Culture, Race & Economy

I've been working on my top Black owned website project I've modified my formula for ranking sites, adding the age of the website as a factor. This seems to have elevated sites with more serious content, as they tend to have the oldest domains. I been removing many tops sites because quite a few websites focused on Black content are simply not Black owned. We don’t own the web-based hip-hop presence. It really is worse than i thought... Fortunately there are many great sites out there. We just need to patronize them. I'm afraid if we don't Facebook and the website they own will be our only options, and then we'll really be in de…

The solution is simple, figure the bus routes that have the lowest percentage of fair evasion and then using 10% as a delimiter, stop all bus routes where the fair evasion is greater than ten percent. All the services in NYC from the bus to the subway to the projects were all started for sectors in the white populace of nyc, not the entire white populace in new york city, plus not the entire populace of new york city, but mayors or others [ushed to expand these services to all in new york city as if they were free. Just cut the bus services where the fair evasion is greater or equal to a certain percentage. It is simple, but no elected official will do that be…

Have you ever found yourself wondering why humans look different? Why some people may have eyes that appear to be slanted? Why some people may have light skin, blue eyes and blonde hair or why others may have dark skin, coarse or kinky hair and dark colored eyes. Well, the answer is called a mutation, which occurs in every generation when the sperm from a male fertilizes the egg of a female. Now mutations are not a bad thing, actually, they're a good thing because without them all humans would look the same. How boring would that be? This ground breaking documentary entitled The Myth of Race and the Evolution of Skin Color answers those questions by combining an…

For anybody who is curious as to why I no longer use my original user name on this forum, why I, who was once known as "Cynique", am now known as "aka Contrarian", this is the explanation. I have been contributing to this discussion forum off and on for over 20 years. Back in the day, as a retiree who was an aspiring author, its "African American Literary Book Club" title drew me to this site. And having always considered myself to be somewhat of an "iconoclast", I decided I wanted my avatar to reflect my personality, so I came up with what was a combination of "cynical" and "unique". And the "Cynique" moniker was born, replete with a somewhat devil's advocat…

The subject involving the names black parents bestow on their children generated quite a debate here, and it wasn’t long before I landed in the midst of it, peripatetic gadabout that I am. I’ve tried to adopt a tolerant approach to life, - one that reflects a "live-and-let-live" attitude, but people who assert, stir up my assertiveness. So, fresh from my literary excursion through a book about the esoteric realm of Masonic symbolism, I cast aside the ethereal veil which had enthralled me, donned my cynical game-face, and jumped into the clash. As usual, the subject split out and went off on different tangents. Before long, arguments in favor of made-up names merged w…

For Immediate Release Media Contact: Shelly Muhammad Email: info@nationalreparationsinstitute.org Phone: (404) 464-8904 THE NATIONAL REPARATIONS DECLARATION A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR BLACK REDRESS November 16th – Atlanta, Georgia -The National Reparations Institute published the first ever economic and political document which completely defines and quantifies reparations for Blacks in America, based on a Collective Culture Model and Methodology. As recent events have catapulted the long, complicated, and often brutal history of the treatment of Blacks in America, the impact that history has had o…

I had a conversation about the word Mulatto. This brought me to revisit these essays.

ON THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL, A DOCUMENTARY ON NEGRO SOLDIERS.SEEMS ALMOST EVERY WAR THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN IN, BLACK SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN IN...SHOWED CLIPS OF BLACK SOLDIERS FROM WORLD WAR 1..WORLD WAR 2, TUSKEGEE PILOTS, ALL BLACK INFANTRY, A BRIEF CLIP OF BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, LATER IN TIME BECOMING GENERAL...AND SOMETHING NOT TALKED ABOUT MUCH. BLACK WORLD WAR 2 SOLDIERS HONORED BY THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE..IT WAS INTERESTING...../

It's becoming increasingly obvious that many influencers in these so-called "New Black Media" and "FBA" movements that have been springing up all over social media for the past several years are actually Republican shills masquerading as Black content creators of independent thought. As much as they speak about tangibles for our vote, Reparations, and celebration of our lineage....there are several things they all seem to have in common: 1. They almost never criticize President Trump or the Republican party 2. They constantly criticize the Democrat Party and Democratic politicians both White and Black 3. They are very much anti Black immigrant. It …

