Robin Bernstein
@robinmbernstein.bsky.social
Author of Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America's Original Prison for Profit and Racial Innocence: Performing American Childhood from Slavery to Civil Rights. https://scholar.harvard.edu/robinbernstein/home ; robinbernsteinphd.com .
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process — theonion.com/not-sure-how...
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process
Well, well, well. What have we got here? Another city slicker who thinks he can waltz into my town and start causin’ all sorts of trouble. I’d be careful if I was you, fella. Because however they do t...
theonion.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Not Sure How They Deal With Criminals In Your Town, But ’Round Here We Use A Restorative Justice Process — theonion.com/not-sure-how...
Today I had a phone call with a repairman. He called me Carol. I just let it slide. After we hung up, he called me back.
Repair Guy: I just realized I called you Carol. I'm sorry.
Me: That's OK. I've been called worse.
Repair Guy: Thanks for understanding, Robin.
Me: No problem, Carol.
Repair Guy: I just realized I called you Carol. I'm sorry.
Me: That's OK. I've been called worse.
Repair Guy: Thanks for understanding, Robin.
Me: No problem, Carol.
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Today I had a phone call with a repairman. He called me Carol. I just let it slide. After we hung up, he called me back.
Repair Guy: I just realized I called you Carol. I'm sorry.
Me: That's OK. I've been called worse.
Repair Guy: Thanks for understanding, Robin.
Me: No problem, Carol.
Repair Guy: I just realized I called you Carol. I'm sorry.
Me: That's OK. I've been called worse.
Repair Guy: Thanks for understanding, Robin.
Me: No problem, Carol.
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
I think it’s super weird that Americans normalized spotlighting individual social media posts as “news” and then responding by harassing and doxxing people because of them
Gamergate should have been a show stopper, not a starter
Gamergate should have been a show stopper, not a starter
November 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I think it’s super weird that Americans normalized spotlighting individual social media posts as “news” and then responding by harassing and doxxing people because of them
Gamergate should have been a show stopper, not a starter
Gamergate should have been a show stopper, not a starter
A question for you: who is an author who has written more than 5 books, and you have read every book the author has published? My answers in the first comment.
November 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A question for you: who is an author who has written more than 5 books, and you have read every book the author has published? My answers in the first comment.
Thank you, @draftingthepast.bsky.social! Kate Carpenter interviews #historians about how--and why--we do what we do. I loved talking with her about what I call the "disco ball of integrity." draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis... And now she's sent me this awesome swag! Thanks for this awesome podcast.
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Thank you, @draftingthepast.bsky.social! Kate Carpenter interviews #historians about how--and why--we do what we do. I loved talking with her about what I call the "disco ball of integrity." draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis... And now she's sent me this awesome swag! Thanks for this awesome podcast.
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
a very easy thing you can do right now if you're worried about the SNAP freeze and don't know how to help is Google "community fridge [your location]" and then drop stuff off at that fridge
October 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
a very easy thing you can do right now if you're worried about the SNAP freeze and don't know how to help is Google "community fridge [your location]" and then drop stuff off at that fridge
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
WDC met with Dr. Robin Bernstein from Harvard to talk about her latest book, non-fiction account of the earliest for-profit prisons in NY. She's fascinating!
www.writersdrinkingcoffee.com/posts/podcas...
www.writersdrinkingcoffee.com/posts/podcas...
Episode 219 - Interview with Dr. Robin Bernstein - Writers Drinking Coffee
Dr. Bernstein and her book, Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America’s Original Prison for Profit, delves into the history of America’s prisons
www.writersdrinkingcoffee.com
July 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
WDC met with Dr. Robin Bernstein from Harvard to talk about her latest book, non-fiction account of the earliest for-profit prisons in NY. She's fascinating!
www.writersdrinkingcoffee.com/posts/podcas...
www.writersdrinkingcoffee.com/posts/podcas...
On Saturday after the rally in Boston, I took a very crowded train. At one point, a man in the train became agitated. "I have to get out," he repeated. (1/4)
October 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
On Saturday after the rally in Boston, I took a very crowded train. At one point, a man in the train became agitated. "I have to get out," he repeated. (1/4)
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
Or, as @lornab.bsky.social put it, don't let UT Austin succeed in its bid to become the University of Austin
October 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Or, as @lornab.bsky.social put it, don't let UT Austin succeed in its bid to become the University of Austin
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
I’m telling you: ridicule works. These guys are supposed to intimidate the citizenry and it’s very hard to do that when a guy in a frog suit is just staring you down and daring you to do something that makes it look like you’re afraid of a cartoon
Portland never stops being Portland.
wizard frog is insane
October 5, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I’m telling you: ridicule works. These guys are supposed to intimidate the citizenry and it’s very hard to do that when a guy in a frog suit is just staring you down and daring you to do something that makes it look like you’re afraid of a cartoon
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
If a shooter’s politics are hard to pin down, he’s a leftist
If a shooter’s politics are right wing, he’s hard to pin down
If a shooter’s politics are right wing, he’s hard to pin down
Targeted attack on a dockside restaurant in North Carolina. Three dead. Suspect a former Marine sniper in Iraq and Haiti who tried to sue the US govt for “genocide against straight men by the LGBQT community.”
