Edward Shore considers the implications of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment for the social and environmental rights of of Brazil’s traditional peoples, including three thousand rural black communities descended from fugitive slaves called “quilombos.” He underscores the need for historians to use scholarship for the advancement of social justice. He addresses current threats to the territorial and environmental rights of quilombo communities in São Paulo’s Atlantic Rainforest.
Sanctuary Austin: 1980s and Today
Edward Shore revisits the history of the Sanctuary Movement in Austin and the legacy of Casa Marianella, an emergency shelter for refugees and asylum seekers in East Austin. Since 1986, Casa has sheltered more than six thousand refugees, assisting many to secure housing, jobs, language classes, and support. The article appeals to UT historians to get involved in defending Austin’s refugee and immigrant community.
Beyoncé as Historian: Black Power at the DPLA
Edward Shore revisits the controversy surround Beyoncé’s Super Bowl 50 halftime show that paid tribute to #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Panthers. He uses Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) primary source sets to contextualize Beyoncé’s message of protest and to explore the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and the Black Power Movement.
Remembering Willie “El Diablo” Wells and Baseball’s Negro Leagues
Edward Shore pays tribute to Austinite and Negro Leagues legend Willie “El Diablo” Wells and reflects on the enduring legacies of racism in the National Pastime.
The Public Historian: Giving it Back
Edward Shore recounts the torture of writer’s block and how a love for doing public scholarship helped him to overcome it. He underscores the need for historians to engage the public and to use scholarship for the advancement of social justice. He recalls his experience doing fieldwork for his dissertation on the history of the Quilombo Movement in the Atlantic Rainforest of southern São Paulo.