iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Fascists are going to fascist. If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, salutes like a duck, then .... Damn! WTF? Pardon my French. But, how can any true American support book bans in our nation's libraries?

pbs.org

Pentagon orders military to pull library books about diversity, anti-racism, gender issues

It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Sad and pathetic, but that's what the MAGA cultural revolutionaries want; they aim to destroy our cultural institutions and defund community efforts that are preserving and promoting local history. It's shameful. #AmeriCorps

apnews.com

AmeriCorps cuts prompt two dozen states to sue Trump administration

About two dozen states have sued the Trump administration over the dismantling of AmeriCorps. That's the 30-year-old federal agency for volunteer service.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

“Interior Sec. Doug Burgum signed away significant control of the Interior Department in a secretarial order Thursday night. The order gives a DOGE operative, Tyler Hassen, the power to oversee the Interior Department for “consolidation, unification and optimization of administrative functions.”

sfgate.com

Elon Musk's DOGE is now running America's national parks

A major shakeup in leadership is underway at the National Park Service, which is now run by DOGE.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

“It’s disturbing. These grants like ours are going to small museums who are doing good work in communities. And to think that the history of African Americans in the South, the history of slavery, does not align with the priorities of the United States is very concerning.” - Ashley Rogers

veritenews.org

Trump admin pulls Black history grants to Whitney Plantation

The federal government has terminated two grants for African American history and culture awarded to the Whitney Plantation, a museum aimed at memorializing slavery, as the Trump administration works ...

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

More of this, please. “The Japanese American National Museum will “scrub nothing,” Fujioka said, and instead will highlight the importance of DEI. “Our community is based on diversity, equity is guaranteed to us in the Constitution, and inclusion is what we believe in.”

latimes.com

Japanese American National Museum takes a stand against DOGE cuts to NEH

The National Endowment for the Humanities warned museums across the country that it was slashing funding, including money previously pledged to places such as LACMA and the Japanese American National ...

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

“Extensive changes were made to multiple NPS pages about the UGRR, and a landing page directing children to educational materials about it has been offline since last month. Since 1998, the NPS has been required by federal law to recognize the UGRR and to produce educational materials about it.”

washingtonpost.com

Amid anti-DEI push, National Park Service rewrites history of Underground Railroad

Since Trump took office, the park service, an agency charged with preserving American history, has changed how its website describes key moments from slavery to Jim Crow

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

"Ohio law requires Miami to have 10 tenure-tracked faculty allotted to teach at the center. The Center will be an independent academic unit within Miami's College of Arts and Sciences. State law says no faculty outside the center can have the authority to block any of its faculty hires."

wvxu.org

Miami University selects leader for state-mandated 'intellectual diversity' center

Miami University says Flagg Taylor will be responsible for developing courses for the center and hiring its faculty.

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

Thomas Padilla @thomaspadilla.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Like many others I am dismayed by the effort to end IMLS. I know IMLS matters to so many people. I put together the following site to collect and share stories of how "IMLS matters" to people. Please consider submitting a story. forms.gle/MAocZZMsoUu7... imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/

forms.gle

IMLS Matters

Responses to this form will be published at https://imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · 03/04/2025

Every hundred years

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Karin Wulf @kawulf.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

A clearinghouse for gathering info on NEH (see second post) and a toolkit for advocacy. ⬇️

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

Dorothea Lange @dorothealange.mastodon.ozioso.online.ap.brid.gy · 04/04/2025

Campus of University of California, Berkeley, California. Students assembling for Peace Day address of General Smedley Butler #California #PeaceDay #SmedleyButler #undefined #photography #DorotheaLange www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017771855

A black and white photograph depicting a large crowd, possibly of students or military personnel walking down a street lined with trees. The photo seems to have been taken on March 1st, judging by the date noted in the upper left corner. It features several individuals wearing various types of uniforms, suggesting some sort of organized gathering or march.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Among the grants canceled was one helping fund a documentary about the Underground Railroad in southern Ohio. Defunding NEH is a devastating blow to local history societies, museums, colleges, and universities. Our cultural heritage is being sacrificed to provide tax cuts for American oligarchs.