Flags at half mast? Endless op-eds? Victims’ faces on coins?
www.cnn.com/2025/09/28/u...
Flags at half mast? Endless op-eds? Victims’ faces on coins?
www.cnn.com/2025/09/28/u...
Man in custody after 3 killed, at least 8 injured in shooting at a waterfront bar in North Carolina, officials say | CNN
A 40-year-old man is facing murder charges after allegedly pulling up on a boat to a waterfront bar in North Carolina Saturday night and opening fire, killing three and injuring at least eight others.
www.cnn.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
If a shooter’s politics are hard to pin down, he’s a leftist
If a shooter’s politics are right wing, he’s hard to pin down
If a shooter’s politics are right wing, he’s hard to pin down
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
JD Vance is now using the term "blood libel" to describe criticism of ICE, saying, "The Democrats and the media — because they so hate the idea of a real border — are engaging in a kind of blood libel against ICE agents."
Somewhere, our ancestors wept.
Somewhere, our ancestors wept.
September 26, 2025 at 7:07 PM
JD Vance is now using the term "blood libel" to describe criticism of ICE, saying, "The Democrats and the media — because they so hate the idea of a real border — are engaging in a kind of blood libel against ICE agents."
Somewhere, our ancestors wept.
Somewhere, our ancestors wept.
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
1) Nicholas Fesette's essay take on recent titles by Orisanmi Burton, Robin Bernstein, Holly M. Karibo, Melanie Newport and Doran Larson
doi-org.pitt.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/aq.2...
2/3
doi-org.pitt.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/aq.2...
2/3
September 13, 2025 at 7:20 PM
1) Nicholas Fesette's essay take on recent titles by Orisanmi Burton, Robin Bernstein, Holly M. Karibo, Melanie Newport and Doran Larson
doi-org.pitt.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/aq.2...
2/3
doi-org.pitt.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/aq.2...
2/3
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
Many congratulations to historian Robin Bernstein, whose book FREEMAN'S CHALLENGE was named a nonfiction honoree by the Massachusetts Book Awards! Read more about the award and the book here: buff.ly/U5dy7fM
September 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Many congratulations to historian Robin Bernstein, whose book FREEMAN'S CHALLENGE was named a nonfiction honoree by the Massachusetts Book Awards! Read more about the award and the book here: buff.ly/U5dy7fM
The Raisins of Wrath
Slightly diminish a book.
The Crying of Lot 48
The Crying of Lot 48
Slightly diminish a book.
The Earl Of The Rings
The Earl Of The Rings
September 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The Raisins of Wrath
Thanks for reviewing Freeman's Challenge, Nick! I can't wait to read this review.
Check my review essay of recent titles in carceral studies by Orisanmi Burton, @robinmbernstein.bsky.social Holly Karibo @melanienewport.bsky.social and Doran Larson. Just published in American Quarterly. Many thanks to editor @pmckelveyphd.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Thanks for reviewing Freeman's Challenge, Nick! I can't wait to read this review.
I'm thrilled to announce that Freeman's Challenge has received Nonfiction Honors for the Massachusetts Book Awards. I'm incredibly grateful.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
#BookAward
#MassBookAwards
#prisons
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
#BookAward
#MassBookAwards
#prisons
September 3, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I'm thrilled to announce that Freeman's Challenge has received Nonfiction Honors for the Massachusetts Book Awards. I'm incredibly grateful.
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
#BookAward
#MassBookAwards
#prisons
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
#BookAward
#MassBookAwards
#prisons
Backyard rabbit nest! Their eyes are still closed, but they're very active.
August 26, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Backyard rabbit nest! Their eyes are still closed, but they're very active.
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
A person who is used to covering for and enabling pedophiles would say this
Jordan on Ghislaine Maxwell Transcript: This confirms what we all knew: President Trump didn’t do anything wrong. This transcript confirms that. There’s nothing there based on this interview with Maxwell.
August 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
A person who is used to covering for and enabling pedophiles would say this
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
Swoon, US mixed media artist known for her street art and who specializes in life-size prints and paper cut-outs of human figures #ReframingWomenPrintmakers
August 17, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Swoon, US mixed media artist known for her street art and who specializes in life-size prints and paper cut-outs of human figures #ReframingWomenPrintmakers
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
Wow. The University of Chicago, a world-class institution whose humanities faculty in the past has included Homi Bhabha & Lauren Berlant & Ralph Ellison & Hannah freaking Arendt, is getting rid of basically every graduate department involving the acknowledgment that other cultures & languages exist.
August 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Wow. The University of Chicago, a world-class institution whose humanities faculty in the past has included Homi Bhabha & Lauren Berlant & Ralph Ellison & Hannah freaking Arendt, is getting rid of basically every graduate department involving the acknowledgment that other cultures & languages exist.
Reposted by Robin Bernstein
Since search is dead, how soon do you think Google Scholar is headed for the Google Graveyard? I'm betting it's soon, and academia is NOT prepared
Google Scholar Is Doomed
Academia built entire careers on a free Google service with zero guarantees. What could go wrong?
hannahshelley.neocities.org
August 13, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Since search is dead, how soon do you think Google Scholar is headed for the Google Graveyard? I'm betting it's soon, and academia is NOT prepared