Admittedly, I'm biased; I go out of my way to support anything featuring Black folks on any platform or media. The film Red Tails is another example. I've had a page setup waiting for the publication of a review for a couple of weeks: http://aalbc.com/reviews/red_tails.html Unfortunately, that review will not be available until AFTER the film has been released. My reviewer can not view the film until Friday. This is not normally a good sign and generally indicates a weak film as negative reviews can kill an opening. Rottentomates, my main source for film reviews, as of the time of this post (1:20PM GMT -5) only shows one critic's review: http://www.rottentom…

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters Published: January 27, 2026 Imprint: St. Martin’s Griffin View Book Details → The publisher just emailed me promotional info about this book today, but I was already aware of it and had added it to the site some time ago and forgot about it. When I saw the email at looked at the book's cover I could not help but think of @Pioneer1 and what he would think about this one. I could not help but laugh to myself. Of course, I'm part of the conspiracy to feminize the Black man 🙂

In your opinion, has science become a new religion? Why or why not?

POSTED ON NOVEMBER 4, 2017 BY SOULFIRE BURIAL GROUNDS 2 Sadly, in the days since I wrote the first part of this blog, two more prison officials have died from the brutal prison attack last month. I watched a news segment on local stations where a former correctional guard bemoaned the fact that these deaths occurred, but he pointed out that such incidents are sometimes the aftermath of the prisoners having nothing to strive for. He revealed that “when you took away a prisoner’s promotions’ that he has no restraints to deter him from violence. By promotions, the former guard meant any incentives t…

In reality, the "New Year" shouldn't begin in January...but sometime in March or April. On January 1st, Winter is just getting started and a lot of animals are hibernating and plant life is dying. How the hell is that a "new year"??? Around the end of March is when things start to thaw out, RENEW, and REJUVENATE, and the land turns green again. That's when the "new" year should start, in my opinion. But all it takes is some slim White man in a top hat and a cane to TELL you "Happy New Year"....and you're half drunk spilling drinks all over the damn place celebrating. 🤨Some of yall will let these White folks trick you into going along with…

In today's super woke - hyper cancel culture - post-George Floyd era, blacks have suddenly and disproportionately been cast / inserted into nearly every facet of big and small screen entertainment, advertising, marketing and the like. Is this effort and push by probably mostly white paymasters a genuine pursuit of diversity, or is it just a deceptive feel-good moment? / / / Too Many African Americans in TV Ads? http://www.journal-isms.com/2017/11/too-many-african-americans-in-tv-ads/ - - - Why is it only black people in commercial any more? https://www.girlsaskguys.com/social-relationships/q4452611-why-is-it-only-black-people-in-com…

Rep. Matt Gaetz was instrumental in getting Rep. Kevin McCarthy booted as House Speaker. While Rep. Gaetz has more baggage than an airport, he could possibly run for Governor of Florida in 2026. Amazing that the state of Florida could be run by consecutive clowns. DeStupid should be an easy act to follow. Good thing oranges are the major export of Florida. Disney is the major attraction. It's the biggest retirement community in the US too. Yhe US doesn't rely on Florida for too much of anything. Another clown governor wouldn't break the state.🤣😎

"It kicks off by comparing the way the NFL does business to a plantation: “The owners watch the games from atop NFL stadiums in their luxury boxes, while their majority-Black workforce put their bodies on the line.”" Feb 07, 2022 https://slate.com/culture/2022/02/nfl-racism-brian-flores-lawsuit-discrimination-football.html

https://www.amren.com/blog/2022/01/the-nfl-gets-rid-of-the-racist-wonderlic-test/ Dummies in the Mist? Any gems of wisdom, pearls of thought?

Many think the above expression is a trite cliche or an empty phrase. But I've always found it to be totally adequate because, in and of itself, it stands alone, unchallenged; language at its best, reality captured in pure and simple words, the essence of its message existing between the lines, reminiscent of the old adage about "one picture being worth a thousand words". An esoteric echo, "it is what it is" is what it is: a profound utterance that translates into the ultimate truth. See ya... 😉 Mother's Day 2025

Last Wednesday, Chicago Black Hawks won the NHL’s coveted Stanley Cup and Chicago went wild. White people were in a state of euphoria, the likes of which I had never witnessed. Black folks? Not so much. On Friday a white horde descended upon the city as hockey enthusiasts from near and far showed up to witness the ticker tape parade paying tribute to the conquering heroes. And the attendance at the victory rally that followed was estimated to be over a million! Incredible. This was an interesting phenomenon in that the silence emanating from the black community was as loud as the roar of the white-faced crowd clad in bright red jerseys,all caught up in a frenzy …