wosu.org

Ohio Humanities receives notice its federal grant funds are 'terminated'

State humanities councils were established by Congress about 50 years ago to make sure National Endowment for Humanities funds made it to smaller communities and organizations.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Folks are going to freeze to death next winter if #HEAP funding is eliminated. #Fact

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Picked a great time to teach my Practicing Public History course. With Executive Orders impacting the practice and profession on the daily, the field definitely appears more dynamic than ever, but its prospects (and public funding), in the short term, look very dark. #KeepHistoryAlive

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

No surprise these cuts are hitting Appalachia hard, but politically you gotta wonder how well this is going to go over with some of his base in the region. Nothing more dangerous than an Appalachian betrayed.

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American Association for State and Local History @aaslh.org · 29/03/2025

AASLH and the @ncph.bsky.social will hold a joint conference in 2026. Save the date to join us in September in Providence, Rhode Island to explore public history and "The Work of Revolution." We will begin accepting proposals for this conference in July.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Trump's EO "hints at the return of statues and monuments of Confederate figures, many of which were taken down or replaced around the country after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 and the rise of the BLM movement, which is detested by Trump and other conservatives."

apnews.com

Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with 'improper ideology'

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on the Smithsonian Institution that targets funding to programs that contain what he calls “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology.”

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

"Like detective work, doing history is a rigorous, complex, and ongoing process. .... Attempting to disregard this process and instead promote a false, sanitized narrative hinders our efforts to become a more perfect union through the study of the nation’s past." #AASLH

aaslh.org

Defending Our Full, Shared History at the Smithsonian and National Park Service

Yesterday, President Trump issued an executive order that attempts to dictate what history is shared at Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service sites. The order seeks to replace evidence-bas...

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

And so begins the destruction of higher education in Ohio. Can’t wait to see how students respond to being required by the government to read 5 complete Federalist Papers.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

I will not go silently. I will not stop teaching the truth about American history in all its glory and all its blemishes. Learning from our past is what enables us to understand the present and face our problems with the courage needed to maintain our constitutional republic.

whitehouse.gov

Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.

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Clint Smith @clintsmithiii.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

They are arresting people on the streets, terminating their visas, and disappearing them for writing things they disagree with. This is where we are. Two months in. Right now. If you think they won’t begin coming after citizens soon, you are mistaken.

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

David DeWitt @daviddewitt.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

New Editor Commentary: A nation abandoning academic freedom, policing thought in the classroom, persecuting freedom of expression on campus, dismantling education, ripping down its own pillars of research, this is a nation in the wild-eyed throes of moronic and shameful madness.

buff.ly

A moronic, shameful low: Attacks on freedom of thought and expression in Ohio and American education • Ohio Capital Journal

A nation abandoning academic freedom, policing freedom of thought in the classroom, persecuting freedom of expression on campus, dismantling education, and ripping down its own pillars of…

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

John Ullyot, Pentagon Press Secretary, argues that Jackie Robinson's blackness should not be included in accounts of his heroism, dedication, and courage. Colorblindness like this erases the history and the struggle that Americans have fought to expand liberty and equality in the US.

apnews.com

Defense Department webpage on Jackie Robinson goes down, then returns amid DEI purge

A Department of Defense webpage describing baseball and civil rights icon Jackie Robinson’s military service has been restored.

