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Why should I clarify if you disagree? It is inside job to reconcile any opposing views one may hold. I find when I do; I’m able to see what was hidden in plain sight when I release judgment. For more on the connection between business and artistry, however, check out Adrian Slywotzky, he is the leader in profitability and growth. Slywotzky makes it clear how those who reach the level of artistry are consistently leaders in their field. Even though he's not an African-American writer, I still say he is a must-read for anyone in business. When you mentioned Artistry, I was quickly reminded that it’s a requirement when one is planning profits for a business. As for Beyoncé, in my opinion, one song doesn't make an empire. It is the totality of her work, her decision-making, her song selections, etc., that have created social mini-movements which have made her (literally and figuratively) a leader in her field. Artistry. As for the creation of poem not being a "business" the only thing I have to look up is the definition of "business". When I go Merriam Webster again, #5 indicates a business is a creation/concoction. So unless that poem is committed to the writer's memory -and remains there, at some point there will be a transaction - maybe not a monetary transaction but as soon as it's published it will be disseminated. That is when that little poem rises to the #1 definition Once it does, unless the poet understands her work and her audience, although she may be learned poet she will have a way to go to achieve artistry. So I can see from your perspective too - without Artistry you can have a business; but with Artistry you can be a Business leader.

Lets keep it going then...by all means, don't stop on my account, literally. I enjoy the dialect that goes on here as well; I just don't think that everything should be so negative...then again, perhaps it isn't. Carry on. Love to you all.

Sara if it wasn't a question then it has to be an underhanded way of saying I was lying since you can't believe that I wasn't around men early in life, but everyone is starting to realize that's just how you get down. I've known that since our last hurrah, but thought I'd give you a response since you snuck it in as a way to say you didn't believe me and that you don't respect Troy. I guess I'm reading between the lines.

THIS is ridiculous. This post was supposed to b about a book that celebrated a milestone in American culture, one that supported diversity and children...the post became a critique...and when I remarked on the heavy handed criticism of Black folks w a reference to Beyoncé, then that remark was upheld w meaningless debate about Beyoncé. This proves my point. She has donated money and stood up on a way she saw fit...that's it. She is a phenomenon. She didn't tear apart Rihanna, who also stood up for her culture by singing in her home dialect, Rihanna too is a phenomenon. Let's build up things instead of critique the life out of them...especially when it's unnecessary. THIS is not useful and further undermines our usefulness and validity as so called educated people. Yes, I am a fan of Beyoncé, a big one, and Rihanna, and Kendrick, and Nina, and Malcolm and Martin, and Dubois and Washington. If they are adding positively to a cause that effects us, then cool. Tearing them down is not and should not be our job. Everyone else is already doing a fantastic job of that. Even still, you see in protests where no one shows up and " work" being the number one song in America, that ain't nobody studying them either.

I have never been one to knock the idea that being efficient at business is art, but this is not what I'm talking about. I'm saying her music lacks in creativity and substance. There really isn't any originality. I'm not willing to shift the discussion of her artistry in music, to her overall ability to earn money with her skill. The original point and discussion is in regard to how many people see Formation as "game/life" changing. It simply isn't and when you look at these lyrics When he fuck me good I take his ass to Red Lobster, cause I slay When he fuck me good I take his ass to Red Lobster, cause I slayIf he hit it right, I might take him on a flight on my chopper, cause I slay Drop him off at the mall, let him buy some J's, let him shop up, cause I slayI might get your song played on the radio station, cause I slay I might get your song played on the radio station, cause I slayYou just might be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making I mean I could take any section of this song and when I post it, it becomes clear that this is not this: I got a middle finger for mass media mute the news'Cause when the gun draws received a million viewsWhich gives me the right to break the rulesSay fuck the radio if the people can't pick and chooseWhile BET gets screwed by ViacomThe new revolutionary is shyamanIt's not brush fire rap, it's five alarmMotivational music after I am goneMy inner visions, mysticism call me Mr. WisdomThey wanna turn the globe into a prisonAnd being sick is better than being dead'Cause when you sick and in bed, you're indebted to medsCloned chickens walking around without headsThe food is contaminated, the water got lead in itPopulation control, make the babies sickAll these 5G chips, are you for 86?This is a war against consciousnessControlling your soul, sort of a psychological dictatorshipAnd we are on the front linesGuilty as charged if intellect is a crime So attempting to justify what Beyonce does as art, with support is cool. If it was a paper in college I would give you an A, since you have created an idea/thesis and supported it, but I would not agree with it because it has an element of a red herring that takes the discussion away from how "Formation" is now a rallying cry and a symbol of the "best Black History Month" ever. It simply isn't. Beyonce is married to a very wealthy man who got there because he was a drug dealer. Too often we fail to look at just where Jay started and only look at where he is. I've had multiple opportunities to do things the illegal way. Jay Z does not impress me. If you remove the drug money from Rocafella music there isn't any money to create and promote. Would he have been Jay-Z without that? Who knows, but it shouldn't be celebrated. When you two state that she benefits from his business acumen, that doesn't say a lot to me either because, once again dude killed his own people to get where he is. I commend her business savvy. She is definitely a role model. She is a dope performer, but the notion that Formation is "groundbreaking" really is a sad testament to how little it takes to impress us as a people when there are so many more empowering things that could be presented as evidence of our power and greatness. Oh and I definitely disagree with your statement that there is no separation between business and artistry. You need to clarify that. I've I ask you to "scan a line of poetry giving me the breakdown of the poem and whether it is using trochee or dactyls and why the poet chose to use a substitute foot," more than likely you will have no damn idea of what I just said without researching or looking up what I'm asking. The creation of a poem using poetic meter has absolutely nothing to do with business. Can it generate business? Yes, but creation is not a business thing and should not be so easily lumped in with it to prove a point.

