Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
@aadhum-umd.bsky.social
130 followers 65 following 14 posts
African-American + digital + experimental + humanities = #BlackDH at the University of Maryland :: Funded by the Mellon Fdn ✨🌱💜 https://linktr.ee/aadhum
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Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
percivalpenman.bsky.social
Man you know what… Black people 😩😭
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
profpewu.bsky.social
With a longer than expected hiatus from x, I finally activated my @bsky.app account, after attending a workshop with @rudyfraser.com hosted by @aadhum-umd.bsky.social this past week. Thank you Rudy taking us deeper into social media moderation than I've ever gone before and for the work you do.
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
You were excellent and we loved having you here. Don't be a stranger whenever you're in MD again - our doors are always open to you! 🌟
rude1.blacksky.team
So much love and gratitude for the @aadhum-umd.bsky.social team. Appreciated them inviting me to spread the good word about decentralized social media as a tool for community building

And as hosts—it was the 1st time I’ve been in a hacker/maker space and really felt seen. Support them & their work!
A goodie bag featuring MITH and AADhum merch as well as a 3d printed Blacksky tag, custom AADhum M&Ms, and an embroidery kit to make a fabric speaker. The cloth is a night sky. The bag says “To: Rudy, From: AADhum”
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
amplify285.bsky.social
Here at this @aadhum-umd.bsky.social workshop today, @rudyfraser.com is taking us under (I mean under) the hood to play with and learn about creating custom feeds in bluesky, in this case developing custom algorithms— thinking about weights and requirements, definitions and filtering the firehose. 😍
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
We’re on Day 2 of such an amazing time with @rudyfraser.com. Join us at 5:30PM @ 1104 Taliaferro Hall at UMD, College Park for the custom feeds workshop. (Free parking after 4pm!)
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
From #BlackTwitter to @blacksky.app - We are in for a treat w. 3 upcoming AADHum events w/ technologist, community organizer, & creator of Blacksky, @rudyfraser.com! RSVP here: go.umd.edu/blacksky
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
rude1.blacksky.team
Day 1 with @aadhum-umd.bsky.social was amazing. Introduced folks to @mmasnick.bsky.social’s Trust & Safety Tycoon. Great questions about building decentralized platforms and thinking through content moderation challenges.

And, and, aaaand — I soldered something for the first time!
MEET YOUR
MATERIALS
Conductive thread
We are using Karl Grimm silver-plated thread, but you can also use stainless steel conductive thread.
Regular thread
Embroidery needle
These needles are a little bigger and good for embroidering.
Embroidery hoop
This will keep the fabric tight as you sew.
Fabric
Cotton and felt work well, but you should experiment!
Beeswax
Very helpful to help thread your needle.
Amp
We're using a Adafruit Mono 2.5W Class D Amp with handy alligator clips, 1/8" jack, and battery pack all soldered in for easy testing. (See the back for instructions on how to make your own!)
GOOD VIBRATIONS
WHAT IS SOUND?,
Sound is a type of energy made when something vibrates.
If you hit a drum (or any other object), the air particles around it vibrate. The air carries this energy in all directions in the form of sound
When these waves of vibrating particles reach your ears, it causes the hair in your ears to vibrate, which your brain reads as sound.
Sound waves keep going until the energy dissipates or it is absorbed by another object. Your guide to soldering
By AADHum!

FABRIC SPEAKERS
Spark Workshop
May 22, 2018
liza stark // thesoftcircuiteer.net A wooden loom considered one of the first computers because the woven fabric can be interpreted as binary numbers
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
We’re on Day 2 of such an amazing time with @rudyfraser.com. Join us at 5:30PM @ 1104 Taliaferro Hall at UMD, College Park for the custom feeds workshop. (Free parking after 4pm!)
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
From #BlackTwitter to @blacksky.app - We are in for a treat w. 3 upcoming AADHum events w/ technologist, community organizer, & creator of Blacksky, @rudyfraser.com! RSVP here: go.umd.edu/blacksky
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
amplify285.bsky.social
Excellent audience question: how might the ethical and technical independence that undergirds #Blacksky be communicated its users? Fraser points us to this great explanatory thread by @msblis.bsky.social: bsky.app/profile/msbl...
msblis.blacksky.app
So what’s the biggest difference?

