Matt Robertshaw
@mattjrobertshaw.bsky.social
> Historian of Haiti and the second French colonial empire
> Newspaper republisher @ Black Republic of Letters
> Video essayist @ Sleeper Hit History
> Guitar player @ The Relative Minors
> Elbows-up Canadian
> JJ & Wes's dad
> Newspaper republisher @ Black Republic of Letters
> Video essayist @ Sleeper Hit History
> Guitar player @ The Relative Minors
> Elbows-up Canadian
> JJ & Wes's dad
Max Scherzer is a Canadian icon.
October 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Max Scherzer is a Canadian icon.
"Vegetarians, as their name implies, eat nothing but vegetables. They claim that, on the day when the entire universe stops eating meat, perfect happiness will reign on the earth—so much will manners be softened by the unique consumption of easily digestible foods!"
July 31, 2025 at 3:28 AM
"Vegetarians, as their name implies, eat nothing but vegetables. They claim that, on the day when the entire universe stops eating meat, perfect happiness will reign on the earth—so much will manners be softened by the unique consumption of easily digestible foods!"
I have two words for you (since 2008).
June 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I have two words for you (since 2008).
I couldn't find a list of countries that were members of the League of Nations Council so I spent three hours in the LON digital archive and made this.
(I used the modern flags because they exist as emojis)
#leagueofnations #multilateralism #unitednations
(I used the modern flags because they exist as emojis)
#leagueofnations #multilateralism #unitednations
May 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I couldn't find a list of countries that were members of the League of Nations Council so I spent three hours in the LON digital archive and made this.
(I used the modern flags because they exist as emojis)
#leagueofnations #multilateralism #unitednations
(I used the modern flags because they exist as emojis)
#leagueofnations #multilateralism #unitednations
"Is he strong? Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood."
(So, no.)
He's got radioactive blood."
(So, no.)
May 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
"Is he strong? Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood."
(So, no.)
He's got radioactive blood."
(So, no.)
This is actually the logo of the special forces of the Russian military intelligence agency.
April 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This is actually the logo of the special forces of the Russian military intelligence agency.
The guy managing social security thinks humans are unnecessary.
April 2, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The guy managing social security thinks humans are unnecessary.
More pertinent thoughts from Haitians at the UN (Léon Laleau 1946):
March 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
More pertinent thoughts from Haitians at the UN (Léon Laleau 1946):
In 1945, Gérard Lescot, Haiti's delegate at the San Francisco conference (where the UN was born), gave a speech that is still pertinent 80 years later:
March 31, 2025 at 3:08 PM
In 1945, Gérard Lescot, Haiti's delegate at the San Francisco conference (where the UN was born), gave a speech that is still pertinent 80 years later:
The 20th century was a wild ride for these ex-German colonies (and a few ex-Ottoman territories):
March 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The 20th century was a wild ride for these ex-German colonies (and a few ex-Ottoman territories):
The UN's Trusteeship system:
March 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The UN's Trusteeship system:
Crazy polling data for Canada's political parties going into an election.
March 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Crazy polling data for Canada's political parties going into an election.
9/11: NFLD welcomes 1000s of Americans.
Oct '01: Canada backs US invasion of Afghanistan.
4 Apr '02: 4 Canadians killed by friendly fire from a US plane
24 Apr '02: The Canadian anthem is booed at an NHL game in Brooklyn
Mar. '25: Trump says "One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada"
Oct '01: Canada backs US invasion of Afghanistan.
4 Apr '02: 4 Canadians killed by friendly fire from a US plane
24 Apr '02: The Canadian anthem is booed at an NHL game in Brooklyn
Mar. '25: Trump says "One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada"
March 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
9/11: NFLD welcomes 1000s of Americans.
Oct '01: Canada backs US invasion of Afghanistan.
4 Apr '02: 4 Canadians killed by friendly fire from a US plane
24 Apr '02: The Canadian anthem is booed at an NHL game in Brooklyn
Mar. '25: Trump says "One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada"
Oct '01: Canada backs US invasion of Afghanistan.
