johnedwinmason
@johnedwinmason.bsky.social
Historian, curator, walker, player of antique French horns. Photography, music, South Africa. UVA Professor Emeritus.
Pinned
"I hope and trust all will come out right in the end, but the immediate future looks dark and troubled. I cannot shut my eyes to the ugly facts before me."
--Frederick Douglass, Lessons of the Hour, 1894
--Frederick Douglass, Lessons of the Hour, 1894
South Africa is out front yet again.
"South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela." dirco.gov.za/south-africa...
"South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela." dirco.gov.za/south-africa...
South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela
The Government of the Republic of South Africa notes with grave concern the recent developments, which were confirmed by the United States that the USA has conducted “a large-scale military strike aga...
dirco.gov.za
January 3, 2026 at 7:01 PM
South Africa is out front yet again.
"South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela." dirco.gov.za/south-africa...
"South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela." dirco.gov.za/south-africa...
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Join us on US 29 at Hydraulic Road (Shops at Stonefield) TODAY (1/3) at 2pm to protest US attack on Venezuela. Bring signs and dress warmly. Last night’s U.S. invasion of Venezuela and abduction of President Maduro is NOT LEGAL and NOT OK!
January 3, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Join us on US 29 at Hydraulic Road (Shops at Stonefield) TODAY (1/3) at 2pm to protest US attack on Venezuela. Bring signs and dress warmly. Last night’s U.S. invasion of Venezuela and abduction of President Maduro is NOT LEGAL and NOT OK!
Reposted by johnedwinmason
A big mob boss just took out a small mob boss
January 3, 2026 at 6:04 PM
A big mob boss just took out a small mob boss
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Not feckless.
Collaborators.
Collaborators.
January 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Not feckless.
Collaborators.
Collaborators.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
So many people over decades have been called conspiracy theorists for suggesting that U.S. intervention is driven by capitalist interests, and the interests of the oil industry in particular. Now the president just says it outright in press conferences and interviews.
Q: China, Russia, and Iran have interests in Venezuela. How does this operation affect your relationships with them?
TRUMP: In terms of other countries that want oil, we're in the oil business. We're gonna sell it to them. We'll be selling oil.
TRUMP: In terms of other countries that want oil, we're in the oil business. We're gonna sell it to them. We'll be selling oil.
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
So many people over decades have been called conspiracy theorists for suggesting that U.S. intervention is driven by capitalist interests, and the interests of the oil industry in particular. Now the president just says it outright in press conferences and interviews.
Been looking at US & international media. So far, the visuals are heavily in Trump's favor. Many scenes of jubilant Venezuelans in exile & at home celebrating Maduro's downfall. Plus red meat for MAGAs — a degrading photo of Maduro in custody & explosions in Caracas lighting up the sky last night.
January 3, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Been looking at US & international media. So far, the visuals are heavily in Trump's favor. Many scenes of jubilant Venezuelans in exile & at home celebrating Maduro's downfall. Plus red meat for MAGAs — a degrading photo of Maduro in custody & explosions in Caracas lighting up the sky last night.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
The most insipid and dumbest dystopia.
January 3, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The most insipid and dumbest dystopia.
Le Monde reminds its readers that we have a long history of bullying Latin America.
"Well before Trump... America carried out several operations... to overthrow or support the powers in place."
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
"Well before Trump... America carried out several operations... to overthrow or support the powers in place."
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Etats-Unis - Venezuela : les principales interventions de Washington en Amérique latine depuis la guerre froide
Bien avant l’arrivée au pouvoir de Donald Trump, les Américains ont mené plusieurs opérations, directes ou indirectes, dans le sous-continent pour renverser ou soutenir les pouvoirs en place.
www.lemonde.fr
January 3, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Le Monde reminds its readers that we have a long history of bullying Latin America.
"Well before Trump... America carried out several operations... to overthrow or support the powers in place."
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
"Well before Trump... America carried out several operations... to overthrow or support the powers in place."