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

Dorothea Lange @dorothealange.mastodon.ozioso.online.ap.brid.gy · 19/03/2025

"Victory through Christ" Society holding its Sunday Morning Revival in a garage. Dos Palos, California. Testimony: "He's such a wonderful savior, Glory to God. I'm so glad I came to home. Praise God. His love is so wonderful..." #DosPalos #California #photography #DorotheaLange

This black and white photograph captures a moment of revival at the Victory through Christ Society in Dos Palos, California. A woman stands with her arms raised high above her head, exuding passion as she speaks to an attentive audience seated on benches around her. The setting is simple yet reverent: a wooden barn door serves as the backdrop for this scene, and sunlight filters into the room, casting shadows that add depth to the image. Onlookers appear engaged in their spiritual experience, with some looking up at the woman while others focus ahead or converse among themselves. The photograph exudes an atmosphere of devotion and communal worship within a humble setting.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Apparently the history of the great Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson is “too woke” for Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Defunding the #IMLS - Institute for Museum and Library Services - is a blow to US information technology, not just your local museums, public libraries, and research archives. IMLS funded the development of OMEKA, which is the software basis of the Scioto Historical mobile app. #IMLSgrant

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Among the historical walking tours that were scrubbed from the Arlington National Cemetery website on the orders of President Trump included one on "Women's Military Service," which honored among others, Frieda Hardin, who is recognized as Scioto County's First Female Veteran for her service in WWI.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Trump defunds libraries and archives. “An executive order issued by the Trump administration on Friday night, March 14, calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries.”

ala.org

ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services

An executive order issued by the Trump administration on Friday night, March 14, calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s only federal agency for America...

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Spent the day in Cbus, pitching an Underground Railroad mural project on behalf of the City of Portsmouth to a panel of funders hosted by the Ohio Governor’s Office for Appalachia. Fingers crossed! 🤞 #publichistory #undergroundrailroad #appalachia #portsmouthohio

Selfie of white man with glasses, wearing a tie and coat

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

“Effective immediately after this sentence, the university will no longer use the word “trans” since that’s not really a thing. (The history department has informed us that [REDACTED] people do exist and always have.) The history department has been dissolved.”

mcsweeneys.net

Changes Our University Is Making to Pre-Comply with Possible Future Regulations

“[T]he University of North Texas administration recently censored the content of more than two hundred academic courses, including by mandating the...

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

“The problem is I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States. …. you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. …. But once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful.”

podcasts.apple.com

Trump Screams at Zelenskyy in Oval Office Meltdown

Podcast Episode · The MeidasTouch Podcast · 02/28/2025 · 19m

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

The NFL Spartans story as it has never been told before! Foothill Features at WOUB Public Media kicked it straight through the uprights with this one! Bonus: in-depth interview with yours truly. #NFLspartans #portsmouthspartans #detroitlions #ironmen #shawneestateuniversity #explorescioto

youtu.be

WOUB Foothill Features - The Iron Men: Portsmouth, Ohio's NFL Legacy

YouTube video by woubpbs

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

This morning at Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HQ in DC as mandatory return to office began, this video played on loop for ~5 mins on screens throughout the building, per agency source. Building staff couldn’t figure out how to turn it off so sent people to every floor to unplug TVs.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

“This ruling is a crucial victory for higher education and academic freedom and also vindicates the legitimacy of the efforts by individuals, institutions, and organizations nationwide to foster inclusion in ways that have been uncontroversially legal for decades.”

democracyforward.org

Judge Halts Implementation of Trump Anti-DEIA Executive Orders Nationwide in Suit Filed by Higher Education Officials, Restaurant Workers, City of Baltimore - Democracy Forward

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

Semafor @semafor.com · 17/02/2025

🟡 SCOOP: The New York Times is greenlighting the use of AI for its product and editorial staff, saying that internal tools could eventually write social copy, SEO headlines, and some code.

semafor.com

New York Times goes all-in on internal AI tools

The company said it was greenlighting a number of AI programs for editorial and product staff.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Will the NEH survive DOGE and Trump’s budget cuts? Or will it be kept around to fund only “patriotic educational” programming? If @tadstoermer.bsky.social is right, NEH funding will continue, but it won’t fund the type of programming that respects and reflects the true diversity of our nation.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

"S.B. 1 would ban diversity and inclusion efforts, prevent faculty from striking, set rules around classroom discussion, put diversity scholarships at risk, shorten board of trustees terms from nine years down to six years, and require students take an American history course, among other things."

ohiocapitaljournal.com

Ohio’s proposed higher education overhaul bill and the integrity of history • Ohio Capital Journal

The kind of government control over university faculty proposed in Ohio Senate Bill 1's higher education overhaul is more appropriate for authoritarian regimes, such as the Soviet Union, than a mature...

