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I'm not equating conservatism with racism but the fact that most racists also happen to be conservative is telling.😉 Of course, conservative non-white folks cannot be racist (no power). The fact that they support group & ideology filled with racist people doesn't make a whole lotta sense.😎

@Troy very true. In this dog-eat- dog world, ignorance can be bliss. One person's concern, is another one's indifference. Such is life...

I’m not so sure about that bruh. BTE, my 10% figure is probably in the right ballpark. If 90% of the people use something and 10% use something completely different. The 10% are fringe, marginalized, outside the main stream, “different.” And as such, they exert no influence and others wonder what’s wrong with them. So no, Google search is not a monopoly but for all practical purposes they are. Meta does not have a monopoly on social media among Black people middle-age and older but effectively it does. And because this companies have monopolies they have a great deal of power, which day exert to our detriment. Again, the people on these platforms, using them every day posting pictures of their grandkids liking some rant against Thomas Sowel or sharing some cute puppy meme could care less about what I’m saying. But that doesn’t invalidate what I’m saying.

@ProfD it sounds like you are equating conservatism with racism. Just because most racists are “conservative” does not mean conservatives racist. Shoot, the Klan are Christians.

Right. Unless it's 100%, people still have a choice (10% per your example). They don't have to consume the same biomatter & social media platforms.😁 Just because so many other people do is no excuse. It only justifies being lazy.😎

There's not much difference between them after too many cups of that conservative Kool-Aid.🤣 The same white evangelicals & racist conservatives would put those n8gglets back on a plantation if it was possible. White folks have always used smart negroes who willingly sold their souls to be tokens parroting & supporting the BS that is racism white supremacy. White folks can confer credentials (Stanford emeritus, JD or PhD, etc.), on a token Black person but they cannot give them legitimacy among Black folks.😎

You have to factor in what available. McDonalds is arguably the worst of the hamburger fast food joints -- but they are everywhere and they spend a ton on marketing. Imagine of 90% of the restaurants were McDonalds: In this imaginary world most people loved McDonalds and extolled their virtues of providing nourishment to the hungry without have to get out the car. Singing the praises of being able to get square pieces of pressed marine biomatter between bread at midnight. This is what the WWW has become today. @aka Contrarian YouTube IS a haven for crackpots and snake oil salesmen. They are also for all practical purposes a monopoly and is the #2 most visited website only beaten Google. I've been a user of YouTube for more than 20 years -- before Google brought. If was great for helping people serve videos when disk space was expensive. Google was allowed quickly allowed, unencumbered, to serve as a platform for music piracy. YouTube quickly amassed a catalogue that eclipsed iTunes. In the past doing this, like Napster, were shut down, yet Google was allowed to rack up Billions. Remind me how musicians make money again? One of my up-coming projects is to pull all my videos off YouTube and serve from my own server. I have already gotten rid of Google Adserver (don't you hate going with websites with all those shitty and intrusive ads? Thank Google for that), Google Ad Manage, Google Analytics. Next is YouTube and I will have the planet's only website completely free of Google. No, FB is in no way shape or form reflective anything real -- that is a trick bag.

@aka Contrarian, did anyone challenge, or even question, the post eviscerating Sowell? Of all the positives you mentioned, FB did not invent any of those things, as they were already available on the 'net. FB just managed to corner the market with disproportionate Black support. The "Free exposure" is not free; indeed, FB has made getting exposure more costly and time consuming. Again, this was not true when FB launched but it is true now. The same goes for Google. The incentives have been perverted on social. What drives engagement is what feeds the algorithm. "Influencers" who produce content that pleases the algorithm do not serve us. The two are in conflict. Though I'm open checking out any contrary examples. Google basically trashed their search engine for profit. If anyone discovers new site through a Google search today it was by accident. A new Black-owned indie site has no chance of being discovered through a Google search unless they pay Google I deleted my FB profile and stopped actively using the platform 10 years ago and am better off as a result. The incidental benefits you described are not worth the tradeoff from a personal, business, or cultural perspective. @ProfD There are profound differences better a dimwitted Trump sycophant, an elderly Stanford emeritus Professor, and precocious 30-year-old.

I mainly use YouTube as a music library.😎

Well, when it comes to the Jackson family, its no secret, their domineering father Joe had a lot to with their being ummm - eccentric. Michael always complained about being robbed of his childhood, attributing his affinity for young boys to that, imagining himself to be a real live Peter Pan. La Toya was /is nutty as fruit cake and always claimed that Joe tried to molest her when she was a teenager. Jermaine was reportedly consumed with jealously of Michael, hence his leaving the group and going solo. He was reportedly furious when he hit on Whitney Houston and she rejected him for Bobby Brown. Mama Kathryn, was a devout Jehovah's Witness and didn't celebrate Christmas but supposedly accepted and encouraged family members to give her large packets of money in plain brown paper bags on December 25th. Prince was a total control freak, the reason for his breakup with Vanity and the failure if his 2 subsequent marriages His older half sister from his father's first marriage supposedly warned his inner circle early in his career, that Prince's weakness for cocaine needed to be reined in... The price of being a superstar took its toll on so many young Blacks who died relatively young. But, - that's show biz...