BlackSky is an app within BlueSky… let me say that again. Yes, it feels like the same app because BlackSky is an app built on BlueSky’s framework. But shout out to Rudy — he created the infrastructure that specifically protects Black culture.
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
amplify285.bsky.social
Love how Fraser turns directly to other on the ground work w/ mutual aid, which informs digital vision. Cites @tressiemcphd.bsky.social's desc of mutual aid: 'horizontal networks of solidarity,' quoting Matthew Whitley. Also, Dean Spade on distinction between non-profit work and mutual aid.
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
amplify285.bsky.social
Here we go! @rudyfraser.com is describing matters of representing/supporting Black communities on social media. Turns to technical infrastructure: open source, user support, & other considerations. Thinking about systems that are sustainable, and that can operate well into the future.
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
rude1.blacksky.team
Whether speaking to students in @drkalyncoghill.bsky.social’s class on Hashtag Activism or folks at @aadhum-umd.bsky.social yesterday, it’s always great to see the reactions when I mention that folks are building TikTok alternatives on atproto like @skylight.social 🖤
“Rudy Fraser talking decentralized social media and Blacksky~!”
Screenshot from AADhum story showing my content moderation workshop where I explain how Blacksky does atproto wide moderation no matter what app someone uses
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
So much fun having you here on Day 1! 🤩 We can’t wait to learn how to create & manage custom feeds w. you today
rude1.blacksky.team
Day 1 with @aadhum-umd.bsky.social was amazing. Introduced folks to @mmasnick.bsky.social’s Trust & Safety Tycoon. Great questions about building decentralized platforms and thinking through content moderation challenges.

And, and, aaaand — I soldered something for the first time!
MEET YOUR
MATERIALS
Conductive thread
We are using Karl Grimm silver-plated thread, but you can also use stainless steel conductive thread.
Regular thread
Embroidery needle
These needles are a little bigger and good for embroidering.
Embroidery hoop
This will keep the fabric tight as you sew.
Fabric
Cotton and felt work well, but you should experiment!
Beeswax
Very helpful to help thread your needle.
Amp
We're using a Adafruit Mono 2.5W Class D Amp with handy alligator clips, 1/8" jack, and battery pack all soldered in for easy testing. (See the back for instructions on how to make your own!)
GOOD VIBRATIONS
WHAT IS SOUND?,
Sound is a type of energy made when something vibrates.
If you hit a drum (or any other object), the air particles around it vibrate. The air carries this energy in all directions in the form of sound
When these waves of vibrating particles reach your ears, it causes the hair in your ears to vibrate, which your brain reads as sound.
Sound waves keep going until the energy dissipates or it is absorbed by another object. Your guide to soldering
By AADHum!

FABRIC SPEAKERS
Spark Workshop
May 22, 2018
liza stark // thesoftcircuiteer.net A wooden loom considered one of the first computers because the woven fabric can be interpreted as binary numbers
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
unapologetictawk.blacksky.app
Alert!!! Rudy being awesome and brilliant again!!! Congratulations @rudyfraser.com ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
From #BlackTwitter to @blacksky.app - We are in for a treat w. 3 upcoming AADHum events w/ technologist, community organizer, & creator of Blacksky, @rudyfraser.com! RSVP here: go.umd.edu/blacksky
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
yes! But if we get consent we'll post it online afterwards!
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
So very thrilled abt this series of events w. @rudyfraser.com this wk @univofmaryland.bsky.social! ⭐
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
From #BlackTwitter to @blacksky.app - We are in for a treat w. 3 upcoming AADHum events w/ technologist, community organizer, & creator of Blacksky, @rudyfraser.com! RSVP here: go.umd.edu/blacksky
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
🌱 Our director w. a ft on The Black Studies Podcast. She talks formation of Black Studies btwn + beyond disciplines, & centrality of experimental work in the study of Black life!
amplify285.bsky.social
As I was saying to a friend today, it's always a privilege to have someone care about your ideas. Gratitude today to The Black Studies Podcast for this opportunity to chat w the glorious Ashley Newby @ digital things, Black Studies things, teaching things, & more! open.spotify.com/episode/6IdA...
Marisa Parham - Department of English, University of Maryland
The Black Studies Podcast · Episode
open.spotify.com
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
Tues 4/22 ⇣

