GOODBYE FOR NOW
On some unexpected developments ...
Readers and listeners:
Many of you may know that I have been hired by The New York Times to write essays for them twice a week, as a subscriber newsletter. Yes, I’m surprised too — but I’m going to do it, and in fact have started.
However, understandably they will not allow me to continue doing this newsletter for Substack at the same time. Thus, with sincere regret — this has been a blast — I have to suspend my newsletter here.
Needless to say, when I started this Substack newsletter in January, the last thing I expected was that the Times would be tapping me into an exclusive arrangement. However, I know that this means that those who paid for an annual subscription — THANK YOU to them — are not getting all of what they paid for (in many cases, not even half).
So: ALL subscriptions will be paused for now and frozen in time. No one will be further charged. Also, my podcast Lexicon Valley is part of the Booksmart Studios empire which is now under Substack, as are my conversations with Glenn Loury — subscriber contributions transferred there would of course be welcome.
However, for those who would like prorated refunds upon request, do reach out to me here, and I will get the money back to you as quickly as possible. I apologize for the inconvenience.
In any case, I have been immensely flattered that so many of you have been reading me here since January, and often even paying for it. My new gig is exciting, but I will miss this one. Once again, THANK YOU!!
I’m happy for you, and for the woke readers at the NYT who are about to discover you.
But I’m sad for me, because I canceled my NYT subscription following the sacking of James Bennet and the resignation of Bari Weiss. I won’t be going back.
However, I’ll continue to follow you, through your books, your conversations with Glenn Loury and others online, and elsewhere, and I wish you only continued success. The World needs your sane, principled perspective, and the Times will provide that platform for a wider audience. Congratulations!
This is a good sign I think. Maybe you will reach those who don’t know that there are black intellectuals who think differently than Kendi or Coates. But don’t let them pressure you or censor your material!,