortcuts.
This administration is pedaling conspiracies, grifting, and lying. It has nothing of value to offer the world.
And it’ll take years of work to refute it.
This administration is pedaling conspiracies, grifting, and lying. It has nothing of value to offer the world.
And it’ll take years of work to refute it.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
Oh, absolutely not. Deleting.
If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.
September 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Oh, absolutely not. Deleting.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
I think that this is an important image and it says so much about this country.
A photo of white people protesting the 100th birthday celebration of W.E.B. Du Bois held at Carnegie Hall, where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech honoring Du Bois and defended his communism. Printed in the U.S. Anti-fascism Reader.
credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mu...
credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mu...
September 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
I think that this is an important image and it says so much about this country.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
Today is publication day for The Nursing Clio Reader. As I write in the preface of the book, I started Nursing Clio back when I was a second-semester grad student as part of a final project in a public humanities seminar taught by historian Matthew Countryman at UMich. 🧵
September 9, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Today is publication day for The Nursing Clio Reader. As I write in the preface of the book, I started Nursing Clio back when I was a second-semester grad student as part of a final project in a public humanities seminar taught by historian Matthew Countryman at UMich. 🧵
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
Harlem Hellfighters Awarded Congressional Gold Medal Amid Ongoing U.S. History Erasure www.blackenterprise.com/harlem-hellf...
Harlem Hellfighters Awarded Congressional Gold Medal Amid Ongoing U.S. History Debate
The Harlem Hellfighters, the most well-known group of Black World War I soldiers, received a long overdue honor from Congress on Sept. 3.
www.blackenterprise.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Harlem Hellfighters Awarded Congressional Gold Medal Amid Ongoing U.S. History Erasure www.blackenterprise.com/harlem-hellf...
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
🚨JOB Alert🚨 We are looking for another postdoctoral researcher to cover the history of veterans in the British colonies of Southern and/or East Africa in the interwar period. 24 month contract, deadline October 03. Please share widely. universityvacancies.com/maynooth-uni...
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Specified Purpose, Department of History and the Arts and Humanities Institute | University Vacancies Ireland
universityvacancies.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:29 AM
🚨JOB Alert🚨 We are looking for another postdoctoral researcher to cover the history of veterans in the British colonies of Southern and/or East Africa in the interwar period. 24 month contract, deadline October 03. Please share widely. universityvacancies.com/maynooth-uni...
My job is 90% administrative tasks and emails. 50% teaching and mentoring students. And 25% research and scholarship.
If that doesn’t add up, I didn’t learn math or administration in grad school.
If that doesn’t add up, I didn’t learn math or administration in grad school.
August 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
My job is 90% administrative tasks and emails. 50% teaching and mentoring students. And 25% research and scholarship.
If that doesn’t add up, I didn’t learn math or administration in grad school.
If that doesn’t add up, I didn’t learn math or administration in grad school.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
ftr, *this* is who they're shutting down. from ACLS:
Virginia Tech Humanities for Public Service Major
How one interdisciplinary department created a new major to better serve its students’ career ambitions
www.acls.org
August 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
ftr, *this* is who they're shutting down. from ACLS:
Dr. Higginson was my global history field advisor, and he is a wealth of knowledge. His papers undoubtedly will be incredible valuable and significant
The historian John Higginson - who wrote about mining in Katanga and in South Africa - has donated his research papers to the University of Massachusetts library:
scua.library.umass.edu/john-higgins...
scua.library.umass.edu/john-higgins...
UMarmot, the Catablog of SCUA : The Archive of Social Change
Higginson, John
scua.library.umass.edu
July 7, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Dr. Higginson was my global history field advisor, and he is a wealth of knowledge. His papers undoubtedly will be incredible valuable and significant
My daughter is reading Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent, and telling me about John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. That’s my kid!
June 20, 2025 at 1:29 AM
My daughter is reading Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent, and telling me about John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. That’s my kid!
I grew up celebrating Juneteenth. In Wilmar, AR (very small town near where I’m from) there were BBQs, motorcycle and 4-wheeler rides, music, and lots of block parties. I realized recently that a formerly enslaved person from Galveston moved there after the war and carried the tradition with him.
June 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I grew up celebrating Juneteenth. In Wilmar, AR (very small town near where I’m from) there were BBQs, motorcycle and 4-wheeler rides, music, and lots of block parties. I realized recently that a formerly enslaved person from Galveston moved there after the war and carried the tradition with him.
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
On June 23, I'll be on @askhistorians.bsky.social to answer questions about my new book, World War Zoos!
Hit me up with questions about zoos, war, animals...or some of my other interests, disabled veterans, war and crime, alligators.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
Hit me up with questions about zoos, war, animals...or some of my other interests, disabled veterans, war and crime, alligators.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
June 13, 2025 at 5:41 PM
On June 23, I'll be on @askhistorians.bsky.social to answer questions about my new book, World War Zoos!
Hit me up with questions about zoos, war, animals...or some of my other interests, disabled veterans, war and crime, alligators.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
Hit me up with questions about zoos, war, animals...or some of my other interests, disabled veterans, war and crime, alligators.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
Reposted by Jason A. Higgins, Ph.D
#tdih 1963 WWII vet Medgar Evers was murdered by white supremacist in driveway outside his home in Jackson.
Evers was NAACP field secretary for Mississippi & under constant threat in his fight for democracy and against white supremacy. #TeachTruth 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/me...
Evers was NAACP field secretary for Mississippi & under constant threat in his fight for democracy and against white supremacy. #TeachTruth 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/me...
June 12, 1963: Medgar Evers Murdered in Mississippi
Medgar Evers, WWII veteran and civil rights activist, was murdered by a white supremacist in Jackson, Mississippi.
www.zinnedproject.org
June 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
#tdih 1963 WWII vet Medgar Evers was murdered by white supremacist in driveway outside his home in Jackson.
Evers was NAACP field secretary for Mississippi & under constant threat in his fight for democracy and against white supremacy. #TeachTruth 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/me...
Evers was NAACP field secretary for Mississippi & under constant threat in his fight for democracy and against white supremacy. #TeachTruth 🧵
www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/me...