🧑🏽‍💻 2:30pm ⇢ MITH: Fraser leads content moderation wkshp

🌌 5:30pm ⇢ MITH: Fraser talks black social media, moderation, + digital infrastructure

Wed 4/23 ⇣

🧑🏽‍💻 5:30pm ⇢ AADHum: Fraser leads wkshop on creating + managing custom feeds
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
From #BlackTwitter to @blacksky.app - We are in for a treat w. 3 upcoming AADHum events w/ technologist, community organizer, & creator of Blacksky, @rudyfraser.com! RSVP here: go.umd.edu/blacksky
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
🤖 Join us tmrw - Apr 3rd @ 4pm in MITH to learn abt AADHum faculty @awwsmith.bsky.social's latest work.

A researcher, developer, + artist, Smith investigates quantum computing as a new method for creative writing & human-computer co-writing. We hope to see you there!
Join us tomorrow, April 3rd at 4pm in 0301 Hornbake Library to learn about AADHum faculty Andrew Smith's latest work.
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
amplify285.bsky.social
When we say digital @aadhum-umd.bsky.social, we mean ‘digital + experimental,’ which is how we think about our own version of #digitalhumanities

Today? Sitting here at @busboysandpoets.bsky.social listening to Curry J. Hackett on landscape, Black life, Black joy, and AI image generation.
amplify285.bsky.social
AI? Ecology? Poetics? Black joy? Sign. me. up.

Join us this week as we welcome the renowned artist and technologist Curry Hackett to AADHum, for a campus workshop + the second event in our ongoing series at @busboysandpoets.bsky.social Hyattsville!
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
Join us for two AADHum events led by transdisciplinary artist, designer, & educator @curryhackett.bsky.social!

Thurs 3/27 ⇣

💻 1pm ⇢ MITH: wkshp on AI, art, & visualizing Black joy

🌱 5pm ⇢ @busboysandpoets.bsky.social Hyattsville: convo on AI, eco-poetics, & Black life
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
amplify285.bsky.social
AI? Ecology? Poetics? Black joy? Sign. me. up.

Join us this week as we welcome the renowned artist and technologist Curry Hackett to AADHum, for a campus workshop + the second event in our ongoing series at @busboysandpoets.bsky.social Hyattsville!
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
Join us for two AADHum events led by transdisciplinary artist, designer, & educator @curryhackett.bsky.social!

Thurs 3/27 ⇣

💻 1pm ⇢ MITH: wkshp on AI, art, & visualizing Black joy

🌱 5pm ⇢ @busboysandpoets.bsky.social Hyattsville: convo on AI, eco-poetics, & Black life
aadhum-umd.bsky.social
Join us for two AADHum events led by transdisciplinary artist, designer, & educator @curryhackett.bsky.social!

Thurs 3/27 ⇣

💻 1pm ⇢ MITH: wkshp on AI, art, & visualizing Black joy

🌱 5pm ⇢ @busboysandpoets.bsky.social Hyattsville: convo on AI, eco-poetics, & Black life
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD
bergisjules.bsky.social
New date for our Introduction to Web Archiving workshop. March 26th, 2025 at 3pm EST. Apologies for the schedule change. RSVP here: www.archivingtheblackweb.org/event/
Poster for Introduction to Web Archiving Workshop on March 26th, 2025 at 3pm EST.
Reposted by Black digital & experimental humanities @ UMD