Joel Berger
@joelberger313.bsky.social
PhD candidate in history writing about Detroit teachers, race, and education politics in the 1960s-70s. Former Detroit Public Schools teacher/DFT member. Dad of two boys. Husband. Current Baltimore City resident. Forever a Detroiter.
Gathering sources for my next dissertation chapter today and pulled back up this Detroit Free Press profile of DFT prez Mary Ellen Riordan during the 1967 Detroit teachers’ strike. I love it so much.
April 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Gathering sources for my next dissertation chapter today and pulled back up this Detroit Free Press profile of DFT prez Mary Ellen Riordan during the 1967 Detroit teachers’ strike. I love it so much.
Here’s the Mike Davis quote I’m thinking of, props to Verso Books
April 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Here’s the Mike Davis quote I’m thinking of, props to Verso Books
We are being governed by a real life “Conservative Guy Scared of Cities” Halloween costume
March 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
We are being governed by a real life “Conservative Guy Scared of Cities” Halloween costume
Nothing to see here!! Detroit News has a conservative editorial board but clearly that bleeds into coverage too…this headline sure downplays this whole thing…”secure app”…OK!
March 25, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Nothing to see here!! Detroit News has a conservative editorial board but clearly that bleeds into coverage too…this headline sure downplays this whole thing…”secure app”…OK!
E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD, 3.21.2025
March 22, 2025 at 12:23 AM
E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD, 3.21.2025
I find it interesting that Randi Weingarten reposted Schumer’s op-ed this morning, given that the CR would among other things, cause mass teacher layoffs at one of her locals, the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU). You don’t actually support Chuck, do you @rweingarten.bsky.social ? Say it ain’t so!
March 14, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I find it interesting that Randi Weingarten reposted Schumer’s op-ed this morning, given that the CR would among other things, cause mass teacher layoffs at one of her locals, the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU). You don’t actually support Chuck, do you @rweingarten.bsky.social ? Say it ain’t so!
With the usual historian’s caveat of different time, different political forces, different contradictions, etc — I really do wish Coleman Young was in the prime of his political career during this moment. Pretty sure he’d be profane, poignant, and hilarious — and that he’d meet the political moment
March 8, 2025 at 8:16 PM
With the usual historian’s caveat of different time, different political forces, different contradictions, etc — I really do wish Coleman Young was in the prime of his political career during this moment. Pretty sure he’d be profane, poignant, and hilarious — and that he’d meet the political moment
Oh my GOD not the most important thing here but the woman in bottom right has the same “Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes” sweatshirt that I have and LOVE. Never ever seen anyone else with it, ever.
March 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Oh my GOD not the most important thing here but the woman in bottom right has the same “Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes” sweatshirt that I have and LOVE. Never ever seen anyone else with it, ever.
Me after cooking dinner (continually getting the bottom of tortillas stuck on pan while making quesadillas), chasing around the 2 y/o and 7 y/o trying to get them to sit through a whole dinner, followed by cleaning up an accident in the bathroom from a little guy who didn’t make it in time
March 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Me after cooking dinner (continually getting the bottom of tortillas stuck on pan while making quesadillas), chasing around the 2 y/o and 7 y/o trying to get them to sit through a whole dinner, followed by cleaning up an accident in the bathroom from a little guy who didn’t make it in time
Here is what James Farmer, civil rights giant of CORE and Freedom Rides fame, told Congress in early 1979 about the need for a federal Department of Education:
March 4, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Here is what James Farmer, civil rights giant of CORE and Freedom Rides fame, told Congress in early 1979 about the need for a federal Department of Education:
Buttons 4/5: Support for Abraham Lincoln Brigade (U.S. citizens fighting against fascist forces in Spain) and Spanish anti-fascist fighters in late ‘30s
February 15, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Buttons 4/5: Support for Abraham Lincoln Brigade (U.S. citizens fighting against fascist forces in Spain) and Spanish anti-fascist fighters in late ‘30s
Button 3: “Joe Must Go”
Given this was right next to H.U.A.C. button, I’m assuming the “Joe” was Joe McCarthy
Given this was right next to H.U.A.C. button, I’m assuming the “Joe” was Joe McCarthy
February 15, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Button 3: “Joe Must Go”
Given this was right next to H.U.A.C. button, I’m assuming the “Joe” was Joe McCarthy
Given this was right next to H.U.A.C. button, I’m assuming the “Joe” was Joe McCarthy
Button 2: “Abolish H.U.A.C.” This was personal for Maki. After she lost her job due to 1952 HUAC hearings in Detroit, she found it tough to get work. She worked at a daycare, a wine shop, and as a part time secretary through rest of ‘50s to make ends meet. Her paystubs are at Reuther.