I heard somewhere one in five people knows a celebrity before they hit it big. So today, while driving, I got to thinking about what would happen if I actually became a celebrity. My hands tingled and I filled with a curious kind of joy thinking about certain peoples reaction. Specifically, my old co-workers who in my humble opinion, were already haters, and my former bitch-ass boss. My grin was a mile wide as I imagined myself on the previews of primetime television walking out to the talk shows that would be airing later in the week and even better, them in the theater gathering their belongings when my name rolls up in the credits for having written a movie. #Bowdownbitches But, I was enjoying this fantasy alone. As Erykah Badu says, “the studio audience in my head" was not with me on this one. It was just me, in my car gawking stupidly at a stupid self-made fantasy. You see, the little voice in my head said, when someone does something to you, as foul as it may be, they do it and MOVE ON. You, the proposed victim are in fact elevating them to celebrity status when you constantly feed them with your energy. AIN’T NOBODY WORRIED BOUT YOU!!! Wasn’t that made clear by their actions? Damn it self! Sigh. I get it. Write that movie, that play, that book, that blog, because that’s what you want to do, not for the reaction! Do what you want because you want to, not because of what you think people will do in response. You were moved so that you could realize your star power, your magic, harness it, perfect it, grow in it, for you. It takes elbow grease to get something to shine, stop looking to see your reflection in other peoples tables and put that elbow grease to you own. #AINTNOBODYTHANKINBOUTYOU!

Originally posted my comment on @Chasitie 's Blog post "Home" Creed's Director Ryan Coogler is hosting an All-Star Benefit #JusticeForFlint at Whiting Auditorium on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. ET. - Coogler says the benefit is aimed at "gifting Flint victims with "a night of entertainment, unity, and emotional healing." The #JusticeForFlint Benefit is organized by Coogler's Blackout for Human Rights activism group http://www.blackoutforhumanrights.com/ Streaming LIVE on February 28, 2016 at 5 PM EST on REVOLT TV https://revolt.tv/

Sara You see Troy as ultra-effeminate because he was raised in a non-competitive household. I was responding to Pioneer's "observations" which implied your personal anecdote denoted you as ultra-feminine. *WARNING* STOP trying to whip up anger and animosity between Black men by accusing me of calling men I barely know and haven't even met in person "feminine" ! You really don't want to put yourself in the role of the proverbial "agent provocateur" who spreads lies among people to brew enmity between them.

l love this defense for so many reasons! Carry on!

Why are we debating about whether or not Sandra Bland was murdered by "cops"? She is gone, how can those circumstances not happen again? I did not know that about the origin of the word "cop" Thank you @Pioneer1 ! Consider this, Many African Americans are deeply spiritual thus, giving them an understanding of spirit, and assistance coming from a metaphysical realm. This can often allow African Americans to weigh the concept of death, and the afterlife in a different respect than some cultures. Eventually hardships, even the hardest ones, give way to rainbows....thats just in the spiritual balance of things. Maybe thats why the suicide rate is lower.

