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If I ever needed a definition of what it looks like to Love another - this is the best definition, "Caring for someone without expecting a return on the investment"

@Mel&Del I've been thinking about the idea of thinking being overrated. What else can you do with your mind? I'm thinking about it... Listening to music is a good alternative. Music really is magic. It requires you to do nothing but listen, and if you enjoy what you hear, that's icing on the cake! Lately, for some reason I've been thinking how 73 years ago in1951, as a Freshman at the University of Illinois, one of the favorite songs of the little black colony of students on this large campus was a song named "For All We Know." At the end of every social event, those gathered would form a circle, grasp hands, and sing this song followed by a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne". Listening to that old favorite by Nat Cole, the years fall away and I'm swept back to the innocent carefree days of my youth. I imagine. And listen. And no thoughts are necessary. For all we know...

I don't know whether to feel sorry for you or applaud your efforts! Probably both. Being a caregiver is one of the hardest jobs. Harder than raising children. .... because atleast with children you usually see progress as they age and it makes you feel proud of your work. I honestly don't know what to say besides thank you.

OMG I've missed you, the woman formerly known as Cynique @aka Contrarian A woman I used to be in a rap group with back in the early 90s now has a YouTube channel (Stephanie Danger). She asked her followers what name we would choose for our alter ego, and I decided on Contrarian. Today, I would choose "Neutral." During these last two years, I also questioned the meaning of life after my mother underwent major heart surgery and two of my three daughters had major surgeries, one after battling stage 3 cancer. I couldn't be with my daughter (thank goodness for dads) because my brother is severely disabled - and during my mom's treatment (I almost lost her twice), I had to care for him. Everyone pulled through, and by December 2023 - I concluded no one knows an effing thing. We make this bullshish up and look for followers to cosign our beliefs. The more believers we acquire, the more it becomes our collective reality. So, thank you, Contrarian, for remaining here in this dimension. I can confidently say that part of your mission is to remind us that the majority is nothing more than a bunch of weak-minded and lazy folks who chose to follow the beaten path instead of dazzling us with their Divine creativity.

Africans do not totally dislike AfroAmericans. Africans are afraid and wary of us because they have been fed a narrative that AfroAmericans are lazy, ignorant, violent, drug abusers, etc. Unfortunately, AfroAmericans have no control over the propaganda that goes out into the world about us. As I've mentioned several times here, there are quite a few Africans in my tribe. I'm a very proud AfroAmerican man in being able to show Africans our success on several levels. I tell them to f8ck what you have heard about us...watch me. I've toured my African brothers and sisters through the streets on which I grew up to where I live in the cradle of AfroAmerican affluence. Education is priceless. It is a key to shared understanding and eliminating ignorance.

haha I was about to put this in:)

Hello, Fellow Writers and Readers I have been away too long. I have missed you. I will return with the continuing saga of my promotion for The Culinary Art Portfolio of Josephine E. Jones. But right now, I want you to see my first published work under my pen name: Wendy Ebo Jones. Since there are at least 300 people named Wendy Jones in North America and one other writer who shares my name --after attending an Independent Book Publishers Association webinar on the subject of making sure your work stands out, (they used the term "branding," which brings up the smell of the burning flesh of enslaved people, so I don't use it)-- I decided to differentiate myself. Why Ebo? It's a family name. Here is a link to the essay, On the Bus (approx. 500 words): https://theravensperch.com/on-the-bus-by-wendy-ebo-jones/,

College tuition is going through the atmosphere. Student loan debt is ridiculous. Non-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degrees will become less valuable especially as technology takes over jobs that do not require human hands. Folks are beginning to have the conversation that trade schools might be a better option than a 4 year degree from a college or university. STEM degrees will most likely always land a job somewhere. However, Liberal Arts and Business majors might be in trouble. Talk to young Black folks within your circle about considering a trade especially if they aren't STEM strong. Don't get it twisted....an electrician, plumber, welder, carpenter, mechanic, etc., can make just as much or more money than someone with a degree. Also, a tradesperson can still get a degree too. Especially if they plan to run a business.

Bro, I'll be lounging in this easy chair until the lights are turned out and/or I'm evicted. Despite the limited participation, there is good discussion here from all of the contributors. I find this forum to be a good mix of opinion, information, knowledge and humor too. Some music like Jazz is an acquired taste and therefore appeals to a smaller audience. McDonald's isn't the the most nutritious food but it sells because it's cheap. Same thing applies to most forms of social interaction and entertainment. Anything that requires a deeper level of thought, comprehension or expression is a heavier lift. OTOH, gossip and trash talk is usually where the goats can get it. Cheaper entertainment.

