John Garrison Marks
@johngmarks.com
Historian and writer exploring how Americans engage with the past. **THY WILL BE DONE: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory** out now. www.johngmarks.com
Pinned
John Garrison Marks
@johngmarks.com
· Aug 14
After most of the summer off, I'm hitting the road again for a busy season of book events! Come out to learn about Americans' centuries-long struggle to reckon with—and manipulate—George Washington's involvement in slavery.
I'm headed to Wash U in St. Louis for a book talk next month, so I did a Q&A about my book with their library. Looking forward to talking about Washington, slavery, and memory at a place really grappling with those questions. library.washu.edu/news/qa-with...
Q&A with Author of Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery - WashU Libraries
In the following interview, John Garrison Marks, historian and author of Thy Will Be Done: George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory (2026), explores the relationship bet...
library.washu.edu
October 14, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I'm headed to Wash U in St. Louis for a book talk next month, so I did a Q&A about my book with their library. Looking forward to talking about Washington, slavery, and memory at a place really grappling with those questions. library.washu.edu/news/qa-with...
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
It’s here!! Wild to have an actual copy of the book I spent 13 years on in my hands!
If you want to preorder a copy of The Political Supreme Court, there’s still time before the official release date on October 27: a.co/d/08PThSrx.
(Or uncpress.org/978146969713... if you’re avoiding Amazon)
If you want to preorder a copy of The Political Supreme Court, there’s still time before the official release date on October 27: a.co/d/08PThSrx.
(Or uncpress.org/978146969713... if you’re avoiding Amazon)
October 13, 2026 at 6:49 PM
It’s here!! Wild to have an actual copy of the book I spent 13 years on in my hands!
If you want to preorder a copy of The Political Supreme Court, there’s still time before the official release date on October 27: a.co/d/08PThSrx.
(Or uncpress.org/978146969713... if you’re avoiding Amazon)
If you want to preorder a copy of The Political Supreme Court, there’s still time before the official release date on October 27: a.co/d/08PThSrx.
(Or uncpress.org/978146969713... if you’re avoiding Amazon)
This evening I was playing football with my 4 year old and he scored a touchdown, spun the ball on its point, and danced over top of it. I hope he picks up reading as fast as he’s picked up WR1 energy.
October 14, 2026 at 1:33 AM
This evening I was playing football with my 4 year old and he scored a touchdown, spun the ball on its point, and danced over top of it. I hope he picks up reading as fast as he’s picked up WR1 energy.
It feels like each year, major newspapers and magazines review a smaller and smaller number of nonfiction books, so I'm very excited to see this launch.
It's Launch Day for DRAFTING THE PAST, a new platform for nonfiction history book reviews, essays, and more.
First! Paul Harvey's review of two books (from @wwnorton.com/@liveright.bsky.social) about evangelical women and their power in conservative politics. www.draftingthepast.com/living-laugh...
First! Paul Harvey's review of two books (from @wwnorton.com/@liveright.bsky.social) about evangelical women and their power in conservative politics. www.draftingthepast.com/living-laugh...
Review Essay: Living, Laughing, Buying, and Voting
Two new books take on the history of American evangelical women’s cultural and political power
www.draftingthepast.com
October 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM
It feels like each year, major newspapers and magazines review a smaller and smaller number of nonfiction books, so I'm very excited to see this launch.
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
On the subject of historical figures whose legacies have been wildly distorted, a reminder: 1) My book shares Americans' centuries-long effort to manipulate George Washington's history with slavery and 2) I'm filling out my Spring 2027 schedule, so get in touch if you want me to come talk about it!
October 12, 2026 at 3:38 PM
On the subject of historical figures whose legacies have been wildly distorted, a reminder: 1) My book shares Americans' centuries-long effort to manipulate George Washington's history with slavery and 2) I'm filling out my Spring 2027 schedule, so get in touch if you want me to come talk about it!
On the subject of historical figures whose legacies have been wildly distorted, a reminder: 1) My book shares Americans' centuries-long effort to manipulate George Washington's history with slavery and 2) I'm filling out my Spring 2027 schedule, so get in touch if you want me to come talk about it!
October 12, 2026 at 3:38 PM
On the subject of historical figures whose legacies have been wildly distorted, a reminder: 1) My book shares Americans' centuries-long effort to manipulate George Washington's history with slavery and 2) I'm filling out my Spring 2027 schedule, so get in touch if you want me to come talk about it!
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
Annual reminder that there was a single, brief burst in which a bunch of things named after Columbus were named after Columbus and it was the result of a political project to create a founding hero who wasn’t linked to Britain.
October 12, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Annual reminder that there was a single, brief burst in which a bunch of things named after Columbus were named after Columbus and it was the result of a political project to create a founding hero who wasn’t linked to Britain.