Troy's Note: The Nubian network was one of the first substantial, in terms of content, Black websites that I was aware of. I'm talking 20 years ago. They were so different than anything that I had encountered anywhere, that they made an impression. They once used the tag line, "The Uncut Black Experience." Today you still won't find them on Facebook or Twitter. The Nubian Network's Black Consciousness Online http://www.blackconsciousness.com This mail-out is dedicated to the human beings that want to have the slavers, child abusers, plantation owners, killers, murderers, kidnappers, profiteers and their slave plantations, taken …

The Number –24–at Even– The Foundation Comes First [Part I] The Number –24 & 25– The Second Temple, A Thursday-Friday Holiday +Foundation of the First Temple of God Laid — October 16, Solomon’s Reign + Destruction of the First Temple of God — July 9, 586 B.C. + Foundation of the Second Temple of God was Laid — November 24, 520 B.C. + Annual Passover Festival of Bread- Autumn — 14th Day at Even + Second Day of the Annual Passover Festival — 15th Day at Even +Second Annual Festival– End of Year — Harvest Festival of Weeks + Third Annual Festival– Spring/New Year — Festival of Booths/Tabernacle…

The Number –24–at Even– The Foundation Comes First [Part II] The Number –24 & 25– The Second Temple, A Thursday-Friday Holiday A Month After the Exodus - October 15 at Even [October 16] The actual and scientific date the Exodus occurred was on a Friday, September 13, Friday 13th, but for Israel, the Creator God changed the time to be September 14 [September 13, 6:00 P.M./at Even]. So on that day, the people prepared the Passover Lamb and struck their lentils and door post with the lamb’s blood. In the middle of the night, the Death Plague moved through the streets in Egypt and the pharaoh rode out from Memphis to Goshen, and met M…

The total number of books on AALBC published in 2022 was the lowest it has been since 2005! The difference is not a few book books but hundreds of books! Now I don't have every Black book published on AALBC -- but my information is certainly indicative of the books published by the major publishers and the larger independents. I also capture more Black indie books than any other independent online store. This data tells me substantially fewer Black books were published in 2022 than in the past two decades! There were 35% fewer books published in 2022 than in 2021 and almost 50% fewer than the peak published in 2015, as reflected on the AALBC web…

Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris during Democratic National Convention

Our parents were being born into this world a little more than 50 years ago. They were the children of Black Americans born three generations after the abolishment of slavery. But thanks to governmental acceptance of the institution of segregation, they remained second class citizens. Being second class citizens, they did not have access to the best schools and were ineligible for many good paying jobs. Our grandparents refused to allow this form of segregation to remain in place and demanded change. They made a choice to fight for this change by any means neccessary. This choice cost some people their lives and others their freedom. While fighting for these rights, our g…

************************************************************************************ This discussion is about the trial of the white supremacists that murdered an innocent Black man while he was out for a jog, minding his own business. Their defense for killing him was that they thought he was a burglar, running away from some imaginary crime. For the record, I hope that this scum are found guilty and executed in a most painful fashion. IN TODAY'S NEWS: Three white men on trial for murder of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery 'KNEW' he was not a burglar, jury hears: Judge allows pho…

Do some of you SERIOUSLY not see the GAME these wicked devils are playing and have BEEN playing in Washington D.C. for years???? Do you SERIOUSLY believe they were going to let their own economy "crash and burn" out of some petty disagreement? No....I told you guys the other day that this so-called "debt ceiling/ default crisis" was just some STUNT that the leaders of BOTH parties were pulling in order to trick the American people into accepting more austerity. They've BEEN planning to take away from Social Security, Health Care, Education, and other benefits but had to come up with a crafty and sneaky way to do it and more importantly JUSTIFY it. They…

Honestly, don't know if these are the oldest Black-owned websites. They are the oldest ones in my database of 300+ websites, which by my reckoning, is as good a source as any for this information. Of course it you are aware of a site I've missed please be sure to tell me. I'm mostly interested in larger content rich websites, not the site of an individual blogger, but if there is a Black blogger out there who has been be producing content for 20, 25 years or longer, on the same domain, I'm DEFINITELY interested in that writer. That said Howard University sites will be 30 years old next year -- that is ancient by web standards. Today I teach a college cou…

I know that this is a divisive issue in the African-American community and some might disagree with me. This post addresses colorism mostly in the dating arena. When the issue of colorism is addressed in dating, it usually centers around dark-skinned black men with light skinned black women. It has never been a secret in the black community that many dark-skinned black men, especially when they obtain money and status, prefer lighter skinned women. This is certainly nothing new. It has been going on for many, many years or decades. Celebrities of ye…

