Calvin Schermerhorn
@calscherm.bsky.social
Author of The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made (2025) @yalepress. From Southern Maryland🍂. Teaches history in Arizona 🌵
Pinned
“A carefully researched work of history that chronicles centuries of injustice while calling for an end to inequality. A historical examination of the origins of the ever-deepening divide between Black and white intergenerational wealth”-Kirkus; in print &audiobook yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Out now, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by @rickbell.bsky.social A wide angle view of a global event that never loses focus on the Revolution itself. Check it out!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
November 16, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Out now, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by @rickbell.bsky.social A wide angle view of a global event that never loses focus on the Revolution itself. Check it out!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
My article shows how we can use postcolonial lenses to navigate something we as yet don't know how to acknowledge or talk about well: premodern, non-European people doing things that look a lot like what we now call blackface.
read.dukeupress.edu/jmems/articl...
read.dukeupress.edu/jmems/articl...
Performing Blackness in the Medieval Muslim Metropolis: Arabic Literature and Tropicalization
This essay aims to chart a path between premodern blackface performance and postcolonial theory that escapes colonial teleologies. It analyzes moments from the Abbasid through Mamluk era (ca. 750–1517...
read.dukeupress.edu
October 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
My article shows how we can use postcolonial lenses to navigate something we as yet don't know how to acknowledge or talk about well: premodern, non-European people doing things that look a lot like what we now call blackface.
read.dukeupress.edu/jmems/articl...
read.dukeupress.edu/jmems/articl...
Out now, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by @rickbell.bsky.social A wide angle view of a global event that never loses focus on the Revolution itself. Check it out!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
November 16, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Out now, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World by @rickbell.bsky.social A wide angle view of a global event that never loses focus on the Revolution itself. Check it out!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265...
Now out! Without Fear: Black Women & the Making of Human Rights — Keisha Blain’s brilliant new book tells a 200-year history of Black women who fought for human rights from enslavement through the activists against police violence in our time. Check it out: wwnorton.com/books/978039...
Without Fear
“<em>Without Fear</em> tells the stories of Black women who, like Deborah in the Bible, have engaged in social justice agitation, refusing to simply suffer by engaging in the redemptive work of ...
wwnorton.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Now out! Without Fear: Black Women & the Making of Human Rights — Keisha Blain’s brilliant new book tells a 200-year history of Black women who fought for human rights from enslavement through the activists against police violence in our time. Check it out: wwnorton.com/books/978039...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Congratulations and happy Pub Day to @ktgerbs.bsky.social "Archival Irruptions" tells a new history of Obeah, an Afro-Caribbean religion that was criminalized in 1760 after the largest slave revolt in the 18th century British Empire
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
Archival Irruptions: Constructing Religion and Criminalizing Obeah in Eighteenth-Century Jamaica
www.dukeupress.edu
October 15, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Congratulations and happy Pub Day to @ktgerbs.bsky.social "Archival Irruptions" tells a new history of Obeah, an Afro-Caribbean religion that was criminalized in 1760 after the largest slave revolt in the 18th century British Empire
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
Congratulations and happy Pub Day to @ktgerbs.bsky.social "Archival Irruptions" tells a new history of Obeah, an Afro-Caribbean religion that was criminalized in 1760 after the largest slave revolt in the 18th century British Empire
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
Archival Irruptions: Constructing Religion and Criminalizing Obeah in Eighteenth-Century Jamaica
www.dukeupress.edu
October 15, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Congratulations and happy Pub Day to @ktgerbs.bsky.social "Archival Irruptions" tells a new history of Obeah, an Afro-Caribbean religion that was criminalized in 1760 after the largest slave revolt in the 18th century British Empire
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
www.dukeupress.edu/archival-irr...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made by Calvin Schermerhorn
www.amazon.com/Plunder-Blac...
www.amazon.com/Plunder-Blac...