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Good for the Times. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Good for the Times. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
When you wake up & get the news first from the WhatsApp messages your African & European friends have sent overnight asking "WTF is your country doing?"
January 3, 2026 at 2:40 PM
When you wake up & get the news first from the WhatsApp messages your African & European friends have sent overnight asking "WTF is your country doing?"
Reposted by johnedwinmason
We don’t need to grant online attention to every egregiously racist utterance in 2026
January 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM
We don’t need to grant online attention to every egregiously racist utterance in 2026
Name a better looking couple, in politics or anywhere else. It won't be easy.
Rama Duwaji and her date, I think his name is Zohran? Also @jumaane.bsky.social!
January 3, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Name a better looking couple, in politics or anywhere else. It won't be easy.
Still thinking about this — shopping at Wegman's among throngs of other people, selecting from foods of every variety, from all over the world, much of it fresh, healthful, & delicious.
The American grocery industry is good at its job, when it wants to be.
Yet food deserts abound & many go hungry.
The American grocery industry is good at its job, when it wants to be.
Yet food deserts abound & many go hungry.
You know what's insane? Thinking that going to Wegman's at 3 pm on December 23rd is a good idea. That's insane. Mindbogglingly insane. Don't ask me how I know.
January 3, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Still thinking about this — shopping at Wegman's among throngs of other people, selecting from foods of every variety, from all over the world, much of it fresh, healthful, & delicious.
The American grocery industry is good at its job, when it wants to be.
Yet food deserts abound & many go hungry.
The American grocery industry is good at its job, when it wants to be.
Yet food deserts abound & many go hungry.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Yeah I understand why some people need food delivery apps but this post is the reason I tend to side eye everyone else who uses them.
screenshot in case the post gets taken down or deleted
January 2, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Yeah I understand why some people need food delivery apps but this post is the reason I tend to side eye everyone else who uses them.
Everyone who's ever taught knows this kinda guy. Yes, it's almost always a guy.
Buckley is described by his Yale professor (who likes him, btw) as someone who was “very good at discussing books he hadn’t read.” And yikes, that says it all really.
Will I finish this 1000+ page biography on William F. Buckley?
January 3, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Everyone who's ever taught knows this kinda guy. Yes, it's almost always a guy.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Buckley is described by his Yale professor (who likes him, btw) as someone who was “very good at discussing books he hadn’t read.” And yikes, that says it all really.
Will I finish this 1000+ page biography on William F. Buckley?
January 3, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Buckley is described by his Yale professor (who likes him, btw) as someone who was “very good at discussing books he hadn’t read.” And yikes, that says it all really.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Reposted by johnedwinmason
This isn't about democratizing the news. It's about elevating "vibes" and "feelings" to be on par with lived experience and subject-matter expertise.
January 2, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This isn't about democratizing the news. It's about elevating "vibes" and "feelings" to be on par with lived experience and subject-matter expertise.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Mexico: Our president is a distinguished climate scientist who has been fighting for justice and equality in Mexico for 40 years.
Canada: Our Prime Minster studied at Oxford and Harvard, was the Governor of both the Banks of England and Canada, and is recognized as one of the sharpest financial minds around.
America: oh yeah? Our guy has to take dementia tests every week.
America: oh yeah? Our guy has to take dementia tests every week.
January 2, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Mexico: Our president is a distinguished climate scientist who has been fighting for justice and equality in Mexico for 40 years.
Out of the blue, Copilot popped up on my computer screen. "What can I do for you," it asked. "Tell me how to disable Copilot," I wrote. It didn't answer. But it turns out it's easy to do in the app's settings. It's surprisingly easy to delete it, too.
This has been a public service announcement.
This has been a public service announcement.
January 2, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Out of the blue, Copilot popped up on my computer screen. "What can I do for you," it asked. "Tell me how to disable Copilot," I wrote. It didn't answer. But it turns out it's easy to do in the app's settings. It's surprisingly easy to delete it, too.