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

This ain't right. But these are the federal workers that MAGA and MUSK have come to blame for all our woes. Trump 2.0 is finally giving MAGA what they crave -- mass firings of government workers by their main man whose TV show motto was "You're Fired."

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Trophy worthy. Perhaps Portsmouth, Ohio’s oddest and most thought-provoking exhibit is the last passenger pigeon seen in Scioto County, shot by Arthur H. Bannon c. 1882. Now on display in the Local History Dept. Of the Scioto Co. Public Library. #publichistorypost #extinctbird #PortsmouthOhio

Taxidermy display of a passenger pigeon under a glass dome.

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Reposted by Andrew Feight, Ph.D.

God @thegodshow.com · 15/02/2025

Good news, everyone! You get to do whatever you want! As long as you say you were trying to save the country, it’s all legal now.

“He who saves his Country does not violate the Law.” - Donold Trump

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Getting excited for this "feature" to drop on WOUB in the next week or so! The full-length feature will be over 17-minutes long and includes an in-depth interview with yours truly. #NFLhistory #PortsmouthSpartans #DetroitLions #Ironmen #PortsmouthOhio

youtube.com

WOUB Foothill Features Promo: The Iron Men: Portsmouth, Ohio’s NFL Legacy

YouTube video by woubpbs

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Then they came for the archivists....

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Dive Into Discovery @diveintodiscovery.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

On Feb 7, 1926, Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week to promote the study of African American history. This laid the foundation for Black History Month, honoring the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Black Americans. #StayCurious #Skystorians #DiveIntoDiscovery #BlackHistory

Carter G. Woodson – The Father of Black History

A distinguished black-and-white portrait of Carter G. Woodson, the renowned historian, author, and educator often referred to as the “Father of Black History.” In this photograph Woodson is dressed in a formal dark suit, complemented by a white collared shirt and a patterned tie. His facial expression is serious yet contemplative, reflecting the profound intellectual depth and unwavering determination that defined his life’s mission. This image represents more than just a photograph of a scholar—it is a visual encapsulation of Woodson’s commitment to ensuring that African American history was properly documented, studied, and integrated into mainstream narratives. Born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents in Virginia, Woodson overcame significant systemic barriers in education. His pursuit of knowledge led him to earn a doctorate from Harvard University in 1912, making him the second African American to achieve this milestone, after W.E.B. Du Bois. Recognizing the absence of Black history in educational institutions and mainstream scholarship, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in 1915. His research debunked the myths of racial inferiority perpetuated by historical exclusion and emphasized the critical role of African Americans in shaping the nation. This culminated in his establishment of Negro History Week in 1926, an initiative that would later evolve into Black History Month. Woodson’s work fundamentally changed the way history was studied and taught, challenging both academic institutions and the public to acknowledge the significant contributions of Black Americans. His legacy continues to inspire historians, educators, and activists dedicated to the pursuit of historical truth and cultural pride. His stern yet resolute gaze in this portrait reminds us of the urgency and importance of historical preservation in an era where marginalized histories are often overlooked.