Troy/CD I saw a similar situation of fatherlessness growing up in Detroit, but we were blessed to have both our mother AND father together in our household growing up. This was the late 70s to the early 90s, and at that time in the part of Detroit I grew up in about half of the kids had fathers still at home. Many were latch-key kids where BOTH parents had to work, but a good half still had both parents. Detroit, like Chicago, New York, and Atlanta had a lot of BLACK upper middleclass and working class neighborhoods where Black people did well and many were quite professional. Which is why the Cosby Show didn't seem "odd" to me, I didn't understand what the controversy was about until I LEFT Detroit and started traveling to other cities and saw how dismal so many Black people lived. But most of our cousins grew up in the ghetto with NO father. And so when they came to our home a lot of my cousins kind of looked at my father as a novelty and used him for advice and help. But I'm going to blame all of this on the fact that Black people in America have been either forced to or voluntarily decided to accept a system that CLEARLY wasn't designed by us or for us to base our male-female and familial relationships on...and the results of that decision have been devastating.

Hummm. I thought what Mel and Chris had to say added another dimension to the conversation that was rather stimulating. I wasn't aware that stimulation had to have a "cause or purpose"; I consider it a reaction.

Well, Chasitie /Mary Sunshine, you don't dictate the direction posts take on this site. The spontaneous input from others is what makes things stimulating here. If you don't want others to participate in your self-serving posts whose only function seems to be to solicit support for your project, then restrict your posts to your personal web site. This forum is all about exchanging ideas, and it helps to have a sense of humor.

@Cynique, Agreed! What Beyonce has done with her career can be duplicated in any field! She doesn't make her money off just her songs - Forbes breaks it down here perfectly... But it all starts with a platform to launch from.. Thank you for the kudos - Being a mom is my calling - I'm sad I'm an empty-nester but they are happy, kind and productive . So I can't ask for anything more ... Except.... I definitely tell them to study the business model that brings in several revenue streams. I've told them to package their talent and sell that, not their labor if they don't have too. Key insight there regarding what you mentioned about Jay Z , - that is another excellent business skill- selecting strategic partners. Mellody Hobson mentioned the same thing in her Vanity Fair article. You can only get but so far without good partners. It is true she may have only gotten so far with her brand of bubblegum r&b so next step would naturally be to obtain "street cred"... through an established player. These are some of the lessons I missed early on. So I had to step back and really study the women who are where I desire to be. I may not achieve it but I use a lot of what I've gleaned from their business moves to mentor my daughters . I can go on but I already hijacked this thread enough.

Mel, I'm talking about musically and if you go back to the beginning of this I already established all that you wrote with the statement that as a business person she should be respected. I'm talking artistry, let's not confuse what I'm talking about here.

LOL. I am more impressed with you, Mel, than I am with Beyonce, because I'm using a different criteria. Success isn't always about making millions of dollars; your daughters are the stars in your crown. Also, I tend to believe that astute business man Jay-Z can take a lot of credit for the career moves that have netted Beyonce such big bucks, since most of the ones that had an impact occurred during their marriage, and I'm sure her parents filled this role before him Or can I get enthusiastic over her winning a Grammy for writing the repetitive lyrics to a droning little pop ditty. Obviously the generation gap is at work here. I do give Beyonce credit for being good at what she does; she's a great dancer and can carry a tune and she has benefited from the mistakes of others. But when it comes to being a role model, I'd put her in the same category as an NBA star, All young hoopsters want to be like Mike, but very few will make the cut. These superstars are the stuff of dreams and I'd just advise those young girls who want to follow in their idol's footsteps to have a Plan B in case they aren't lucky enough to duplicate the success of Queen "B".

I'm cool with artists being artists... BUT I do want my artists to be like Nina Simone. I want my artists to be acutely aware of their environment and what is happening. I can't expect Beyonce to really create anything that is too challenging. She never has, so if the extent of her ability to show "awareness" is "Independent" and "Formation", it's what I expect. I am just dumbfounded that people found that empowering. The lyrics alone make it one of the oddest juxtapositions of imagery and lyrical content in music. I guess my point was that we have a very low bar, in my opinion, when Formation is something to be celebrated. Like Sara, I am not her core audience.