Subhadra Das
@littlegaudy
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All the things you didn't know when you didn't know your history was white. She/Her. Agent Nicola Chang @DHAbooks . Buy my book here
London, England
Joined January 2014
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My book 'Uncivilised: 10 Lies That Made The West' comes out in 10 days, and because I can't wait to share it with you, this marks the start of a countdown of sneak peeks, highlights and stories, chapter by chapter, lie by lie, as you'll find them in the book.
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Looking forward to going back to work and updating our museum disposal policy by adding:
Put it in the sea.
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At my regular Sunday reading lesson with my Mum today, I learned the Bangla word for 'museum' is 'jadughor'. It literally means 'magic room', and I am (momentarily) hugely in love with the fact that the idea that museums are magic is baked into my mother tongue.
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Marie Stopes was also a eugenicist, and her social reform was inherently bound up with classism, racism and ableism.
#Feminism
is not about holding some women up as heroes at the expense and erasure of marginalized people. Please
#TellTheWholeStory
#MuseumDetox
Marie Stopes 1880-1958 is known for her work as a pioneer in contraception & women's' rights with a reputation as one of the foremost social reformers of the 20th century.
Before this, she had a career as a palaeobotanist & her collection is at the museum
#InternationalWomenDay
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A proud and grateful moment for me, alongside the brilliant
@NatHistGirl
, to be given one of the inaugural President's awards from
@SHNHSocNatHist
. Thank you so much for acknowledging, embracing and supporting our work!
#MuseumDetox
#DecoloniseZoology
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I am writing my first book!
It’s called (Un)Civilised; 10 Lies That Made The West and it's about the idea of ‘western civilisation’ — 10 ideas, in fact, and how they shape our view of the world and each other in extremely unhelpful ways.
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Today is a momentous day. It's my last day as Curator of UCL Science Collections after 9 years in the role and 15 at UCL Museums.
Am lucky to now be on secondment
@UCL_SPRC
until April and grateful for my amazing colleagues who sent me these to soften the blow.
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Your girl made it into the
@guardian
this weekend! In good company alongside Angela Saini and
@AdamRutherford
talking about why racism is bad.
🤞🏽this impresses the in-laws.
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Last year I quit my dream job as a museum curator to pursue my new dream job as a writer, public historian and general show-off.
The following day, I got an email inviting me to be part of this, which
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A historic moment at a time of many other historic moments, but nevertheless I'm heartened and glad to see this. Thank you
@ucl
. 🤞🏽for more change and better things to come.
We are today issuing a public apology for UCL’s history and legacy of eugenics. UCL played a fundamental role in the development, propagation and legitimisation of eugenics. We deeply regret this and apologise.
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I am beyond thrilled to be in receipt of this fellowship and beyond excited to do this work, continuing to decolonise the science collections
@UCL_Culture
@ucl
Stay tuned for more exciting
#decolonial
adventures
#MuseumDetox
Today we announced the first recipients of funding through the Headley Fellowships with Art Fund, a new programme which gives curators the opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge relating to the collections in their care:
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When talking about decolonizing science, I often get asked what that would look like?
I should have known (and love) that the answer to that question is
@Glamrou
.
“If subatomic particles defy constructs all the time, why should we believe in fixed constructs of gender or any kind of reality?”
Drag performer & writer Amrou Al-Kadhi aka
@Glamrou
questions why gender should be binary when the physics which underpins the universe can change.
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I worked myself into the ground last autumn doing talks about decolonising museums and some of you said you were inspired to make a change. Your Black and brown museum colleagues need you now. However small you think it is, please do something about this:
Last week, we tweeted our concerns about censorship following the DCMS call to 25 heritage organisations.
We did not hear from all of them.
What we heard back was concerns from Detoxers about their wellbeing and livelihood being impacted by SMTs who have retracted:
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Get in.
Hurrah!!
UCL starts process of renaming buildings named after prominent eugenicists | UCL News - UCL – University College London
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It me 🥹
We're delighted to reveal the stunning cover for UNCIVILISED by
@littlegaudy
- the enthralling book that will overturn your assumptions about civilisation and society.