4 Apr '02: 4 Canadians killed by friendly fire from a US plane
24 Apr '02: The Canadian anthem is booed at an NHL game in Brooklyn
Mar. '25: Trump says "One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada"
Finally a reality show that might be worth watching.
March 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Finally a reality show that might be worth watching.
I only heard about the Mandates/Trusteeship system relatively recently. Now that I study it I see oblique references to it all the time. Like yesterday on JEOPARDY! and on today Instagram. Samoa and Tanganyika were both German colonies that the League took over after WW1.
March 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I only heard about the Mandates/Trusteeship system relatively recently. Now that I study it I see oblique references to it all the time. Like yesterday on JEOPARDY! and on today Instagram. Samoa and Tanganyika were both German colonies that the League took over after WW1.
Apparently I've been to three of the most dangerous cities in the world… 😬
March 2, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Apparently I've been to three of the most dangerous cities in the world… 😬
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
To paraphrase Nemours:
"woe betide us if our pusillanimity prevents us from playing the part that it is our sacred duty, at the dictate of our conscience, to fulfil; great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ukraine."
"woe betide us if our pusillanimity prevents us from playing the part that it is our sacred duty, at the dictate of our conscience, to fulfil; great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ukraine."
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
To paraphrase Nemours:
"woe betide us if our pusillanimity prevents us from playing the part that it is our sacred duty, at the dictate of our conscience, to fulfil; great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ukraine."
"woe betide us if our pusillanimity prevents us from playing the part that it is our sacred duty, at the dictate of our conscience, to fulfil; great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ukraine."
Three years later an emboldened president started making threats against Canadian sovereignty.
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Three years later an emboldened president started making threats against Canadian sovereignty.
You see where this is going.
In 2022, Russia ramped up its invasion of Ukraine, although both were members of the United Nations. The UN and many countries tried to intervene. But nevertheless the war dragged on.
In 2022, Russia ramped up its invasion of Ukraine, although both were members of the United Nations. The UN and many countries tried to intervene. But nevertheless the war dragged on.
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
You see where this is going.
In 2022, Russia ramped up its invasion of Ukraine, although both were members of the United Nations. The UN and many countries tried to intervene. But nevertheless the war dragged on.
In 2022, Russia ramped up its invasion of Ukraine, although both were members of the United Nations. The UN and many countries tried to intervene. But nevertheless the war dragged on.
As we now know, he was right. The League's torpor emboldened Germany. Soon it wasn't just faraway Ethiopia; three years later Czechoslovakia became someone's Ethiopia. Then Poland. Then France.
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
As we now know, he was right. The League's torpor emboldened Germany. Soon it wasn't just faraway Ethiopia; three years later Czechoslovakia became someone's Ethiopia. Then Poland. Then France.
A Haitian delegate at the League, Auguste Nemours, famously condemned the invasion, calling on the world to intervene. He concluded with these chilling words:
"great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ethiopia."
"great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ethiopia."
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A Haitian delegate at the League, Auguste Nemours, famously condemned the invasion, calling on the world to intervene. He concluded with these chilling words:
"great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ethiopia."
"great or small, strong or weak, near or far, white or coloured, let us never forget that one day we may be somebody’s Ethiopia."
In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia. Although both were members of the League of Nations, the organization was powerless to oppose it.
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia. Although both were members of the League of Nations, the organization was powerless to oppose it.
Lots of fun to find a more-than-perfect quote for your dissertation a month after defending it. #HaitianSky
Every French colonial policy begins with Saint-Domingue. Auguste Nemours in a League of Nations committee discussion in 1935:
Every French colonial policy begins with Saint-Domingue. Auguste Nemours in a League of Nations committee discussion in 1935:
February 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Lots of fun to find a more-than-perfect quote for your dissertation a month after defending it. #HaitianSky
Every French colonial policy begins with Saint-Domingue. Auguste Nemours in a League of Nations committee discussion in 1935:
Every French colonial policy begins with Saint-Domingue. Auguste Nemours in a League of Nations committee discussion in 1935: