Department of History

During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. 

UW Press looks back on a century of publishing, featuring works by Quintard Taylor and Bill Holms. George Behlmer’s 'Risky Shores’ honored.

President Trump is still using Seattle as a bogeyman in his campaign. What’s the point, and why does this tactic work? Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

The Southeast Asia Center will spearhead a new initiative to explore the effects of authoritarianism in Southeast Asia and on Southeast Asian American communities in the United States.

How do you protect a culture that is being wiped out? For Uighurs, this is more than just a hypothetical. The Chinese government has corralled more than 1 million of them into internment camps. Since 2016, dozens of graveyards and religious sites have been destroyed, the Uighur language has been banned in Xinjiang schools in favor of Mandarin Chinese and practicing Islam, the predominant Uighur faith, has been discouraged as a “sign of extremism.” Devin Naar, associate professor of history and of Sephardic studies at the UW, is quoted.

This week at the UW, join online events ranging in topics from population health to contempary race and politics in the United States.

The selection of a deeply conservative jurist to replace the late liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is not sitting well with some women on the Eastside. In 2016, they formed an organization in reaction to the president’s election, Plateaupians 4 Peace. This nomination has them riled up. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

"In June, manufacturers of skin lighteners joined other corporations in voicing support for the racial justice movement. Critics quickly pointed out the hypocrisy of voicing such support in the U.S. while continuing to sell skin whitening products globally. Such products, they say, play off of and promote racism and colorism (which is prejudice based on preference for people with lighter skin tones) in Asia and Africa," writes Lynn Thomas, professor of history at the UW.

Margaret O’Mara, professor of history, discusses the relationship between science, technology, and the national defense.

UW students, alumni, and faculty explain how COIVD-19 has disrupted Black life.

History Professor emeritus Quintard Taylor explains the results of a UW study on racialized language in Seattle-area rental ads.

Associate professor of history Adam Warren explains how traditional burial practices in Peru have been disrupted by the pandemic.

Daudi Abe, author of an upcoming book on Northwest rap, tells us what makes the local scene so special.

Josh Reid, associate professor of American Indian Studies and of history explains King County's decision to add tribal affiliations to its homelessness database.

James Gregory, professor of history, explains debates over Black Lives Matter protest tactics in Seattle.