Deborah McDowell's Avatar

Deborah McDowell

@dem8z.bsky.social

Reader, writer, teacher, gardener, seamstress, contrarian. Alice Griffin Professor of English, Former Director of Carter G. Woodson Institute, University of Virginia. Please, no DMs unless I know you. For professional matters, please contact me via UVA.

11,473 Followers  |  3,632 Following  |  3,461 Posts  |  Joined: 03.07.2023
Posts Following

Posts by Deborah McDowell (@dem8z.bsky.social)

Spanberger wasting little time stabbing Charlottesville in the back.

06.03.2026 15:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

safe to assume that someone who canโ€™t be mean to an unqualified venal rich guy extorting the university doesnโ€™t have the stones to prosecute our secret police

06.03.2026 12:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Of course they did this while the students are on break. Disappointing all around.

06.03.2026 14:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I shouldnโ€™t be surprised but here I am, surprised. And my 3rd year will be so dismayed.

06.03.2026 12:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
wall street journal headline: The Trillions of Dollars of U.S. Investment at Stake in the Gulf
Turmoil in the region stands to upset an increasingly profound economic relationship with the U.S.

wall street journal headline: The Trillions of Dollars of U.S. Investment at Stake in the Gulf Turmoil in the region stands to upset an increasingly profound economic relationship with the U.S.

Last year, the richest countries in the Persian Gulf pledged to pump trillions of dollars of investment into the U.S. in a bid to charm President Trump and strengthen ties.

Today that warm financial embrace is suddenly under stress.

โ€œWho gave you the authority to drag our region into a war?โ€ prominent Dubai businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor asked Trump in a post on X Thursday. The president, he said, placed the Gulf states โ€œat the heart of a danger they did not choose.โ€

Last year, the richest countries in the Persian Gulf pledged to pump trillions of dollars of investment into the U.S. in a bid to charm President Trump and strengthen ties. Today that warm financial embrace is suddenly under stress. โ€œWho gave you the authority to drag our region into a war?โ€ prominent Dubai businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor asked Trump in a post on X Thursday. The president, he said, placed the Gulf states โ€œat the heart of a danger they did not choose.โ€

how is it that so many smart (?) people forget (ignore) that not only does ๐ŸŒฎ destroy everything he touches but also that this is doubly true for his business partners. surprised pikachu face...
WSJ 06Mar26

06.03.2026 15:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I fully agree, but this is clearly the current state of affairs, and itโ€™s outrageous!!

06.03.2026 15:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

You canโ€™t run a country or institution on the principle of no consequences for anyone, anytime, anywhere when they break the rules.

06.03.2026 12:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Without a doubt.

06.03.2026 15:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"Mistake" doesn't seem to me quite right. "Coup" or "putsch" maybe.

06.03.2026 13:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Beardsley has both The Carlyle Group and McKinsey on his resume. Ewww.

06.03.2026 14:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
UVA Board of Visitors confirms the Scott Beardsley mistake Augusta Free Press provides breaking news and sports coverage for Waynesboro, Va., Virginia and across the United States and the world.

augustafreepress.com/news/spanber...

06.03.2026 10:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 16    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 7

Don't get distracted by Noem's ouster. Just cuz Reinhard Heydrich was out in '43 didn't mean the SS didn't keep doing horrific things.

06.03.2026 10:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 28    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

โ€œThe Trump coin scam is the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done. Not close.โ€

26.04.2025 19:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 22    ๐Ÿ” 11    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
Preview
'A deep embarrassment': White House sparks outrage with latest Iran 'propaganda' video Political analysts and observers were outraged on Thursday after the White House posted its most recent "propaganda" video about the Iran war. The White House published a montage of strikes against Ir...

'A deep embarrassment': White House sparks outrage with latest Iran 'propaganda' video

www.rawstory.com/trump-iran-2...

06.03.2026 10:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
a man sitting at a table with his hand on his chin ALT: a man sitting at a table with his hand on his chin

I saw an article talking about the โ€œracism problem in NASCARโ€ and just started LMAO.

Those years of hundreds of confederate flags in the stands didnโ€™t give you a clue before now?

06.03.2026 10:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Struck by this description, which is textbook autocrat behavior.

06.03.2026 10:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

I canโ€™t think of a more DISGUSTING politician than Trump. There are so many real MFRS in office right now, & all them are Republicans. Oh, & the WTF democrat Fetterman.

06.03.2026 10:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 35    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

An original Nashville sit-in member, along with Diane Nash, James Bevel, and John Lewis. Trained in non-violence by James Lawson. At age 21, he signed a will before the Freedom Rides, knowing he could die.

May his soul be at peace, and may we all have such courage in the face of oppression.

05.03.2026 23:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1676    ๐Ÿ” 471    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 9    ๐Ÿ“Œ 5

While the US slides deeper into the Dark Ages, the European Medicines Agency has approved a vaccine that protects against both the flu & COVID.

05.03.2026 23:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 163    ๐Ÿ” 71    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Post image

www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03...

06.03.2026 01:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5515    ๐Ÿ” 2174    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 251    ๐Ÿ“Œ 104

YES!!!!

06.03.2026 01:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A great conversation.

06.03.2026 01:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Professor McCormack also discusses the role that high rates of administrative turnover plays in the manufactured instability of Black Studies programs and departments. Deans and provosts often come and go so quickly that itโ€™s hard to sustain institutional
memory.

06.03.2026 01:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

From what you describe, this is essential listening. Need to know how structures are weaponized against things nominally supported

06.03.2026 01:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I hope this webinar is being recorded and will be postedโ€”and circulated widelyโ€” following this event.

06.03.2026 01:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Professor Michael Brandon McCormack makes a series of critical points regarding the role institutions play in manufacturing the โ€œprecarityโ€ of Black Studies programs and departments through a series of intentional managerial decisions and mechanisms used historically to weaken Black Studies.

06.03.2026 00:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 28    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It breaks my heart that people like LaFayette, Jackson and so many others who gave everything in the 50's and 60's and beyond, had see what has become of this place.
RIP Bernard, and know that we will never give up the fight.

06.03.2026 00:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Sad news. He knew how to make good trouble. ๐Ÿ˜”

06.03.2026 00:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Bernard LaFayette, the advance man who did the risky groundwork for the voter registration campaign in Selma, Alabama, that culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, has died. https://cnn.it/4l9weqG

06.03.2026 00:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 237    ๐Ÿ” 96    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 11    ๐Ÿ“Œ 12