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
It's World Homeless Day, and I'll just say: Homelessness isn't some great unsolvable mystery. People are homeless because they don't have homes.
This suffering persists not for lack of solutions, but because enormous wealth and power are invested in maintaining the very structures that produce it.
This suffering persists not for lack of solutions, but because enormous wealth and power are invested in maintaining the very structures that produce it.
October 10, 2026 at 1:43 PM
It's World Homeless Day, and I'll just say: Homelessness isn't some great unsolvable mystery. People are homeless because they don't have homes.
This suffering persists not for lack of solutions, but because enormous wealth and power are invested in maintaining the very structures that produce it.
This suffering persists not for lack of solutions, but because enormous wealth and power are invested in maintaining the very structures that produce it.
Love to have to abruptly abort a landing approach to DCA and climb back up and go around. Very cool given this airport‘s stellar reputation and new AI air traffic system.
Decided to press my luck and do this on the way home too, but with the added difficulty of doing it at the massive Bush Airport. Arrived at the curb 23 minutes before boarding, got to the gate 1 minute before boarding. What a thrill.
Arrived at the airport this morning 10 minutes before boarding started. Arrived at the gate with two minutes to spare. Clap for me.
October 9, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Love to have to abruptly abort a landing approach to DCA and climb back up and go around. Very cool given this airport‘s stellar reputation and new AI air traffic system.
Decided to press my luck and do this on the way home too, but with the added difficulty of doing it at the massive Bush Airport. Arrived at the curb 23 minutes before boarding, got to the gate 1 minute before boarding. What a thrill.
Arrived at the airport this morning 10 minutes before boarding started. Arrived at the gate with two minutes to spare. Clap for me.
October 9, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Decided to press my luck and do this on the way home too, but with the added difficulty of doing it at the massive Bush Airport. Arrived at the curb 23 minutes before boarding, got to the gate 1 minute before boarding. What a thrill.
I forgot how bleak Houston-area highways are. With frontage roads and express lanes it’s like 20 lanes across. What a nightmare.
October 9, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I forgot how bleak Houston-area highways are. With frontage roads and express lanes it’s like 20 lanes across. What a nightmare.
Is Jeff Bezos slowly morphing into Joe Rogan?
Man who won’t give his employees piss breaks claims many piss breaks on the horizon
October 9, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Is Jeff Bezos slowly morphing into Joe Rogan?
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
🚨Hot off the press‼️
THE POLITICAL SUPREME COURT by @rachelshelden.bsky.social dismantles the myth of an apolitical Court to reveal a much longer history of politics on the bench.
Officially out October 27 from W. Hodding Carter III Books, an imprint of @uncpress.bsky.social ⚖️📚
THE POLITICAL SUPREME COURT by @rachelshelden.bsky.social dismantles the myth of an apolitical Court to reveal a much longer history of politics on the bench.
Officially out October 27 from W. Hodding Carter III Books, an imprint of @uncpress.bsky.social ⚖️📚
October 8, 2026 at 8:17 PM
🚨Hot off the press‼️
THE POLITICAL SUPREME COURT by @rachelshelden.bsky.social dismantles the myth of an apolitical Court to reveal a much longer history of politics on the bench.
Officially out October 27 from W. Hodding Carter III Books, an imprint of @uncpress.bsky.social ⚖️📚
THE POLITICAL SUPREME COURT by @rachelshelden.bsky.social dismantles the myth of an apolitical Court to reveal a much longer history of politics on the bench.
Officially out October 27 from W. Hodding Carter III Books, an imprint of @uncpress.bsky.social ⚖️📚
New research yet again confirming that roughly 70% of Americans do not want whitewashed, censored history. Never forget that distorting history to make it more "patriotic" is a fringe position. Inclusivity and complexity isn't. wilkeningconsulting.com/censorship-2...
October 8, 2026 at 8:10 PM
New research yet again confirming that roughly 70% of Americans do not want whitewashed, censored history. Never forget that distorting history to make it more "patriotic" is a fringe position. Inclusivity and complexity isn't. wilkeningconsulting.com/censorship-2...
It's very fun to be back on campus for a few days. Like I never left (with the exception of all the gigantic new buildings).
Excited to welcome @johngmarks.com back to campus today for a lecture about his great new book, Thy Will Be Done: George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory.
October 8, 2026 at 7:45 PM
It's very fun to be back on campus for a few days. Like I never left (with the exception of all the gigantic new buildings).
Let's fucking gooooo
Turnstile will perform a free concert at the Washington Monument in D.C. on Oct. 24, the band announced Thursday. buff.ly/DopxKoe
October 8, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Let's fucking gooooo
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
Chronicle Heritage, the largest cultural resources management firm in the US, abruptly shuttered its operations last week.