The body language of Umar and the other guy was off. They both were shaking their feet, like they were nervous or something made me a bit wary. when I was a lot younger, and you could still smoke anywhere, I would occasionally have a cigarette because it would give me a quick buzz. But now I don’t smoke at all seems like a dumb expensive habit. my mom still smokes. I brought her a pack of cigarettes the other day and they cost 15 bucks maybe more. Supposedly they text the heck out of them to discourage use. but it’s just very regressive tax. They need to ban these products as they so bad for your health. i’ve tried a variety of weed products over the years, especially after they became legal. They have had variety of effects on me from euphoria to lethargy, and no effect at all. If I could get to euphoric effect consistently, I probably would use weed more often, but I don’t so I don’t mess with the products nowadays. I drink barely regularly. I’ll have a glass of wine or two with dinner a few times a week. I’m hanging out depending on my mood I have a beer, wine or whiskey. My cocktail of choice is a Manhattan. I will occasionally have a cigar, but it is a social activity that I engage in when playing poker with the fellas and then I may only do that once a year is about the fellowship of ritual of sorts. @aka Contrarian it is always a pleasure when you post. I’m always anxious to hear what you have to say and have a special affinity for you. I’m sure if you just tag @Mel Hopkins and @Chevdove they will respond next time they are on the boards. I went away for a few days because my daughters were in town and we were hanging out. @Pioneer1 yeah I think social media was the biggest thing to impact this forum and forums in general. Like cigarettes those platforms are designed to be addictive and keep the users engaged there. People have a fixed amount of times in their lives, and social media comes at cost. Attention is a zero sum game. The more time we spend on social the less time we will spend playing outside, participating in discussion forums, reading the book, making love, etc. @frankster and @ProfD continue to make the forum interesting. If it were not for them and Pioneer, I don’t know where would be.

I'm puzzled. Why would the acronym DEI which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion be offensive to "AfroAmericans"? Aren't those conditions that aĺl marginalized minorities have a right to expect? Similarly, when did civil rights become the exclusive domain of America's black population?? Aren't other ethnicities entitled to equality in a country that calls itself a democracy??? I venture to say that the generation of Millenials and GenZers would put these same questions to the old school brigade of black malcontents who have come to personify the "dislike-for-the-unlike" syndrome that MLK identified as being at the root of racism and bigotry. These are the ones who give credence to my claim that many Blacks, themselves, are prejudiced and are not the least concerned about "liberty and justice for all." What they really want is to make America over in their image while retaining a black form of racial supremacy. Lol And this is also why I support the idea that a certain element of "AfroAmericans" who squat in America need to get their own diversity-free. melanin-infused country where, wallowing in the sameness of their blackness and corrupted by power they can, for instance, ban and deport any evolved LBGTQ nuisances wnoho have mutated into individuals daring to be different and true to themselves. Imo, it is not necessary to embrace these misfits but, coming froma background of being oppressed and discriminated against themselves, these curmudgeons are remiss in refusing to acknowledge and honor the right of the unorthodox to peacefully exist. The world is in a state of turmoil as usual and when it comes to a polarized America, the one thing that remains constant is the tribalism that divides rather than unites, - a situation that jeopardizes the common good. Moreover, in a nation where a vast majority of Americans distrust their government, it's, ironic that these same citizens have no qualms about doing whatever they can get away with in their ruthless pursuit of the materialistic Amercan dream. As for the speculation about which U.S. presidents did what for Blacks, and when did they do it - President Franklin D. Roosevelt came into office in 1933 the same year I was born. I grew up during the Depression and from what I recall and what my parents said (and Dick Gregory later joked about,) the dire economic hardship caused by the stock market crash was nothing new to the black masses who had always struggled to survive. They were lucky to be eligible for the same benefits as whites via the New Deal but they continued to be denied equal opportunities because of America's entrenched racial prejudice.( this is what eventually precipitated the March on Washington in 1963.) FDR gave lip service to racial tolerance but coddled the South, never wanting to rock the boat when it came to Jim Crowism because he needed southern political support. His wife Eleanor was his charitable good will ambassador but had little effect on national policy aside from lending her approval to the black Tuskeegee airmen. President Harry Trumen deserves credit for desegregating the armed forces after WW2 and LBJ carried out what the assassinated JFK began by signing a massive civil rights bill Into law. Bill Clinton had good intentions but his heavy handed approach blemished his record. Reagan did nothingl to benefit Blacks. Joe Biden is a man of his times, a pragmatist who shed his past ways to become a pseudo Liberal, earning points by serving as VP under a black president and subsequently choosing a woman of color to be his running mate and placing other Blacks in key positions of authority on his staff and in his cabinet. America's 2 political parties are, what they are. The Democrats supposedly represent the common man with the "lifting others as we climb" mission statement that has perennially resonated with Blacks. Republicans are more representative of Capitalism and the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps motto. No bootstraps? Tough shit. "I got mine, now you get yours," is what right wing Conservatives sneer. And so it goes. Come November, America will show its true colors.