The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made
The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made [Schermerhorn, Calvin] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made
www.amazon.com
July 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made by Calvin Schermerhorn
www.amazon.com/Plunder-Blac...
www.amazon.com/Plunder-Blac...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
"Both books excel at showing how disproportionately Black wealth has suffered from both racist policy and financial shocks." @newrepublic.com reviews The Plunder of Black America by Calvin Schermerhorn
Racism Isn’t the Only Cause of the Racial Wealth Gap
Widening the lens to capitalism itself could yield insights on how to close the gap.
newrepublic.com
March 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
"Both books excel at showing how disproportionately Black wealth has suffered from both racist policy and financial shocks." @newrepublic.com reviews The Plunder of Black America by Calvin Schermerhorn
"the only way to understand this country—the only way to love this country—is to tell the truth....that chattel slavery,which lasted in the British American colonies & then the American nation for nearly 250 years, was indeed quite bad" @clintsmithiii.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Actually, Slavery Was Very Bad
The president’s latest criticism of museums is a thinly veiled attempt to erase Black history.
www.theatlantic.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"the only way to understand this country—the only way to love this country—is to tell the truth....that chattel slavery,which lasted in the British American colonies & then the American nation for nearly 250 years, was indeed quite bad" @clintsmithiii.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
"the only way to understand this country—the only way to love this country—is to tell the truth about it. . . . chattel slavery, which lasted in the British American colonies and then the American nation for nearly 250 years, was indeed quite bad." -Clint Smith www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Actually, Slavery Was Very Bad
The president’s latest criticism of museums is a thinly veiled attempt to erase Black history.
www.theatlantic.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
"the only way to understand this country—the only way to love this country—is to tell the truth about it. . . . chattel slavery, which lasted in the British American colonies and then the American nation for nearly 250 years, was indeed quite bad." -Clint Smith www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
“every apparent step forward is matched by a quiet reversion—each gain followed by a new, more elusive form of loss. Redlining gives way to ‘predatory inclusion’….School desegregation in the cities sparks white flight“ -Idrees Kahloon on The Plunder of Black America
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
What We Miss When We Talk About the Racial Wealth Gap
Six decades of civil-rights efforts haven’t budged it, and the usual prescriptions—including reparations—offer no lasting solutions. Have we been focussing on the wrong things?
www.newyorker.com
July 31, 2025 at 2:15 PM
“every apparent step forward is matched by a quiet reversion—each gain followed by a new, more elusive form of loss. Redlining gives way to ‘predatory inclusion’….School desegregation in the cities sparks white flight“ -Idrees Kahloon on The Plunder of Black America
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
One reason so many American hospitals are struggling? Investors buy them up, then suck them dry, charging such high rents that services are gutted.
Reveal explores what happened to one Louisiana hospital when Medical Properties Trust came to town. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reveal explores what happened to one Louisiana hospital when Medical Properties Trust came to town. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The landlord gutting America’s hospitals
Medical Properties Trust buys up hospitals and then leases them back to health care systems. Dozens of its hospitals have gone belly up.
www.motherjones.com
July 27, 2025 at 11:20 PM
One reason so many American hospitals are struggling? Investors buy them up, then suck them dry, charging such high rents that services are gutted.
Reveal explores what happened to one Louisiana hospital when Medical Properties Trust came to town. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reveal explores what happened to one Louisiana hospital when Medical Properties Trust came to town. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Looking for heroes, you say?
Let us introduce you to the abortion rights activists who took on Alabama's attorney general—and won. So many lessons here for the post-Roe era. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Let us introduce you to the abortion rights activists who took on Alabama's attorney general—and won. So many lessons here for the post-Roe era. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Inside Alabama’s threats to prosecute abortion helpers
When Roe v. Wade was overturned and abortion became illegal in Alabama, helping people get out of state came with the threat of jail time.
www.motherjones.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Looking for heroes, you say?