February 15, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Button 2: “Abolish H.U.A.C.” This was personal for Maki. After she lost her job due to 1952 HUAC hearings in Detroit, she found it tough to get work. She worked at a daycare, a wine shop, and as a part time secretary through rest of ‘50s to make ends meet. Her paystubs are at Reuther.
For no particular reason, thread of cool anti-fascist buttons from Elinor Maki’s collection at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social
Button 1: “Defend America, Smash Hitler Now!”
Button 1: “Defend America, Smash Hitler Now!”
February 15, 2025 at 2:10 AM
For no particular reason, thread of cool anti-fascist buttons from Elinor Maki’s collection at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social
Button 1: “Defend America, Smash Hitler Now!”
Button 1: “Defend America, Smash Hitler Now!”
Elinor Maki, a leftist schoolteacher in Detroit, was persecuted in the second red scare by the 1952 HUAC Committee and subsequently lost her job for refusing to cooperate with the committee. She was a badass. Here’s her in the Feb 28 1952 Detroit Free Press.
February 12, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Elinor Maki, a leftist schoolteacher in Detroit, was persecuted in the second red scare by the 1952 HUAC Committee and subsequently lost her job for refusing to cooperate with the committee. She was a badass. Here’s her in the Feb 28 1952 Detroit Free Press.
From the Vault: “NEA Recommends Roots: The Next Generations.” See bottom - NEA even developed classroom guides based on “Roots”! From NEA Reporter Jan/Feb 1979
February 11, 2025 at 1:05 AM
From the Vault: “NEA Recommends Roots: The Next Generations.” See bottom - NEA even developed classroom guides based on “Roots”! From NEA Reporter Jan/Feb 1979
“NEA Presses the 95th Congress For a Department of Education” - NEA Reporter, Jan/Feb 1979
Note that NEA teacher activists and elected leaders pressed CONGRESS to establish the DOE. Which CONGRESS ultimately did.
To make the subtext text: GTFOH Elon & company.
Note that NEA teacher activists and elected leaders pressed CONGRESS to establish the DOE. Which CONGRESS ultimately did.
To make the subtext text: GTFOH Elon & company.
February 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“NEA Presses the 95th Congress For a Department of Education” - NEA Reporter, Jan/Feb 1979
Note that NEA teacher activists and elected leaders pressed CONGRESS to establish the DOE. Which CONGRESS ultimately did.
To make the subtext text: GTFOH Elon & company.
Note that NEA teacher activists and elected leaders pressed CONGRESS to establish the DOE. Which CONGRESS ultimately did.
To make the subtext text: GTFOH Elon & company.
President Jimmy Carter, 1979 State of the Union: “It’s time to take another major step by creating a separate Department of Education.”
February 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
President Jimmy Carter, 1979 State of the Union: “It’s time to take another major step by creating a separate Department of Education.”
James Farmer, Freedom Rides veteran, CORE co-founder, and exec director of Coalition for Public Employees (CAPE) in 1979:
February 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
James Farmer, Freedom Rides veteran, CORE co-founder, and exec director of Coalition for Public Employees (CAPE) in 1979:
NEA teacher activists fought for decades - and especially hard through the entirety of the 1970s, pushing for a federal Dept of Ed. Much of what structures and supports the best elements of our civil society had to be doggedly FOUGHT FOR. And it remains worth fighting for. Now more than ever.
February 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
NEA teacher activists fought for decades - and especially hard through the entirety of the 1970s, pushing for a federal Dept of Ed. Much of what structures and supports the best elements of our civil society had to be doggedly FOUGHT FOR. And it remains worth fighting for. Now more than ever.
National Education Association fought for years and years to establish a federal Dept of Ed. This is from “NEA Reporter” in 1979. @neatoday.bsky.social
February 4, 2025 at 12:36 PM
National Education Association fought for years and years to establish a federal Dept of Ed. This is from “NEA Reporter” in 1979. @neatoday.bsky.social
Zuckerberg here looking like two kids one on top of another in a trench coat trying to trick someone into believing they’re an adult
January 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Zuckerberg here looking like two kids one on top of another in a trench coat trying to trick someone into believing they’re an adult
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
9/20
9/20
January 3, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
9/20
9/20