This is going to be more like an essay than post. So, it is going to be in two parts. I apologize for the length. Black people have spent most of their history in this country fighting racism and white supremacy. For over 200 years (1619-1863), we were slaves. If you were from the South, you experienced almost another 100 years of Jim Crow after The Civil War/Reconstruction, which consisted of segregation and sharecropping. It has just only been 60 years since blacks have not been considered second-class citizens. But, have…

Actually as far as I know there are no daily newspapers left in the United States. But in a post-racial American this matters very little. I'm quite confident Ruppert Murdock's, Wall Street Journal and Jeff Bezos' Washington Post has us covered in the print dailies. Plus, with the gift of the World Wide Web, we have up to the second coverage of all that is important to us as Black people. Our most significant sources of news of importance to Black people is amply covered by the Huffington Post. What else could we possibly need? Surely the few remaining Black owned newspaper must realize they are no longer needed or wanted--subscriber rates should te…

If you ask me, the only good thing about Superfly was Mayfield's soundtrack for the original film. Kam Williams thinks the reboot is excellent ★★★★ (out of 4 stars): Coincidentally Mayfield's Thinking popped up on my Ipod this afternoon while driving around this afternoon. I find this song very inspirational, in stark contrast to the film.

... courtesy of my favorite racist spammer -- Unkel Ruckus. The funny thing is that I had to think a few seconds before I put 2-and-2 together to get the stupid joke. I didn't recognize any of the women.

The Only One Chapter 10 Troy Briggs looked down at his plate, at the juicy meat loaf, the buttered string beans, and the fluffy mashed potatoes puddled with a scoop of gravy. Then he glanced up at Carole Everly who sat across from him, trying to hold his gaze, wishing she stimulated his appetite as much as the food seemed to. “If you hadn’t gloated so much about the Knicks getting their butts kicked, I wouldn’t have held you to our bet,” he said, “A loyal Bull’s fan is allowed to gloat,” she smirked, “thanks to D. Rose.” “Yeah. And thanks to you for buying my lunch. That’s what I call taking a charge.” “Don’t mention it," she said. "Lucky Chicago didn’t…

The Only One Chapter 13 Time passed, the second week being a replay of the first one, - Tuesday a replay of Monday, all to the chagrin of Carole Everly who was forced to watch Troy Briggs and Debbie Marlowe play out their mating game. Then, it was Friday again and, with her being a glutton for punishment, Friday wasn’t something Carole was inspired to thank god for since this one would be Troy Briggs’ last day at her branch office. A study in wistfulness, Carole sat there in the bustling cafeteria of her work place, the setting that had been the backdrop of a drama which for 6 weeks had played itself out around a table top littered with crumbs. Her role i…

The Only One Chapter 14 Wanda’s eyeballs bulged as she gripped her phone, dumbfounded by what Carole had just told her. “I can’t believe that you spent 6 frickin weeks creamin in your jeans over this nigga and then when he asks for your damned phone number, - you refuse him!” she sputtered. “Bitch, is you crazy?? “No, I’m not crazy,” Carole replied. “I don’t need Troy Briggs to throw me a few crumbs, leaving me to sit by the phone, hoping. Why enable disappointment? If he really wants to get in touch, let him find a way on his own. He has access to my personnel folder, let him get my number from there.” “Boy, have you changed your tune!” Wanda marveled.…

The Only One Chapter 15 On their first 2 dates, Troy Briggs and Debbie Marlowe had adhered to protocol. They had met for drinks and conversation, becoming better acquainted while enjoying each other's company… “I’m debating about whether I want to get the latest IPad,” Troy had said, taking a swallow of his Heineken, “because in a matter of months they’ll come out with a new and improved version.” “That’s for sure,”Debbie had agreed, sipping her Cosmopolitan. “They always do that.” “Apple honchos are marketing geniuses with their planned obsolescence strategy,” he’d asserted. “Right,” she’d nodded. “Steve Jobs was really smart, and he didn’t …

The Only One Chapter 16 “It’s like waitin for the other shoe to drop.” Philip Atkins was saying to his partner Brooks Jones as they rode along, on their way to their favorite greasy spoon diner for lunch, discussing the fact that the garbage dumpster serial killer hadn’t struck lately. “Maybe he’s on a hiatus,” Brooks suggested. “Might have an engagement lined up for tomorrow night, one that shows some promise. And even if the date doesn’t cooperate, he can still get his rocks by killing her." “Man, that’s cold,” Philip scowled.. “You sound more like a misogynistic rap fan than the - cerebral jazz devotee you call yourself!” “I’m just trying to get insid…