Let us introduce you to the abortion rights activists who took on Alabama's attorney general—and won. So many lessons here for the post-Roe era. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Let us introduce you to the abortion rights activists who took on Alabama's attorney general—and won. So many lessons here for the post-Roe era. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Broke-ish® with Erika( @brownerika.bsky.social )Brown & Amber Sims "Make it Make (Dollars and) Sense: What Malcolm X Taught Us About Money" Dr. Calvin( @calscherm.bsky.social )Schermerhorn #BlackLiberationMedia www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDMR...
Make it Make (Dollars and) Sense: What Malcolm X Taught Us About Money
YouTube video by Black Liberation Media
www.youtube.com
July 16, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Broke-ish® with Erika( @brownerika.bsky.social )Brown & Amber Sims "Make it Make (Dollars and) Sense: What Malcolm X Taught Us About Money" Dr. Calvin( @calscherm.bsky.social )Schermerhorn #BlackLiberationMedia www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDMR...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Now more than ever, knowing our history - the good and the terrible - is vital for American democracy. I hope you will read and share my intro story in Verite News' new project about the slave trade in New Orleans. #NOLAsky #NOLA
veritenews.org/2025/05/29/d...
veritenews.org/2025/05/29/d...
Devil's Bargain: How the slave trade built New Orleans
A new project from Verite News examines the role of the slave trade in building and sustaining New Orleans.
veritenews.org
May 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Now more than ever, knowing our history - the good and the terrible - is vital for American democracy. I hope you will read and share my intro story in Verite News' new project about the slave trade in New Orleans. #NOLAsky #NOLA
veritenews.org/2025/05/29/d...
veritenews.org/2025/05/29/d...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
There are books. Somehow despite so many years of work I wasn’t quite prepared for actual books?!
Official pub next week. More coherence inc thanks for v lovely advance praise soon.
Official pub next week. More coherence inc thanks for v lovely advance praise soon.
June 27, 2025 at 11:28 AM
There are books. Somehow despite so many years of work I wasn’t quite prepared for actual books?!
Official pub next week. More coherence inc thanks for v lovely advance praise soon.
Official pub next week. More coherence inc thanks for v lovely advance praise soon.
“Morrison came to appreciate the power of directly exploring the inner and outer dimensions of Black life….Morrison’s mode was to be relentlessly demanding—of herself, her authors, and her Random House colleagues.” —@clintsmithiii.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
How Toni Morrison Changed Publishing
At night, she worked on her novels. By day, as an editor at Random House, she championed a new generation of writers.
www.theatlantic.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:42 PM
“Morrison came to appreciate the power of directly exploring the inner and outer dimensions of Black life….Morrison’s mode was to be relentlessly demanding—of herself, her authors, and her Random House colleagues.” —@clintsmithiii.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
I will be talking to the Rev. William Barber--one of our nation's leading moral voices and an important part of "No Kings"--on Substack Live at 12:30 ET today. I hope you'll join us. (If you're not a subscriber, free or paid, you can sign up here: america.substack.com)
America, America | Steven Beschloss | Substack
Essays of alarm and hope, on politics and society, democracy and justice. With passion and urgency. Click to read America, America, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousands of subscribers.
