Queen Esther
@queenesther.bsky.social
Songwriter. Producer. Playwright + Librettist + Essayist. Vocalist. Musician.TED Speaker. Latent runner. Black Auntie. Godmother. Insomniac. http://qeworks.co
Pinned
Queen Esther
@queenesther.bsky.social
· Oct 27
Hold Steady -- the first single from Queen Esther’s alt-Americana album Blackbirding (release date 2/6/26) -- is available everywhere.
For Spotify -- spotify.link/ml9LSfYBOXb
For Spotify -- spotify.link/ml9LSfYBOXb
Reposted by Queen Esther
Supreme Court OKs racist gerrymandering.
Texas clearly did a racial gerrymander, which is illegal.
A district court found that Texas did a racial gerrymander, rejecting the new map because it is illegal.
But the Supreme Court reversed it.
Because? Must assume the gerrymanderers were acting in good faith (despite the evidence otherwise).
A district court found that Texas did a racial gerrymander, rejecting the new map because it is illegal.
But the Supreme Court reversed it.
Because? Must assume the gerrymanderers were acting in good faith (despite the evidence otherwise).
December 5, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Supreme Court OKs racist gerrymandering.
Reposted by Queen Esther
Pete Hague-seth seems to think the expression "The Fog of War" is literal. It is not. It is a metaphor, and one that would not excuse executing shipwrecked passengers you can clearly see on your video screen.
December 5, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Pete Hague-seth seems to think the expression "The Fog of War" is literal. It is not. It is a metaphor, and one that would not excuse executing shipwrecked passengers you can clearly see on your video screen.
Reposted by Queen Esther
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
December 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
Reposted by Queen Esther
Lastly, we get to ‘Donner’ and ‘Blitzen.’
‘Donner’ was originally ‘Donder,’ which is Standard Dutch meaning “thunder.”
‘Blitzen’ comes from the Standard Dutch ‘bliksem,’ which means “lightning.”
We've always thought these two were the bad boys of the sleigh.
‘Donner’ was originally ‘Donder,’ which is Standard Dutch meaning “thunder.”
‘Blitzen’ comes from the Standard Dutch ‘bliksem,’ which means “lightning.”
We've always thought these two were the bad boys of the sleigh.
December 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Lastly, we get to ‘Donner’ and ‘Blitzen.’
‘Donner’ was originally ‘Donder,’ which is Standard Dutch meaning “thunder.”
‘Blitzen’ comes from the Standard Dutch ‘bliksem,’ which means “lightning.”
We've always thought these two were the bad boys of the sleigh.
‘Donner’ was originally ‘Donder,’ which is Standard Dutch meaning “thunder.”
‘Blitzen’ comes from the Standard Dutch ‘bliksem,’ which means “lightning.”
We've always thought these two were the bad boys of the sleigh.
IT'S BANDCAMP FRIDAY! Support independent, critically acclaimed jazz and Black country music -- right here, right now >> all revenue goes to the artist, all day long. #blackcountrymusic #queenesther
December 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
IT'S BANDCAMP FRIDAY! Support independent, critically acclaimed jazz and Black country music -- right here, right now >> all revenue goes to the artist, all day long. #blackcountrymusic #queenesther
Reposted by Queen Esther
And because it's a great piece that connects Welles to other cowards-- Bryan, Adcock-- I also want to re-up @rachelcholst.bsky.social's piece from a minute ago: rainbowrodeomag.com/coward-count...
Coward Country
What do Zach Bryan, Gavin Adcock, and Jesse Welles have in common? They're all cowards. Welcome to the age of Coward Country.
rainbowrodeomag.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
And because it's a great piece that connects Welles to other cowards-- Bryan, Adcock-- I also want to re-up @rachelcholst.bsky.social's piece from a minute ago: rainbowrodeomag.com/coward-count...
Reposted by Queen Esther
please keep sharing! please donate if you can!
we want HUMAN TRANSLATIONS of works that otherwise would not be!
we want HUMAN TRANSLATIONS of works that otherwise would not be!
the African Translation Project has reached TEN PERCENT of their final goal amount!! 🎉
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deadline October 31! (that's FRIDAY)
ko-fi.com/africantrans...
🎉
🎉
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🎉
🎉
deadline October 31! (that's FRIDAY)
ko-fi.com/africantrans...