Coming 8th February 2024. Pre-order now!
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Yes, and if more people were encouraged to do archaeology degrees and supported equitably through an academic career, the whole discipline would be richer by having much greater representation than it currently does.
If more people did archaeology degrees then more people would know what 2 metres looks like.
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I’m so happy I finally get to share with you!
I’m on a podcast with
@ZaltzCricket
and
@MrNishKumar
, talking all things statues, politics and what it really means to rewrite history.
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So, I have news:
(Un)Civilised; 10 Lies That Made the West coming next year.
@littlegaudy
is a fascinating, thought-provoking force for good and I'm so thrilled to publisher her first book.
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I flew to India in a panic last week, desperate to see my mum, who was seriously ill.
To my immense relief, her health improved and she was released from hospital three days ago.
Today, apropos of nothing, she criticised my appearance.
I think she’s going to be OK 🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽
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My book has a cover! And it is beautiful. Look at all those lovely pillars just waiting to be knocked down.
Huge thanks to the team
@CoronetBooks
@HodderBooks
for your enthusiasm and belief this book. That goes double for
@HarrietPoland
, the best editor in the world.
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Small joy:
The paper wot
@NatHistGirl
and I wrote about decolonising natural history museums is now freely available via the
@Nat_SCA
website: Journal Article via
@Nat_SCA
Museums studies course coordinators take note!
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Say what you like, I am famous now.
Subhadra Das sits between geometric shapes in primary colours and a bookcase to show the mind develops understanding from basic building blocks. She warns us too. Behind her a boat runs into a book iceberg placed before her head. Conclusions before thinking are a mistake.
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Was asked in an interview recently: all historical scientists were probably racist, if we take their names off all the buildings at monuments, where will that leave us?
Answer: finally in a position to start to undo decades' worth of glorifying racists, ableists and sexists.
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THIS IS MONUMENTAL.
UCL is establishing a new, permanent senior appointment within the fields of critical race studies.
Please spread the word far and wide.
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And museum pals, I hold firm in my belief that when faced with what to do with a ‘problematic statue’, you are completely entitled to put it in the sea.
#MuseumDetox
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This was a good interaction, and reinforces my conviction that people working in UK museums are listening and open to change.
We all make mistakes, it's the way you respond to them that matters. Acknowledge, reflect and change. Nice one,
@McrMuseum
.
@littlegaudy
@WellcomeLibrary
Thank you for sharing these suggestions, we will also make sure we acknowledge and recognise the whole story in the future
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So happy
@NatHistGirl
and my paper on combatting racism through museum interpretation is in this year's
@Nat_SCA
journal.
Thanks
@dannybirchall
@JackDAshby
@waji35
@MuseumsShowoff
@emilyadawson
for your help along the way.
#DecoloniseZoology
#TellTheWholeStory
#MuseumDetox
Today the latest
@Nat_SCA
journal is out! Guess who's paper is finally published...
@littlegaudy
&
@NatHistGirl
!
#NaturalHistory
#decolonial
#approaches
#History
#science
#SocialJustice
#museums
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Exactly how much of the sting do you suppose is lost when sending an righteous email if you have misspelled your own name?
Asking for my friend, Subhara.
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After a handful of people got up and walked out of a talk I was giving last weekend, I wanted to share this from
@bookworkers4pal
here for the avoidance of any doubt.
#CeasefireNOW
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I've been
@ucl
for 18 years as a student and member of staff. When
@TEDxUCLWomen
invited me to speak about my work and sense of home, this was my answer: Home is the place… | Subhadra Das | TEDxUCLWomen via
@YouTube
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So happy to be on this shortlist! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽
Special credit to
@Luannasaurus
for her application writing skillz.
We're so excited that our
#DisplaysofPower
exhibition at the
@GrantMuseum
has been shortlisted at the 2020 Museums + Heritage Awards
@MandHShow
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Happy 200th Birthday Francis Galton!
Born on this day in 1822 at the Galton family estate at Sparkbrook, Birmingham, Francis Galton remains one of the most important and influential Victorian scientists most people have never heard of.*
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Someone has just signed off a phone conversation with me by saying, "Subhadra, I look forward to moving mountains with you," and now I know why I find so many other conversations so disappointing.
