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(Manhattan Beach, CA – January 18, 2023) – At this year’s Independent Book Publishers Association’s annual conference, IBPA Publishing University, the conference will explore the theme of what it means to “Navigate, Innovate, Elevate” within the independent book publishing industry. The theme is a meaningful reference to IBPA’s 40th anniversary, which the association is celebrating in 2023, and its role in the past four decades advocating for, and helping independent book publishers to build long term, successful businesses. With this theme in mind, IBPA is excited to announce that one of the three keynote presentations at the conference taking place May 4-6 in San Diego, CA, will feature a panel of highly respected industry leaders whose publishing businesses have spanned decades and have overcome every type of challenges along the way. The keynote panel “Legends of Black Independent Publishing: Learning from the Best” will invite onto the stage: Dr. Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press Foundation; W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press; Kassahun Checole, founder of Africa World Press and The Red Sea Press; and Wade Hudson and Cheryl Hudson, founders of Just Us Books. The panel will be moderated by Troy Johnson, founder of the African American Literature Book Club (AALBC.com). With a combined industry experience of 150+ years, these publishers will answer the question, “What do you do when your community is under-served, under-represented, and under-published?” You serve, represent, and publish! The complete conference agenda can be viewed at https://www.publishinguniversity.org/schedule. In addition, registration is now open for IBPA Publishing University ### To moderate this panel is truly an honor. When I first sat down to start AALBC, in 1997, all of these businesses were firmly established, but I did not know anything about them. I soon learned about all of them and their significant impact on Black books and by extension our culture. If you are a book publisher, you really need to attend IBPA Publishing University It is not often you'll get these icons in the same room.

greg consistently does this one thing and it confirmed my suspicion early on that he's a white nationalist in a digital blackface. greg writes white with an uppercase "W" and Black with a lowercase "b." Black people wrote Black in uppercase long before it appeared in the AP style guide. So, if this were a game of poker, that would be his tell.

I hope (and believe) this generation of boys can figure this out for themselves. Because too many generations in the past have brainwashed them into thinking they are good for nothing. Those who don't know their strengths aren't necessarily physical will always fail themselves, the Black community, and ultimately society. Custodial mothers, fathers, and even two-parent households who are wise enough to know what we don't know have reached out for help from those in the know. (not opinion-givers) And we have educated our children, especially boys, to know physical strength isn't enough in a society that requires intellect and problem-solving. Those children are our communities' success stories. Still, civilization requires Hypermasculinity coupled with hyperintellectuality in battle. And as history shows, it can occur in any sex when necessary and as needed. Sankofa. If you don't know your history, go back and retrieve it. Check out Nyabinghi. We, as a species, adapt to our environment for survival. It doesn't require anyone's approval. Those who don't adapt perish. The last woman Dahomey warrior died in 1979. According to historical records, Dahomey's army fought against colonization until 1892, that was about 200+ years of women and men fighting off European colonization. When the French colonized them, they made sure to subjugate women. Because subjugating women is an Anglo thing. Because - No Nation Can Rise Higher Than Its Women.

By no means am I underestimating white power or it's destructive impact. And we know how large numbers of whites can be galvanized by racist appeals, But the monolithic notion of white unity is a fallacy. Talking and thinking about whites as a unified group ignores whites' self-perception as individuals. It also fails to take class and gender inequality into consideration. More importantly, it disempowers black people fighting for positive social change by focusing on some kind of unattainable " black unity" to counter racism and economic injustice. Because white people are so numerous and relatively well off in most ways as a group compared to black people it's easy to think they are constantly motivated by some sense of racial consciousness. Of course, discrimination against us makes it seem that way. But whites think of themselves as individuals first and foremost. They come together only to the extent that certain individuals see mutual benefit in doing so. They compete and they conflict in all kinds of ways and whiteness is never a consideration unless or until black people come along. However not all whites are racist, nor have they ever supported it. White people do things for each other out of moral consideration or self-interest not whiteness. But it's important to recognize economic inequality and the class divide. Rich white capitalists past and present have often exploited and undermined all workers regardless of race. So radical and reform minded whites have fought to tame Capitalism or Socialists have called for its abolition. By reforming the socioeconomic system (think - center left liberalism) through the New Deal America became a better place mainly for white working people. None of this excludes male domination and sexism against women. White men felt justified as men denying women regardless of color the right to vote or do anything else in society until women mostly whites fought for social change. Even in that endeavor race complicated things. Black men and women fighting against racism also challenged gender inequality. But many white women fighting sexism past, and present are racist too. The challenge is for black people who oppose racism, sexism, and economic injustice to build mass support for social change among other blacks and non-blacks. It is important to recognize that black people differ among themselves too. Some oppose activist struggle for change. They believe in adaptation or accommodation. There are wealthy blacks who don't want the economy changed. Other blacks believe in male domination over women black or white. Black people have all kinds of views. We are Black Nationalists, Socialists, Conservatives, Moderates, Democrats, and Republicans. Some of us think improvement is collective while others are individualist. Ultimately unity in some monolithic sense is not possible.