Close on the heels of the ads featuring gold garnished sneakers bearing the Re-elect Trump brand, is a TV commercial featuring Donald tRump hawking for the modest price of $59.00, a "patriotic" Bible guaranteed to inspire God to Bless America. Holding the leather bound holy book in his raised little pudgy hand, flanked by two gigantic American flags, a salivating Donnie gives his spiel, hardly able to keep a straight face as he anticipates a flood of orders from his faithful following. What a perfect embodiment of the dire warning political pundit, Sinclair Lewis, predicted years ago. to wit: "When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag, and carrying a bible." Elsewhere in the news, Robert Kennedy has selected a female Asian Progressive as his presidential running mate. Nobody seemed more stunned than she was in her deer-in-the-headlights TV sound byte. And NBC will have to pay out a ton of money to rescind its hiring of a 2016 election denier, January 6th defender, and former Republican National Committee head. They hired her to give more balance to their news reporting, but they got so much flack from their liberal Talking Heads who thought she'd be more at home on Fox News, that NBC execs backtracked and broke her contract. She gone. Since Fani fired her stud muffin, she's back on the case. Puffy's mansion ransacked and wrecked by a crew of Feds, looking for a weapons stash. Conspiracy rumors already circulating about the Baltimore bridge collapse being a terrorist attack. 10-4, your night owl news reporter signing off...zzzzzzzzz

Has anyone considered that Majors may actually be a predator who needs an incentive to stop? I have not followed the story other than what I've read here, but why is his actual behavior not a consideration? Maybe the Black judge was trying to protect Black women?

Tananarive Due speech transcript, not perfect - Thank you so much to the LA times - the other nominees were incredible to say this this is an honor is an understatement back in 2014 I got a phone call from the florida state attorney's office And learned that my great uncle robert stevens died in 1937 at a notorious - school for boys, a reformatory in florida and after attending a meeting there with my father freedom rider john - due jr I knew I had to write about robert stevens but i also knew that my story would need a different ending , and ghost The novel took me seven years, to write, thank you so much to my husband Steven Barnes, I love you so much, also a great writer, for keeping me on the path, my editor-, my agent donald- , my father for helping me manage the jim crow judge's chamber, my sister joanna- , and my late mother patricia - due, for her courage as a civil rights activist. If I didn't know what should happen next in my book I just had to ask what would mom had done. There are countless robert- stevens in the world. And too few of them get a happy ending. so as we face the horrors in our world, in our cities, in gaza and elsewhere. And where there's true life racism , homophobia , islamaphobia, and antisemiticsm, let us honor the courage of young people as the primary creators of change throughout history and the lesson my mother taught me , activism takes many many forms, as the late octavia a butler said, the only lasting truth is change. thank you very much

National Black Cheerleading Championship 2024 I've watched this entire program at least 5 times! ... It's an addiction. Every single group was insanely awesome. I've posted 4 of my favorite but again, you have to see it to believe me.... They were all incredible. This video is NOT the actual championship but preliminaries. [1] Crown Athletics won in their category. They were much more dynamic in the finals! It was crazy. The short girl with the leg brace is the captain. Towards the end, she told the group to breathe and catch their breathe. They had no break between routines. [2] William Fleming was one of my favorites but honestly, North Meck and more were just as awesome. They were in the tumbling category. [3] Chowan was another of my favorites. They were non-tumbling. [4] The Virginia Union Rah Rah--Wow! Just Wow! They won! They were non-tumbling. This the entire championship competition! IMO It's worth the time!

When I was picking schools one of my requirements was a school with a D1 Gymnastics team. No HBCU qualified. I have NEVER seen this many female Black female collegiate gymnasts at one time -- Ever!

How exciting! Me too! I was going to post this pic but I see you already posted it! Morgan Price, a Fisk University gymnast, won the 2024 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships all-around title on April 12, 2024. West Chester University Athletics They do not have their own gym but hopefully they will soon!

This is Cynique. As previously announced, my new user name is "aka Contrarian" so "A" is now me. I don't know why I'm still alive. But I am. Since I have nothing better to do, unless I sudndenly croak, I'll be hanging around here, injecting my contrary opinions from time to time. zzzzz

Novocain Can Lead to Divorce Court! This Video Short-skit I found to be hilarious! So I thought I would share it for a little humor today. I don't know what I would do if I were in this situation. I wonder how angry would a Brother get if he heard this kind of revelation from his girlfriend or wife at the dentist office. And if I heard this kind of talk , well when the phone messages came into play, that would be obvious to me that was truth serum. Careful Who You Take With You To Your Dental Appointment

Hilarious skit. That sista crushed it.

Hi Chevdove! Glad you stopped by. Always good to hear from you!