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When the good people
@ExploreWellcome
asked if I would like to guest edit a series of their online stories, naturally I leapt at the chance. I’m excited to share the fruits of their labours with you all this week!
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Oh, look! A British university museum has researched and is engaging the public with its own histories, contexts and legacies of colonialism and racism. What a novel and not at all controversial idea*.
Thanks for sharing the love
@MuseumCrush
.
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Who doesn't love a before-and-after picture?
Me when I am reminded of the gaping divide between who makes the decisions and who does the work.
Still, it's good to be reminded of our mission. Bring on the changes.
Today is a proud moment for
#UCL
. However, we must keep pushing for more change. The institution is listening and we all have our parts to play.
#BlackLivesMatterUK
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Twenty years since I got my archaeology degree, and I have finally heeded the call of my people.
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As an immigrant curator who works to combat racism in what are hopefully funny and engaging ways, I stand in solidarity with my colleague
@RoystonMuseum
.
(These actions against her are particularly scary, given it always seemed Americans were the right type of immigrant.)
Oh my God - The Sun and the Daily Mail are trying to get
@RoystonMuseum
's curator fired because they're too busy being angry and racist to understand the thing they're angry about...
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Rejected title for our upcoming exhibition about science and Empire: “It’s All the Raj, Innit?”
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I knew that Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katherine Cooks Briggs, who designed the Myers-Briggs personality test, were eugenicists. I did not know about Isabel's failed career as a racist detective novelist.
Ick.
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Think about who comprise that 95% and it becomes a lot less puzzling.
#MuseumsSoWhite
#MuseumDetox
How like 95%+ of those working in Archaeology, Anthropology, Art and Museums still imagine they might just keep on keeping on as if nothing has changed without making some meaningful and effective change on systemic anti-racism and under-representaton is totally f*****g beyond me
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Here is a thing wot I wrote about
@corinne_fowler
’s ‘Green Unpleasant Land’.
Thanks to
@CuratorGeoff
for making it happen, and solidarity with those who stand up to make sure all of our histories are told.
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I’m so pleased to have been involved with this project — one of the last things I did while
@ucl
— working with Rodney Harrison and his brilliant MA Museum Studies students to put together a virtual exhibition about the history of eugenics at UCL and beyond.
Virtual exhibition on eugenics/scientific racism, co-curated with
@littlegaudy
@UCL_SPRC
, drawing on work by
@UCLarchaeology
MA
#MuseumStudies
students
@UCLSocHistSci
now live at
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Excited to make my
@HistFestUK
debut! Especially loving the juxtaposition of our two mug shots, and that Galton’s expression seems to say, “Christ, not her again.”
*EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT*
FRANCIS GALTON, EUGENICS AND WHY WE NEED NEW SCIENCE STORIES with
@littlegaudy
7pm, Wednesday 27 July
Tickets £5 (access for 7 days)
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Made my
@Channel4News
debut last night, talking about
#CheddarMan
and the history of science and 'race'. Great to meet the stellar
@afuahirsch
and thanks to
@thermoflynamics
and
@AngelaDSaini
for spreading the love.
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Two decades ago today was when I first stepped into this Quad for International Student Orientation.
Happy 20th Anniversary
@ucl
!
I know I keep trying to change you, but you'll be the better for it, promise 😘.
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Some news.
It's an honour, it's going to be a pleasure, and I am super-excited!Bring it on, Brighton, for the MA Conference 2019!
We're thrilled to announce that Subhadra Das
@littlegaudy
will host the 2019 MA Conference in Brighton!
A curator of science and medicine
@UCL_Culture
as well as a comedian, we look forward to her setting the tone for
#museums2019
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The antidote to
@britishmuseum
's and
@BBCRadio4
's 'A History of the World in 100 Objects' starts here.
How many stories can an object have?
The 'Global South' revisits the BBC's 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'.
"100 Histories of 100 Worlds in 1 Object": a grassroots, dynamic and multi-format publication project.