'Discharged from hospital to recuperate at home after a bout with covid flu. That was no fun. Interesting hospital experience, however. Tended by a flurry of nurses, many of whom were effusive gay men, along with Hispanic cha-chas, misled by my Spanish first name. Indian and Asian doctors, of course. Sistas shuffling round, tellin' me, "you gonna be OK, momma." A very interesting pecking order at this state of the art medical center right around the corner from where I live. Prognosis is OK, all things considered which means my age is a factor. Whatever. If anybody watched the Girot Awards on CBS last night, as black folk, we should've been encouraged! Hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving. 90 is a lot of months away but, I'm tryin to hang in. Luv ya all! Jeeze, this really came out big!

Okay, I just broke down a begin my first foray into TicTok. Everyone is telling me I need to be on the platform. So I'm starting in earnest today. I still can't image it helping, but I hope I'm proven wrong. My goal is to post a short video several times a week. I'm open to any suggestions. The video is raw, I did not bother to shave or wear anything special -- if I did it would be too much work. I figure I could invest 15 minutes a week to post a few sub-two-minute videos to the platform.

She looks great in the Vogue Cover. I don't think it has to be emasculating or diminishing ASAP Rocky. It's about her rise or perhaps re-emergence not only as a star but a business woman and mother. He's there supporting her and holding her hand as a symbol of the bond. But that's just me. We want to talk about black people being liberated and strong over white racist dominatdomination yet black people male and many females still see patriarchal control as positive and necessary. Black Freedom then merely becomes freedom for black men to control black women and communities. I just think it's a good cover.

Ok I'll play! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl3tIXeZRo8 Lyrics I never knew such a day could come And I never knew such a love could be inside of one I never knew what my life was for But now that you're here, I know for sure I never knew 'til I looked in your eyes (oh, baby) I was incomplete 'til the day you walked into my life, ooh And I never knew that my heart could feel So precious and pure, our love is so real Can I just see you every morning when I open my eyes Can I just feel your heart beating beside me every night Can we just feel this way together 'til the end of all time Can I just spend my life with you Now baby the days and the weeks and the years will roll by But nothing will change the love inside of you and I And baby I'll never find any words that could explain Just how much my heart, my life, my soul, you've changed Can you run to these open arms When no one else understands Can we tell God and the whole world I'm your woman, and you're my man Can't you just feel how much I love you With one touch of my hand Can I just spend my life with you No touch has ever felt so wonderful (you are incredible) And no deeper love I've never known (I'll never let you go) I swear this love is true (now and forever to you) Only for you (to you) Can I just see you every morning when I open my eyes Can I just feel your heart beating beside me every night Can we just feel this way together 'til the end of all time Can I just spend my life with you Can you run to these open arms When no one else understands Can we tell God and the whole world You're my woman, and you're my man Can't you just feel how much I love you With one touch of my hand Can I just spend my life with you Can I just spend my life with you Forever here with you Can I just spend my life with you Can I just see you every morning when I open my eyes Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Scott Joplin / Desmontes Posey / Benet Eric Spend My Life With You lyrics © Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp., Paradise Forever Music, India B. Music, Demonte's Music Publishing, Universal Songs Of Polygram Int. Inc.

@Rodney campbell Russia's military does not want to overthrow Vladimir Putin. And the main reason are the grotesque and horrific penalties for failure. Putin is a vicious dictator. The news of his many outrages are muted in the news media, Western as well as Eastern. What manages to eke out are rumors, parts of the truth and old news. When Putin first assumed power, ordinary Russians and emigres adored him. The world was forced to reckon with a KGB-trained ruler who knew how to scare people. Finally, Russia was great again! Their country mattered once more. But everyone forgot the old adage: Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. And slowly but surely, those who preferred Free Thought and Human Rights and Independence were intimidated and eventually silenced or eliminated. I bet most don't realize that Free Thinking rejects authority and established beliefs, which includes any Dogma associated with Religion. Unless the person being discussed is noted and many worry about their safety and well-being, you will not hear what happens to them. What I wrote about Putin's initial popularity in Russia and elsewhere could also be said of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. They were both beloved. Hitler was idolized. There are people living today who still want to be like Hitler or promote his nonsense. You could probably input the name of any modern military-fascist leader and the foregoing sentences would apply to them.

For me, hands down, (pun intended) Bridge is my strategic game of choice. I've been playing Bridge for 70+ years, dating back to my Freshman year at the University of Illinois, during the 1950s. Back then. Bridge wasn't just a pass time, it was what students stayed up all night in their dorms playing, or cut classes haunting the Student Union lounges huddled around tables, deciding which suit to bid. It was the favorite after dinner activity at Sorority and Fraternity houses, a fanaticism that jeopardized the scholastic standing of a whole lot of students, - included myself. So Bridge is my thing and when it comes to being a strategic game, there is no substitute for just plain old gut instinct and good judgement as opposed to the crazy "cue bidding" compiled by so-called experts who have diluted the purity of the game. I've been asked by people to teach them how to pay Bridge. But i always refused the request, telling them I can't teach you Bridge. You learn by playing it. You have to have what is known as "card sense". After all this time, I'm still learning the game. Although complicated, Bridge is also simplistic. No bells and whistles, just a 52 pack of cards to deal out to 4 people for whom nothing is more fulfilling than bidding and making a grand slam - unless it's throwing your cards across the table at your partner for making a stupid play! This is why down through the years Bridge clubs always topped my list of recreational activity. But those days are gone, along with all my old buddies who have ascended to that big card table in the sky. Bridge, itself, was dying out because it tended to be an "old people's game" but it is making a come back, and I go on line and play it every day with computerized robots. And if ever anything cast doubt on the reliability of "Artificial Intelligence", it's the game of Bridge. Robots make terrible Bridge players! They lack human instinct and are unable to establish rapport with their partner or to observe their opponents style of play and sense whether a queen-ace finesse will work. So my fascination with this game continues but, of course, the day will come when instead of bidding, I will pass...

@Pioneer1, I have much respect for your raw views (even if I don't agree with some of them and even when I'm offended by some of them) on this and other discussions. Your responses are truly thought-provoking. Thank you. @Chevdoveyour observations are on point. I, too, have seen lots of 'promo' for LGBTQ, BlPOC, and even with specific content requests. IDK, but what I can attest to is the challenge of marketing/promoting with impact (which is a whole other discussion) Haha… @Troy I was one of those (in your own words) ‘narrow-minded’ sistas who self-published on am*zon, but it was solely because, when researching how to self-publish, the resources listed included only the well-known sites. I can't recall how I found AALBC, but I'm delighted that I did - you do better when you know better. (Wink) To give input into my thoughts of the 35% fewer books published by black authors in 2022 than in 2021 and almost 50% fewer than the peak published in 2015, TTTGA (that thing that’s going around) played tricks with many our minds in that many of us spent the last few years so worried about our mental well-being, physical well-being, and overall spirit that, for me, I could not settle down - fearing that depression, restlessness and pity parties would rule the day. Safe to assume that 2019 - 2021, at least, remained consistent, or, at least, not much of a decline? Sh&@! by 2022, I was still recovering from the mental burnout of TTTGA, and yeah, I admit that it handled me a little as I witnessed what was happening around me, and I’m not one to be handled (I much prefer to be loved for the beautiful mess I am). Don’t get me wrong, the downtime kept me ‘still’ and allowed for some great self-reflection which included working on book IV, which, by the way, thanks to aalbc, I’ve printed copies via BCP digital, and self-distributing, temporarily, that is, until I list on aalbc, but the down time didn’t sustain my attention until mid-2022. The impact of TTTGA is not an excuse, but, in fact, a ‘whole event’ (whether a conspiracy or reality or our imagination) that influenced heavy adverse outcomes. BUT, what remains consistent is the resilience of my people - We still stand, we still have lots to say, and we will see an increase in black author publications!, again! Just look at me - ‘I wrote you 37 letters’ published in December 2022!!! Not sure if my December 2022 publication had much impact on the stats, but I'm baaaaack!

Slavery is more like the heart of capitalism

Here! Hi lovely! Nope! I have no patience for gender issues. I’ve grown tired of some men trying to dictate a woman’s partnership choices. It’s a waste of time. If those men were so concerned. They would simply show up be present and stay put. Anything less, is lip-service, bitchin’ and moanin’.

we incur this as a consequence of living here. I’m not really aware of a place you can go to fully escape it. I disagree because, and this should be obvious, not every white personal is trying to demasculate me or anyone else. You’ll make yourself crazy finding boogie men everywhere. ****** A girl, Joy Rose Johnson. Engaged.

Fortunately for me The storm passed far enough South of me that i was largely unaffected. There was rain and high winds but nothing coming close to what we have all seen on TV. Terrible. At some point we will have to come to the realization that we can’t live right on the beach any more. Every new weather event is now the “worst ever.” closer to home St Pete, Clearwater, and Tampa bay dodged a bullet, but it seeming is only a matter of time. The same goes for places like NYC, Miami, Houston in fact all along the gulf coast from TX to FL. Side bar: people always say their prayers were answered because they avoided disaster, but they never think about the prayers of those not answered, people who lost their homes and even their lives…

Again, I'm thankful that you continue to support and provide this space for discussion. I haven't been around here as long as everyone else but I do enjoy reading you all and I'd hate to see this discussion forum shrivel up completely and/or go away.

Men and women will typically disagree along the lines we see here. I tended to agree with Prof and Pioneer for most of my adult life, but we were reared in America and are from the same generation. As a kid, if I cried while getting whipped my mother would whip me longer and tell me that she'd give me something to cry about. My mother also told me if someone hit you you better hit them back, harder -- I don't care how much bigger they are than you. She was old school, and she raised me in a way people raised boys back then -- Don't let anyone one punk you, and you better not let me see you cry. Buy today's standards that might be considered child abuse . But it is how men were raised. My own children (girls) have never been in a fight. I don't think anyone my age (especially men) escaped childhood without being in several fights or even catching a real beatdown. This is why Will Smith's slapping of Chris Rock actually angered me -- and I usually could care less about the shit celebrities do. What Will did to Chris was a profoundly offensive -- bitching slapping a man in public. My gut instinct would have been kick Will's ass or die trying. Today I the best reaction was exactly what Chris did. I imagine if Chris started weeping that would have been acceptable, by today's standards, too. Chris is from my generation so I know his reaction and composure took a lot of heart. I know some men considered Chris weak, but I disagree. Today we live in a different world; we have little need for "real" men. Todays "warriors" drop bombs from drones they control with a joy stick from some trailer out west. What few real gladiators we have now can play football or box, but these sports are being frowned upon because too many men are getting hurt. Men are indeed different from women. I do feel that the culture is trying make men and women that same. I think this is wrong. We should use our resources to understand those differences rather than making believe none exist. One simple and easily observable difference is that men are stronger than women. Of course there are some women who are stronger than some men, but on average men are physically stronger. This fact makes a difference in how men and women behave and the roles they might place in a culture. In 2022 technology has rendered the need for physical strength obsolete, but this change is brand new compared to he 100's of thousands or years humans have been on earth. Our genetics and attitudes will not change over night. Maybe it is technology that has "pussified" men. Maybe some men see women exerting equal rights as a treat. Maybe some men do not like effeminate, gay, or any aspect of manhood that does not conform to the traditional standard of manhood elevated in any way. Men are different than women and those difference should be explored and understood in the context of a modern society rather trying to make men the same a women. Men will always reject that -- even if they can not articulate, or understand, exactly why. Women, on the other hand, don't seem to mind making men the same as women. This may be another manifestation of our differences. More likely women see these changes as getting the same benefits, rights, opportunities men get, something they deserve.

@GregSMH You are so dense and dumb - the total captive of your one-track mind. The "superior race" headline is a play-on-words pun referring to a sporting event (race) which because the members of one team ran faster than its opponents, their team proved to be the best (superior) one by coming in first. Your stupidity apparently extends to your eyesight, making you unable to see that 2 of the runners on the team that won the race were "white". Once again your lack of critical thinkin skills makes you mentally inferior and just plain stupid.

I claim it all, with neither shame nor judgement.

I think "Greg" is a troll tag team made up of a 1 white racist and 1 black fool. These 2 alternate with their scripted comments which sometimes overlap, and one is a little dumber than the other.

Field & Track Women—Hairstyles I just want to reflect on something else today because I am weary of all of depressing media hype about mass shootings and killing Black people. So, I want to share something about spectator about spectator sports, and something that I like to watch that inspires me to be active and set goals for getting better physical, mental and emotional health. The competition has begun! A few days ago, the recent track and field meets have showed up on my channel and I am amazed at these awesome and powerful beauties. And at first glance, it may not seem to be the main focus, however recently, what seems obvious to me would be the significant differences in the hairstyles displayed of some of the top Black female athletes from the recent past. Is this a brief trend? In the past few widely internationally broadcasted events, some athletes on the starting lineup were pictured with flamboyant and brightly colored or long, blonde, and bone-straight hairstyles. Obviously, it was done so to make a statement just as in the past some athletes donned unique and ‘signature’ uniforms and I am reminded of the late and incredible Flo Jo. But so far, in the few competitions that have occurred recently no one has started the line up as in the past events. My all-time favorite Track and field Olympian, Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, whose other devotion, her hair salon back in Jamaica, stepped out recently with on the field with a lovely dark and braided hairstyle. Shelley-Ann Frase-Pryce No matter though, she looks adorable and so elegant in whatever style she has worn, IMO. Another ‘new’ world favorite athlete, Elaine Thompson-Herah has seemingly burst onto the world scene out of nowhere and now has become a household name for many. She steps onto the field with the most lovely and classy type hairstyles recently but, for me it’s her glow and her smile that shows her beauty. Elaine Thompson-Herah And to my surprise, our own American athlete stepped out with a beautiful appearance, Sha’Carri Richardson. She already wins hands down on being a beauty anyway though, but she also came back on the field with a blast. Richardson came in second behind Thompson-Herah in one of her races. Sha'Carri Richardson These recent and awesome women of the track and field today, have inspired me to contemplate and do more research history about how Black African women have had to deal with so much controversy over our hair. And what new stories I have found! But as for now, due to so much talent today and the new winners, it gives me great inspiration to add some more new favorites to my list and to share. Some of these athletes have consistently dominated their race so well, that it can be expected that they will be celebrated for a long time. Like Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce who has become a legend of all times, however, there are some new wonders. Of course, my other all-time past favorite also competed recently, Allyson Felix, and it was said that this would be her last time. But now, there are a few more lovely superwomen to cheer on such as that pretty girl, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, the lovely Swiss’ Mujinga Kambundji, Jamaica’s doll Shericka Jackson, our lovely New Jersey lady Athing Mu and the smart beauty who just dominated her race, Gabby Thomas and more. Ironically for me too, would be that although the past hairstyles have been eye-catching, what seems more amazing would be the age of some of these athletes who have dominated and won the foot race. This has given me the most inspiration to believe that I can get up and do something healthier to combat my health problems today. In my middle age though, I sometimes look back in time when I was younger and imagine myself sprinting that fast, but at the end of my dream I always have this re-occurring imagery of me coming through the finish line with a complete horrendous falling to the ground with a horrible horse-like uncontrollable breathing and inevitably ankle-rolling into a blundering crash with my arms flinging wildly and hitting the ground first with one knee and then enduring a complete earth-smacking, elbow-knee roll, covering a large area before finally coming to a miserable end. This fear sort of reminds me of a time when, as a gymnast, my coach believed that I was a sprinter and so, she one day abruptly surprised me and moved the springboard far away from the horse and told me to sprint into my vault. I panicked. I was so angry at her and imagined that I was going to crash into that horse and kill myself. I pulled if off successfully to my shock and surprise. But now, I have also considered being inspired by an older group of athletes who run the marathon too. Nevertheless, the older track and field stars deserves the glory that they have earned! Allyson Felix not only gave birth, but she stepped onto the field at the age of 36. And incredibly all of the women trailed far behind the Jamaican wonder Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce who stepped up to the challenge at the age of 35 and after she also gave birth recently. But now, I have a new favorite that stepped onto the field at the age of 29 and some sports experts believe that she stands to improve her time. This amazing PEARL recently came in close behind her American teammate, Sha’Carri Richardson and in another recent race, she stayed in second place behind Fraser-Pryce until the last moment, Jenna Frandini. When I think about this beauty, I think about Delano who also has some pearls in his life. Jenna Frandini replaced Richardson in the Tokyo 4X 100m relay and led our U.S. team to claim the silver. Recently, Frandini clocked in at 10.75 in a 100m race. It’s impossible not to watch her run over and over and over again and not spring up as she approaches the finish line. Like Elaine Thompson-Herah, it seems as if Jenna Frandini might become another household name. So I would love to share some brief clips and videos of my inspirations. At 35, Jamaica's Fraser-Pryce holds off deep field of Americans in Prefontaine 200m | NBC Sports 210,578 views May 28, 2022 https://youtu.be/nfbJeOCU0pc 2015 Beijing Olympics—Allyson Felix, Jenna Frandini, Jasmine Todd and English Gardner take the Silver! Jenna Frandini & Gabby Thomas in the Tokyo 4x 100 relay—Silver June 4, 2022 – Jenna Frandini Jenna Frandini 2015 100m Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Still Dominating At 35-Years-Old