Ever since I was a kid, I found it interesting that Black folks didn't see anything *wrong* with that sh8t. Imagine a 7-year-old boy running telling grown-ups they were stupid for trying to sell him on Santa Claus and them believing in that white man on the picture. Of course, that resulted in a few azz whuppings for me but I wasn't broken.

https://forums.projectliberty.io/t/dsnp-relationship-to-epub/386/2?u=rmprojectl Hi Richard, I’m definitely not an EPUB expert but it’s a really interesting question. One of the things DSNP is generally useful for is ensuring authenticity and immutability of content through specific file hashes. So one simple way that EPUB could intersect with DSNP is to allow an EPUB document to be an attachment to a DSNP post (broadcast or reply). In this case DSNP serves the role of ensuring the precise version of an EPUB can be reliably referenced (if you don’t care about precise versions, you can also use the link type in DSNP). Secondly, at Project Liberty one of the core principles that guide our work is that technology should enable people to participate in the economics of platforms and their content, while maintaining agency and control over their identity and creations. One way this could intersect with EPUB is in the area of digital rights management, that is, restricting access to content based on authorization. While most DRM schemes for EPUB operate in a centralized fashion today (Adobe ADEPT, am*zon, etc.), building a DRM scheme that incorporates DSNP identity for authorization could help create decentralized solutions where authors are not reliant on a third party gateway in order to control and benefit from distribution of their intellectual property. (In actuality, you probably need some combination of user identifier and device identifier, to maintain accountability in a scenario where one account is shared. I’m not proposing a specific scheme here, but there are definitely possibilities.) As far as accessing DSNP content through an EPUB, I’m not sure what this would look like. Since an EPUB is, in effect, a snapshot of a website, you could take any set of DNSP content and turn it into an EPUB (perhaps for a “daily digest” on a certain topic). There would need to be a service that did this data aggregation and transformation, but it would certainly be possible with DSNP much more easily than with “walled garden” social networks that restrict access to content and APIs. Hope this helps and perhaps gets some further ideas flowing. Best, Wes https://forums.projectliberty.io/t/dsnp-relationship-to-epub/386/3?u=rmprojectl Thank you Wes for the reply, For the first suggestion you made I saw the broadcast and Reply Broadcast - DSNP Specification for the broadcast, it seems you can have activity content types which has audio/video/image/link So i assume the link will be to an epub. then? It isn’t a physical attachment as much as a linked attachment. am I correct? For the second+third suggestion you made , you confirmed what I felt in the back of my head. That an entire service will need to be built to make this possible. You have helped me 100% I will try something and see.

Human greed, selfishness, jealousy, envy and hate lead to most of the problems between human beings. Agape love would resolve the problems affecting human beings. For various reasons, we're not overly interested in it. I understand the history of humanity and how we got to this point. Hopefully this makes my point more clear.

Conservative Christian Evangelicals sanctions wars that favors or can be interpreted as biblical Fulfillment/bible prophecy. Christian Zionism is a subset of the Above....both are actually only a mask for White Supremacy dress in Christian garments. Most Forms or sects of Christians agree with Christian Zionism....Zionism Practice by so called Jews is a Out growth of Christian Zionism

Sad to hear about our brother passing away like that. He's probably at peace now. I still remember when that verdict came out back in '95. I was working in a mall and everyone in that mall were packed in Best Buys and Circuit Cities and Department stores....anywhere that had televisions. All standing around watching for the verdict. When it came down NOT GUILTY it seems like all of the Black folks in the mall started cheering and jumping up and down. I remember men picking up women and kissing them and slinging them around....lol. I remember one older sista who I didn't know grabbing me jumping up and down...titties bouncing all over me....lol A woman can do that now and it wouldn't be a problem.....but back then at that age I had to take a few minutes to go somewhere and "calm" myself down....before heading back out to work LMBAO!!!

I wonder if there will be a forum in 20 years. For those of us who live long enough and have our marbles the time will go quickly. What happens in the next 20 years will be far more interesting than any solar eclipse.

TOGO.....is Challenging what is being called a Constitutional Coup and Extension of Term Limits by the current Legacy Ruler - Gnassingbe. Is this the Beginning of a Revolt Against France CFA Franc/UEMOA??? That would make it 5 out of 8...dominoes falling Guinea Bissau Benin and Cote d! Ivoire which is next....My guess is Guinea Bissau

