@alonsonichols.bsky.social
950 followers 1.1K following 1.8K posts
Photographer, Artist, sci-fi nerd, dog lover and curious wanderer
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Reposted
propcazhpm.bsky.social
The good news is that he was able to leave with his teacher wife and daughter.
propcazhpm.bsky.social
Thomas Howland was was denied a passport even though he was free, could vote in his home state, and held office.

He was eventually able to emigrate to Liberia with his family.

This portrait was borrowed from the John Brown Museum for the #Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibit at The Met.
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propcazhpm.bsky.social
The Dred Scott decision was 1857.

John Blanchard painted stevedore and elected official Thomas Howell's portrait between 1850 and 1856, so he was already over it.

Exact reply to his passport request at link is infuriating.

www.rihs.org/faith-freedo...
Painter John Blanchard (American, act. early 19th century)
Subject: Thomas Howland , 1850–56
Oil on wood
Property of the Rhode Island Historical Society (Museum Collection), Providence
Thomas Howland, the subject of this unusually expressive portrait, was a dock worker in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1857 he became the city’s first Black elected official when he was named warden of its Third Ward. However, that same year he decided to emigrate to Liberia with his wife and daughter, perhaps in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case that denied African Americans the protections of U.S. citizenship. Because of this decision, Howland’s application for a passport was denied, despite his status as a free man with the right to vote in his home state (he did eventually make it to Liberia). Howland’s confident posture echoes that of the earlier Portrait of a Gentleman shown nearby, the fashionable attire of both sitters serving to reinforce their self-possession.
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propcazhpm.bsky.social
In 1857, Thomas Howland became Providence, RI's first Black elected official.

Later that year, he decided to emigrate to Liberia with his wife & daughter after the Dred Scott case denied Black people protections of U.S. citizenship. He was denied a passport.

Thomas Howland, 1856
John Blanchard
Portrait of a distringuished Black man from the 19th centrure wearing fine clothes, including  high collar and tie of the day.
Museum Text:
Thomas Howland, the subject of this unusually expressive portrait, was a dock worker in Providence, Rhode lsland, In 1857 he became the city's first Black elected oficial when he was amed warden of its Third Ward. However, that same year he decided to emigrate to Liberia with his wite and daughter, perhaps in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case that denied African Americans the protections of U.S. citizenship. Because of this decision, Howland's application for a passport was denied, despite his status as a free man with the right to vote in his home state (he did eventually make it to Liberia). Howland's confident posture echoes that of the earlier Portrait of a Gentleman shown nearby, the fashionable attire of both sitters serving to reinforce thelir self-possession.
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ditzkoff.bsky.social
On the actual 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (today), here’s an article I wrote about it last year, with remembrances from Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and many more. www.nytimes.com/2024/09/27/a...
When ‘Saturday Night Live’ Debuted, They Were There. Here’s What They Remember. (Published 2024)
www.nytimes.com
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rygraham.bsky.social
Last month Trump said he wanted proof that COVID vaccines are effective. Yesterday, during his "semiannual" physical, Trump received a COVID vaccine as well as a flu shot.

That's because vaccines — which Trump's administration have made harder to get — work.
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ginamurrell1.bsky.social
Tonight, I was scrolling through the PBS app and by coincidence happened upon the American Masters #documentary “Calder’s Moving Sculptures.” Directed by Roger Sherman, the 1998 doc features Arthur Miller, Inge Morath, I.M. Pei, Calder’s wife and adult children, and more. www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
Promo image for the PBS American Masters documentary “Calder’s Moving Sculptures,” featuring a black-and-white photo of Alexander Calder later in life constructing one of his mobiles.
alonsonichols.bsky.social
Genius for sure! And he was perfect for that role
alonsonichols.bsky.social
Plain or egg bagel, jalapeño cream cheese, lox, tomato and pickled onion with capers. Even if I lose here, I’m satisfied!
erinbiba.bsky.social
Tell me your bagel order and I will tell you *based on NYC cultural expectations* if you have won or lost your election for political office in NYC.
erinbiba.bsky.social
One of my favorite things about NYC is whenever anyone runs for office here they are required to disclose their bagel order.
alonsonichols.bsky.social
Plain or egg bagel, jalapeño cream cheese, lox and pickled onion with capers
alonsonichols.bsky.social
What a lovely and wonderful tribute to your mom, Celeste. Grace and I have been thinking of you often. Our hearts and thoughts are with you.
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johnrogers.bsky.social
🧵 from the always invaluable Dr. Taber.
sarahtaber.bsky.social
Farm bankruptcies are back in the news, so it's time to pull this chart out again.

Hey look they kept rising during Trump's first term. Then they went way down under Biden.

Now they're up again? So weird. Thanks Farm Bureau for the graphic
Screenshot from Farm Bureau article on farm bankruptcies. It shows farm bankruptcies climbing steadily 2014-2020, falling by half in 2021, & continuing to fall through 2023.
alonsonichols.bsky.social
I felt very much the same! And he was such a riot. If you can ever see him at a screening I recommend it
alonsonichols.bsky.social
When I heard John Carpenter lecture at the Egyptian Theater, my favorite part was his talk about Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China - how angry the studio was at the bumbling buffoonish white hero. And that was totally the point of the film for him.
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heartlandsignal.bsky.social
BREAKING: Masked Border Patrol agents aggressively arrested WGN video producer Debbie Brockman in Lincoln Square Friday morning, supposedly for "obstructing justice." (Video via Josh Thomas on Facebook)

Follow @heartlandsignal for more.
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prisonculture.bsky.social
Pennington married Frederick Douglass and his fiance Anna Murray at the home of the great David Ruggles when Douglass escaped enslavement. He was very well known in his time.
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donmoyn.bsky.social
Immigrant Nobel Prize winners exiting the United States
florianscheuer.bsky.social
I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.

🧵 1/7
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craigipedia.bsky.social
10/10 no notes
junoryleejournalism.com
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.
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hyperallergic.com
The truth about Frederick Baker’s life under enslavement was shrouded in a whitewashed history perpetuated by local historians in Mississippi. New research on a rare pre-Emancipation artwork has unearthed his story, dispelling false narratives that dignified the reputations of his enslavers.
Portrait of Enslaved Man Dispels Years of Falsehoods
The truth of Frederick Baker’s life was long obscured by a whitewashed history perpetuated by the Longwood mansion in Mississippi, new research says.
hyperallergic.com
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jonathancohn.bsky.social
Only 10 senators voted for Bernie Sanders's amendment to reduce the Pentagon budget by 10% and instead expand veteran dental care:

Baldwin (D-WI)
Markey (D-MA)
Merkley (D-OR)
Murphy (D-CT)
Sanders (I-VT)
Smith (D-MN)
Van Hollen (D-MD)
Warren (D-MA)
Welch (D-VT)
Wyden (D-OR)
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mark-bray.bsky.social
Our plane to Spain is in the air!

🙌🙌

Thank you so much to the countless people supporting us in every way and in particular all of the Rutgers students and faculty who have supported us every step of the way.