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
Reposted by johnedwinmason
For Financial Times, I write about LA artists who are making statements against ICE and supporting immigrant communities..
I'm struck by the "Irresistible Resistance" events, where the art world goes out to the community, instead of having the community to come to them.
www.ft.com/content/961d...
I'm struck by the "Irresistible Resistance" events, where the art world goes out to the community, instead of having the community to come to them.
www.ft.com/content/961d...
The LA artists leading an ‘irresistible resistance’ against ICE
From pop-up performances for small businesses to nocturnal protests against immigration raids, creativity has become part of activists’ toolkit
www.ft.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:58 PM
For Financial Times, I write about LA artists who are making statements against ICE and supporting immigrant communities..
I'm struck by the "Irresistible Resistance" events, where the art world goes out to the community, instead of having the community to come to them.
www.ft.com/content/961d...
I'm struck by the "Irresistible Resistance" events, where the art world goes out to the community, instead of having the community to come to them.
www.ft.com/content/961d...
What a great quote. It's been the American way for a 249 years, give or take.
"Fear of the present leads to mystification of the past." - John Berger
February 19, 2026 at 4:32 AM
What a great quote. It's been the American way for a 249 years, give or take.
Great read about composer Ivan Orr's new piece honoring four of the woman who made the Jefferson School the heart of Charlottesville's Black community, 100 years ago — and today.
It's by Erin O'Hare. If you've been around Charlottesville more than a minute you know there's nobody better.
It's by Erin O'Hare. If you've been around Charlottesville more than a minute you know there's nobody better.
The Jefferson School will celebrate its 100th anniversary this Friday, Feb. 20.
Four women changed the course of education for Black students in Charlottesville. A local musician composed a piece to honor them
Ivan Orr will debut his new composition during a 100th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Jefferson High School, which provided Black students with access to secondary education during…
www.cvilletomorrow.org
February 19, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Great read about composer Ivan Orr's new piece honoring four of the woman who made the Jefferson School the heart of Charlottesville's Black community, 100 years ago — and today.
It's by Erin O'Hare. If you've been around Charlottesville more than a minute you know there's nobody better.
It's by Erin O'Hare. If you've been around Charlottesville more than a minute you know there's nobody better.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
This is a great group of Willie Morris Prize winners for this year. I'll be moderating a conversation between this year's winners on March 24, 2026 at Off Square Books in Oxford Mississippi at 4:00 pm. It should be a great event so join us.
olemiss.edu/news/2026/02...
olemiss.edu/news/2026/02...
Willie Morris Award Winners Plumb the South's Many Realities | Ole Miss
olemiss.edu
February 18, 2026 at 11:36 PM
This is a great group of Willie Morris Prize winners for this year. I'll be moderating a conversation between this year's winners on March 24, 2026 at Off Square Books in Oxford Mississippi at 4:00 pm. It should be a great event so join us.
olemiss.edu/news/2026/02...
olemiss.edu/news/2026/02...
Reposted by johnedwinmason
The fiction that the Olympics or any other sport are non-political wore thin a long time ago. Let Ukrainian athletes grieve & Haitian athletes celebrate Toussaint Louverture & the revolution that overthrew slavery. While we're at it, let's bring back the Black Power salute.
If you heard of a Ukrainian athlete banned from the Olympics because he wanted to grieve his friends, or the removal of Toussaint Louverture from Haiti’s uniforms it may intrigue you to know the rule responsible for this only emerged after a black power salute in 1968:
www.ebony.com/haiti-2026-o...
www.ebony.com/haiti-2026-o...
Haiti’s Olympic Uniform Controversy Explains the Myth of “Neutrality”
The IOC asked for Toussaint Louverture to be removed from Haiti’s 2026 Winter Olympic uniforms, calling it political symbolism. What followed reveals how fashion, history, and national identity collid...
www.ebony.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:11 AM
The fiction that the Olympics or any other sport are non-political wore thin a long time ago. Let Ukrainian athletes grieve & Haitian athletes celebrate Toussaint Louverture & the revolution that overthrew slavery. While we're at it, let's bring back the Black Power salute.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
OPINION: "This issue has become particularly acute as housing costs have risen sharply across the country over the past decade. Why become a teacher if it means you’ll struggle to put a roof over your head?" Jeff Kruth and Tammy Schultz write.
www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-subs...
www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-subs...