Support African Translation Project
African Translation Project, Goal 4: Fully Fund Two Translations, by 31 October, still needed: $3070, 69%, If this goal is met: Translations will be fully funded for Bengithi Lizokuna and Zvinobvinza,...
ko-fi.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
please keep sharing! please donate if you can!
we want HUMAN TRANSLATIONS of works that otherwise would not be!
we want HUMAN TRANSLATIONS of works that otherwise would not be!
Reposted by Queen Esther
"the FBI director used taxpayer funds in a government shutdown to fly his country singer GF to sing at a Hulk Hogan-founded wrestling event aired on Fox Nation" is not the flashiest Trump-era headline but pound for pound it can compete with any contender
Patel's girlfriend performed at Penn State last weekend. A government jet arrived at State College Regional Airport, according to its FAA registration, with an address listing the FBI HQ. The plane then flew to Nashville, where his girlfriend lives.
All on the taxpayer’s dime.
trib.al/TBvPo7A
All on the taxpayer’s dime.
trib.al/TBvPo7A
October 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"the FBI director used taxpayer funds in a government shutdown to fly his country singer GF to sing at a Hulk Hogan-founded wrestling event aired on Fox Nation" is not the flashiest Trump-era headline but pound for pound it can compete with any contender
Reposted by Queen Esther
The discovery phase of this lawsuit promises to be interesting. Paxton and RFK Jr. are obligated to present their supporting documentation to Tylenol regarding the connection between their products and autism.
Hint: They don't have any proof.
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks
Hint: They don't have any proof.
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks
BREAKING: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Tylenol makers for alleged links to autism. @rosaflores.bsky.social has the latest.
October 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The discovery phase of this lawsuit promises to be interesting. Paxton and RFK Jr. are obligated to present their supporting documentation to Tylenol regarding the connection between their products and autism.
Hint: They don't have any proof.
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks
Hint: They don't have any proof.
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks
Reposted by Queen Esther
The person who oversees healthcare coverage for more than 160 million Americans is lying about healthcare coverage
Q: Unless ACA subsidies are extended, the average plan will increase by somewhere around 115%
DR OZ: Where'd you get that number?
Q: Kaiser Family Foundation
OZ: They retracted that. Here's the truth. The average American who's on ACA is gonna pay $13 more than this year. That's not a big issue
DR OZ: Where'd you get that number?
Q: Kaiser Family Foundation
OZ: They retracted that. Here's the truth. The average American who's on ACA is gonna pay $13 more than this year. That's not a big issue
October 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The person who oversees healthcare coverage for more than 160 million Americans is lying about healthcare coverage
Reposted by Queen Esther
As roughly 42 million Americans face the loss of food stamps, far-right influencers and extremists are using the crisis to push racist disinformation about who receives these benefits.
In reality, the majority of people who receive SNAP benefits are white Americans, according to USDA data.
In reality, the majority of people who receive SNAP benefits are white Americans, according to USDA data.
No, SNAP Benefits Aren’t Mostly Used by Immigrants
SNAP benefits are set to run out on Saturday. Far-right influencers and extremists are incorrectly claiming that immigrants are the main recipients of food stamps.
www.wired.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:47 PM
As roughly 42 million Americans face the loss of food stamps, far-right influencers and extremists are using the crisis to push racist disinformation about who receives these benefits.
In reality, the majority of people who receive SNAP benefits are white Americans, according to USDA data.
In reality, the majority of people who receive SNAP benefits are white Americans, according to USDA data.
Reposted by Queen Esther
Too many Americans either didn’t care or didn’t believe. Hopefully they do now.👇
October 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Too many Americans either didn’t care or didn’t believe. Hopefully they do now.👇
Reposted by Queen Esther
The U.S. is experiencing its highest wave of layoffs since 2020, with close to a million workers losing their jobs this year.
October 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The U.S. is experiencing its highest wave of layoffs since 2020, with close to a million workers losing their jobs this year.
Hold Steady -- the first single from Queen Esther’s alt-Americana album Blackbirding (release date 2/6/26) -- is available everywhere.
For Spotify -- spotify.link/ml9LSfYBOXb
For Spotify -- spotify.link/ml9LSfYBOXb
October 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Hold Steady -- the first single from Queen Esther’s alt-Americana album Blackbirding (release date 2/6/26) -- is available everywhere.