When it comes to something I don't know, I'll admit it if asked a question that I either don't know and/or cannot find the answer. Otherwise, I enjoy a good discussion and will give my opinion regardless of my knowledge or ignorance especially if I can find humor in it.

Don't forget Jazz and gospel. There is zero musical culture that white people have created without the influence of Black Americans. You seem to have forgotten whites would have starved with help from the indigenous Americans. Which they repaid by slaughtering their hosts. Here's a hint Hidden Figures. White people all over the world are successful because of stealing and genocide. Read the real history of the Untied States. The suggestion that you either read or think is rhetorical.

Greg, You do know this is a literature website?... Despite your low opinion of black people, you know we learned how to read, right? And guess what? Over here, we read A LOT! So let me gift you this article - - https://wapo.st/3HQOf9L Dude may have given out some checks, but the lion's share of forgivable loans, $6.6 Billion and counting, went to white folks.

@GregFor somebody who is always yakking about using proper English, you could benefit from doing so yourself. Your sentence that says: "All of our issues in our Black community is self inflicted and has nothing to do with hardworking Asians, Whites, of Hispanics "etc. should say: "All of our issues in our black community are self inflicted and have nothing to with Asians, whites, or Hispanics etc... Sheeze! In fact, you are a light weight in other areas when it comes to assessing what you mis-label as the "black community". You are incapable of looking at the big picture, or peering past your nose. No deep thinker, you lack the capacity to comprehend that the pendulum of humanity's clock has been wound up and is now on the swing from back to forth. Other ethnicities inspiring your dismay at being victimized by black thugs are collateral damage representing what happens when payback rears its ugly head and justice disappears. Like now. What's being demonstrated as the black aberrations descended from slaves avenge what normal whites did to those slaves long ago. The outcome? Shit happens. If you weren't so busy carping about proper English and unwed pregnancies, and lack of ambition you'd have time to develop some intellectual muscle instead of being stuck on stupid. You could benefit from a little profound cogitation, maybe become enlightened about how CIVILIZATION unfolds, doing what it does, rising and falling, progressing and stumbling, moving on, lurching ahead, time bringing change that reverts back to sameness. In the scheme of things what is now being perpetrated by black criminals is out of control and cannot be fixed. It will have to sort itself out with what will undoubtedly be tragic results. Self Genocide. Martial Law. Race War. That's life. Or will the ghetto culture and mindset that so offends you change over night or even at all. A collective consciousness is deeply entrenched and preserved by an environment that society perpetuates because it needs scapegoats and others to blame for why things are the way they are. You cannot conceive of the idea that your world vision blurs in the face of reality and you are wasting your time and that of those who you harass with your demands. So, as far as the "Greg Project" goes, all of your bitching and lecturing is just drivel. You serve no purpose except to the white puppet masters who pull your strings. Attempting to be the paternalistic arbitrator of what the black community needs to do to be worthy of white approval is an exercise in futility because you are neither a super hero nor a role model. - just a naggin wanna-be. Stefan thinks it's not a good idea to engage with trolls, but you provide me with a way to amuse myself. Ha-Ha.

