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Kudos to you, Troy, for your dedication and perserverence in maintaining this site in the face of all odds, giving full sway to quality as opposed to quantity. We need more people like you! Carry on. And being one of those people who thinks that blacks are not monolithic, I'm surprised that you as a person who insists that we are not a "race" would have a problem with my claim. LOL

Chris, expressing a fact or an idea that has negative implications does not make you negative. If that fact or idea is expressed to people who are unaware it, that actually makes you a positive. Yeah I guess the "crabs in the barrel" had to come from somewhere ans wasin't just pulled out of thin air. I just did not really see it in action myself until I started my business. Fortunatey there are enough people like you to allow AALBC.com survive. Like you, I try to help people and related business understand that by helping each other we help ourselves. I'm running another social media experient. I'm going to post photos of the top 100 bestselling authors on the site on social media This should be a point of pride for all of these authors, and should be a great selling point for their books for what are obvious reasons. I'm going to tag their photos on Facebook so that they will see the image. I will observe how many of the authors; Acknowledge the photo through a like or comment, Share the photo, and Use the accomplishment as a credential. For example by saying, "I'm a top 100 AALBC.com Bestselling Author." I know, from experience, the majority of authors will not take the first step, and virtually no one will take step number #3. #3 is actually the most important step, not just for AALBC.com but for everyone in the Black Book Ecosystem, because it acknowledges that we value and take pride our own institutions. This has been the Black book world's greatest failing. You see if the authors themselves say, "Hey I'm a top selling author on AALBC.com," this signals to the readers that they view it as an important accomplishment. If enough authors took this simple, and logical, step publishers, readers, and the media will take notice too. As Black owned institution are uplifted in the minds of the authors themselves the importance and our dependency upon european institutions for validation and acceptance becomes irrelevant.

The more I move around the site and learn all it has to offer the more I want to petition the Library of Congress to back it up on their servers. I got one of my associates in the LOC - maybe I can try for two! (smile). Congratulations Troy! I'm so honored to be have you in my network. Speaking of Library of Congress, did you know the Librarian of Congress is a black woman, right? Carla Hayden is the 14th librarian and the first woman ever to hold the position in 214 years. Hayden is also the first person of African-American descent to hold the post. I thought of her when I read this entry because both of you are watching over our history. Thank you for all you do!

Thanks fellas! I finished migrating all of the old book reviews, over 800 of 'em on Monday. It was pure drudgery , but I did get a chance to eliminate all the broken links to and improve the presentation of the book review and integrate them better with the rest of the websites content. Today I started migrating old author profiles to the new format. It is hard to estimate how long it will take but if I can get it done before thanksgiving I'll be happy. I started the current website upgrade almost exactly a year ago. Initially thought it would have about 6 months, it will take at least 18.

You 2 have done an excellent job of analyzing and defining the subject under discussion but the more you conclude the more you reveal the complexity of the situation. Present company excluded, It would seem to me that unless someone is a best selling author or successful entrepreneur they don't have the luxury of plugging and supporting those they are in competition with. Their primary goal is to sell and promote their own product. Of course every one is eager to give free advice, and it's easy to be magnanimous when you are well off because being so is, in itself, a form of self-gratification. But when you are struggling to achieve, you tend to be self-absorbed. Expecting an individual to believe he/she will profit by merging with the group to achieve the common goal of success, is problematic. A peer group can be made up of one's rivals and the ever present ego drives the individual to best the competition. It is not everyone's nature to be a crusader, and creative people and divas want to do things their way as opposed to becoming a spoke in the wheel. On the way up, ambitious people do benefit from those who have helped them, but this help usually comes from those who have nothing to lose by offering assistance. An old African proverb says that "one who travels alone goes faster, but those who travel together go further" is wisdom lost on black folks tryin' to be a hot solo act. I agree that people are intellectually lazy - because ignorance is bliss. If something is too much trouble then they sidestep it, wallowing in their comfort zone, something I can relate to because I have long ago given up on trying to cure the ills of society by intellectualizing them. Those who seek challenges are a special breed and, for people of color, they can be the hope of the future. Just some rambling thoughts... As for my presence on this board, it is what I refer to as "my other life"; a place where I can come and rise above the role of Mommy, Nana, and friend to the religious and boring. So I am guilty of not being accompanied by an entourage to make up an audience of lurkers or contributors to AALBC's forums. "Cynique" is a name nobody is really familiar with in my personal sphere. Sorry, Troy, for not holding up my end.

Hi thanks again for the support. Sure I'm aware of Carl and actually shot video of her a few years ago:

I join Christopher in congratulating you for your devotion and dedication to AALBC. Indeed, it is appreciated!