@ProfD in the black conference on day 4, linked below, i think a sister said a similar thing about how people call writing about slavery trauma porn. Adding her position to yours, I do realize the issue is integration. I will explain. For over one hundred and fifty years, since the end of the war between the states, the majority of black leadership in the usa has sought integration to whites, those who once completely enslaved us. And in that time the black populace who at the end of the war between the states was compelled more to kill whites, nat turner's leadership, leave the usa, garvey leadership , through the efforts of said majority leadership [douglass /web dubois/booker t/ida b well/sojourner truth] the majority of the black populace in the usa embraced in varying styles or qualities or intensities , integration. But, some things can be integrated. Some things are segregatory. Legacies are one of those things. This is why the scottish people keep talking about cessation from england. The scottish people never wanted to be in england. The english government used money and the members of the scottish government/parliament [a majority of scottish leaders] to create a peaceful union against the wishes of the scottish people, that is a legacy that will always hold true, even though today most scottish people in varying ways embrace the united kingdom. The legacy of being enslaved is unique to Black DOSers. It isn't with other black people from nigeria or jamacia. It isn't with non blacks. It isn't with non black native americans. It is a legacy that can not be integrated. It is unique to black dosers. And, it is negative. So i concur to the power of time as you suggest but I do think the issue of Black DOSers wanting to integrate at all cost in a populace in the usa that is getting more and more filled with people who have no relationship to Black DOS tradition, unlike white people descended from enslavers or native americans, and don't care. It is a blackwashing, but not from miseducation as much as a desire to be happy in the integrated mix of the usa. I will rewrite myself and argue, I think many black DOSers want to be like the black folk who just come to the usa in 2024. IT isn't an antiblack desire as much as a desire not to have a legacy which if honest puts one at odds with the usa or the white people in it while less innocent as the rainbow of immigrants since the immigration act. And, black leadership in 150+ years in the usa has rarely embraced the concept of something black people have are unique and can't be integrated. In the same way, native american leadership has done similar. ... yes the prison industrial complex has grown in palin sight. @aka Contrarian yes it is very touchy. First, taking out the entertainment industry, no industry in the usa has a greater black presence than black people as legal men of arms [us military/law enforcemeent agencies of state or city] plus the incarcerated. So I am talking about the second most important industry to black people in the usa. Which has led to levels of financial wealth or financial security for black homes throughout the usa on the armed side while led to many broken homes on the incarcerated side. Second, even though the black populace owns no gun making firms in the usa , to my knowledge, and there was a time in the usa when white people called knives, nigger guns, cause black people were dissuaded by the white populace to own guns the modern black populace from the nineteen hundred and sixties to now have got access to guns and the financially weak situation of the black populace in the usa has led to street violence. I have to say one thing, white people in chicago committed levels of gun violence that black people never did and have not. PEople forget how chicago/new york/los angeles white populaces had levels of gun violence that would shock modern media if it was to happen. I know in nyc, the irish/italian mob wars. Third, no organization in humanity is evil. Humans who do good for other humans is in every organization in humanity, regardless the percentage. So with the financial relationship to the black populace in the usa, the modern design of the gun totting, the humanity in law enforcement or similar, this is touchy. Many black people have people they live with who are law enforcers/soldiers and can't accept or will not accept them being bad mouthed. And some black law enforcers deserve to be protected from negative judgement based on their own actions. It is touchy. And Aka Contrarian, people your age in our village aren't supposed to be leading, you are supposed to be watching younger generations lead and guide even younger generations to become the leaders, so that you feel secure leading up to the moment when your spirit flies . You are a member of the black race and it always matters what you think. Your role is to live as happy as you can, and if the village is strong, support you. This is how I was raised in our populace anyway. You don't need to come up with the solution, that is the job of black people from younger generations like me. I do think the problem is the crossroads black people in the usa find themselves in. What does it mean to be statian , of the usa or american? What is the goal of the black populace in the usa? These questions rarely get answered but in them is identity.

Societal dysfunction is like cancer. There's no money in the cure. Plenty money to be made maintaining it. A whole lotta folks are getting paid through social dysfunction i.e. law enforcement agencies, judicial system, prison industrial complex, hospitals, social services, etc. That's just to name a few. So many ancillary businesses and services draw money from the same well.

I kept up with the progress of the solar eclipse by watching a local TV channel which was originating its broadcast from Chicago's Adler Planetarium where a crowd of sky watchers had converged. This station was also keeping the viewers up to date on what was happening at locations all over the country where the eclipse was best visible, so I got to get a good view of it from the Carbondale site in downstate Illinois. The announcer there actually choked up during the "corona" moment when the sun was totally eclipsed and the huge crowd amassed there in temporary darkness broke out in cheers and applause. I, myself, felt moved as, where I was, got rather dim. A few minutes prior to that, I had gone outside and looked up at the sun through my special glasses but all I could discern in my area was a bright glare. Yet my dog seemed transfixed and unusually quiet. And I actually did feel at one with the Universe and conscious of my existence and how wondrous Life is. Now, I'm back to whatever it is I'm back to. Tomorrow is another day. Or is it? It seemed like only yesterday when I'd stood in my front yard watching the 2017 solar eclipse. When told the next one would be in 2024, I chuckled, thinking I wouldnt be around to witness it. HaHa the joke's on me!

