Derrick R. Spires

@drkmttr82.bsky.social

Scholar of 19c Black lit and culture. Lover of black speculative fiction. Curator of "Black Print": https://exhibits.library.cornell.edu/blackprint Author of "The Practice of Citizenship": https://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/15926.html

#NatKingCole and the Cost of the “Cool Pose" "[Cole] was always under the glare of the public eye — Whites waiting for him to crack; Black’s praying that he wouldn’t — in ways that were largely unprecedented for a Black American to that point." #BoTD medium.com/@tnimixtape/...

Nat King Cole and the Cost of the “Cool Pose” by Mark Anthony Neal

In his classic study, psychologist Richard Majors (with Janet Mancini Billson) writes, “Cool Pose is a distinctive coping mechanism that…

medium.com

The USPS is being threatened with massive layoffs and privatization. I made these postcards which—when mailed—will be seen by mail handlers, scanners, carriers and the recipient. I just printed 3,000 more. Order cheaply from halfletterpress.com or message me your email for the PDF to print them.

A black postcard design with white text reading:
TRUMP wants to KILL the US POSTAL SERVICE / Say NO to USPS PRIVATIZATIONThe back of a postcard with text reading:

The US Postal Service:
Is not motivated by profit.
Is mandated to provide service to every zip code 
including affordable service for rural areas.
Is used for mail-in ballots.
Is in the Constitution. (Read: ArtI.S8.C7.1 for
historical background on postal power.
Promotes Diversity and Inclusion:
Employees are 21% African-American; 8% Hispanic; 
8% Asian-American/Pacific Islander; 
.67% American Indian or Alaska Native.

You can:
Use USPS for shipping.
Buy stamps and use them.
Order from businesses that ship with USPS.
Stop ordering from Amazon.
Call your Representatives.
Find your reps by using www.5calls.org.
Tell postal workers you love them.
Tell postal workers you have their backs.