Cory James Young
@coryjamesyoung.bsky.social
assistant professor of history at UIowa | personal account | northern slavery, legal history, Black America | i ♥️ WNY
Pinned
Project MUSE - Hereditary Term Slavery and the Pursuit of Restitution in Antebellum Pennsylvania
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muse.jhu.edu
I contributed this article to a special issue of the Journal of the Early Republic on "Free State" slavery. It previews one of my book's principle interventions: the concept of hereditary term slavery during the age of gradual abolition.
It is a privilege to appear in print with my co-contributors.
It is a privilege to appear in print with my co-contributors.
Reposted by Cory James Young
When you've even got Bucks County and Delco joining an amicus brief to oppose your efforts to erase the history of slavery, you know you've fucked up. whyy.org/articles/phi...
Philly suburbs seek to assist lawsuit over slavery exhibit removal
“Our history is imperfect,” said Delco Council Chair Richard Womack, “but it is ours, and the federal government can’t rewrite it or ignore it the moment they find it inconvenient.”
whyy.org
February 13, 2026 at 1:05 PM
When you've even got Bucks County and Delco joining an amicus brief to oppose your efforts to erase the history of slavery, you know you've fucked up. whyy.org/articles/phi...
Reposted by Cory James Young
Habeas corpus actions are the ancient common law writ used to create a legal action to sue for freedom. They were crucial in the early-nineteenth-century efforts to challenge slavery.
This graph showing “habeas cases” suddenly leaping in 2025 —
is terrifying.
dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/
This graph showing “habeas cases” suddenly leaping in 2025 —
is terrifying.
dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/
February 10, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Habeas corpus actions are the ancient common law writ used to create a legal action to sue for freedom. They were crucial in the early-nineteenth-century efforts to challenge slavery.
This graph showing “habeas cases” suddenly leaping in 2025 —
is terrifying.
dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/
This graph showing “habeas cases” suddenly leaping in 2025 —
is terrifying.
dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/
Reposted by Cory James Young
Struggle is not the goal.
It’s the method.
To get free.
Too many people imagine struggle is the goal, so any acts of worldbuilding that prefigure freedom are dismissed as incidental, as distractions.
It’s the method.
To get free.
Too many people imagine struggle is the goal, so any acts of worldbuilding that prefigure freedom are dismissed as incidental, as distractions.
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Struggle is not the goal.
It’s the method.
To get free.
Too many people imagine struggle is the goal, so any acts of worldbuilding that prefigure freedom are dismissed as incidental, as distractions.
It’s the method.
To get free.
Too many people imagine struggle is the goal, so any acts of worldbuilding that prefigure freedom are dismissed as incidental, as distractions.
Reposted by Cory James Young
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
February 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
Reposted by Cory James Young
Billie Holiday avoids making political statement, sings Strange Fruit instead
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
A rocking start to the Super Bowl.
pagesix.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Billie Holiday avoids making political statement, sings Strange Fruit instead
Reposted by Cory James Young
Today, in local news (paywalled alas)
Kelly Powers, “UD Removes Student Research on Slavery, Newark History amid Federal Pressure,” The News Journal, February 3, 2026,
www.delawareonline.com/story/news/e...
Kelly Powers, “UD Removes Student Research on Slavery, Newark History amid Federal Pressure,” The News Journal, February 3, 2026,
www.delawareonline.com/story/news/e...
UD removes student research on slavery, Newark history amid federal pressure
Over the past year, UD has reacted to pressure under a second Trump administration, while tuning a “long-term strategy” on campus inclusion.
www.delawareonline.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Today, in local news (paywalled alas)
Kelly Powers, “UD Removes Student Research on Slavery, Newark History amid Federal Pressure,” The News Journal, February 3, 2026,
www.delawareonline.com/story/news/e...
Kelly Powers, “UD Removes Student Research on Slavery, Newark History amid Federal Pressure,” The News Journal, February 3, 2026,
www.delawareonline.com/story/news/e...
The article gives an overview of 3 freedom suits that reached the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. An archivist colleague of mine just dug up the appeals papers for Frank's 1824 suit out of Pittsburgh, revealing that it was brought by the boy's stepfather.
The learning continues even after publication!
The learning continues even after publication!
I contributed this article to a special issue of the Journal of the Early Republic on "Free State" slavery. It previews one of my book's principle interventions: the concept of hereditary term slavery during the age of gradual abolition.
It is a privilege to appear in print with my co-contributors.
It is a privilege to appear in print with my co-contributors.
Project MUSE - Hereditary Term Slavery and the Pursuit of Restitution in Antebellum Pennsylvania
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.
muse.jhu.edu
February 3, 2026 at 6:45 PM
The article gives an overview of 3 freedom suits that reached the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. An archivist colleague of mine just dug up the appeals papers for Frank's 1824 suit out of Pittsburgh, revealing that it was brought by the boy's stepfather.
The learning continues even after publication!
The learning continues even after publication!
Reposted by Cory James Young
Paris prosecutors raid the French offices of Elon Musk’s X as part of an investigation into spreading child pornography and deepfakes.