Great news and wishing you continued healing. I'm sure you already know that a cane can be a cool accessory. Especially when the cane complements the outfit and keeps you standing upright. Unselfish fans will realize da Bears did Justin a huge favor especially if they weren't going to build an offense around him. I was rooting for Head Coach Dawn Staley and the lady Gsmecocks to win it all. They completed an undefeated season. Of course, Caitlin Clark will end up making more money than any other female playing basketball. I hope not. I'm betting the solar eclipse will come and go like Y2K. We'll be here when you come back on Tuesday.

I need an update on how that knee is coming along especially with the meds and fermented fruit juice cocktail.

So true life only means whatever we say it means. I had a conversation at work yesterday. The cleaner asked me how is it going . I said I don't know. I asked him the following question. How many people tell you things. When they think they know but you know that they don't know. He said all of them. I said well I know that I have no idea. I am bored , I am finding it difficult to find people who think

@Pioneer1 I don't know, but two questions automatically arrive. If you were doing this, then why no mention of it? Even in failure it is more uplifitng to speak of the attempt than to not speak of it at all, especially in a forum of communication. And, if you are doing it? why no mention of it in this black forum, designed for communication. Don't tell me all the black people who think like you in the usa, you have reached. Don't do that. So in advertiisng your activities, hopefully successful, can only grow the number of likeminded blacks part of your group. yes? I don't know and your advertised success wouldn't make me join your tribe, BUT, your activities at the least can inspire all members of the village, regardless of tribe. Isn't that worth something ?

Visiting day at the joint.

Lol...for some reason, I figured you'd be one of the last people on here seemingly promoting the effects of ingesting Marijuana. While I don't disagree with what you wrote, it should be understood that much of the weed on the streets of America today and most of the weed sold in the dispensaries around the nation is NOT real or natural Marijuana. It is either fake OR has been genetically altered with the THC levels enhanced to dangerous levels. This shit most people are smoking out here is making many of them psychotic.

Thanks very much, Richard! I appreciate the support. Davida

Thank you so much, Troy. I apologize for not responding sooner. It was incredible of you to post my other books as well. I've been swamped with putting together a June book tour and I haven't checked back here in several weeks. I appreciate the support and positive feedback. Davida

I always look up things that I don't know the answer to or that I'm curious about. i don't waste time trying to remember what I never knew. I:'ve always been about expanding my mind! This is the case with most people - except for those with narrow minds who only want to reinforce what limited knowledge the have stored in their memory and are deluded enough to believe that they already know everything there is to know.

@Steinsman yes I have.. I can't say I have anything I am expecting highly, but as a writer, i give all movies a chance. Anything you are expecting to see? @aka Contrarian it doesn't matter how late, glad your here. a chocolate fred astaire, nice language not just difficult, nat king cole found it impossible to attract sponsors but not viewers , funny how today, viewers dictate sponsors so you like bebop or st louis versions of jazz, more than big band, ragtime, experimental, smooth or other versions of jazz. you propose a question i don't know the answer to. Is the percentage of black thespians in media: film/tv/music/stage combined greater than the percentage of black people in the usa? I don't know. The statistical answer to the question you posed lay in said questions answer. I remember years back someone white said no one in the usa, including white christians has better representation than white jews. and I thought about it. Considering white jews represent a very very small fraction of the population in the usa, their representation in media is way above their percentage. So it is possible for Black people to have a greater percentage of media representation than the populace. Well, most people in media follow scripts in the usa in general. I argue modern media in the usa has become inflexible to those who do not. You shouldn't feel guilty at all. At least in my opinion. The black populace in the usa ha s multiple traditions, concerning black relationship to the usa or the whites in it. Nat Turner/Frederick Douglass/WEB Dubois when younger/Booker T Wahsington/ The Exodusters/Garvey all lived at the same time. Each had a different relationship to whites. Turner felt whites should be killed/Douglass embraced as fellow citizens\Dubois an anchor for a minority of wealthy blacks to lead the majority of blacks/Washington an aid for blackpeopele to improve their segregated side of the street/Exodusters as rivals and only business partners for black growth in black towns or cities/Garvey as people whose presence black people should never live around. You said you feel guilty but no reason exists for that. I think you are in the spirit of frederidk douglass. The problem is our village in the usa or beyond hasn't accepted how to functionalize paths that don't work together. Douglass would love BArack obama. He is the embodiment of douglass dream. A phenotypically mixed heritage person, married to a DOSer , embraced by the DOS tribe int eh village while coming from the continent on on eside or the white statian on the other. Composite America speech is about what obama embodies. Does this mean I am in the spirit of Douglass, no I am not. But I comprehend that such path isn't wrong, jsut isn't mine. We black people have a hard time accepting that. And to be fair, Douglass like WEB Dubois greatest negativity in their lives was neither was able to accept other black ways. Douglass worked so hard to keep black people in the underground railroad from going to canada. SPoke against the exodusters and it was selfish of him. He wanted to prove the black populace could grow and thrive about whites in big northern cities. The ways of the black freedman or garvey leaving the usa or developing all black towns are both clearly segregatory and was against his firm integrationist beliefs, but that was selfish. Dubois never should had spoken against Garvey, again, it was selfish. Dubois hated the idea of leaving the usa for a black country. Not cause he hated black people but he liked the integrated environment. And like Douglass or Dubois you growing up and even now like it too, and nothing is wrong with that. As I have said to black militants or my fellow garveyites. If you want to kill all the whites like nat turner go ahead. the black populace in the usa has a long tradition of revenge against whites. If you want to leave the usa for a black country somewhere, go ahead. I know black people offline, who have left the usa and live in black countries happy. It can happen. Nothing is easy but it can happen. but, If you want the usa to be a multiphenoyptical country with individual rights for all spurred on nonviolently, go ahead. That is what MLK jr did post Douglass or dubois. That is what obama did post mlk jr. and when you see the black people integrating in the usa to whites in various levels, it is that way. You have lived your life your way, Contrarian:) i am happy for you. Feel pride not guilt in your way, and the tribe in the village you are apart of that is in my view stronger than most others. While also, smile for the other tribes, even if they are fleeting of member or faulty in structure, wish them tell. Be happy for them. Your not crazy. At least not to me. And as long as there is life there is hope. You can speak your mind in my post any time. I am not into name calling. And I believe in positive sharing. I hope you had pleasant dreams