The Only One Chapter 17 She had been wondering about him off and on for the past month, and he had been thinking about her, too, and just as she decided to reach for her phone, its ringtone sounded and she was quick to answer. “Well, hello!” Carole greeted, hearing the familiar voice. “Would you believe I was just thinking about you when I heard your name mentioned on the news earlier in connection with the capture of the garbage dumpster killer? What a feather in your cap!” “Yeah,” Philip Atkins said. “Finally caught up with that goddamned maniac! Would you believe it was my partner, Brooks – hold on a minute, let me see who this is on my call-waiting…

The Only One Chapter 18 Carole Everly was grateful for an opportunity to finally start turning her life around, and riding alongside Philip Atkins as he wheeled his BMW through the traffic on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, she felt more relaxed and upbeat than she had in a long time. “I’m glad you could fit me into your busy schedule,” Philip was saying. “Really flattered that I beat out the book you were planning to spend the evening with.” “I’m never too busy to meet with an old friend,” Carole replied. “Particularly one who wants to take me out to eat!” “A dinner invitation always works with women,” Philip chuckled. “Y’all love to be fed.” “This is true…

The Only One Chapter 19 Chicago's summers were always slow in coming, mainly because its cold winters were so reluctant to defer to the tentative little episodes that passed for spring. But somehow the luke warm Junes showed up, hinting at better days ahead when July caught fire and August waited in the wings. Weather aside, the passing months had been a productive time for Carole Everly, a period of growth and change. And the first thing change involved, was realizing that she needed to stop making book covers the parameters of her world, needed to cease relying on fiction to escape reality. So, getting up off her ass and becoming a more active participant in…

The Only One Chapter 20 No, he hadn’t seen Debbie Marlowe lately, Troy Briggs ruminated as he made his way through a crowded hall in City Wide’s main office, on his way to a conference room on the other side of the building. But, then, there were a lot of people he hadn’t seen lately, including Carole Everly who had just asked him about Debbie during their conversation in the employee lounge, - an inquiry that was now inspiring a flashback… …Yeah, everything between him and his Barbie Doll had been great at first, what with how each one was trying to make a good impression. But because they were who they were, it was not natural for either of them to be…

The Only One Chapter 21 Determined not to give a lot of weight to Troy Briggs’ mention of the White Sox, Carole Everly had, nevertheless, turned to the channel where their Saturday afternoon contest was being televised. She wasn’t going to sit in front of the screen and watch, but would check the score from time to time while she went about her weekly chores, which included doing her laundry and tidying up her apartment. What did she have to lose? Only her sanity. Troy Briggs, as usual had left her hanging, never approaching her again at the company meeting yesterday, only offering a quick salute from across the crowded room as things were breaking up and …

Chapter 5 Although she had been deluding herself into believing that she was leading a full satisfying life, it was gradually occurring to Carole Everly that the source of this fullness lie mostly between the covers of her books, and on the channels of her TV, and the internet of her computer, and the electronic devices which included a cell phone that was her main connection to other living creatures. In reality, the cafeteria at her place of employment was shaping up to be the stage for most of the live action in her life, and the only thing it was full of was a crowd of hungry people. How pathetic was this? Sad but true she told herself. But also funny,…

The Only One Chapter of 6 Speaking in his deep, well-modulated voice, the suave 10 o’clock news anchor wound up the lead-off story involving yet another corrupt Chicago politician, then looked to his right and deferred to his colleague. Putting on a concerned face, the weave-coiffed, eagle-eyed female co-anchor took her turn on camera, her red lips glossy, her brown skin velvety. “Elsewhere in the news,” she began, “police continue to be baffled as the corpse of yet another young black female has turned up in a south side garbage dumpster. The unidentified strangulation victim is the 5th in the past 2 months to be found in these circumstances, and the similar…

The Only One Chapter 7 Carole Everly was puzzled. Stumped. Confused. Despite how they had gotten off on the wrong foot during their only encounter, despite how he had since kept his distance, despite not knowing if he was available, despite all her past experiences with slippery boyfriends, despite what satisfactory companions she proclaimed her books to be, - after a week of trying to maintain her cool, she was hot for Troy Briggs and, against her better judgment, wanted to get next to him in the worst way. She wasn’t sure why she was so taken with the elusive Mr. Briggs, or why she’d become totally preoccupied with trying to figure him out, but sh…