Journalist – Historian – Speaker
When the anti-diversity memo by (now former) Google employee James Damore went viral, all I could think of was medieval brewing. In the memo, Damore argued that women as a gender just aren’t as mentally fit as men to be good programmers. Appropriately, the rebuttals to Damore have focused on two issues. First, he’s wrong on the science. …
Yesterday, Pacific Standard published a piece of mine on Naming Nazis. Please read and share! One general theme I’m noting a lot in the Trump era is a question of how we defend our principles. I wrote: Over the last few days, I’ve been struck by the ways in which the debate over naming Nazis mirrors …
I have a new interview up with Seanan McGuire, the awesome speculative fiction author. We talked about her new portal fantasy, Down Among the Sticks and Bones, her genre-queering approach to writing, and, of course, My Little Pony. ————— When you were a kid, what did you read, and what did you feel was missing …
I have a longform piece for Pacific Standard today. I’ve been working on it for about 6 weeks. Please read and share throughout your networks, if you are so inclined. TWs for abuse of children by authorities. “Why would a school cop in Florida throw a slender, autistic fourth-grade student to the ground? You might assume …
I’m contracted to write 6 columns a month for Pacific Standard Magazine. I might actually write more or less depending on how long they are, what news cycles require response, or whatever. But for January, I have now published 6 pieces. They are, in reverse order: Maria Town was the disability community liaison over the …
I wrote a story about my son watching the third Harry Potter movie, signing “deer” during the Patronus scene, and his engagement with stories. It’s a fairly serious piece, wrapped about some tearful and sweet moments, about presuming competence in an ableist world. Here’s why all this matters. Presuming competence is a fine concept, but …
I have a new piece at Pacific Standard, my first column for them since signing on as a regular contributor. It’s called, “The New Blood Libel.” It’s not the piece I expected to be writing. I thought I’d write first about DeVos and disability education under Trump, or maybe healthcare and mortal risks to vulnerable …
I am pleased to announce that I will be joining Pacific Standard as a regular internet columnist on politics and culture, starting in January. I will be producing reported features, opinion columns, interviews, and other pieces, focusing around history and disability rights, both construed as broadly as possible. Here’s my editor: .@PacificStand is pleased to …
New piece today at Pacific Standard on Nicholas Fifield, rape culture, and disability. The details, though, reveal a number ways in which this assault embodies some of the most dangerous aspects of American rape culture: the lack of consequences for sexual predators and the repeated victimization and dehumanization of rape victims. First, Fifield turns out to …