Randy Gravitz (he/him/his)

An image of a smiling woman with short dark brown hair. The text below her reads "episode 54: Prithi Kanakamedala"

NEW! I talked with Prithi Kanakamedala about her new book BROOKLYNITES, the connections between public history and writing, and the challenges and privileges of writing while working at a community college. Listen here: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...

A History of Free Black Brooklyn | All Of It | WNYC Author Prithi Kanakamedala discusses her new book, 'Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough.'

Listen to Prithi Kanakamedala tell the stories of four families from Free Black Brooklyn communities in the 19th century on WNYC.

I don’t know much about the language of sexuality and identity but I’ll be damned if I won’t side with my Trans and Queer brothers/sisters and siblings throughout the Queer world. We are united in our disdain for MAGA and their ilk. (2/2)

In the lead up to the decision to legalize gay marriage I identified as a SAGE-Straight American for Gay Equality. In the assault on Trans/Queer official exclusion by the Trump Administration I will bellow loud and clear that I am a Straight Ally for Lesbian, Bi, Gay, TRANS and QUEER Equality (1/2)

Trump Administration Temporarily Mutes Federal Health Officials Scientific meetings were canceled, and research data on the bird flu outbreak was delayed, amid confusion over the directive.

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/h...

Winter is coming…

and now our government and agencies will be infected with this sinister bludgeoning of democratic norms and American founding values. (2/2)

Liberal Democrats were accused of creating a Deep State conspiracy. That was transference because the reactionary alt-right with its Project 2025 is in the process of creating just that thing that only existed in their twisted minds (1/2)

Beginning on January 20th I’m going to read Fire and Blood and slowly read all of George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire for as long as I can stretch out the Game of Thrones series of books instead of watching news about our Federal government.

The Opposite of Déjà Vu Exists And Is Even More Uncanny Repetition has a strange relationship with the mind.

flip.it/X_H3.V

Opinion | F.B.I. Checks of Trump Nominees Are Critical for the Nation’s Security With fewer and fewer checks on presidential power, we need rigorous congressional consideration of the incoming president’s team.

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/o...

Director's Book Club | Broward County Library Join Broward County Library Director Allison Grubbs in reading and discussing some of today’s hottest bestsellers! Read the book, then get together with Allison and other readers to talk about it.

I am in several book clubs because I like being told what to read. Allison Grubbs, Broward County Public Library Director, has a knack for choosing excellent titles for her book club. Check out the list of monthly picks.

www.broward.org/Library/Even...

400+ years after the "First Thanksgiving" most Americans have no idea that the Wampanoag people are still here. My tribe, the Aquinnah Wampanoag, is on Martha's Vineyard and we're still fighting for our land and rights. We’re also doing some cool stuff. 🧵👇 if you’d like to learn more & support us

We had a terrible President in 1865 also and I’d like to consider the lost opportunity of Reconstruction. (2/2)

We had a terrible President in 1865 also and I’d like to consider the lost opportunity of Reconstruction. (2/2)

Photo of 19 family members on the stairs in the foyer of my sisters house. Weber, Healy and Gravitz families.

I’m focused on social in social media. I’m pretty political but I’m mostly focused on books, authors and my family right now. My antidote to the MAGA Republican realignment is to bury my focus into books and the emancipation crisis of the period 1799-1850. (1/2)

My goal is 96 and I’ve finished #90. I hope to hit 100 by NYE

I misspoke. I will rotate and listen to 1/2 hour of each of 3-4 unfinished books during this hiatus. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is also what I’ll attempt to finish today. I’m also reading Rhapsody in Dreams by Stella May. It has been in my unfinished pile for over a year.

I have 5 days off. As usual I’ll be reading. First, I have to finish Liberty’s Chain about Abolition and the Jay family. Each day I will complete 1 unfinished book from my started and unfinished pile. Today is The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer.

When President Obama was President, on Facebook, in response to a mass shooting, gun nutz would ambush my wall with offensive comments. I left Twitter a long time ago because the culture there never suited me. Without people to bully keyboard warriors have nothing, rancor is their raison d’etre.

YouTube video by 101.9 KINK.FM Paula Cole - Amen (Bing Lounge)

youtu.be/thieO17sJHI

Social media needs to be engaged with moderation. I love social media but it can be an addictive procrastination tool. Today I must read about John, William and John II. Studying about slavery’s abolition fight in the 1830s-1840s is my resistance to contemporary Republican takeover of the US gov’t.

If the child on the left was old enough to pick cotton and the child on the right was old enough to attend Klan rallies, then today's children are old enough to learn about both of these and how they've led us to where we are today.

My father is a very Conservative Pro-Israel, anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, Hamas-Hating war hawk. I try very hard to insist to both sides of the Israeli-Arab conflict to STOP the massacring! I trust Chris Hayes and this murder of children is an abomination.

YouTube video by pmw8000 Murrow on McCarthy, no fear, 1954

Played this Murrow classic on the show today. The legendary CBS News journalist said this 70 years ago about McCarthy: “We will not walk in fear, one of another.”
youtu.be/vEvEmkMNYHY?...

This incredible woman has more courage than any Republican member of Congress. Representative-Elect Sarah McBride responds to the pathetic transgender bathroom ban just announced by the coward Mike Johnson.

Stock Cover of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire Book #1 Game of Thrones

Stock Cover of Liz Cheney ‘s Oath and Honor

Stock Photo of Stacey Abrams’ Lead From the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change

On January 20 I’m going to read and listen to Book #1 Game of Thrones. When I finish GOT Book 1, I’m going to buy and listen to Oath and Honor by Liz Cheney and then Lead From the Outside by Stacey Abrams.

There are no Republicans anymore in the party formerly known as GOP - it's a Trump MAGA party... they ousted the last old school Republicans. And to be honest, they are to be blamed - think the revered John McCain gave America Sarah Palin - arguably the first certificate idiot to be elevated...