Steve Black (the anthropologist)
@stevenpblack.bsky.social
Anthropologist, gardener, runner, musician, home improvement enthusiast. Views are not my own—they are a heteroglossic mix, the sclerotic residue of my/ others’ intentions
Had fun with Dan & Michael on People Stuff to talk about the everyday anthropology of the economy—car pricing, recommendation letters, job-quitting strategy, and an AI rat with an unfortunate anatomy.
Anthropology: still the best tool for decoding modern absurdity. www.people-stuff.com
People Stuff
People Stuff is a write-in, anthropology advice podcast wherein we answer all sorts of questions with the weird and wonderful wisdom that anthropology offers. From …
www.people-stuff.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Had fun with Dan & Michael on People Stuff to talk about the everyday anthropology of the economy—car pricing, recommendation letters, job-quitting strategy, and an AI rat with an unfortunate anatomy.
Anthropology: still the best tool for decoding modern absurdity. www.people-stuff.com
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
August 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
A CDC employee’s perspective on the events of yesterday. Echoes a lot of what I’ve been hearing in the community:
www.facebook.com/share/p/16og...
www.facebook.com/share/p/16og...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
August 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
A CDC employee’s perspective on the events of yesterday. Echoes a lot of what I’ve been hearing in the community:
www.facebook.com/share/p/16og...
www.facebook.com/share/p/16og...
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
Hi all! I’ve got a new book coming out!! Sorry it’s so expensive (I had nothing to do with that, nor do I benefit from that). Maybe institutional libraries will buy it…
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
Global Health in the Global North: Techno-Optimism and the Value of Storytelling for the Future of Health Equity
This book investigates how health interventions are imagined into being in high-income countries, drawing on over seven years of fieldwork in the self-described “global health capital” Atlanta to cons...
www.routledge.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Hi all! I’ve got a new book coming out!! Sorry it’s so expensive (I had nothing to do with that, nor do I benefit from that). Maybe institutional libraries will buy it…
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
👏 Here's what the NIH staffer in the video said:
"So while you see 3 of us sitting here today speaking to you in our personal capacities, we are speaking on behalf of HUNDREDS of NIH staff who are standing up together to say 'WE DISSENT.' Because what is happening at NIH is so egregious.....'
1/n
"So while you see 3 of us sitting here today speaking to you in our personal capacities, we are speaking on behalf of HUNDREDS of NIH staff who are standing up together to say 'WE DISSENT.' Because what is happening at NIH is so egregious.....'
1/n
Video has now been made private FYI (thanks to @publichealthguy1.bsky.social for letting me know)
Watch this short video
These are 3 of the bravest people on earth—they know that folks like Jay Bhattacharya & his partner RFK Jr could retaliate & fire them
But they say:
“You can get another job but you cannot get another soul”
These are 3 of the bravest people on earth—they know that folks like Jay Bhattacharya & his partner RFK Jr could retaliate & fire them
But they say:
“You can get another job but you cannot get another soul”
June 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
👏 Here's what the NIH staffer in the video said:
"So while you see 3 of us sitting here today speaking to you in our personal capacities, we are speaking on behalf of HUNDREDS of NIH staff who are standing up together to say 'WE DISSENT.' Because what is happening at NIH is so egregious.....'
1/n
"So while you see 3 of us sitting here today speaking to you in our personal capacities, we are speaking on behalf of HUNDREDS of NIH staff who are standing up together to say 'WE DISSENT.' Because what is happening at NIH is so egregious.....'
1/n
Hi all! I’ve got a new book coming out!! Sorry it’s so expensive (I had nothing to do with that, nor do I benefit from that). Maybe institutional libraries will buy it…
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
Global Health in the Global North: Techno-Optimism and the Value of Storytelling for the Future of Health Equity
This book investigates how health interventions are imagined into being in high-income countries, drawing on over seven years of fieldwork in the self-described “global health capital” Atlanta to cons...
www.routledge.com
June 3, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Hi all! I’ve got a new book coming out!! Sorry it’s so expensive (I had nothing to do with that, nor do I benefit from that). Maybe institutional libraries will buy it…
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
www.routledge.com/Global-Healt...
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
Who's calling the shots at NIH?
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
NIH killed grants on orders from Elon Musk’s DOGE
Court documents and internal correspondence show the cost-cutting force has broad control over the world’s largest public biomedical funder.
www.nature.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Who's calling the shots at NIH?
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
The NIH Director continues to misunderstand (or mischaracterize) the extent to which research is being gutted. I appreciate this program officer for speaking up.
May 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The NIH Director continues to misunderstand (or mischaracterize) the extent to which research is being gutted. I appreciate this program officer for speaking up.
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
🚨PLEASE CALL🚨RFKJ has a Senate Health Committee hearing on 5/14. RFKJ lied to Bill Cassidy (the chair) when he said he wouldn’t undermine vaccine confidence. He is endangering us and our children, cutting services, and destroying public health (see pic for HHS cuts). He must resign. Links below
May 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM
🚨PLEASE CALL🚨RFKJ has a Senate Health Committee hearing on 5/14. RFKJ lied to Bill Cassidy (the chair) when he said he wouldn’t undermine vaccine confidence. He is endangering us and our children, cutting services, and destroying public health (see pic for HHS cuts). He must resign. Links below
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
“So this is my radical proposal for universities: Act like universities, not like businesses. Spend your endowments. Accept more, not fewer students. Open up your campuses and expand your reach not by buying real estate but by bringing education to communities. Create a base. Become a movement.”