This has been a public service announcement.
This has been a public service announcement.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Born in Trinidad, Dr. John Alcindor earned his MD in Scotland in 1899 & was a physician, political activist, & senior district medical officer in London. He was awarded a Red Cross medal for his work treating the wounded in WWI. His great-nephew is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
January 2, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Born in Trinidad, Dr. John Alcindor earned his MD in Scotland in 1899 & was a physician, political activist, & senior district medical officer in London. He was awarded a Red Cross medal for his work treating the wounded in WWI. His great-nephew is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
"After gaining independence in 1957, Ghana became the nerve center for encounters between African and African-American intellectuals. This legacy continued in the United States, where it gave rise to Black studies."
Certainly an important element in the rise of Black studies, if not the only one.
Certainly an important element in the rise of Black studies, if not the only one.
Après son indépendance en 1957, le Ghana est devenu le centre névralgique de la rencontre entre intellectuels africains et afro-américains. Cet héritage s’est prolongé aux États-Unis, où il a donné naissance aux « black studies ».
Ghana-États-Unis : aux origines du dialogue intellectuel panafricain
Après son indépendance en 1957, le Ghana est devenu le centre névralgique de la rencontre entre intellectuels africains et afro-américains. Cet héritage s’est prolongé aux États-Unis, où il a donné naissance aux « black studies ».
l.mediapart.fr
January 2, 2026 at 2:51 PM
"After gaining independence in 1957, Ghana became the nerve center for encounters between African and African-American intellectuals. This legacy continued in the United States, where it gave rise to Black studies."
Certainly an important element in the rise of Black studies, if not the only one.
Certainly an important element in the rise of Black studies, if not the only one.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Displaced from northern to central #Gaza, Ahmad speaks with the weight of everything he has lost.
Living in a tent with his daughter, fear is constant:
“I am trapped between two fears — the cold that seeps into her small body at night, and the rain when the tent can no longer protect us.”
Living in a tent with his daughter, fear is constant:
“I am trapped between two fears — the cold that seeps into her small body at night, and the rain when the tent can no longer protect us.”
January 2, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Displaced from northern to central #Gaza, Ahmad speaks with the weight of everything he has lost.
Living in a tent with his daughter, fear is constant:
“I am trapped between two fears — the cold that seeps into her small body at night, and the rain when the tent can no longer protect us.”
Living in a tent with his daughter, fear is constant:
“I am trapped between two fears — the cold that seeps into her small body at night, and the rain when the tent can no longer protect us.”
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Welcome to the Public Domain, AS I LAY DYING (1930) 📖
🧠 William Faulkner’s groundbreaking modernist novel uses multiple narrators & stream-of-consciousness storytelling to reshape American literature.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #PublicDomain #CopyrightFree
🧠 William Faulkner’s groundbreaking modernist novel uses multiple narrators & stream-of-consciousness storytelling to reshape American literature.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #PublicDomain #CopyrightFree
January 1, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Welcome to the Public Domain, AS I LAY DYING (1930) 📖
🧠 William Faulkner’s groundbreaking modernist novel uses multiple narrators & stream-of-consciousness storytelling to reshape American literature.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #PublicDomain #CopyrightFree
🧠 William Faulkner’s groundbreaking modernist novel uses multiple narrators & stream-of-consciousness storytelling to reshape American literature.
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #PublicDomain #CopyrightFree
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Jan. 1, 1926: American Appeal, a weekly newspaper representing the official line of the Socialist Party, publishes its first issue. The party's grand old man Eugene Debs is the founder and editor; a $15,000 donation from the Jewish daily Forward helped launch the venture.
January 1, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Jan. 1, 1926: American Appeal, a weekly newspaper representing the official line of the Socialist Party, publishes its first issue. The party's grand old man Eugene Debs is the founder and editor; a $15,000 donation from the Jewish daily Forward helped launch the venture.