I've always loved this quote from Gordon Davis on the democratic promise of Central Park (from Blackmar and Rosenzweig's great book)
Mason B. Williams
@masonbwilliams.bsky.social
Historian and associate professor at Williams College. My newest book, City of Fortune: Inequality and the Making of Contemporary New York, comes out with W.W. Norton on June 23.
Gordon Davis, a New York lawyer and civic leader who helped revive Central Park during his tenure as the city’s first Black parks commissioner, died on Sunday. He was 85. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/a...
Just a reminder that the concept of "Western civilization" developed in the late 19th century in the context of imperialism, the White Man's Burden, etc. Thirty years earlier Americans conceived of their country as being fundamentally different from Europe.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3w agoHegseth: "We need students of western civilization and the pillars of our republic. Leaders who understand the faith of Jerusalem, the philosophy of anthems -- Athens. The power of Rome, and the freedom of Philadelphia circa 1776."
This is a useful, interesting article, but it's worth asking why we focus so narrowly when talking about educational inputs. Like, there's another version of this article where the "solutions" for U.S. education are stuff like stable, decent housing www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...
30 Ideas for Fixing U.S. Schools, Ranked by Experts
Math and reading scores are in a decade-long slump. We asked three dozen experts: What could turn things around?
nytimes.com
We all have memories of that day. Here's mine, from the perspective of an overwhelmed journalist. Take care, everyone. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Sept. 11 and the Persistence of Memory (Gift Article)
Twenty-five years later, fleeting memories and indelible images still haunt those who lived through the attacks and their aftermath.
nytimes.com
Here's the podcast & video from me, @adambonica.bsky.social, and Osita Nwanevu for @bostonreview.bsky.social. Fun conversation. www.bostonreview.net/articles/whi...
Which Way, Democratic Party?
A conversation on the primaries, the establishment’s “moderation” obsession, and why the party needs social movements more than spreadsheets and scammy fundraising.
bostonreview.net
Glad to see that Johanna’s remarkable life will be preserved for posterity in The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/12/u...
Johanna Fernández, Historian of the Young Lords, Dies at 55
She wrote an award-winning book about the leftist collective, a Latino counterpart to the Black Panthers.
nytimes.com
To honor Johanna Fernandez @jeannetheoharis.bsky.social & colleagues at Brooklyn College are founding a student activism award in her name. Johanna was an exemplary scholar activist, as her work on the Young Lords shows. Please direct inquiries to Jeanne. Link to donate below tinyurl.com/5b3j7s89
Johanna was an amazing scholar, a wonderful, generous person, and a force for justice in the world 💔
Baruch History Department@baruchhistory.bsky.social · 3mo agoWith great sadness we report that @baruch.cuny.edu @thegraduatecenter.bsky.social @historygc.bsky.social Prof. Johanna Fernández passed away on July 30, 2026. We mourn her loss and celebrate her achievements and legacy: blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/history/?p=447
I am stunned to hear of the passing of the fierce, brilliant and principled scholar activist Johanna Fernandez. Johanna's scholarship will endure. She was a gem and the world is worse for her no longer being here. Rest in power, comrade.
I'm joining @zelizer.bsky.social 's great Substack The Long View this morning to talk City of Fortune. Starts at 10:30 -- julianzelizer.substack.com
The Long View | Julian Zelizer | Substack
Have we ever seen this before? Let's put the news in perspective and take the long view with political historian Professor Julian Zelizer. Click to read The Long View, by Julian Zelizer, a Substack pu...
julianzelizer.substack.com
City of Fortune is a month old today! Thank you to everyone who has read it, hosted me to talk about it, or just been in touch. If you'd be interested in discussing the political history of neoliberalism in NYC (in class, on a podcast, in an interview -- anything!) please be in touch!
Mason B. Williams@masonbwilliams.bsky.social · 4mo agoMy book is out today! City of Fortune tells the story of how, as it rebuilt after the 1970s, New York turned mid-century forms of inequality into contemporary ones -- and how NYers fought those transformations & preserved visions of a democratic city against great odds. wwnorton.com/books/978039...
This Is My Jail, my history of Cook County Jail in Chicago and the role of jails in mass incarceration, is in the @pennpress.bsky.social Fall 2026 catalog. It’s out in paperback this December. www.pennpress.org/978151282349...
A beautiful tribute to the great Mike Wallace by Peter-Christian Aigner, director of the Gotham Center (which Mike founded and guided) -- "Saying Goodbye to a Giant"
Some book news: -- I'll be on @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social on @wnyc.org starting around 11:10 a.m. to discuss it -- The @nytimes.com review is out: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/b... This generous review focuses on the role of conservatives; the book discusses liberals & the left at equal length
Conservatives Tried to Fix New York City. Here’s What Happened.
nytimes.com
Mason B. Williams@masonbwilliams.bsky.social · 4mo agoMy book is out today! City of Fortune tells the story of how, as it rebuilt after the 1970s, New York turned mid-century forms of inequality into contemporary ones -- and how NYers fought those transformations & preserved visions of a democratic city against great odds. wwnorton.com/books/978039...
My book is out today! City of Fortune tells the story of how, as it rebuilt after the 1970s, New York turned mid-century forms of inequality into contemporary ones -- and how NYers fought those transformations & preserved visions of a democratic city against great odds. wwnorton.com/books/978039...
City of Fortune
A powerful history of New York’s transformation from a city of middle-class aspiration to one of entrenched inequality., City of Fortune, Inequality and the Making of Contemporary New York, Maso...
wwnorton.com
Twelve years later, the NYPD is still not in compliance with the court orders from Floyd v. New York, the lawsuit that found the city's stop-and-frisk practices unconstitutional (by @reuvenblau.bsky.social, @thecity.nyc) www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/26/n...
NYPD Still Illegally Stopping New Yorkers 12 Years After Court Ruling, Monitor Finds
Illegal stops, missing paperwork and weak discipline remain widespread despite federal oversight.
thecity.nyc
I took a shot at placing Mamdani's victory in the long scope of New York City's political history -- in the most recent issue of @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social , alongside a bunch more essays by some really sharp people. www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-n...
Vital City | A New Era in New York City Political History?
Putting Mamdani’s huge win in perspective — from La Guardia to today
vitalcitynyc.org
This was an absolute blast--
Corinne Blalock@corinneblalock.bsky.social · 12mo agoLast week @lpenyc.bsky.social did an event on the political economy of NYC, "How NYC Became So Unequal" with @llchristyll.bsky.social, @masonbwilliams.bsky.social, & Gregory Louis & it was everything you hope an event will be--informative, entertaining, energizing! WATCH IT!! youtu.be/B8beobsDZfU