For Spotify -- spotify.link/ml9LSfYBOXb
For Spotify -- spotify.link/ml9LSfYBOXb
Reposted by Queen Esther
Democracy as we know it collapsing right in front of our eyes. In case we’ve all ever wondered what we all would have done as authoritarianism rose. I’ve certainly thought of it a lot.
"America is 'going in an authoritarian direction at an accelerated pace', with centralisation and personalisation of power under Trump, attacks on independent institutions, and criminalisation of protests. 'All the US’s checks and balances are collapsing.'”
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/the-madnes...
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/the-madnes...
The Madness of King Donald
After the recent bewildering slew of Trump administration outrages, Alexandra Hall Hall questions conservative commentator and fierce Trump critic Bill Kristol
www.bylinesupplement.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Democracy as we know it collapsing right in front of our eyes. In case we’ve all ever wondered what we all would have done as authoritarianism rose. I’ve certainly thought of it a lot.
Reposted by Queen Esther
The old joke, “why do people rob banks? Because that’s where the money is.” Well, bank robberies are rare now. They’ve discovered churches and politics.
Exclusive: The 12 words that unraveled democracy at Second Baptist Church
Members of Houston’s Second Baptist Church approved new bylaws in 2023 that canceled their vote on church business — a change that slipped by many and ran counter to their religious doctrine.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The old joke, “why do people rob banks? Because that’s where the money is.” Well, bank robberies are rare now. They’ve discovered churches and politics.
Reposted by Queen Esther
If you didn’t read my popular Democracy essay on whiteness, today is a good day as so many of us are grappling with how to respond to the rapid loss of freedom and decency in our nation.
Finding solutions has much to with facing the constructed use of “whiteness” to divide and conquer us all.
Finding solutions has much to with facing the constructed use of “whiteness” to divide and conquer us all.
DEMOCRACY: “We need to become a powerful majority to turn back bigotry & inhumanity amid this fierce urgency of now—not as a coalition of humanity that agrees all the time, but one united to save democracy & to finally realize the dream of so many who gave their lives to save us,” Donna Ladd writes.
Democracy | ‘Whiteness’ Is an Ancient Con. We Can Defeat It.
We don’t need “a coalition of humanity that agrees all the time, but one united to save democracy,” Donna Ladd writes.
www.mississippifreepress.org
July 4, 2025 at 12:24 PM
If you didn’t read my popular Democracy essay on whiteness, today is a good day as so many of us are grappling with how to respond to the rapid loss of freedom and decency in our nation.
Finding solutions has much to with facing the constructed use of “whiteness” to divide and conquer us all.
Finding solutions has much to with facing the constructed use of “whiteness” to divide and conquer us all.
Reposted by Queen Esther
Queen Esther @queenesther.bsky.social reflects on her 2020 National Parks Arts Foundation esidency at Gettysburg National Military Park, and her upcoming album Blackbirding. Listen to the full #BigBlendRadio episode with her here: youtu.be/DUtU22POeXI?... #NewMusic #HerStory #ArtistResidency #NPAF
Queen Esther on Gettysburg, Resilience, and Her Album Blackbirding
YouTube video by Big Blend Radio
youtu.be
October 3, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Queen Esther @queenesther.bsky.social reflects on her 2020 National Parks Arts Foundation esidency at Gettysburg National Military Park, and her upcoming album Blackbirding. Listen to the full #BigBlendRadio episode with her here: youtu.be/DUtU22POeXI?... #NewMusic #HerStory #ArtistResidency #NPAF
Reposted by Queen Esther
This may be uncomfortable to hear, but it’s essential to say clearly…there is no such thing as a “non-racist” white person.
Whiteness itself is not just a neutral identity.
It’s a social construct built historically in opposition to Blackness.
Whiteness itself is not just a neutral identity.
It’s a social construct built historically in opposition to Blackness.
October 2, 2025 at 8:34 PM
This may be uncomfortable to hear, but it’s essential to say clearly…there is no such thing as a “non-racist” white person.
Whiteness itself is not just a neutral identity.
It’s a social construct built historically in opposition to Blackness.
Whiteness itself is not just a neutral identity.
It’s a social construct built historically in opposition to Blackness.
One more day until my single drops. To presave ---> ffm.to/holdsteady
October 2, 2025 at 9:08 PM
One more day until my single drops. To presave ---> ffm.to/holdsteady