Rob Taber
@robtaber.bsky.social
Historian of Haiti 🇭🇹 and democracy in the Americas at Fayetteville State.
Working for a welcoming + transformative UNC System & NC. Views my own.
Formerly US ED Partnerships.
Occasional live-poster of obscure panels and events.
Working for a welcoming + transformative UNC System & NC. Views my own.
Formerly US ED Partnerships.
Occasional live-poster of obscure panels and events.
Pinned
Rob Taber
@robtaber.bsky.social
· Nov 9
Welcome new followers! I'm a historian of colonial Haiti and the Age of Revolutions. I teach Latin American and Black Atlantic History at Fayetteville State in North Carolina, where I also serve on the UNC Faculty Assembly. I'm an editor at @ageofrevolutions.bsky.social
On the one hand, the wide deployment of "free-to-use" large language models are a social/economic rugpull—like the loss-leading cheapness of early Uber or AirBnB to capture marketshare, just on a larger scale.
On the other, they're also tempting a generation of students to take the easy way out.
On the other, they're also tempting a generation of students to take the easy way out.
November 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
On the one hand, the wide deployment of "free-to-use" large language models are a social/economic rugpull—like the loss-leading cheapness of early Uber or AirBnB to capture marketshare, just on a larger scale.
On the other, they're also tempting a generation of students to take the easy way out.
On the other, they're also tempting a generation of students to take the easy way out.
Whew, students this semester broke strongly toward firing Fayette McKenzie/asking him to resign from the presidency of Fisk.
November 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Whew, students this semester broke strongly toward firing Fayette McKenzie/asking him to resign from the presidency of Fisk.
Happy "Fayetteville turns into Stars Hollow" Day to all who celebrate!
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Happy "Fayetteville turns into Stars Hollow" Day to all who celebrate!
Reposted by Rob Taber
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
November 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is true. It is the best email I got this year.
Reposted by Rob Taber
Happy Thanksgiving, please enjoy some messed-up lore about the US's farm & food history.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByb...
Real Life Johnny Appleseed
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Happy Thanksgiving, please enjoy some messed-up lore about the US's farm & food history.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByb...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByb...
Reposted by Rob Taber
If you've heard about RFK Jr's "wellness farms," have I got a story for you.
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
RFK Jr's Plan To Put Americans On Farms
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
If you've heard about RFK Jr's "wellness farms," have I got a story for you.
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
Hey now!
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Hey now!
Teaching @ldburnett.bsky.social's "Holding On To What Makes Us Human" in my History capstone this week. It still slaps.
Holding On to What Makes Us Human
Defending the humanities in a skills-obsessed university.
www.chronicle.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Teaching @ldburnett.bsky.social's "Holding On To What Makes Us Human" in my History capstone this week. It still slaps.
Your voice helps shape our path forward. Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our Community Listening Survey by clicking here: bit.ly/NC-7-Listen
November 20, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Currently halfway through the second season of The Morning Show. Does it ever get less exhausting?
November 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Currently halfway through the second season of The Morning Show. Does it ever get less exhausting?
Great humblebrag opportunity of how you first noticed the outage.
A lot of websites hosted by Cloudfare are down today.
November 18, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Great humblebrag opportunity of how you first noticed the outage.
Reposted by Rob Taber
As a historian of the 18th c and an American, I've always known 2026 would be a critical moment. This doc is worth watching, and thinking through. Begins and ends w Indigenous contexts, conveys the horrors of a civil war wrought w racism + the ideals of liberty and equality we keep reaching for. 1/
_The American Revolution_ offers a look at how complex and violent — and also inspiring— the American founding was. Getting huge coverage, it may give folks time to digest that complexity as 2026 commences. Premieres tonight + PBS has preview clips of all episodes. www.pbs.org/show/the-ame...
The American Revolution
Thirteen colonies unite in rebellion, win their independence, and found the United States.
www.pbs.org
November 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM
As a historian of the 18th c and an American, I've always known 2026 would be a critical moment. This doc is worth watching, and thinking through. Begins and ends w Indigenous contexts, conveys the horrors of a civil war wrought w racism + the ideals of liberty and equality we keep reaching for. 1/
Reposted by Rob Taber
Trump just cut farm workers' wages $1-3/hr, and there IS something we can do about it.
