THREAD🧵During the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan in 1998 the world's most awarded + greatest individual figure skater, Surya Bonaly, performed the first back flip and LANDED ON ONE BLADE during an Olympics.
No Ilia Malinin WAS NOT THE FIRST.
Don't know about Surya Bonali? Glad you asked.
THREAD #OTD February 21, 1965 husband, father, freedom fighter and one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz or Malcolm X, was assassinated at the Audobon Ballroom in New York City.
Don't know about Malcolm X?
Glad you asked.
History teaches us a dictator has superpowers and is invulnerable to opposition ONLY until the moment he is not.
After his downfall, the collapse =always= looks inevitable.
He is only as powerful as the citizens he is oppressing believe he is.
Learn. This. Lesson. Now.
THREAD #OTD On January 26, 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff. Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher, would have been the first civilian to travel to space.
Don't know about the Challenger disaster?
Glad you asked.
THREAD 🧵"Negroes are human, not superhuman. Like all people, they have differing personalities, diverse financial interests and varied aspirations. There are Negroes who will never fight for freedom. There are Negroes who seek profit for themselves alone from the struggle." 1/4
THREAD 🧵"It’s time now for you and me to become more politically mature and realize what the ballot is for; what we’re supposed to get when we cast a ballot; and that if we don’t cast a ballot, it’s going to end up in a situation where we’re going to have to cast a bullet." 1/2
Malcolm X
"I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done."
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
The Boss has something to say.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKS...
I met the girl who would become my wife after High School also.
Seems to be a few things we share :)
THREAD🧵Author and filmmaker Oscar Micheaux was born January 22, 1884. He was the first Black person to write, produce, direct and own a film company, starting out with the novels he wrote.
Don't know about Oscar Micheaux?
Glad you asked.
THREAD On January 23, 1870 the US Army led by Major Eugene Baker massacred over 150 Blackfeet—most of whom were women, children, the elderly, and those suffering from disease— during the Bear Creek/Marias River/Baker massacre in Montana.
Don't know about this massacre?
Glad you asked.
You were a good-looking youngster!
It's no wonder you and I were both able to marry up!
I have been following you on the Bird App. I have been following your career and your achievements far longer. I am grateful to you as a sane voice, both in science and in politics. Please don't ever change.
Steal away. Public posts are meant to be public.
I am damn proud of Minneapolis and Minnesota. I lived there for forty years.
They are not complying. Minnesota will prevail. Trump and Noem will lose.
#ICEout.
THREAD🧵On January 14, 1963, after an overwhelming victory by Alabama voters, infamous racist and segregationist Gov. George Wallace, in his inaugural address, calls for "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."
Don't know about Gov. George Wallace?
Glad you asked.
THREAD🧵On December 21, 2025 Dr. Renfrew Christie, whose undercover work for the African National Congress was CRITICAL in destroying the apartheid regime's ability to make nuclear bombs, died.
Who was Renfrew Christie?
Glad you asked.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"On Service," an excerpt of his famous "Drum Major" speech.
youtu.be/WkRdj9L3wyE?...
After a day of service, nothing like going to SOLD OUT Burr Stadium at The Mecca, Howard v. Morehouse. (Howard won!) There's nothing, absolutely nothing, like the HBCU experience. #HU #YouKnow
@rwack.bsky.social @dcpetterson.bsky.social @almasuono.bsky.social @kitterface.bsky.social @harlinkearsley.bsky.social @deniseoliver-velez.bsky.social #History #OTD #BlackSky
I want everyone to google "night and fog."
This is where we are.
Thank you so much!
I haven't been on BlueSky for a while. I should have been. No excuses. Just lazy maybe.
I hope you're doing well. It's good to see you here! I hope I check in more often in the new year!
I've been active on the Bird App.
I've got some edits I have to do on my novel that I've been putting off. I need to tackle them. Thanks for guilting me into thinking about it.
:)
MLK Day is the one day each year Republicans pretend they don't hate everything about Black people.
THREAD 🧵On November 14, 1960 six-year-old Ruby Bridges was escorted by federal marshals in order to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, LA. This was done in the wake of SCOTUS Brown v. Board decision that mandated integrated schools.
Who was Ruby Bridges?
Glad you asked.
THREAD 🧵On December 11, 1917, the U.S. Army executed 13 Black soldiers who were court-martialed + denied an appeal. July 1917, the all-Black 3rd Infantry Battalion was stationed at Camp Logan, near Houston to guard white soldiers headed to Europe.
What was this mass execution?
Glad you asked.
Emperor Donald Nero wants to put his face on dollar coins.
I'm serious.