We're excited to welcome you:
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Jog on, ya wasteman.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has also summoned 25 of the UK's biggest heritage bodies and charities to a summit on Feb 23 where they will be told "to defend our culture and history from the noisy minority of activists constantly trying to do Britain down”.
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Chief Spoiler of Things for White People.
#askacurator
If you could re-write your job title to more accurately reflect your role what would it be?
#FantasyJobTitles
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A horrific reminder that eugenics is still with us in the UK today, and that we should be ashamed that it is.
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Oh. Great. Well, I'm so glad we got that all sorted out, then.
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Dear
@SadiqKhan
@MayorofLondon
,
If you can't understand why people need to be paid to do this vital and important work, I can't trust you really understand or believe in the value of diversity and representation.
@fair_jobs
@museum_detox
@museumasmuck
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It is really, really important to construct rigorous moral and critical historical arguments against eugenics when prominent scientists say things like this.
Understanding whether or not the science works is not the thing that motivates people wanting to put it into practice.
It’s one thing to deplore eugenics on ideological, political, moral grounds. It’s quite another to conclude that it wouldn’t work in practice. Of course it would. It works for cows, horses, pigs, dogs & roses. Why on earth wouldn’t it work for humans? Facts ignore ideology.
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My husband just told me that, for the first time ever, he received an email from someone who lists their pronouns in their signature. It’s really brought home how, despite not straying from our tiny West London flat in six months, we live in two completely different worlds.
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Have just signed off a message to my Pilates instructor with "thanks for being so flexible," so I reckon that's me done for the day.
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Having just heard about a new nibling, I said to my Mum, "Sorry to have deprived you of grandchildren, but you know I never had any interest in having a baby."
To which she said, "Well, remember, you are just about to have your first book baby."
My Mum is the best 🥲
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Lessons in label writing.
@royalsociety
, please take note(s).
Now this is how you talk about eugenics. Don't be afraid to call out racists for being racist. Well done
@stalbansmuseums
#callracistsracist
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Powering down and taking a whole two weeks off! See yous on the other side, and God bless us, everyone, xx.
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Very happy to see that
@snowshillmanor
has a series of boards explaining the history of collector & owner Charles Wade. Incorporated into this general history is the board below, about the family's St Kitts connections
#ColonialCountryside
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Things that are wrong about David Starkey include his views, his grasp of historical facts, his racism...
...and his platform. When media outlets continue to give space to the same white people they've always given space to, we know Black lives still don't matter.
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That moment when he turns to you with love and a tender question in his eyes, and says the words you've so been wanting to hear:
"Midweek drinking?"
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Quoteable me. Really quite proud of this one.
@curatorlucy
I have had so many rants about this - I've generally settled on "excluded" rather than hidden although I'm okay with using "hidden" if you are making clear that - to quote
@littlegaudy
- 'it means some fucker hid it'
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I got to experience all the fun of
@BBCFrontRow
last night with Dr. Charlotte Joy,
@aaprocter
, and
@SamiraAhmedUK
.
#MuseumDetox
#TellTheWholeStory
You can learn more about my exhibition 'Bricks + Mortals' and download the podcast here:
Is it possible to decolonise museums and long would it take? We unpick how UK museums should display their colonial era collections
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Every time I'm on the verge of retiring this argument (in the face of consistent what-abouting from Scottish and Irish people) someone goes and writes a really compelling thread.
Acknowledgement is a crucial first step to solidarity.
Many Scots, while owning Scotland's role in slavery, still take the stance that "normal" or "working class" Scots got no advantages from the fortunes made with enslaved labour, or any benefits were long in the past. (1/n)
#OldWeirdScotland
thread:
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Little fires everywhere... 🎆
Join our first Decolonisation + Democratisation seminar at 12.30pm today. We'll be hearing from the excellent humans: Subhadra Das (
@littlegaudy
) + Liam Wiseman (
@liamthewiseman
).
To watch, head to
Send in your questions using
#CultureDAndD
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😊😊😊
👡👡👡
😘😘😘
✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
Thanks for having me,
@MuseumsAssoc
#Museums2019
, it was a blast!