Paris prosecutors raid X offices as part of an investigation into child porn, deepfakes and more
French prosecutors have launched a search at the offices of Elon Musk's social media platform X. This is part of an investigation into alleged offenses, including spreading child pornography and deepfakes.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Paris prosecutors raid the French offices of Elon Musk’s X as part of an investigation into spreading child pornography and deepfakes.
Reposted by Cory James Young
Somehow I waited until now to read Lewis Mumford. [A weird gap in my scholarly training perhaps?] Regardless, looking at the terrifyingly prescient "Authoritarian and Democratic Technics" (1964) for the first time. Its central exhortation matters like never before: "life cannot be delegated"
Authoritarian and Democratic Technics on JSTOR
Lewis Mumford, Authoritarian and Democratic Technics, Technology and Culture, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Winter, 1964), pp. 1-8
www.jstor.org
February 3, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Somehow I waited until now to read Lewis Mumford. [A weird gap in my scholarly training perhaps?] Regardless, looking at the terrifyingly prescient "Authoritarian and Democratic Technics" (1964) for the first time. Its central exhortation matters like never before: "life cannot be delegated"
Reposted by Cory James Young
One effect of the gendered split in the US political imagination, in which liberals are feminized and conservatives are masculinized, is that liberals’ opposition to the right is cast as disavowed sexual desire. Liberals secretly want fascism, in this view, the same way women secretly want rape.
I don’t know what I expected when I saw that Chris Rufo was taking on the “fascism canard” but lol
January 31, 2026 at 5:43 PM
One effect of the gendered split in the US political imagination, in which liberals are feminized and conservatives are masculinized, is that liberals’ opposition to the right is cast as disavowed sexual desire. Liberals secretly want fascism, in this view, the same way women secretly want rape.
Reposted by Cory James Young
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Cory James Young
Woke 2 is gonna be lit
January 28, 2026 at 7:52 AM
Woke 2 is gonna be lit
Reposted by Cory James Young
"The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone."
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 1:11 PM
"The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone."
Reposted by Cory James Young
the Minneapolis activists really have learned from 2020 too. they didn't try and fight the last battle again. extraordinary discipline.
January 27, 2026 at 12:17 AM
the Minneapolis activists really have learned from 2020 too. they didn't try and fight the last battle again. extraordinary discipline.
Reposted by Cory James Young
it is probably because they are responding to their earlier errors by taking positive action now, which helps defend their neighbors, rather than by retroactive reputation management in the Atlantic, which does not
January 26, 2026 at 1:48 PM
it is probably because they are responding to their earlier errors by taking positive action now, which helps defend their neighbors, rather than by retroactive reputation management in the Atlantic, which does not
Reposted by Cory James Young
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is funding the composition of a song about Charity and Sylvia, drawing from their letters. What a delightful story! 🗃️ #lesbianhistory #queerhistory
www.wcax.com/2026/01/23/v...
www.wcax.com/2026/01/23/v...
VSO to turn 19th-century Vermont same-sex love story into song
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra will create an original work about one of the earliest-documented same-sex couples in the United States.
www.wcax.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:17 PM
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is funding the composition of a song about Charity and Sylvia, drawing from their letters. What a delightful story! 🗃️ #lesbianhistory #queerhistory
www.wcax.com/2026/01/23/v...
www.wcax.com/2026/01/23/v...
Reposted by Cory James Young
There’s a rally going on in Boston rn and they’re chanting “we’re not cold, we’re not afraid, MN taught us to be brave!” and I might cry
January 25, 2026 at 12:34 AM
There’s a rally going on in Boston rn and they’re chanting “we’re not cold, we’re not afraid, MN taught us to be brave!” and I might cry
Reposted by Cory James Young
They have killed a poet and a nurse.
January 24, 2026 at 10:18 PM
They have killed a poet and a nurse.
Reposted by Cory James Young
Someone should do something
ICE out of Minnesota NOW.
Breaking News: Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a person in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, state and local officials said. Follow live updates.
January 24, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Someone should do something
Reposted by Cory James Young
MN protestors #protip put 2 Idaho Russets in the oven at 420 degrees for 45 min, take them out and foil wrap, 1 in each pocket before you go out. Theyll stay warm for 3-4 hours even in this weather and you can eat em when you like. They used to send us kids out like this back in the 70s trust me.
January 23, 2026 at 2:39 PM
MN protestors #protip put 2 Idaho Russets in the oven at 420 degrees for 45 min, take them out and foil wrap, 1 in each pocket before you go out. Theyll stay warm for 3-4 hours even in this weather and you can eat em when you like. They used to send us kids out like this back in the 70s trust me.
Reposted by Cory James Young
More than 400 years of history and a decade of advocacy were torn down Thursday afternoon when National Park Service employees removed every single display at the President’s House.
🔗 What's next? We explain: www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
🔗 What's next? We explain: www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
January 23, 2026 at 10:33 PM
More than 400 years of history and a decade of advocacy were torn down Thursday afternoon when National Park Service employees removed every single display at the President’s House.
🔗 What's next? We explain: www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
🔗 What's next? We explain: www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by Cory James Young
Reposted by Cory James Young
They are never, ever going to win in Minnesota.
January 23, 2026 at 8:56 PM
They are never, ever going to win in Minnesota.