Carter G. Woodson’s Vision – The Origins of Negro History Week

A historically significant visual featuring Carter G. Woodson’s portrait placed alongside a powerful quote highlighting his belief that Black history was being “overlooked, ignored, and even suppressed” in textbooks and classrooms. The textured background, filled with archival documents and historical excerpts, reinforces the urgency of Woodson’s mission to rectify this systemic erasure. The quote encapsulates Woodson’s deep conviction that history should not be manipulated to uphold racial superiority but should instead serve as a tool for empowerment. This image commemorates Woodson’s establishment of Negro History Week in 1926, a pioneering effort to bring African American history into educational curricula and broader public discourse. Recognizing the deep-seated racial biases in academia, Woodson aimed to provide Black students and communities with historical narratives that reflected their own contributions and struggles. By strategically placing Negro History Week in February, aligning with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, he sought to create a bridge between Black history and mainstream American historical recognition. The image also emphasizes the broader impact of his work, as Negro History Week later expanded into Black History Month in 1976, gaining official federal recognition. This milestone signified the widespread acknowledgment of African American contributions to society, yet Woodson’s original message remains as relevant today as it was then. His belief in self-reliance and education as tools for liberation echoes throughout generations. The visual serves as an educational reminder of why Black History Month exists today, urging us to continue his fight for historical accuracy and inclusivity in all educational institutions.

Negro History Week Pamphlet – A Call for Historical Recognition

An aged, yellowed pamphlet titled Negro History Week: A National Celebration serves as a testament to Carter G. Woodson’s meticulous efforts in institutionalizing Black history education. Printed in a formal serif typeface, the pamphlet lays out the objectives and action items for organizing the observance of Negro History Week in communities, schools, and libraries. The structured layout details specific steps, including forming committees to promote the week’s activities, petitioning school boards to incorporate Black history into curricula, and raising funds to purchase books about African American achievements. The text underscores the importance of preserving and sharing Black history as a means of fostering cultural pride and dismantling historical inaccuracies. Woodson believed that if African Americans understood their true history, they would be empowered to challenge racial oppression and systemic inequality. The pamphlet also calls for the collection of family histories and local narratives to ensure that every aspect of Black heritage is documented and celebrated. The formality of the language reflects the seriousness of Woodson’s endeavor, appealing to educators, students, and community leaders to take an active role in shaping how history is taught. The historical significance of this document is immense—it marks a turning point in the recognition of Black contributions to American history. It demonstrates the grassroots nature of Woodson’s movement, which relied on collective community action rather than institutional endorsement. The establishment of Negro History Week was not just about remembering the past; it was a call to action for future generations to demand representation, justice, and truth in historical narratives.

Negro History Week Gains Recognition in Popular Media

A preserved 1953 newspaper page from New York Teacher News dedicated to the celebration of Negro History Week, illustrating its increasing impact on education and public awareness. The prominent headline, The New Negro, references the Harlem Renaissance-era philosophy advocating for racial pride, self-expression, and defiance against discrimination. The article highlights how the observance of Negro History Week was gaining traction in schools, thanks to the efforts of Black educators and civil rights activists. A central photograph of W.E.B. Du Bois, a towering intellectual figure in African American history, reinforces the link between historical scholarship and activism. The text discusses the necessity of teaching Black history as an essential component of the fight for civil rights, as understanding the past is crucial to dismantling racial injustices in the present. A section titled Negroes of the Year spotlights influential Black figures who had made significant contributions in law, education, and civil rights, illustrating the breadth of Black excellence that Woodson sought to highlight. The inclusion of a “Negro History Quiz” suggests that public engagement with Black history had expanded beyond academic circles, reaching a wider audience through the media. This newspaper page is a powerful example of how Carter G. Woodson’s efforts continued to influence educational discourse decades after he launched Negro History Week. It underscores the growing recognition that Black history is an indispensable part of American history. This image reflects the legacy of Woodson’s work—his fight against historical exclusion had sparked a national conversation, one that still continues today in the form of Black History Month.

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Andrew Feight, Ph.D. @andrewfeight.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Like good wine from 1981:“Have you heard it on the news/About this fascist groove thang?/Evil men with racist views/Spreadin' all across the land/Don't just sit there on your ass/Unlock that funky chaindance/Brothers, sisters, shoot your best/We don't need this fascist groove thang”

youtu.be

[We Don't Need This] Fascist Groove Thang (Remastered 2006)

YouTube video by Heaven 17 - Topic

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