@KENNETH Abortion has always been a luke warm issue in the black community because an unplanned pregnancy that results in bringing a baby into an unstable environment is something that dates back to slavery days, and is an experience imprinted on the black psyche, which instinctively adjusts to adverse situations. So having a baby is something many black females just take in their stride... Society doesn't seem to care about this. Nor is there any concern emanating from the conservative ranks of latter day slave masters masquerading as pro-lifers about the plight of such children. There is, however, a tendency among certain blacks to be lax in critical thinking when it comes to this issue. The situation isn't exclusively about abortion; it's about control. Those with the authority to make a woman have a baby, can also force her to not have a baby. The only person who has the right to exercise control over a woman's body is the woman, herself! Black people should be very leery about laws that intrude on an individual's personal choices. These insidious bans can be a gateway to enforcing other restrictions.

I wish the 'right-to-lifers" would be willing to exert the same energy and passion to preserving the lives of those who have actually been born. Support for quality universal health care would be a good start. To answer your question directly, anything that is bad for American people in general is almost always worse for Black people in particular. That said, this decision transcends race. It effects everyone.

Regardless of how the media tried to criminalize the victim, George Floyd did not deserve to be murdered. While George Floyd may not have set out to become a martyr, his murder put a bullseye on American police brutality. In fact, I think George Floyd's execution date should be another federal holiday to commemorate all of our brothas and sistas wrongfully murdered by race soldiers.

I usually block/mute bots in black face on twitter because they are easy to spot. They are easy to spot on AALBC too because they spew the same rhetoric as the " the greys" trying to claim supremacy. Unfortunately there are so few of us that participate in these discussions, I feel like we're playing a game of whack a mole when they pop up. Anyway, this is an oldie but goodie report from Black Enterprise on the rise of blackface bots

True - but it helps folks like us to not carry them. They need to be left in their hell...they don't need us to remain there with them. (Aside: Someone killed my loved one and I forgave him on day one. And when I look back I think about my loved one and all the beauty he brought into the world)

I was in the customs line leaving Barbados several years ago and Rihanna was in the line behind me as the line snaked i got a really good look at her. She is average looking. Nothing particularly striking about her in her natural state. We look at the people on the cover of Vogue and make the mistake of assuming that is actually how the person looks in real life. Times have absolutely changed as few men in my generation, or older, would desire that positioning on the cover of a magazine. It is emasculating, but that is considered a good thing today. Let the woman led pulling the “man” along as he nurtures that baby. I’m sure the photo was crafted to stoke that sentiment. I don’t particularity care for the photo, but the baby is cute

Requesting a Book Review of my fourth self-published book: I wrote you 37 Letters. Thank you in advance for your feedback, interest and support. Dear Chocolate Brutha, Dear Black Beauty, Dear Bathroom Facilities, Dear Anonymous Lover, Dear Random Thoughts, Dear Hennessy, Dear Mood Swings, Dear Son, Dear Life, Dear Sweet Angel of mine, 40 years, 7 Days, 2 Hours and a Kiss, Dear... For years, I let my pride, stubbornness, strong will, ego & fear hijack me, emotionally, but now that I've humbled myself, I wrote you 37 Letters to express my feelings about all of those things that I've been wanting to say. This book of 37 letters offers an opportunity for you to self-reflect and perhaps find the words that you have been looking for to express those suppressed feelings. This is NOT a book of Dear John letters, nor is it intended to be a self-help, love yourself, and then let me love you, book, but rather it's a thought-provoking book of letters that dare you to get in touch with your headspace when it comes to expressing your feelings. Oh, and feel free to 'borrow' my words. (wink) Warning: Some of the letters are frisky, funny, and head-tilting, but trust me, they will make you smile, woosah, blush & want to write me back. ISBN: 979-8-218-09319-8 Published: 12/2022 Self-Distributing: contact me at DeeInspired1521@gmail.com About the Author Hello, my name is Dee Miller. I am, what I call, a 'Closet Artist’ - mostly commission-based pieces, yet my work is widespread. As an artist, my work ranges from serious depictions of strength to clever portrayals of corporate slang, to metaphoric images that inspire thought, to simple lines that tell a story, with a dribble of graffiti art. What’s so cool about being an artist is that the piece can change direction at the flip of the wrist or a mood swing. Often called a wordsmith, my artistry also includes writings with the same artistic range. As a wordsmith, I have self-published three books - poetry for the soul, short stories (inspired by life events) that make you laugh hysterically, and a book of articles explaining why Black Women are NOT always so angry. Book 1 The Sun Came out Last Night...rated D (A book of Love lessons from poetry sessions). I believe that the ingredients for a good story or poem can come from many venues…experiences, imagination, and observations just to name a few. What makes the story or poem come to life is its writer, the wordsmith and the execution. “Six months, Seven days, Two hours and a Kiss”, “Blue Morning”, “When no means Yes – No means Yes when he places his lips…she takes control and says, ‘It’s time’”. This book of Private Thoughts and Love Lessons from poetry sessions promises to take you on a ride from the inspiration of love to the adventures of “oh, lala”! The Sun Came out Last Night....Rated D https://www.am*zon.com/dp/B01LACH464 Book II LOL...You Can't make this Stuff Up (hilarious and embarrassing book of my reality that many can relate to). When you sit back and recall the funny things that come out of a child’s mouth, you can’t help but laugh. The innocence is priceless as you sit back and watch them try to figure out how to navigate the world. What I find even funnier is listening to them as they near adulthood – the conversations that take place as they, now, try to figure out how to navigate the world that they ‘think’ they’re ready for. Then, the conversations that take place as adults when they reflect about the past and share how they interpreted words, conversations and phrases that were spoken during their younger years – even they have to laugh at themselves. Of course, there’s the spoken and unspoken conversations that take place between adults that are side-cracking, funny!!! Not to mention funny situations that you’ve gotten yourself into. LOL... You CAN'T make this stuff UP!! https://www.am*zon.com/dp/B01LDGL1WA Book III Are Black Women ALWAYS so Angry...Truth Excuse or Something else (An inspirational and educational book of articles that speaks to how Black Women Love) The purpose of this book of narrative, non-fictional articles promise to bitch slap you into owning your truth, then apologizing, forgiving, and hugging it out. It will enlighten, educate, answer that burning question that keeps so many up at night (smirk), and will help you help me help others who need help understanding the Truth, Excuse and the Something else as to why ‘Black Women are NOT always so angry’. Hmmmm. Are Black Women ALWAYS so Angry...Truth, Excuse or Something Else the link: https://www.am*zon.com/dp/1520984774