I appreciate you all's perspective on this subject but why, then, do you give so much weight to YouTube which you regularly post clips from, either because they support your views or contradict them. To me, YouTube, aside from its musical offerings, has always been a haven for crackpots and snake oil salesmen. I'm not defending FB, I'm just holding it up as a mirror that reflects Life's vicissitudes. In a perfect world, it wouldn't exist.

@Troy One of the reasons I posted the article about Thomas Sowell, was that I knew you were familiar with him. I, myself, don't know a lot about him, but do know he's a favorite among black right-wingers who love to cite and reference his ideas. What I find most noteworthy is that he personified the conservative philosophy by being someone with humble beginnings who "pulled himself up by his boot straps" and went on to become a successful, well-respected negro. But, as the article in question illustrates, the "Young Turks" of liberal black sociologists are taking him to task and besmiching his legacy. So be it. When it comes to America's racial dilemma, there are 2 sides to every issue. In response to your complaints, I can only reiterate that Sowell's academic critics are not, themselves, posting their articles on social media. It's ordinary people who find these commentaries thought-provoking who call attention to them, using FB as a source of what turns out to be free publicity for controversial black spokesmen. Yes, Zuckerberg profits from black patronage, but all FB users including Blacks, take advantage of it offering them an outlet for free publicity, always with the possibility of a post going viral. Some folks even get paid by FB if they have a large following and generate a lot of traffic. Finally, FB is literally a free bulletin board available for public access, its notices running the gamut from funeral arrangements to a wide vatiety of upcoming events. I don't say this to heap praise on Zuckerberg, I just mention it to call attention to the fact that FB users are not totally exploited. "Free" exposure is the operative word when it comes to assessing its appeal.

Such is the nature of capitalism. These social media platforms are not very old. We can clearly see how money was poured into turning them into behemoths. Human nature tends to gravitate towards the most popular. Only a minority of people goes against the grain. Again, that's why McDonald's has sold more hamburgers & French fries than any other fast food chain.😁😎

Interesting that all of the other Jacksons appear to fine. I still believe the level of fame & stardom MJ received pushed him to another side. Prince's doctor was fined for prescribing opiods to him. MJ's doctor actually served jail time for negligence in his overdose.😎

They are all similar including Byron Donalds & Tim Scott.😁😎

Do any of y'all make any distinctions between the Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas (funny how both could be called Uncle Tom) and kids like Candice Owens and Coleman Hughes? How do you feel about less controversial republicans like Herman Cain or Condoleezza Rice? I do. I'd venture a guess that I'm the only one reading this who has read more than one book written by Sowell, most of what I read does not address race issues. I have also read--and enjoyed-- Sowell's columns for years especially his "Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene." They were though provoking tidbits that challenged liberal views. For the record I tend to be both fiscally and socially liberal. The article was generally hyperbolic, which Facebook's algorithm loves! So, all Tdka is doing is enriching Mark Z by feeding the algorithm. Everything has a context. "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." Audre Lorde Today, we blindly and feverishly use the master's tools to build up his house, the problem is that it comes at the expense of our own.

Yeah, he "seemed' that way. He was probably nutty long before that--The money was just and enabler. Wasn't his Dr. convicted for mis-prescribing his medication or something like that?

I have distain for most of these platforms, and the reasons are complex. Your description of facebook; "FB is a sounding board. A chance to get on your soap box and blow off steam to a vast, ready-made audience..." is accurate, but simplistic (all due respect to your wisdom and intellect). Facebook and Meta (Youtube) do not operate in isolation they entered a WWW where there was a vibrant and growing community of Black-owned and Black-centered platforrms. In a variety of ways these companies have completely destroyed this. In the earlier years I even helped Facebook accomplish this, but I had no way of understanding what was happening. I also understand that even if I did know it would not have made any difference--because it makes no difference today. It is not just me, some disgruntled website owner whose posters now suckle at Mark's teat. There have been many books written about how bad Facebook is--even Facebook's own employees describe the problems. Look, Facebook (and Goole and Amazon) IS THE WEB for most people. A hand full of companies control what you see hear and read. Their rage driven algorithms fan the fire of dissent for profit. I have more than 22K followers on FB that I earned through engagement on Facebook (helping FB build an audience). Today if I post something less than a handful of people will engage with it--don't even think about posting a hyperlink to a website. Even If I paid to boost a post (yes, I was naive enough to try that) I still did not get the same type of traffic that I used to get during Facebook's early days. Facebook used me. like they use everyone on the platform. You've read about Cambridge Analytica, right? Surely, you've read about Facebook's adverse impact on mental health, especially teens. Then there are the issues of abusing our privacy, and on... Facebook is much more than a "sounding board." I know most people do not get this and if they do, they could care less. I also appreciate, being an active contributor to the WWW for more than 30 years, that I have a perspective that most people do not have. I get that. It is just painful to watch, as Black people are hurt the most and are completely oblivious to what is happening. I could go on about YouTube, or rather Google (Alphabet) as well.

