In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo apologizes for the Doctrine of Discovery, which sanctioned colonialism & slavery, to talk about AI. Here, I thought I went off the rails in Data Empire, where I insist the Doctrine of Discovery is critical to the history of data’s power www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Joe Dator and Kevin Maher.
ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [ Multimedia ] ___________________________
A 🍍pineapple rum punch for a rainy 🌧️ Memorial Day.
In the interest of being a good professor, if you want to read the pertinent sections of Magnifica Humanitas on slavery, the "apology" and the implications for AI, skip to sections 172-181 of the Encyclical.
France's Code Noir (the Black Code) - a legal instrument that invented categories of people to whom different laws applied - has yet to be formally abolished!
Cross-party bill to annul it comes before the Assemblée nationale: 28 May.
Essay by French lit prof Andrew S Curran. Gift link.
🗃
The New Yorker
ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [ Multimedia ] ___________________________
The notorious Code Noir is gone. But people in Guadeloupe and Martinique continue to live with the consequences, says academic Marie-Annick Gournet
This story has been consistently reported, but seems not to have really broken though - it’s ASTONISHING. An asylum policy that caters specifically and essentially exclusively to white people from a country in which they’re safe.
“And if I ever see any of you trying to palm off some [AI] bullshit about how sunlight smells of memories that leave no footsteps, I swear to God I will come to your house and I’ll fucking kill you.”
Prof. Anthea Butler
Brooke Newman
I am co-editor of the @ugapress.bsky.social series Race in the Atlantic World along with historians Toby Green & @brookenewman.bsky.social. We welcome proposals of ACADEMIC MONOGRAPHS and EDITED VOLUMES. Check the series great titles, more information ⬇️ www.ugapress.org/series/race-...
Dr Surekha Davies, Historical Monster Consultant (she/her)
Brooke Newman
Video
Pete Fraser
Alan Lester
Ana Lucia Araujo
this is so good
open.substack.com/pub/samkriss...
Did you think I wouldn’t be able to tell? I can tell.
BREAKING: in May 2026, *every single one* of the 599 refugees admitted in the U.S. were white South Africans.
In FY 2026, the U.S. has admitted a total of 6,665 white South Africans, three Afghans (back in November 2025), and nobody else.
For reference, the U.S. admitted 100,060 refugees in 2024.
www.rpc.state.gov
Alex Ip 葉清霖
BREAKING: in April 2026, *every single one* of the 1,570 refugees admitted in the United States were white South Africans.
In FY 2026, the U.S. has admitted a total of 6,066 white South Africans, three Afghans (back in November 2025), and nobody else.
Alex Ip 葉清霖
www.rpc.state.gov
BREAKING: in March 2026, *every single one* of the 1,341 refugees admitted in the United States were white South Africans:
In FY 2026, the U.S. has admitted a total of 4,496 white South Africans, three Afghans (back in November), and nobody else.
www.rpc.state.gov/documents/Re...
www.rpc.state.gov
Alex Ip 葉清霖
An update: in February 2026, *every single one* of the 1,507 refugees admitted in the United States were white South Africans:
In FY 2026, the U.S. has admitted a total of 3,155 white South Africans, three Afghans, and nobody else.
www.rpc.state.gov/documents/Re...