And thank you to our fantastic conference host
@littlegaudy
for setting the tone, making us laugh (except on matters that are just not funny), and challenging all of us to act 👏👏🏽👏🏾
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Two very different approaches to working from home in our house: my husband is beautifully dressed, in the study on a conference call. I am in the bath watching Queer Eye.
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Who fancies getting paid to research the history of eugenics at UCL for 4 months (i.e. what I would do all the time if it wasn't for emails)?
Deadline pretty soon, so apply now!
UCL Staff - we're looking for a researcher to take a 4 month secondment to assist the Commission of Inquiry into the History of Eugenics at UCL. Interested? Details on the post and how to apply can be found at
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If you have been appalled and outraged by the theft and sale of trinkets from the British Museum, wait until you hear about this.
Penn police and museum security have locked
@mxabdulaliy
in an office in basement of Penn Museum, & forced press out of the room.
Come to the Penn Museum & demand that Chris Woods
#returndelisha
, whose remains newly found photos from 2014 prove the museum had.
#findingceremony
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You will take my em-dash from my — cold, dead — hands.
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First day as my own boss (am on leave for 4 months, then going part-time
@ucl
), and my desk is clear, my sock drawer sorted, and am getting my teeth stuck into writing this -- happy days!
Join us tomorrow night for more decolonising museums fun
@HRP_palaces
.
#MuseumDetox
Our next Bright Nights evening focuses on questioning Englishness in literature with
@sarahjilani
, while curator
@littlegaudy
explores the role of science museums in building and dismantling imperial power.
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Seriously, the best way to win my undying affection is to invite me to a thing so I don’t feel left out, and then cancel it so I don’t have to go 💛.
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Bingo! Found it
@NatHistGirl
🙂
Panel in the Hintze Hall named for the Kwasi, an enslaved Ghanian famed for his pharmaceutical knowledge
@NHM_London
.
#represent
#DecoloniseZoology
#MuseumDetox
Tell the whole story.
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Looking forward to Part 2 tonight!
We need more of the thoughtful, nuanced, and honest journalism
@AngelaDSaini
and
@Adam_Pearson
have brought to the history (and present) of eugenics. Thank you both for your brilliant work and letting me be part of it 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.
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Dear Everyone About To Ask,
No, I will not be talking for free at your upcoming Black History Month event. If possible at such short notice, please find a speaker of African heritage instead and pay them for their work and expertise.
Much love,
Sub.
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Am now reaching the ‘I’m embarrassed for you that you don’t already know how amazing I am’ stage of application writing.
Trying to enjoy it before the inevitable ‘Pit of Despair: How is it possible that anyone likes me?’ phase scheduled for lunchtime.
@joycetreasure
I am currently working on a job application with a deadline tomorrow and every word of this speaks to me, x.
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I have filed my tax return at 6pm on the first Friday of the year and now insist you worship me as a god.
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The excellent people at Say My Name have finally fixed the glitch in their address book and added me to their lineup!
I'll be sharing stories about Hindu godesses, casual racism, and the definitive list of who does and does not get to call me Sub. Get your tickets now!
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Happy to hear some love for the old box.
@UCL_Culture
have plans for it to be a new temporary display, so follow them for updates. I totally sympathise with the temptation, though (see pic).
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Was researching animal displays in London and learned that, along with performing rats, monkeys and horses, cats playing dulcimers was a thing. The resulting image search reveals cats doing amusing things has ruled social media well before the internet.
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This is a truly excellent way to start the week, thank you so much
@alomshaha
🤩
Morning commute gives me time to get stuck into “Uncivilised” by
@littlegaudy
and I’m entirely unsurprised that this “debut author” writes better than many an author (like myself) with more books under their belt.
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Brain v. Full with hosting
@MuseumsAssoc
#Museums2019
, so won’t be tweeting much, but 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 for your love, support and solidarity, and I will retweet like a demon.
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An open poem to the Wellcome Collection.
Dear
@ExploreWellcome
,
Are you aware
It raises a frown
That all your '8's
Are upside down?
#WellcomeMagic
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