Hi everyone! I'm sharing a title to be considered for review. More details and a description below. - Chloe Boulard (Associate Publicist, cboulard@cpg.org) Title: Bridging the Rivers of Difference Subtitle: A Proclamation of Unity in Resistance ISBN: 9781640659674 Author: Catherine Meeks Pub date: June 16, 2026 Description: A call for unity in the face of growing dehumanization of marginalized people–from a powerful voice in the dialogue on racism today. The walk back on a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The silence across communities as the undocumented, primarily Latino population faces attack. The grandstanding of nationalism and the intersection with white supremacy and ideas of genetic superiority. These issues are not temporary but rather exist on a continuum in the history of racism and divisiveness. Meeks, who has spent a lifetime fighting for racial justice and healing, offers collaborative strategies to fight systemic racism--together. She also addresses current cases with civil rights impact in areas such as zoning, voting, and immigration, and delivers a powerful message about the need for unity in combating these destructive decisions. This moment, Meeks argues, shows that othering is alive and well in America and a continuation of white supremacy. She also believes the United States has been complicit in continuing the destabilization of other countries and the cycles of ethnic cleansing. Within Black communities, she explains, there is a hesitance to join the conversations, but the fight is one that demands solidarity. Resistance is necessary to dispel hierarchies of human value and combat the failure of institutions. Author Bio: Catherine Meeks, PhD, is the winner of the President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work for racial justice. A nationally recognized speaker, radio commentator, and writer for publications including Baptist News, she is the former executive director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing and author of six books, including The Night is Long, but Light Comes in the Morning: Meditations on Racial Healing. Dr. Meeks is the founder of Turquoise and Lavender, an institute for transformation and healing. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Clark Atlanta University, a PhD from Emory University, and honorary doctorates from Virginia Theological Seminary, the Seminary of the Southwest, and the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University. Dr. Meeks lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Personally, I do not have disdain for FB. Just never had a reason to use the platform. Also, I don't find appealing the thought of people I haven't seen or talked to in 40+ years tracking me down.🤣😎

For many people, FB is a sounding board. A chance to get on your soap box and blow off steam to a vast, ready-made audience. It is many-faceted and convenient for millions of people who have nothing better to do when it comes to occupying their free time. It's escapism and is very accessible. It also provides a way to connect with friends and strangers. To me, since I no longer have a lot of mobility, hangin around there is just something to do... I've always been curious why the guys on this site always express so much disdain for FB, but have no problem with YouTube, which to me is not that different from Face Book. They both just need to be taken with "a grain of salt".

MJ seemed relatively normal until Thriller catapulted him into the stratosphere. Then, there was skin bleaching, surgeries, exotic pets, children as friends & his adopted white kids & drug addiction. Mike left up outta here a whole mess.😁 Prince went out from Fentanyl but his drug use started with painkillers. Otherwise, he had always been clean & didn't tolerate drugs & alcohol around him.😎

Obviously, I haven't been around here long enough to know of any former posters. It is great that they are still producing content. Would be great if those indiciduals were still posting here but we know the net effect of the white man's ice. Even the most intelligent, educated, astute & well-written/spoken brothas & sistas fall for the ice. Amusing to me is Black folks who talk sh8t about the same white folks who own the platforms they are using to host their content i.e. Fa*ceb**k, Y*uT*be, Gram, Tok, X, etc.🤣 There's always the hope that Black folks will find their way out of depending on white folks & become independent & autonomous.😎

@aka Contrarian...thanks for sharing the article here @ AALBC. Enjoyed reading it. Of course, I've never had any use for folks like Thomas Sowell & Clarence UncleThomas. There have always been & will always be Black folks who willingly take up a seat of contentment within the system of racism white supremacy & support it. Unfortunately, whenever Thomas Sowell closes his eyes for eternity, another conservative coon will take his place.😎

I know the question was for @Tesa , but only equal things should be treating equally. A couple of beers over cards is fine; crashing your car or losing your job because you are drunk not so good. Gambling is fine, but losing your house from a gambling debt not so much. Moderation for most things is fine Things like cigarettes, crack, meth, etc, have no real benefit that I'm aware of... and should only be available in the Black market.