A third thing-I-planned-to-do but never did: write an overview of labor history for 17c/18c North America, a book-length version of my article “Good Hands, Stout Hearts, and Fast Feet.” Commissioned by Eric Foner for Hill & Wang Books. I was too busy with *The Many Headed-Hydra*.

Coming in September 2026, a translation into German of my book *Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea*, courtesy of Assoziation A based in Berlin. www.assoziation-a.de/buch/freihei...

Another thing-I-planned-to-do but never did: in 1990 Robin Blackburn invited me to conduct a set of interviews with the great historian Christopher Hill, to be published by Verso Books. The modest Christopher did not want to talk about himself so I relented. I wish I hadn’t. This is a real regret.

One of those things-I-planned-to-do but never got around to: review Bernard Bailyn’s White Atlantic trilogy on the “peopling of America,” especially *The Barbarous Years*, under the title, “Waiting for the Barbarians.”

I have been studying the Atlantic and its workers for almost fifty years now – a vast historic space of deadly repression and heroic resistance, its sea-bed an unmarked cemetery for millions. These many decades later it still whispers stories to me, especially when it is in this mood.

A new book by my friend Sharon Salinger, just published by University of Virginia Press: *Perceived in Print: Indigenous American and French Ideas of the Other*. I have known Sharon for decades and she is truly an outstanding historian. Can’t wait to read it! www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10207/

My film with Tony Buba, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, will be screened tomorrow, June 27, in the Sam Yan Film Festival in Bangkok, Thailand. It is an honor to be able to bring the story of the radical abolitionist Lay to viewers in Thailand, thanks to Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal.

Just finished one of the best novels I’ve read in years: *Ghost-Eye* by my friend @amitav.bsky.social. It’s riveting from beginning to end in its vivid storytelling, driving dramatic tension, and radical environmental message. Highly recommended! us.macmillan.com/books/978037...

Happy Juneteenth, everyone. Glad to see that @beaconpress.bsky.social is offering a 40% discount on several relevant books, including our own new *The Black Schooner: Rebellion on the Amistad, A Graphic Novel*, about the revolt on the Amistad slave schooner in 1839. www.beacon.org/The-Black-Sc...

I just learned that Carlo Ginzburg, one of the great historians of our time, has passed away at age 87 in Bologna. I had the good fortune to work with Carlo several times. He was driven by a fierce curiosity. I will write about him in my forthcoming book on the history of “history from below."

Now reading, a magnificent book by my friend and colleague Larry Glasco, a life’s work devoted to understanding one of the greatest American playwrights, *August Wilson’s American Century*, published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Highly recommended! upittpress.org/books/978082...

Publication day! Our new book, *The Black Schooner: Rebellion on the Amistad, A Graphic Novel*, is published today by @beaconpress.bsky.social — our fourth such “history from below.” It’s a dramatic, deeply human story, brilliantly illustrated, about the epic themes of slavery and resistance.

Honored to work with New Orleans-based artist Marcus Brown on his new augmented reality art memorial entitled “Docks Noirs,” on the Black maritime workers who helped thousands escape slavery by sea, opening on Juneteenth in NYC, At right are sailor-abolitionist David Ruggles and Frederick Douglass.

Thinking of my uncle, Ted Robertson (1942-1999), the coolest guy in the world, I thought as a kid. He rode big motorcycles, jumped out airplanes as a paratrooper, made money as a pool shark, and was a well-known Western artist, based in New Mexico. Here is a self-portrait from 1982.

I hope teachers at all levels will request a desk copy or an examination copy of our new graphic novel *The Black Schooner*, to be published next week, June 9, by Beacon Press. Follow the link below. penguinrandomhousehighereducation.com/book/?isbn=9...

Calling all teachers, middle school, high school, community college, and universities: consider using our graphic novels in your teaching next fall. We have radical abolitionist Benjamin Lay; pirates; the New York Afro-Irish revolt of 1741; and the Amistad Rebellion. www.beacon.org/cw_contribut...

I was interviewed by Joan Cebrian about “history from below” for a new journal, *Ráfec,* published in the Catalán language. (Read it by using Google Translate.) I talk about themes from from my next book, “History from Below: The Making of a Radical Tradition.” revistarafec.com/entrevista-a...

A thrilling memory. When I was 7 years-old I attended a baseball game with my father in Cleveland and got a foul ball by the great Cuban player Minnie Minoso, one of my favorite athletes of all time and later elected to the Hall of Fame. My father later got Minnie to sign it. Anyone remember him?

Next week Tony Buba and I will screen our film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, four times in the Philadelphia area, from May 29-June 1; information below. All screenings are free and open to the public. Please join us and help spread the word!

Grateful to Sam E. Anderson, former member of SNCC and the Black Panther Party, and the Pan-African *Pambazuka News*, for one of the best reviews of *Freedom Ship* so far: “an essential, inspiring, and necessary correction to the North American historical record.” www.pambazuka.org/index.php/Fr...

A few years ago Peter Linebaugh and I visited the Communards’ Wall at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, where 166 fighters for the Paris Commune were executed on May 28, 1871. Sacred ground.

A strange use of history from below: Madonna channeling early 19c London beggar Joseph Johnson with a ship on her head at the Met Gala yesterday.

Happy Mayday everyone! It was my pleasure last evening to hear Peter Linebaugh speak about “Mayday and the Commons” at Cooper Union in NYC. On the screen behind him are early 19c gleaners, women commoners who collected leftover crops after the main harvest.

Just watched Werner Herzog’s latest film, *Ghost Elephants*, and wanted to recommend it to everyone. Available on Hulu. It is a philosophical film about the relationships among humankind, the animal world, and Western/African forms of knowledge.

Save the dates! Tony Buba and I will screen our new documentary film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, four times in the Philadelphia area in late May/early June 2026. Thanks to Lee Hall for helping to organize the events and for making the poster.

Later today, at 2:00 pm, I’ll hold a conversation with Dr. Omar Ali about my book *Freedom Ship* for Let’s Learn, a free online learning/teaching community. Scan the QR code below and join us!

Yesterday I had lunch with a former student of mine, Julius Page, who was a high-flying, All-Big East basketball player during Pitt’s glory years. He has now published a book *One Who Knows* about his own journey and works in education to help underprivileged, at-risk children. Very proud of him.

What a tremendous pleasure it has been to make a second film with this guy, the legendary filmmaker Tony Buba. Here we are onstage Saturday at the premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, which was screened at the Carnegie One Library in Braddock. Thanks for everything, Tony.

We had a blast with the 300 family members, friends, co-workers, comrades, colleagues, and the people of Braddock and Pittsburgh who showed up yesterday for the world premiere of *Becoming Benjamin Lay* at the Carnegie Library in Braddock. Thanks to all who attended!

We have the first review of our new documentary film, *Becoming Benjamin Lay*, written by Jordan Snowden for the *Pittsburgh Review of Books*, and it’s a good one! Join us tomorrow (Saturday, April 11) for the premiere at the Carnegie Library in Braddock, 4:00 pm. pghrev.com/becoming-ben...