danah boyd (@zephoria) / X

danah boyd

6,122 posts

danah boyd

@zephoria

sociotechnical researcher | Microsoft Research, Georgetown, Data & Society | made-not-found-by-danah-boyd.ghost.io

Boulder, CO

Joined July 2006

danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Years ago, I attended a meeting about the future of democracy at Harlan Crow’s “house” (which was staged as a museum). I left deeply shaken by the Nazi memorabilia on display. Apparently I wasn’t alone. washingtonian.com/2023/04/07/cla… 1/5
Clarence Thomas’s Billionaire Benefactor Collects Hitler Artifacts - Washingtonian
From washingtonian.com
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
Years later, I still shudder thinking about the Nazi uniform decorations in Harlan Crow’s house. And the painting. And the book. And the statues. And the “antebellum” (pro slavery) artifacts. I’m glad others are questioning the acceptability of those materials. 5/5
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
Indeed Crow’s house had statues of fallen dictators. I was told that all these items were war trophies to commemorate how the “good guys” won. But no museum curator I know would glorify such artifacts that way. Hitler’s painting was signed and just hanging on the wall as art. 2/5
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
I didn’t know who Harlan Crow was at the time. I was told he was a major GOP fundraiser. I remember wondering if he was also collecting trophies out of conservative leaders. This week’s ProPublica reporting refreshes that memory. propublica.org/article/claren… 4/5
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
The library space (where tables were set up for large gatherings like ours) in Crow’s house was also filled with awards and recognition for conservative leaders. I remember seeing Clarence Thomas’s name on a plaque near the front of that room along with Scalia and others. 3/5
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
For those who asked, I did leave right after seeing the Nazi artifacts. I also raised a stink at the next day’s session (held elsewhere) which was received coldly and defensively. I felt gaslit. I didn’t attend the next meeting of the group.
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
I’m speaking up now to validate the anonymous source. I’m glad people now recognize that this is important and problematic. That was not the case when @EthanZ and I were outraged by what we saw in that house. We left. We objected. Nothing changed. Maybe now it can?
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
I did not go to the media because there was already plenty of coverage on Crow. Journalists in Dallas have been covering this for years. I was angry that one of the event organizers knew and didn’t flag concerns. No one cared. My objections were brushed off as overreacting.
danah boyd
@zephoria
Jan 20, 2018
Almost 1 month after getting stuck in “it’s a small world” during the @Disneyland power outage, I still lay awake thinking: Who on earth thought to hook the music up to the back up generator? Why not the lights? Why the music in the dark?!? Oh brain tangents.
danah boyd
@zephoria
Apr 8, 2023
Replying to @zephoria
The event I attended was part of a series of meetings as part of the @americanacad’s Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship.
Our Common Purpose
From amacad.org
danah boyd
@zephoria
Sep 13, 2019
Last night, I was honored by the @EFF. As I reflected on what got me to this place, I realized I needed to reckon with how I have benefited from men whose actions have helped uphold a patriarchal system that has hurt so many. Here is my acceptance speech: medium.com/@zephoria/faci…
danah boyd
@zephoria
Oct 26, 2017
“World War III is a guerrilla information war with no division between military and civilian participation.” - Marshall McLuhan, 1970
danah boyd
@zephoria
Dec 27, 2017
Got stuck for 30m w/ 3 small kids on “it’s a small world” at @disneyland when the power went out. Backup generator turned on, letting one speaker turn on. Darn song is really stuck and kids can’t stop singing it.
danah boyd
@zephoria
Oct 29, 2024
Personal update: I'm joining Cornell as a Professor of Communication starting in Fall of 2025. ::bounce:: If you're curious about my thinking, see: zephoria.org/thoughts/archi…