Opinion | This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, if They Dare (Gift Article)
It’s been tried in other countries facing authoritarian crackdowns. It works.
www.nytimes.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:21 AM
“So this is my radical proposal for universities: Act like universities, not like businesses. Spend your endowments. Accept more, not fewer students. Open up your campuses and expand your reach not by buying real estate but by bringing education to communities. Create a base. Become a movement.”
Ooh looks like most/ all of my articles and my book are in Meta now. That’s gonna be one smart AI if I do say so myself.
Meta stole all three of my books through LibGen to illegally train its AI platform using my work. If you, like me, are an author who can't afford to donate your work to a corporation worth $1.7 trillion, please check this database.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Ooh looks like most/ all of my articles and my book are in Meta now. That’s gonna be one smart AI if I do say so myself.
walking down the tree-lined street near grant park on a sunny Sunday morning, past walkers and joggers and happy kids in strollers, to a delightful coffee shop, I find myself thinking: most people who dislike Atlanta probably don’t know it very well (either tourists or suburbanites).
March 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
walking down the tree-lined street near grant park on a sunny Sunday morning, past walkers and joggers and happy kids in strollers, to a delightful coffee shop, I find myself thinking: most people who dislike Atlanta probably don’t know it very well (either tourists or suburbanites).
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
Ghanaian infants grow up hearing 2–6 languages from multiple caregivers, reshaping how we understand early language learning. This challenges Western-centric language acquisition models. #Linguistics #Africa #Multilingualism #LanguageAcquisition #Anthropology
The Multilingual Cradle: How Babies in Ghana Absorb Up to Six Languages from Birth
A groundbreaking study reshapes our understanding of infant language acquisition in Africa’s vibrant multilingual communities
www.anthropology.net
March 1, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Ghanaian infants grow up hearing 2–6 languages from multiple caregivers, reshaping how we understand early language learning. This challenges Western-centric language acquisition models. #Linguistics #Africa #Multilingualism #LanguageAcquisition #Anthropology
😍😍😍
I have been so excited since I found out this would be announced today! RIP any ability for me to concentrate: www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2...
Apple’s new sci-fi series “Murderbot” to make global debut May 16, 2025
Today, Apple TV+ unveiled a first look at “Murderbot,” created by Chris and Paul Weitz and starring Alexander Skarsgård
www.apple.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:53 AM
😍😍😍
I know it’s a small thing in comparison to what others are going through, but the entire division of the EPA that I submitted a $1.8 million grant application to last year (after months of work) is now closed. [office of environmental justice]
February 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I know it’s a small thing in comparison to what others are going through, but the entire division of the EPA that I submitted a $1.8 million grant application to last year (after months of work) is now closed. [office of environmental justice]
Google (docs, Mail, et cetera) isn’t free, most people just don’t know what they’re paying
Me: "The things you’ve told me today are—every single google workspace user has been forced into having this plagiarism software in email and drive, putting their security and potentially in cases like mine contracts and entire business at risk."
Google: "Yes."
Google: "Yes."
January 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Google (docs, Mail, et cetera) isn’t free, most people just don’t know what they’re paying
This whole newish thing of people being obsessed with “vibes” is really harshing my mellow
January 18, 2025 at 12:41 AM
This whole newish thing of people being obsessed with “vibes” is really harshing my mellow
Luckily, I’ve never seen a “TikTok”
January 17, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Luckily, I’ve never seen a “TikTok”
Reposted by Steve Black (the anthropologist)
Feb 13: SAR annual Mellon Lecture, co-presented with SITE Santa Fe.
@jasondeleon.bsky.social shares the human side of migration through his powerful blend of #archaeology, #anthropology, and lived experiences.
sarsf.info/deleon
Support provided by the Mellon Foundation.
@jasondeleon.bsky.social shares the human side of migration through his powerful blend of #archaeology, #anthropology, and lived experiences.
sarsf.info/deleon
Support provided by the Mellon Foundation.
January 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Feb 13: SAR annual Mellon Lecture, co-presented with SITE Santa Fe.
@jasondeleon.bsky.social shares the human side of migration through his powerful blend of #archaeology, #anthropology, and lived experiences.
sarsf.info/deleon
Support provided by the Mellon Foundation.
@jasondeleon.bsky.social shares the human side of migration through his powerful blend of #archaeology, #anthropology, and lived experiences.
sarsf.info/deleon
Support provided by the Mellon Foundation.
Orthographic thought for the season: if anyone says they don’t understand why Chanukah is spelled (sometimes) with a “ch,” ask them to think about how they pronounce Christmas and how it is spelled.
December 31, 2024 at 11:22 AM
Orthographic thought for the season: if anyone says they don’t understand why Chanukah is spelled (sometimes) with a “ch,” ask them to think about how they pronounce Christmas and how it is spelled.
Home improvement and gardening are my favorite ways to counterbalance academia. This month’s project: a new stone/ gravel patio (in front of the green roof shed)
December 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Home improvement and gardening are my favorite ways to counterbalance academia. This month’s project: a new stone/ gravel patio (in front of the green roof shed)