Now I'm wondering if I should feel slighted that I've not been able to participate in the near death experience and jumping around in different realities games. Then again, the omniscient has good reason not to pick me.

@aka Contrarian, excellent weekly news wrap. As a correspondent, I'll add... Former POTUS Orange Julius (POJ) had his $464 million bond reduced to $175 million. NY AG Letitia James is still holding on to it as a win. Meanwhile, POJ's Truth Social hits stock market valued at $3.6 billion. IOW, there was reason to reduce the bond above. As mentioned above, POJ puts sprinkles on his fortune cake hawking a Bible. Also resurfaced is the infamous picture of him standing in front of a church during the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Robert Kennedy Jr. doesn't stand a chance of being elected POTUS. Due to a condition that affects his speaking voice, if RFK Jr. leader, his public addresses would be a painful listen. CNN caught up with Fani Willis at an event in Atlanta. She was looking good and defiantly said the train is still coming in the case against POJ. Puffy aka Diddy is definitely in a tub of hot water as the Feds hink he's involved in sex trafficking. It makes no sense to me that a billionaire would pick that as a side hustle. These raids coincide with other allegations against the music mogul. He's been skating on thin ice for decades. The Baltimore bridge collapse was an unfortunate catastrophe. It happened about 40 minutes driving from my hood.

In 2024 AD, it's not relevant where Christianity originated inasmuch as it has undergone so much modification. But, as usual, a straw man argument is trotted out, polluting this discussion, supplying answers for questions that weren't asked, blurring the issue with a lot of geographical subterfuge, while over looking the simple question I asked pioneer. Which was: why do you question the devotion of black folks to Christianity when you, yourself, are so attached to the Bible and its fables and so firm in your belief in God? Can't you figure out that the degree to which people embrace their creed is commensurate with their need to be blessed? Your motivation seems to be a need to dispute anything connected with the Bible which doesn't comply with your interpretations, in order to give the impression that you are omniscient. tsk-tsk

I have not had a chance to read this yet, but UII wanted you to know that I appreciate the coverage. Since local media is missing and under resourced the events are not covered -- despite being newsworthy. Your report bring to mind the "Reports from the Field" Kalamu ya Salaam used to publish on our events. Here are The Reports from the Field of the 5th National Black Writers Conference by Kalamu ya Salaam (from April 2000). If we don't preserve the story they never happened

Yeah, the black excellence forum can use a little more love. Even the sister who helped generate the idea rarely contributes.