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
Farm Workers: Here's How We Can Help
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Trump just cut farm workers' wages $1-3/hr, and there IS something we can do about it.
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
NC's virtual quiz bowl league just wrapped. Very proud of my Terry Sanford team: every returning player improved their points-per-game this season, the overwhelming majority of rookies got points on the board, and everyone who played helped get at least one bonus question right.
November 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
NC's virtual quiz bowl league just wrapped. Very proud of my Terry Sanford team: every returning player improved their points-per-game this season, the overwhelming majority of rookies got points on the board, and everyone who played helped get at least one bonus question right.
Reposted by Rob Taber
I finally started watching Clarkson's Farm
Farmer Reacts to Clarkson's Farm
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I finally started watching Clarkson's Farm
My second year of grad school, @sarahtaber.bsky.social had a farm internship an hour from Gainesville. Very young kid involved, so we went as a family & I'd sit in the farmer's kitchen with the baby & bassinet (er, car seat) and read articles while Sarah did her thing.
November 15, 2025 at 10:26 AM
My second year of grad school, @sarahtaber.bsky.social had a farm internship an hour from Gainesville. Very young kid involved, so we went as a family & I'd sit in the farmer's kitchen with the baby & bassinet (er, car seat) and read articles while Sarah did her thing.
There's a slide in my post-Faculty Assembly briefing deck about the impact of the state budget impasse on the UNC System. I haven't had to change it in months.
Here's what happened this week in North Carolina politics.
If you have a Get Out Of Jail Free card, you can do crimes without any consequences. ⛓️💥
If you have a Get Out Of Jail Free card, you can do crimes without any consequences. ⛓️💥
November 15, 2025 at 12:06 AM
There's a slide in my post-Faculty Assembly briefing deck about the impact of the state budget impasse on the UNC System. I haven't had to change it in months.
Niche academia posting:
Mark Becker lays out why he joined the board of the Commission for Public Higher Education. Worth reading for those involved in higher ed accreditation.
Mark Becker lays out why he joined the board of the Commission for Public Higher Education. Worth reading for those involved in higher ed accreditation.
Why Public Universities Need Their Own Accreditor (opinion)
State-supported institutions stand to benefit from a streamlined approach to accreditation that aligns with their public mission and obligations.
www.insidehighered.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Niche academia posting:
Mark Becker lays out why he joined the board of the Commission for Public Higher Education. Worth reading for those involved in higher ed accreditation.
Mark Becker lays out why he joined the board of the Commission for Public Higher Education. Worth reading for those involved in higher ed accreditation.
I know we* all think our Congressional district is the center of the political universe, but there really is something interesting about NC-07.
*Ok, maybe just me but hear me out. 🧵
*Ok, maybe just me but hear me out. 🧵
North Carolina's 7th congressional district - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I know we* all think our Congressional district is the center of the political universe, but there really is something interesting about NC-07.
*Ok, maybe just me but hear me out. 🧵
*Ok, maybe just me but hear me out. 🧵
A D+9 district in the middle of Utah will certainly be interesting.
‘Extreme’ gerrymander: Utah judge rejects GOP lawmakers’ congressional map, picks districts favoring Democrats
A Utah judge rejected new congressional boundaries proposed by Republican lawmakers, instead choosing a map that will create a heavily Democratic-leaning district in Salt Lake County.
www.sltrib.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A D+9 district in the middle of Utah will certainly be interesting.
As a historian of Atlantic Revolutions, this image gives me Thoughts.
November 10, 2025 at 2:21 AM
As a historian of Atlantic Revolutions, this image gives me Thoughts.
Reposted by Rob Taber
Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.
Reposted by Rob Taber
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
True story!
In the last 6 months @kimberlyhardync.bsky.social has had more town halls than Rouzer has in the last 6 years.
Has anyone seen David Rouzer? If so post where you saw him. Maybe in the grocery store or pumping gas for his car??
November 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
True story!
Pivot tables are an amazing labor-saving invention.
November 8, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Pivot tables are an amazing labor-saving invention.