Opinion | Subsidized Housing Is Luring Teachers Back to Communities
Jeff Kruth and Tammy Schultz write that affordable housing policies are keeping teachers in communities and helping to address teacher shortages.
www.mississippifreepress.org
February 18, 2026 at 6:59 PM
OPINION: "This issue has become particularly acute as housing costs have risen sharply across the country over the past decade. Why become a teacher if it means you’ll struggle to put a roof over your head?" Jeff Kruth and Tammy Schultz write.
www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-subs...
www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-subs...
France is having its Charlie Kirk moment.
The fatal attack on Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist, is being used by the far-right National Rally and the somewhat-less-right Republicans to demonize the left.... A way to prepare alliances for the upcoming elections.
The fatal attack on Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist, is being used by the far-right National Rally and the somewhat-less-right Republicans to demonize the left.... A way to prepare alliances for the upcoming elections.
Après la mort de Quentin Deranque : opération récupération. C'est la une de Libération jeudi.
L'agression mortelle du militant d'extrême droite est utilisée par le RN et LR pour diaboliser la gauche au-delà de LFI. Une façon de préparer des alliances en vue des prochaines élections.
L'agression mortelle du militant d'extrême droite est utilisée par le RN et LR pour diaboliser la gauche au-delà de LFI. Une façon de préparer des alliances en vue des prochaines élections.
February 18, 2026 at 8:59 PM
France is having its Charlie Kirk moment.
The fatal attack on Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist, is being used by the far-right National Rally and the somewhat-less-right Republicans to demonize the left.... A way to prepare alliances for the upcoming elections.
The fatal attack on Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist, is being used by the far-right National Rally and the somewhat-less-right Republicans to demonize the left.... A way to prepare alliances for the upcoming elections.
Disappointing. "Right to repair" is something that unites young techies, older DIYers, & farmers of all ages. It's good politics. Killed by corporate lobbyists, I imagine.
Two bills aimed at establishing a "right to repair" — one for devices with digital components, the other for farm equipment — failed without a hearing this year.
They were proposed in response to increasingly difficult equipment repairs, as software and complicated circuitry have become commonplace
They were proposed in response to increasingly difficult equipment repairs, as software and complicated circuitry have become commonplace
'Right to repair' bills die in Virginia House subcommittee
Del. Jackie Glass said she hoped her bill would foster a culture of DIY repairs.
www.vpm.org
February 18, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Disappointing. "Right to repair" is something that unites young techies, older DIYers, & farmers of all ages. It's good politics. Killed by corporate lobbyists, I imagine.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Gov. Spanberger and the Dems are saving higher education in Virginia
The Virginia Senate rejected several lingering Youngkin board appointments yesterday. Those rejections included the entire Richard Bland College board, plus Eric Cantor at William & Mary.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Richard Bland College Board Removed
Virginia lawmakers rejected seven lingering board picks from former governor Glenn Youngkin, effectively removing the entire Richard Bland College Board of Visitors.
www.insidehighered.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Gov. Spanberger and the Dems are saving higher education in Virginia
My man is trippin'. 😄
I'm no finance genius, but I think it would be cool if there was a private equity company that would a) buy businesses b) invest in them to make them better and c) profit from having improved those businesses.
February 18, 2026 at 7:19 PM
My man is trippin'. 😄
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla collectively received $51 billion in tax breaks, thanks to the Trump and GOP corporate tax cuts signed into law last year.
Together they effectively paid a federal tax rate of 4.9%, according to @itep.org.
itep.org/trump-meta-t...
Together they effectively paid a federal tax rate of 4.9%, according to @itep.org.
itep.org/trump-meta-t...
Four Big Tech Companies Avoid $51 Billion in Taxes in Wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Four of the corporations whose CEOs flanked President Trump at his 2025 inauguration ceremony have now disclosed that they collectively received $51 billion in federal tax breaks in 2025, much of that...
itep.org
February 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla collectively received $51 billion in tax breaks, thanks to the Trump and GOP corporate tax cuts signed into law last year.
Together they effectively paid a federal tax rate of 4.9%, according to @itep.org.
itep.org/trump-meta-t...
