All Activity

I wasn't familiar with Baldwin's writing at the time. However there are artist that I thought it was important to see. He was one of them. @Troy I remember running into you and Jasper at the Nina Hendrix concert I Brooklyn. And a play that your friend was an actor. IT to Bookseller plus you have a wide range.

WOW. That's all I can say. Ancient history I'd forgotten about. I've been outed. 😮

@ProfD I didn't know at first that Rachel Scott was a sista - with impeccable journalistic credentials! Trump has also been accused of referring to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Jackson as having a "low IQ". He seems to really be intimidated by black women who, when it comes to being qualified, put that skank Melania to shame whose only notable accomplishment is being multilingual, able to say "unzip" in 7 different tongues. 😛

@ProfD Everything bad we know about Joe Jackson, we learned from his children. Later in life they did give him a few props. He had a love child and he and Kathryn were estranged (divorced?) at the time of his death. She seems to be the glue who consistently held the family together.

@troyg Is a "civilization" the same as an "empire"? I never thought of America as a specific civilization.

I did a delineation using names for the candidates, you said Trump was Lilly. So I didn't say it directly but you pointed out that the pseudonym I used was Trump

I write this you responded as follows

The thesis is based upon a flawed eurocentric perspective. I doubt Cal Thomas or Sir John Glubb knew very much about African civilizations. If they did they failed to consider them. I wonder what he would say about Nile Valley civilization that spanned three millenia, or Ethiopia, or Kush which all exceed 1,000 years or largely until they encountered the aforementioned European civilizations. Unless he is talking about civilization arising after the fal of the roman empire -- itself lasting about 1,000 years.

Of course you did. You were a real New Yorker! It is not shameless, it provides perspective. I've had dinner with West, Coates has been in my home, I've meet Dyson, and have seen Davis speak a couple of times once shooting video of her talking about Audre Lorde Now I have never seen Baldwin or Lorde, as they passed before I knew who they were. I have no recollection of seeing Delany. Though I enjoy science fiction, we roll in difference circles...

@ProfD out of the countries listed Great Britain is the only one that still has influence. China is slightly different since most of their conquering of land was internal. Although I don't feel they will be a superpower the way Rome, Great Britain and the US used to be. They lack the one thing those countries shared immigration. Immigrants bring a flavour and difference that changes the country.

There are some similarities James Baldwin was involved in the non violent arm of the Civil Rights Movement. Yet he felt the Black Panthers was also important. Was vocal about even though as a homosexual, the Panthers, would have rejected him. His emotions did colour his thinking even though he was quite emotional. He was also a disorganised. Audrey Lorde was initially married to a white man and I believe she has a daughter. Then she became a lesbian. So she's an outsider among outsiders. I feel this informs her ideas. Samuel Delaney is in the top two of my favourite writers. He was a professor and the University of Massachusetts. He picked up a homeless book seeler from Hell's Kitchen. As a lover wrote about it and they become live in lovers. Definitely lived on his own terms Shameless name drop section. I heard.James Baldwin speak at my university. Went to a book signing by Samuel Delaney. I went to Audrey Lorde's funeral. Ironically I went to her funeral before I had read any of her works. Yes her book Women Race and Class is a book I have recommended to others. I am not familiar with Ta-Nehisi Coates. Other than he wrote for the Black Panther comic book and he moved to France

I see you all like smart people who are down with and advocate for Black people--my tribe.

I remember that @Delano, but you also did not think he would be elected.

even point @Troy

Among the living, Dr. Cornel West & Michael Eric Dyson engage in quite a bit of intellectualism.😎

Technically, China is the oldest empire & still going strong.😉 If the USA implodes under its largesse & collapses losing any type of empire status, the consolation can be that Great Britain, Italy, Turkey & Russia, etc. still exist. Otherwise, the world has been taken over by global capitalists. Countries will become business centers. Super-power countries will continue to exist as major hubs for the global capitalists. Think of it like the airport system.🤣😎

I'm rather impressed withTa-Nehisi Coates and Angela Davis.