Keeping guns out the hands of nuts should be a priority. My concern is that a bunch of nuts already have guns. There is no controlling them. Unless people who have heard and/or seen strange behavior report it. Snitching used to be a bad thing. But, if it's going to save lives, somebody better say something. Especially family member and friends and associates who know the nut(s).

@Chevdove, thanks for the excellent identification and background on the Pointer Sisters. The Pointer Sisters thrived in the 1970s which was a great time for Black music and arguably its best decade. There were so many groups, bands, artists and musicians. The downside to the 1970s music scene was alcohol and drug use was rampant. No surprise the sisters had their struggles. Amazing to live through and talk about it. Here is my favorite Pointer Sisters song. It was written and produced by the late great, legendary Allen Toussaint from New Orleans. I'm grateful the best of Black music has been recorded. Even when the artists are no longer relevant musically and/or with us on this side of glory, we still have their music.

"Insanely Jealous" I'm not sure which Black men said what to prompt this conclusion. When people point out that Obama, who has a white mother, is not a descendant of enslaved Africans, was raised quite differently than most Black people and simply is very different than most Black Americans. Acknowledging that difference is not jealousy. Similarly, when people point out that Obama bailed out the crooks in the banking industry, his financial backers, while millions lost homes without getting any relief; that is not jealousy it is calling out inequity that has contributed to accelerating the wealth gap in the country. @frankster The New York Times has a paywall so I read this article regarding the achievement gap Obama closed after his inauguration. To me to give Obama that much credit seems extreme. The study admittedly used a small sample set and has not been peer-reviewed. What are the long-term effects since the study was conducted? Presumably, Black people do not get immediately smarter after Obama was sworn into office. Are we to believe that Obama's election had the immediate effect of reducing test-taking anxiety because of Black people's increased sense of competence among African-Americans after Obama was sworn in -- immediately and completely eliminated differences in test scores? As far as Obama's impact on reducing violence in the Black community, to attribute any declines to one man, even President Obama, is a stretch -- on it's face. Violent crime was on a decline nationwide before Obama was elected. It is like Giuliani taking credit for a decline in crime in NYC because of his "broken windows" policy. Changes in crime are complex and usually not attributable solely to one person. That is like blaming the increase in violent crime, in Chicago, on Lightfoot. Obama is clearly a person who can "think rationally," is great "at public speaking" and, can galvanize "others to be inspired by him." These are fine qualities but there are many Black people with these characteristics, Obama will always be great as he was the first Black president. Now some might be a little jealous of the privilege, riches, and other benefits that come from this In fact that is probably normal... But "Insane" jealousy against Obama, as demonstrated by what anyone has written here, is hyperbolic.

“A complete nincompoop, racist…” or “America’s only hope?” Well which one is it? These views are on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. I don’t think either is true. Starting the debate from these positions is bound to be unproductive. @Stefan the man was the governor of a state and he was a heart beat away from leading the entire country — by definition he is a leader. He is clearly intelligent on some level given his resume. We may disagree with him politically, morally even, but questioning his basic intelligence is extreme and bound to lead to to false conclusions about the man.

@Mel HopkinsWhat I was most recently trying to do is to project my dreams into the future where the PowerBall drawing had already been held and the winning numbers drawn. I had a pad and pencil at my bedside so when I woke up after such a dream, I could write the numbers down. Of course, none of this makes any sense to anybody who isn't crazy like me and - I just engage in all of this nonsense to indulge my fascination with quantum leaps. @Delano I think I am more interested in the answer to whether or not time is on my side. And you are right. I do feel as though I'm no longer of this world, and @ProfD I will be drifting in and out of the cave of my mental hibernation to check on my earthly realm while awaiting for my time to run out. I feel very strongly that we are witnessing the beginning of the end of America's failed 200+ years experiment with democracy, and that the fall of the American Empire as we know it is imminent. The Republicans are going to prevail and turn this country into a fascistic hypocritical evangelical theocracy. Elections will become mere formalities and it will all be "their way or the highway". @Troyimo, the Democrats will have mostly themselves to blame for this. They've overestimated not only the intelligence of the American people, but their integrity. Average voters are not really interested in the welfare of their fellow man. They want to be able to discriminate against other races, reject immigrants, make fun of, and sexually harass each other while leading the best life that materialism has to offer. You know; the American dream. Preaching political correctness, imposing the cancel culture and forcing the lbgt and BLM agendas down peoples' throats will be what contributes to the defeat of the naive idealistic Democrats. RIP I think black survival under a Conservative Right regime may have a lot to do with just staying in one's lane. I don't anticipate being around to endure what eventually lies ahead, however. After 90, all bets are off. Of course, i would have nooo problem with being wrong about these predictions!