Together they effectively paid a federal tax rate of 4.9%, according to @itep.org.
itep.org/trump-meta-t...
Horrible. A needless tragedy with ICE at its root.
"Linda Davis, a teacher in the state of Georgia in the United States, died after being struck by a car driven by a man from Guatemala who was trying to evade ICE."
"Linda Davis, a teacher in the state of Georgia in the United States, died after being struck by a car driven by a man from Guatemala who was trying to evade ICE."
February 18, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Horrible. A needless tragedy with ICE at its root.
"Linda Davis, a teacher in the state of Georgia in the United States, died after being struck by a car driven by a man from Guatemala who was trying to evade ICE."
"Linda Davis, a teacher in the state of Georgia in the United States, died after being struck by a car driven by a man from Guatemala who was trying to evade ICE."
Trying to comprehend the mental toughness that it takes to win the gold after doing so poorly in your first two events, in which you were expected to medal. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Third race is the charm for Shiffrin, who won gold today after failing to podium in her first two races of the 2026 Olympic games. n.pr/4c1J5sK
Sweet redemption for Mikaela Shiffrin, who wins Olympic gold
Third race is the charm for Shiffrin, who won gold today after failing to podium in her first two races of the 2026 Olympic games.
n.pr
February 18, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Trying to comprehend the mental toughness that it takes to win the gold after doing so poorly in your first two events, in which you were expected to medal. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Israel has moved aggressively in recent days to deepen its control over the occupied West Bank, unilaterally adopting policies that analysts say represent a major shift toward annexation and appear to defy President Trump.
As Israel takes steps to claim land in West Bank, U.S. stands by
Despite President Donald Trump’s opposition to annexation, Israel has taken steps to expand control over the West Bank that experts say may lead to seizure of territory.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Israel has moved aggressively in recent days to deepen its control over the occupied West Bank, unilaterally adopting policies that analysts say represent a major shift toward annexation and appear to defy President Trump.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Jackson's visits to Philadelphia, dating back to the 1970s, established him as an icon of civil rights and political empowerment in a community that revered him
‘He loved Philadelphia, and Philadelphia loved him’: Jesse Jackson in Philadelphia through the years
www.inquirer.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Jackson's visits to Philadelphia, dating back to the 1970s, established him as an icon of civil rights and political empowerment in a community that revered him
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
The Vatican will not participate in President Trump’s “Board of Peace“ initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official, says while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the U.N.
Vatican says it will not participate in Trump's 'Board of Peace'
Pope Leo, the first U.S. pope and a critic of some of Trump’s policies, was invited to join the board in January.
nbcnews.to
February 18, 2026 at 3:04 PM
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Reposted by johnedwinmason
It doesn't often occur to me to share Thomas Friedman's columns, but for the many who seen to prefer to look away, this is appropriately bracing about the stealth cleansing and settlement of Gaza. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/o...
February 18, 2026 at 2:49 PM
It doesn't often occur to me to share Thomas Friedman's columns, but for the many who seen to prefer to look away, this is appropriately bracing about the stealth cleansing and settlement of Gaza. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/o...
Wow. I get it. But wow.
"...and felt compelled to explain to my students that there was a time when guitars were important to popular music."
"...and felt compelled to explain to my students that there was a time when guitars were important to popular music."
Today, I presented two scenes from "Sinners" to my 'Race in American Popular Music' course
I related them to readings by Olly Wilson, bell hooks, Matthew D. Morrison, and George E. Lewis, and felt compelled to explain to my students that there was a time when guitars were important to popular music
I related them to readings by Olly Wilson, bell hooks, Matthew D. Morrison, and George E. Lewis, and felt compelled to explain to my students that there was a time when guitars were important to popular music
February 18, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Wow. I get it. But wow.
"...and felt compelled to explain to my students that there was a time when guitars were important to popular music."
"...and felt compelled to explain to my students that there was a time when guitars were important to popular music."