Aunt Lute Books, of San Francisco, CA is thrilled to announce the release of Kathya Alexander’s debut novel, Keep A’Livin’ which will be available April 2, 2024. Thank you for taking the time to read a bit more about the book and its inspiring author. My hope is that after reviewing the content you will be as excited as we are about this upcoming piece and will be inspired to review the book on your platform. Keep A’Livin’ is a distinctive novel written in verse which follows the coming of age story of the young protagonist, Mandy, a girl growing up in Arkansas in the 1960s amid the turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement. The reader accompanies Mandy as she comes to realize the complicated nuances of her social status, learns about her current social and political climate, and contemplates the role faith and God plays in American race relations and fights for social justice. When asked about intentions of her book, Alexander writes: I want to make people aware of all those ordinary men and women who worked at the local level to make the Civil Rights Movement a success… I want Keep A’Livin’ to honor and acknowledge the local people, the grassroots activists that are often neglected in the history of that era. Keep A’Livin’ is a commentary on what it means to be young, Black, a woman, a daughter, a sister, a student, and queer in the American south at a time of social and political uncertainty. With a focus on historical dialect and the spoken word throughout, the novel is a testament to the Civil Rights Movement’s fundamental reliance on oral tradition, elevating the voices of community, collaborating with others, and finding space to listen. The verse and dialectical form of this novel allows for a channel of speech that harnesses this essence of the Civil Rights Movement itself. This intimate style gives more character to the history than mere recordings or clippings of descriptions of key events ever could. It is in the conversation between characters, the interweaving of fable, tradition, religion, and storytelling that we can come away from this book with a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement and ultimately what makes the political, personal and vice versa. At Aunt Lute Books, we are beyond excited to publish this truly craftful novel, and hope you are as well after reading. More information about Keep A’Livin’ and Kathya Alexander can be found on our website. The advanced reader copy is also available for review. Please let me know if you are interested in reviewing this book and I will gladly send over a copy for you to take a look at.

Oh yes! He dropped a lot of wisdom. Some of what he said though, well I guess I am still young in my mind[!] and so, I am little indifferent to certain things that he said or maybe it's genderism. As a woman, I still care about how I look even at this age. I'm not as picky now though about my hair but, I still would like to have it styled nice. I'm over weight and desperately need to fight for better health, but, I still get a lot of attention from men, and I like that! LOL! His comments on when he dies really hits home though. I am absolutely NOT ready to share much right now, but I have just had to deal with the death of an older family member and I am deeply grieving. This person has really abused me in a terrible way and well, years back she apologized and I absolutely forgave. Since that time too, she continued to want to hear from me and so, I would contact her regularly to ease her mind but it was stressful every time. EVERYONE desperately wanted me to make an appearance and well, WHEW! I did. When I got there, I was treated like a superstar for coming. Everyone depended on me! It's as if they needed me to feel OKAY about how they felt about her. Forgiveness is divine. My sister pressed me and said, 'We Need You!" My other sister demanded that funds were given to get me there because she was really distraught and wanted my support. And I'm flat broke due to the very abusive conflict! But 'they' got me there with some help. One of my sons refused to come and I am very protective of him because I know what he went through. And my other son came and to his surprise they put him on the program to speak! lol! i was told that both of my sons would fall behind in school 2 to 3 years due to the ordeal, but well, I got busy and tutored them and home schooled them. So that one son that showed up to the funeral was put on the program with his title. He has a Phd in Mechanical Engineering. But the money is not here yet. We are still struggling. I still believe that if young children are hurt and abused then that is not going to be a good outcome for anyone. People should be careful about hurting innocence. @aka Contrarian WOW! Maybe you are not impressed because you need another focus. 90 is awesome imo but maybe it's relativity and for others, it's just a number. Even though I believe reaching 90 and 100 is a great accomplishment, I want to live forever! I have no intentions of ending. I want to rest though, but only to get energized again. I want to do too many things and have not even started some of my goals! That is why I cannot afford to stop or die. Rest yes. It's good to sleep and RIP but never end. No. Your mind is too strong and sharp and I can understand why would fight boredom and depression. I hope that you rest and get out of that! Thank you @Troy Thank you!

@ProfD& Troy: I thought it would be great to live a long life and reach 90. But, suddenly, I'm not impressed over having achieved this goal. Others in this category thank the Lord and aspire to reach 100 and are eager to tell what they attribute their longevity to. Me, I'm fighting boredom and depression. I really feel as though I've over stayed my time here and am trapped in a state of limbo I've lost interest in a lot of things and what others find interesting and exciting I find mundane. I spent a lot of time pondering about life after death and whether there is one. I've been told this all might be hormonal. And, of course, I'm very pessimistic about the upcoming presidential election and the future of the USA. Hopefully you both will be able to handle old age better than me. I'm certainly not an inspiration. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. N c Hi Chevdove and Mel. Glad to see you're still "holding down the fort."

Are you reading anything this year? yes If Yes, what genre? Literary Fiction and Mystery/Suspense Fiction or Nonfiction? Fiction Is the format Digital, Audio, or Print (Paperback, Hardcover)? Paperback Are you consuming the material with a digital device such as an iPhone, Android, or electronic reader (kindle, PC, etc)? No. Are you reading the traditional way, such as an actual book in hand where you turn the pages? Yes Which is your favorite way to read now? Physical book followed by audio book. What is your preferred way to consume media content if you no longer read books?