The sudden closure leaves many archaeologists without work just as the US field season is coming to a close.
This is a developing story. 🧪🏺
#Archaeology at @science.org
The sudden closure leaves many archaeologists without work just as the US field season is coming to a close.
This is a developing story. 🧪🏺
#Archaeology at @science.org
Exclusive: Archaeology megafirm abruptly shuts down
Chronicle Heritage was largest U.S. cultural resources management company
www.science.org
October 6, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Chronicle Heritage, the largest cultural resources management firm in the US, abruptly shuttered its operations last week.
The sudden closure leaves many archaeologists without work just as the US field season is coming to a close.
This is a developing story. 🧪🏺
#Archaeology at @science.org
The sudden closure leaves many archaeologists without work just as the US field season is coming to a close.
This is a developing story. 🧪🏺
#Archaeology at @science.org
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
my hottest take: the Bicentennial built the foundations, "civic engagement" funding from 1980s thru 2000s extended them, now whatever money there is is going into arts/culture is about adding more content which is actually quite retrograde and why things aren't hitting
October 8, 2026 at 3:37 PM
my hottest take: the Bicentennial built the foundations, "civic engagement" funding from 1980s thru 2000s extended them, now whatever money there is is going into arts/culture is about adding more content which is actually quite retrograde and why things aren't hitting
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
I would add that the reason that they looked/felt like Bicen is that was the last time there was a mass infusion of material resources into cultural institutions--in many ways, we're still operating within those paradigms because no one came along and funded the exploration necessary for new ones.
With no funding or guidance from the federal level, states, counties, towns, and individual institutions developed their own efforts. Many of them are a lot like things we saw in the Bicentennial era! For example...
October 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
I would add that the reason that they looked/felt like Bicen is that was the last time there was a mass infusion of material resources into cultural institutions--in many ways, we're still operating within those paradigms because no one came along and funded the exploration necessary for new ones.
I've been saying for a few years and am now more convinced than ever that the 250th was, in a lot of ways, a "reverse Bicentennial." In '76, we had an early attempt at politicizing the anniversary, which fell apart and led to grassroots celebration. 250 saw last minute takeover. A (possibly long) 🧵:
America was an empty mall. America was shoddy caulk oozing from a vinyl arc in a historic heatwave. America was a brutishly redacted Frederick Douglass speech on foam posterboard in a tractor trailer Freedom Truck. America was not even selling corndogs.
www.artnews.com/art-in-ameri...
www.artnews.com/art-in-ameri...
How Defunding the Arts Wrought Civic Disintegration
What Was America?: Art, Culture, and Politics in the Bicentennial Era tackles United States’ most ambitious cultural project: the bicentennial.
www.artnews.com
October 8, 2026 at 3:21 PM
I've been saying for a few years and am now more convinced than ever that the 250th was, in a lot of ways, a "reverse Bicentennial." In '76, we had an early attempt at politicizing the anniversary, which fell apart and led to grassroots celebration. 250 saw last minute takeover. A (possibly long) 🧵:
Reposted by John Garrison Marks
In July, I went to the NFL Flag Championships in Indiana to see the enormous boom in youth flag football in person. Turns out, girls love ball. My story leads off @bloomberg.com Businessweek’s November issue on women’s sports. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The NFL’s $192 Million Bet on Flag Football Is Paying Off With Teen Girls
The sport has seen unprecedented growth since the pandemic. Next up: The Olympics and a college campus near you.
www.bloomberg.com
October 8, 2026 at 11:54 AM
In July, I went to the NFL Flag Championships in Indiana to see the enormous boom in youth flag football in person. Turns out, girls love ball. My story leads off @bloomberg.com Businessweek’s November issue on women’s sports. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Theres no “history” for Trump, only celebrity, so he’s obsessed with putting himself next to Washington.
October 8, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Theres no “history” for Trump, only celebrity, so he’s obsessed with putting himself next to Washington.
Forgot how much better watching prime time sports is when you’re on Central Time. Might watch the Yankees lose, but at least it will be over by 10.
October 8, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Forgot how much better watching prime time sports is when you’re on Central Time. Might watch the Yankees lose, but at least it will be over by 10.
For the first time since I defended my dissertation a decade ago, I’m back on the Rice campus. Excited to do a couple guest lectures/seminar discussion and a public book talk over the next few days!
October 7, 2026 at 4:54 PM
For the first time since I defended my dissertation a decade ago, I’m back on the Rice campus. Excited to do a couple guest lectures/seminar discussion and a public book talk over the next few days!
Arrived at the airport this morning 10 minutes before boarding started. Arrived at the gate with two minutes to spare. Clap for me.
October 7, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Arrived at the airport this morning 10 minutes before boarding started. Arrived at the gate with two minutes to spare. Clap for me.