Reposted by johnedwinmason
The Columbia History prof & white supremacist who, along with his generations of disciplines, did more than anyone this side of D.W. Griffith & Margaret Mitchell to spread neo-Confederate propaganda was guilty of everything that MAGA accuses higher ed of doing & being. That & more in today's post! 🗃️
So for the next post in my series on scholarly ideas of which I am not a fan, sharing two prior posts on the Dunning School (featuring @adamhdomby.bsky.social's work) & one reason why it's doubly important to remember academic white supremacy in 2026.
blackwhiteandread.com/february-17-...
blackwhiteandread.com/february-17-...
February 17, 2026: Non-Favorite Scholarly Ideas: The Dunning School – Black and White and Read All Over
[For this year’s post-Valentine’s non-favorites series, I wanted to follow up last week’s on scholarly books I’ve loved with a handful of scholarly ideas I don’t. Leading up to a perennial favorite cr...
blackwhiteandread.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:26 PM
The Columbia History prof & white supremacist who, along with his generations of disciplines, did more than anyone this side of D.W. Griffith & Margaret Mitchell to spread neo-Confederate propaganda was guilty of everything that MAGA accuses higher ed of doing & being. That & more in today's post! 🗃️
Reposted by johnedwinmason
watching this a few times today
I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is
February 18, 2026 at 3:37 AM
watching this a few times today
The beginning of Ramadan & Lent coincide this year. I like the idea that Muslims & Christians all over the world are entering these seasons of prayer, reflection, penitence, & fasting at the same time. I hope it's a sign of better days to come.
Ramadan Mubarak.
Have a blessed Lent.
Ramadan Mubarak.
Have a blessed Lent.
February 18, 2026 at 4:01 AM
The beginning of Ramadan & Lent coincide this year. I like the idea that Muslims & Christians all over the world are entering these seasons of prayer, reflection, penitence, & fasting at the same time. I hope it's a sign of better days to come.
Ramadan Mubarak.
Have a blessed Lent.
Ramadan Mubarak.
Have a blessed Lent.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
Hot take: Law schools shouldn’t bribe officials.
If Dean McAlister felt pressure to do this, she should have resigned. If she didn’t feel pressure, it sure looks like bribery…
I get that higher ed admin is complicated right now. But we need a modicum of backbone from law school leaders.
If Dean McAlister felt pressure to do this, she should have resigned. If she didn’t feel pressure, it sure looks like bribery…
I get that higher ed admin is complicated right now. But we need a modicum of backbone from law school leaders.
Florida's attorney general, who spends his time targeting companies for stuff like “radical LGBTQ+ activism,” is getting paid $100K a year as a Univ of Fla adjunct to teach a 2 hour/week law class.
His salary is 8X higher than what the median adjunct earns.
1/
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
His salary is 8X higher than what the median adjunct earns.
1/
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
‘Professor Uthmeier’: Inside Florida attorney general’s $100k teaching job at UF
The university was eager to hire the newly minted attorney general, but didn’t announce his teaching job until the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times began asking questions.
www.miamiherald.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Hot take: Law schools shouldn’t bribe officials.
If Dean McAlister felt pressure to do this, she should have resigned. If she didn’t feel pressure, it sure looks like bribery…
I get that higher ed admin is complicated right now. But we need a modicum of backbone from law school leaders.
If Dean McAlister felt pressure to do this, she should have resigned. If she didn’t feel pressure, it sure looks like bribery…
I get that higher ed admin is complicated right now. But we need a modicum of backbone from law school leaders.
Good student. Good teacher.
Had a student today say “wow, Reconstruction is like the most important time period in history and I’ve never heard of it before.” 🥹🥹🥹
I had been wondering if I was being too repetitive with all the different angles I’ve covered but I think I hit the sweet spot 🥰
I had been wondering if I was being too repetitive with all the different angles I’ve covered but I think I hit the sweet spot 🥰
February 18, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Good student. Good teacher.
Reposted by johnedwinmason
In 2018, my mom was working a fencing tournament in Memphis. While at breakfast at the hotel, she got to meet the Rev. Jesse Jackson and start her morning with a prayer where he reminded her to keep hope alive.
An incredible legacy.
An incredible legacy.
February 17, 2026 at 3:24 PM
In 2018, my mom was working a fencing tournament in Memphis. While at breakfast at the hotel, she got to meet the Rev. Jesse Jackson and start her morning with a prayer where he reminded her to keep hope alive.
An incredible legacy.
An incredible legacy.