Colson Whitehead
@colsonwhitehead
Release the bats
I got good use out of these books while writing Cool Machine. Old heads may remember the old Loompanics catalog — I’m pretty sure these books were in there, back in the day.
Our car downloaded an “operating system” update and now it talks to me all fuckin’ the time. I yelled at it to shut the fuck up and it displayed this:
Tour time approaches on its little cockroach feet. Come on out if you feel empty inside — it won’t make you feel better, but sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house.
Another weird AI artifact: content sites that slap your name on slop articles. Apparently I’m a columnist on this site, and quite productive.
Hello! COOL MACHINE is coming your way July 21st. Perhaps I will see you at one of these clean and sanitary performance venues.
The green room bathroom of the Jackson WY Center for the Arts is an interesting place. Not pictured: the second fan.
I had to make some changes to my AI piece before the Times would print it (“we’re a family paper”). A German newspaper wants to rerun it, so I’d like to translate it back before they translate it into German:
Today’s march took the same Fifth Ave route as the 1917 anti-lynching Silent Parade, one of the first American civil rights protests. Both started at 59th, by General Sherman’s statue, and headed downtown. For more on the Silent Parade: hyperallergic.com/naacp-silent...
(Also Pepper returns and has adventures in the East Village art scene circa 1983, and there are dad jokes) (anyway you guys are nice, thanks for reading!)
Hard times spreading just like the flu / Watch out homeboy don’t let it catch you
I remember standing on this platform, 40 years ago, reading a paperback of “On the Road” and thinking, God, this guy is so corny.
On a nice concert streak at the moment. Kraftwerk—> Herb Alpert—> Gang of Four. All were great! Check out Gang of Four’s farewell tour if you can. They’re playing all of Entertainment, plus da hits.
Same as it ever was. Jimmy Breslin on the inauguration of Koch’s 3rd term. (From Jack Newfield & Wayne Barrett’s “City for Sale”)
Black History Month Salutes: Gerry Johnson of Flint, Michigan, who in 1968 became the first person to modify “turkey” with “jive.” The colorful insult remained in circulation for 16 years, until it was used by the “breakdancing grandma” character in the Joe Piscipo vehicle “Layin’ It Down.”
You: Timothée Chalamet really looks like Bob Dylan! Me: Is that orange and white steam pipe behind him period-authentic?
@davekehr.bsky.social Hey Dave Kehr, did you know I gave you a shout out in my book Crook Manifesto? When an arsonist-turned-blaxploitation filmmaker puts out a film and gets reviewed. I didn’t live in Chicago, but remember your Daily News days with much affection!
Wow, another impostor just popped up. Warning: if this guy DM’s you and says, “Mesa write fiction anna non fiction story,” it’s probably a scam. (Probably.)
Ugh, please report YET ANOTHER impersonator. Come on, Bluesky moderators, get it together. (Like my eyes are that big!)