I've come across several references to this book entitled " America's Expiration Date" by Cal Thomas, published in 2020, and it sounded like something I would be enlightened by, so I turned to my new best friend Gemini and requested a summary of the work which, according to Gemini, draws heavily on a historical thesis proposed by a Sir John Glubb who, back in the 1970s, concluded that the average lifespan of an empire is approximately 250 years (roughly ten generations). Supposedly, such 250-year periods can be broken down into the specific stages that empires historically go through before they collapse, and these phases are as follows:⁰ The Age of Pioneers: Bold, determined individuals explore and settle new lands. The Age of Conquests: The nation expands its borders and establishes military dominance. The Age of Commerce: The focus shifts to wealth creation, trade, and economic prosperity. The Age of Affluence: Success leads to the accumulation of great wealth and the rise of a "ruling class." The Age of Intellect: A shift from action to debate and philosophy; the society becomes increasingly self-analytical and focused on education. The Age of Decadence: The final stage, characterized by moral decay, internal division, excessive luxury, and a loss of the original pioneering spirit. In comparing these eras with America's history, author Cal Thomas believes that the American Empire is on a collision course with extinction because it is currently in alignment with this 250-year pattern. Using the timeline that dates back to this nation's birth in 1776, and adding 250 years to that number, amounts to 2026... Thomas goes on to cite massive, mounting national debt as a primary symptom of the "Age of Decadence," along with the moral and cultural divisions that cause the loss of shared values and the extreme political polarization that causes unity to unravel. He mentions eight major empires (including the Roman, Ottoman, and British ones) noting that they all staggered and eventually lost their superpower status after reaching these similar cultural milestones. Gemini's optimistic takeaway from this data is that while the 250-year pattern is historically consistent, it is not a death sentence and that America could potentially escape this fate through a cultural and spiritual renewal, rather than through political or economic policies or the waging of wars. The book's author notes that in entering the final Age of Decadence, the financial overreach caused by unsustainable national debt and a devalued currency, and the moral and cultural shift causing a weakening of the family structure along with the obsession with entertainment and sports and sexuality are definitely hurdles, but not challenges that are impossible to overcome. Meanwhile Trump and company march on in lockstep, pursuing their version of what will make America great again.

Kindred spirits?

For me it's James Baldwin, Audrey Lorde and Samuel Delaney. Interestingly all are homosexuals and have been in interracial relationships.

Two things can be true. The Jacksons could have had a difficult childhood. But, their father, Joe Jackson was determined to keep them from becoming factory workers. Joe Jackson successfully pushed his children into fame, celebrity & stardom. He provided his wife with a better life. I do not recall any Jackson including momma Katherine throwing away the fortunes they made in the music business because of how Joe sacrificed their lives.🤣😎

I am I. Facebook is only for a few minutes. Sometimes I post to my Astrology group. That's very little response or interaction. That's about 800 members. I may get a few comments and 20 likes. I still check in to AALBC. However I don't post that much. Although I may attempt to explain my Time Markers system again. Or I may ask for volunteers to test Astrological Techniques.

In 2016 I said he will be the most divisive unifying President.

@frankster ...the government is threatening to release UFO/UAP files & audio transcripts.😁 Don't get too excited though. Same old grainy pictures & videos. No alien bodies. Former POTUS Obama nailed it when he comically said this country cannot secrets. Anything significant &/or substantial would've been leaked a long time ago.🤣😎

I was more of a Prince farm than MJ. Birth of them had difficult childhoods. Birth when on to become superstars. MJ seemed asexual while Prince was hypersexual and perhaps bisexual as well. Michael was a Virgo Sun. Which are known to be meticulous and control is a big issue. Prince was a Gemini Sun. Which are known to be very changeable. Both had a Pisces Moon. Which known to be done unconventional and other worldly. Both owned a musical catalogue. Both were secret drug users due to pain.