Congratulations!!! @Troy She is beautiful!

Gotcha. As Black men, we definitely have to keep our heads on a swivel and stay informed because the hits are coming from several fronts. Looks like Ye back on his BS again. This dude and Candace Owens definitely need to spend some time with the drop squad.

Same here. I've been told the movie would make for a good date night idea. So, I'll round up and sponsor a woman who's willing to watch it with me.

Until ultimately it will end. Oppression by one group of another always ends... it is really just a matter of how much damage is done first. @Michel Montvert thanks for sharing those stories. The cure for cancer may have died in some ghetto -- you can pick the country. @Cynique Simone is the GOAT. Anyone obliquely familiar with the sport knows this. I can't speak for the others, but I know inspiration comes from many sources not just the GOAT. This piqued my interest because I was involved in the sport, one in which there are not many Black participants, for all the reasons mentioned.

@Del @Troy@ProfD Thanks, guys!! Nice to be remembered by my online buddies! What would I do if I didn't have you to keep me on my toes? For now, I'm enjoying my day. Hope we can do this again next year.

Thank you, Troy. OMG this forum is intelligent! Nearly all of the ones I find are just flame-war battlegrounds. I think it has always been true in the USA that African-Americans are in the forefront of the fight for justice which benefits all of us (I'm an Appalachian white). That was certainly true in the 60s (which I'm old enough to remember) and it's still true. So I'm happy to march with you, or engage in whatever form the struggle takes that I can manage at my age. We have a big battle impending, the possibility of that Orange Megalomaniac returning to power which in my opinion pushes us into full fascism. They'll be coming after black people, gays, progressives, immigrants, Muslims... oh hell and even women! This forum provides a very positive contribution to the struggle against that! Thanks!

Two important figures in black American history. Bill Russell was a pioneer in American professional sports and Nichelle Nichols was a trail blazer for blacks in television. Both faced blatant racism and hostility for their chosen paths. Much respect for both stalwart individuals. RIP...

Well when people stop reacting to Greg's nonsense, he will stop serving his purpose and I will have to ban him. I can't have the forum dominated, unchecked, by the white racist rhetoric.

Disagree. It would be asinine to re-elect a narcissistic clown who instigated a whole riot. Personally, I have no desire to live in an autocracy or worse being run by a bat sh8t crazy old man. Economically, the ship that is America can get back on track if/when it stops catering to special interests which only enriches a handful of people.

From youtube: Iddris Sandu discusses his journey from a young aspiring engineer to a technologist, as well as the role of technology as an agent for sustainable change in the Black Lives Matter movement (in the US, the diaspora, and across the continent of Africa). Paving the way for those who might one day be deemed an "Architectural Technologist", Iddris Sandu is a pioneering young technologist seeking to level the playing field for fellow African youth & other marginalized groups. Having worked with the likes of creatives such as Nipsey Hussle and Louis Vuitton & Off-White's Virgil Abloh, Iddris has been making waves since before he turned 18. Not only is Iddris breaking ground in the use of emerging technology in creative spaces, but also in creating unique and sustainable designs to impact some of the most vulnerable populations in society. I follow this trend but since "clayton bigsby" pop up in the forum time to time, I think I'll maintain this thread when I discover new information about technologists from the African Diaspora... Meet Alan Emtage, the Black Technologist Who Invented ARCHIE, the First Internet Search Engine Internet search has had a profound impact on our own internal makeup—on how we learn, and how we think. https://daily.jstor.org/alan-emtage-first-internet-search-engine/#:~:text=But it's worth revisiting that,FTP servers%3A “ARCHIE.” "At a time when “googling” has become the generic term for conducting an internet search, it can be hard to remember that search had a long history before Google came along. But it’s worth revisiting that past during Black History Month, because the pre-Google era saw one of the most momentous black contributions to the development of the internet: the invention of internet search itself, by Alan Emtage."

which is so often confused. say you have a position on a subject, learn more and change your position as a result. That is disparage today as, “flip-flopping.”

@Pioneer1 Yes, the black populace in the usa has an element of blame, 100% correct. But the problem is, the kind of collective action you are referring to is not in the black populace of the usa. Look at this website. Most black people in the usa online are not members of a black owned website. Said people can't even organize together online, with no threat or harm whatsoever, so... offline. I do comprehend your point. but I think it leads to a larger problem. The black populace in the usa is a collection of individuals for the most part in 2022.