John J. Steffen

Retired. Married. Three children. Born in NYC. Lived in NY, MA, NJ, OH, HI, IL, and now, finally, MI. Miss NYC & HI. A lot.

[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[Taj Mahal @tajmahalblues]

#ThrowbackThursday to 1981, and Taj performing "Fishin' Blues” at The Maintenance Shop in Iowa State University. 🪕

Taj & The Phantom Blues Band will be on the road in April of 2026, tickets are available at the link below.

https://t.co/KvYUkiWwXk

[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY @AfricanArchives]

Patrice Lumumba Last Letter.

He was the first legally elected prime minister of D.R Congo and was assassinated in 1961 following a military coup supported by U.S.A & Belgian imperialism which was admitted by the State Dept in 2013.

My dear wife,

I am writing these words to you, not knowing whether they will ever reach you, or whether I shall be alive when you read them.
Throughout my struggle for the independence of our country I have never doubted the victory of our sacred cause, to which I and my comrades have dedicated all our lives.
But the only thing which we wanted for our country is the right to a worthy life, to dignity without pretence, to independence without restrictions.
This was never the desire of the Belgian colonialists and their Western allies, who received, direct or indirect, open or concealed, support from some highly placed officials of the United Nations, the body upon which we placed all our hope when we appealed to it for help.
They seduced some of our compatriots, bought others and did everything to distort the truth and smear our independence.
What I can say is this—alive or dead, free or in jail—it is not a question of me personally.
The main thing is the Congo, our unhappy people, whose independence is being trampled upon.
That is why they have shut us away in prison and why they keep us far away from the people. But my faith remains indestructible.
I know and feel deep in my heart that sooner or later my people will rid themselves of their internal and external enemies, that they will rise up as one in order to say 'No' to colonialism, to brazen, dying colonialism, in order to win their dignity in a clean land.
We are not alone. Africa, Asia, the free peoples and the peoples fighting for their freedom in all corners of the world will always be side by side with the millions of Congolese who will not give up the struggle while there is even one colonialist or colonialist mercenary in our country.
To my sons, whom I am leaving and whom, perhaps, I shall not see again, I want to say that the future of the Congo is splendid and that I expect from them, as from every Congolese, the fulfilment of the sacred task of restoring our independence and our sovereignty.
Without dignity there is no freedom, without justice there is no dignity and without independence there are no free men.
Cruelty, insults and torture can never force me to ask for mercy, because I prefer to die with head high, with indestructible faith and profound belief in the destiny of our country than to live in humility and renounce the principles which are sacred to me.
The day will come when history will speak. But it will not be the history which will be taught in Brussels, Paris, Washington or the United Nations.
It will be the history which will be taught in the countries which have won freedom from colonialism and its puppets.
Africa will write its own history and in both north and south it will be a history of glory and dignity.
Do not weep for me. I know that my tormented country will be able to defend its freedom and its independence.
Long live the Congo!
Long live Africa!
Thysville prison
Patrice LUMUMBA

[Governor Newsom Press Office @GovPressOffice]

WOW! TOMORROW HISTORY WILL BE MADE. KaroLYIN LEAVITT WILL HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR THE SUPPOSED “FAKE MEDIA” ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S BEAUTIFUL MAPS. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY ARE THE GREATEST MAPS EVER CREATED — EVEN BETTER THAN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS'. DONALD “THE FAILURE” TRUMP BE WARNED, TOMORROW MAY BE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. ALL BECAUSE YOU “MISSED THE DEADLINE.” LIBERATION DAY FOR AMERICA!!! — GCN

[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY @AfricanArchives]

On this day in 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered the "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio.

“Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that ‘twixt the Negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this here talking about?
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well!And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?
Then they talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? [member of audience whispers, “intellect”] That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or Negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?
Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it. The men better let them.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain’t got nothing more to say.”

[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[John Cleese @JohnCleese]

Brilliant !

[John J. Steffen @steffejj]

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[Victoria Brownworth @VABVOX]

Watch: this video is just 2 minutes. It is incalculably lovely and joyful. Pope Francis lifting this teenager out of her pain in front of the whole world is just breathtakingly beautiful.

[Resist Republicans in Florida @FLWillRegret22]

✝️1/ As a Roman Catholic I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis.
I have only ever seen one Pope LIVE while I was in University in California. Pope John Paul ll. I can’t begin to tell you how very special and moving that was for me.

Then came this remarkable man