Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

johnedwinmason

@johnedwinmason.bsky.social

11K followers 1K following 5.9K posts

Historian, curator, walker, player of antique French horns. Photography, music, South Africa. UVA Professor Emeritus.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · Nov 13

"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

84 280

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 56m

@laprofmme.bsky.social ICYMI.

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Hyperallergic @hyperallergic.com · 9h

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

1 5 22

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1h

Good luck to everyone who's learning English as an adult.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 7h

Here’s a primer on ‘primer.’

It’s pronounced ‘PRIMM-er’ if you mean “a small book” or “a short informative piece of writing.”

It’s pronounced ‘PRY-mer’ if you mean “an initial coat of paint.”

2 10

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Darcy James Argue @darcyjamesargue.com · 6h

Living through the “farce” phase of history is not as amusing as you might think it’d be.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals

Prosecutor who sought charges was installed amid Trump frustrations with pace of investigations against rivals

www.theguardian.com

1 3 12

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · 6h

Irving Penn
The Hand of Miles Davis, New York, 1986

7 35

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1h

Very cool.

1 1

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1h

A little more night music. (This is great: alto sax, cello, tuba, & drums. Be patient. In the video it takes a minute for the band to get going. via @jazzsnob99.bsky.social.)

Markus Schöner @schoenermarkus.bsky.social · 16h

Arthur Blythe Quartet Berlin 1980

YouTube video by crownpropeller

youtu.be

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Darcy James Argue @darcyjamesargue.com · 3h

Thanks to Richard Sandomir and the @nytimes.com for this obituary for Jim McNeely. I am glad to see his life and music commemorated in the paper of record.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/a...

Jim McNeely, Innovative Composer for Jazz Big Bands, Dies at 76

www.nytimes.com

5 13

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1h

Change the name from Somoza to Trump & the poem is still perfect.

Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · 3h

Somoza Unveils Somoza’s Statue of Somoza at the Somoza Stadium by Ernesto Cardenal
www.divasofverse.com/2016/11/somo...

Somoza Unveils Somoza’s Statue of Somoza at the Somoza Stadium by Ernesto Cardenal

Somoza Unveils Somoza’s Statue of Somoza at the Somoza Stadium It’s not that I think the people raised this statue...

www.divasofverse.com

1 5

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1h

A little night music.

Andrew Sehmann @andrewsehmann.com · 2h

Oh right, the video in question: m.youtube.com/watch?v=bZtX...

Le boeuf sur le toit | Augusta Symphony

YouTube video by Augusta Symphony

m.youtube.com

2 5

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1h

The camera work is overactive, but you & the orchestra sound great.

1 1

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 6h

An affordable housing crisis in Europe, too? Yep. And, like here, it hits the working class & the poor the hardest. It's almost as if rulers in rich capitalist countries don't actually want to make decent housing universally affordable.

Libération @liberation.fr · 7h

Crise du logement en Europe : «Le besoin, il est sur les plus modestes et les plus pauvres»

En amont de la présentation par la Commission européenne de son Plan pour le logement abordable, la Fondation pour le logement des défavorisés publie ses recommandations

Crise du logement en Europe : «Le besoin, il est sur les plus modestes et les plus pauvres»

www.liberation.fr

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Daily Maverick @dailymaverick.co.za · 7h

Antici…pation!

www.dailymaverick.co.za

1 2

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 7h

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first stage of the US government’s “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.”

The agreement offers the prospect of relief after two years of unimaginable atrocities—but is no substitute for action to protect human rights and ensure justice.

6 28 67

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 7h

Palestinians in Gaza will continue to suffer and die so long as Israel maintains its unlawful blockade of Gaza and does not restore basic services like electricity, water and health care.

States should take urgent action to prevent further rights violations.

2 28 69

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 7h

Rev. David Swanson, pastor at New Community Covenant Church on Chicago’s South Side, said this about his encounter w/Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino — a visible part of DHS activities.

It's not in the piece, but Swanson added: "It did feel like this is being staged for some kind of audience."

However, faith leaders in Chicago say tensions surrounding the Broadview facility have escalated over the past few weeks.
The Rev. David Swanson, pastor at New Community Covenant Church on Chicago's South Side, declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, explaining that he's only been a part of demonstrations at Broadview on one occasion.
But he said that during his visit, when large numbers of demonstrators assembled near the facility last Friday, the behavior of DHS agents left him unnerved.
At one point, he said, senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino — who has become a visible presence in DHS immigration enforcement - walked over to where Swanson and others were standing and began shoving the pastor while yelling in his face. Swanson, who was wearing a clerical collar, said Bovino yelled "I'm not going to tell you again" even as the pastor continued to move back. Part of the incident was documented by a Associated Press photographer; however, DHS officials did not respond immediately to comment on the interaction.

Swanson said the experience differed dramatically from demonstrations elsewhere he has attended. In the past, he said, he has tried to be "a presence for peace in situations that can get volatile" and a "person who different sides can be able to approach and talk with and have conversations with." But his experience at Broadview felt different.
"This was the first time that I felt like there was absolutely no regard and no respect for a person who was visibly associated with a faith tradition," Swanson said. "It did not seem like it made one iota of difference."

1 25 45

Reposted by johnedwinmason

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 6h

New #Gaza peace proposal includes hostage exchange and pause in fighting, but avoids giving Palestinians a meaningful say in their future.

buff.ly/m0NVvKk
#news #polisky

Gaza peace plan risks borrowing more from Tony Blair’s failures in the Middle East than his success in Northern Ireland

The former British leader was tapped to lead redevelopment efforts in Gaza if a deal is agreed upon.

buff.ly

2 8 10

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 8h

Public access is the only thing I miss since dropping cable 15 years ago. 😄

1 2

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 8h

I dunno. More likely just sad. Possibly also frightening.

1 2

Reposted by johnedwinmason

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 8h

Trump critics like James Comey may never be convicted — but the long, expensive process itself can still be punishment, a law scholar writes.

buff.ly/GPjZLqf

#polisky #freespeech #criminaljustice

For Trump’s perceived enemies, the process may be the punishment

Even when a prosecution fails to convict someone, the process of defending against charges can itself can be a form of punishment.

buff.ly

4 2 12

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 8h

lol

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 8h

From @theathletic.com: Turning Point USA, the organization founded by the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, announced that it will be hosting its own Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 8, 2026, to rival the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny.

Turning Point USA, group founded by Charlie Kirk, announces Super Bowl halftime counterprogramming

Turning Point USA is calling its Super Bowl halftime show a celebration of "faith, family and freedom."

nyti.ms

5 14

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 15h

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Palestinians celebrate ceasefire deal - but fear confronting grief

People in Gaza celebrate a potential end to the war, but know it will mean facing the grief they have put aside.

www.bbc.com

Reposted by johnedwinmason

Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 16h

It is simply accurate to call this regime segregationist.

Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration

www.nytimes.com

27 430 1.5K

Reposted by johnedwinmason

100 years ago news @100yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 8, 1925: Mussolini further consolidates his authoritarian grip on Italy by setting plans to abolish all local and regional governments. Elected councils and mayors will be replaced with a “podesta” named by the Fascist regime. All police agencies will be put under central authority too.

3 11 19

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 1d

No, not C-ville, sadly.

1 2