america.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I will be talking to the Rev. William Barber--one of our nation's leading moral voices and an important part of "No Kings"--on Substack Live at 12:30 ET today. I hope you'll join us. (If you're not a subscriber, free or paid, you can sign up here: america.substack.com)
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
When Canada was the Promised Land: What Canada Taught America about Freedom and Inclusive Democracy "From Canada, black authors were able to read, write, & proclaim injustices free from persecution in America" #BlackPast #Canada #BlackHistory @yalepress.bsky.social
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
When Canada was the Promised Land: What Canada Taught America about Freedom and Inclusive Democracy - Yale University Press
Calvin Schermerhorn— “I felt no real safety South of Canada,” Henry Goings recalled as he gazed at Canada across the Detroit River, “for there is none to the colored man... READ MORE
yalebooks.yale.edu
June 4, 2025 at 5:52 PM
When Canada was the Promised Land: What Canada Taught America about Freedom and Inclusive Democracy "From Canada, black authors were able to read, write, & proclaim injustices free from persecution in America" #BlackPast #Canada #BlackHistory @yalepress.bsky.social
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
When Canada was the Promised Land: What Canada Taught America about Freedom and Inclusive Democracy "From Canada, black authors were able to read, write, & proclaim injustices free from persecution in America" #BlackPast #Canada #BlackHistory @yalepress.bsky.social
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
When Canada was the Promised Land: What Canada Taught America about Freedom and Inclusive Democracy - Yale University Press
Calvin Schermerhorn— “I felt no real safety South of Canada,” Henry Goings recalled as he gazed at Canada across the Detroit River, “for there is none to the colored man... READ MORE
yalebooks.yale.edu
June 4, 2025 at 5:52 PM
When Canada was the Promised Land: What Canada Taught America about Freedom and Inclusive Democracy "From Canada, black authors were able to read, write, & proclaim injustices free from persecution in America" #BlackPast #Canada #BlackHistory @yalepress.bsky.social
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/06/04/w...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Dorothy A. Brown says The Plunder of Black America “sets out in clear and exquisite detail the huge obstacles placed in the path of African Americans who simply wanted to become self-sufficient & leave their children with brighter futures” lnkd.in/gXwhCUqs
GooglePlay play.google.com/store/audiob...
GooglePlay play.google.com/store/audiob...
February 4, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Dorothy A. Brown says The Plunder of Black America “sets out in clear and exquisite detail the huge obstacles placed in the path of African Americans who simply wanted to become self-sufficient & leave their children with brighter futures” lnkd.in/gXwhCUqs
GooglePlay play.google.com/store/audiob...
GooglePlay play.google.com/store/audiob...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
Picked up a hitchhiker by the cemetery. When I dropped her off at her house - she disappeared! Her mom came out & said that on the anniversary of her death, Lisa always “comes home.” Yipes! I returned to the cemetery the next year and told Lisa about taxi-hailing apps. It’s not safe to hitchhike!
May 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Picked up a hitchhiker by the cemetery. When I dropped her off at her house - she disappeared! Her mom came out & said that on the anniversary of her death, Lisa always “comes home.” Yipes! I returned to the cemetery the next year and told Lisa about taxi-hailing apps. It’s not safe to hitchhike!
“If a billionaire bought one of your local haunts,renamed it,humiliated the employees,brought back ppl who’d been banned for harassing other regulars,eliminated basic rules of decency..taking your business elsewhere wouldbe perfectly rational”@cwarzel.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
What Are People Still Doing on X?
Imagine if your favorite neighborhood bar turned into a Nazi hangout.
www.theatlantic.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:57 PM
“If a billionaire bought one of your local haunts,renamed it,humiliated the employees,brought back ppl who’d been banned for harassing other regulars,eliminated basic rules of decency..taking your business elsewhere wouldbe perfectly rational”@cwarzel.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
It's here: #Slaveryarchive Most anticipated books of 2025. Pre-order. Repost. Spread the word. Schedule book talks. Assign. Read. www.slaveryarchive.com/most-anticip...
December 30, 2024 at 2:37 AM
It's here: #Slaveryarchive Most anticipated books of 2025. Pre-order. Repost. Spread the word. Schedule book talks. Assign. Read. www.slaveryarchive.com/most-anticip...
Reposted by Calvin Schermerhorn
You can read an excerpt of @calscherm.bsky.social’s “The Plunder of Black America” at the link below.
We’ve faced a ridiculous amount of lies that there’s no structural or systemic racism in America. This book documents the scale of the racial wealth gap, how it happens, & reasons why this is a terrible burden for everyone who cares about equality and justice.
www.americaamerica.news/p/plundering...
www.americaamerica.news/p/plundering...
Plundering Black America
An excerpt from an important new book chronicling the history of the racial wealth gap
www.americaamerica.news
March 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
You can read an excerpt of @calscherm.bsky.social’s “The Plunder of Black America” at the link below.