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Ta-Nehisi Coates, who moved his family to Paris, says it's not much different than living in America meaning there are the same challenges w/ racism but not worse. After visiting more than 20 countries over the last 8 years - America is NOT the best place for black people; it's just familiar. I lived in Germany growing up went to school there and remember having a good life. I like Italy but not every black woman has the same experience I've had there. Canada, Peru and Argentina felt welcoming to me, especially Miraflores, Lima Peru and I spent a lot of time there. People seem better educated in Canada but their News Media doesn't dumb down reports either. Argentina was just sexy but the political landscape is a bit in shambles - so its most likely inhospitable to foreigners now. Anyway, Coates speaks early in the video about his experience. Overall it's a good interview. As I mentioned in the other thread, feminism is needed because of gender oppression exist and it has to be eradicated while simultaneously squashing other forms of oppression Coates masterfully articulates the need for support wherever oppression rears its head. Intro 12:05 - Outro: 12:45 "Racism is not the sole power vector at work in the United States of America. Just like I was going to make a case with Senator Sanders, Class is not the sole power vector in the United States of America. ...It takes some sort of particular mindset to say.. all of them are lying. All of them are in conspiracy. That is related directly to that other power vector of Sexism, that you know has been historically very very strong. So I think that can't be ignored and the fact that somebody has a boot on your neck - the fact that you too are member of an oppressed class does not mean that you too can't in some way corroborate with the oppression of other people." "

I find it fascinating puzzling and disturbing that oppressed people oppress other people.

America certainly isn't lacking in victims to oppress. There's a whole laundry list of them. And, yes, their oppressors all fit the same description. But there are variations on how stifling the discrimination is. The black community is very possessive of its racist victimhood because it is all-encompassing and something they can't get around That's why they don't want to be allied with other groups who they feel, rightly or wrongly, don't have it as bad as they do. White women in particular do not inspire black empathy and that's who blacks tend to think of when it comes to feminism. Also the black community is notoriously homophobic and its populace doesn't ally themselves with gays. So its possible that a person who is the victim of racism will himself oppress homosexuals or women. The victims each have their own axes to grind, and this dissipates their power. The idea of freedom and justice for all is a lie perpetrated by a Capitalistic Republic masquerading as a Democracy and, aided and abetted by human nature, bias and prejudice will continue to prevail. Alas, Utopia remains as mythical as Atlantis.

You guys act like having their picture appear on a Time Magazine cover is the ultimate goal of these women and that the thought of not appearing on it again later will devastate them. TIME magazine is actually a dinosaur in the magazine business and is not that relevant any more. It is now a skimpy little publication and its news coverage is more digest than in-depth . I'm sure its circulation numbers are down. As has been noted, who it has on its covers helps to increase sales so TIME is more dependent on celebrities then celebrities are on it. Make no mistake about it, Beyonce and Viola are in control when it comes to their careers.

@Pioneer1 OMG - I'm not getting through to you! My question has not changed from the initial asking. Show your work... Show me how these two men help lift black women (not a few - the collective) up and out of the current socioeconomic position... Even in your own citation it indicates many of the women were already working as teachers, Booker T - just put them to work so they could go out to the farms and teach under his banner. How charitable of him. lol As Cynique mentioned, I'm not talking about one or two women, and definitely not the man's followers - I'm talking about Black women here in America! And you know what I'm referring to because you asked me a question about it. [see below] President Obama didn't need to know me to help people who looked like me. I didn't even have to vote of him. What he did by way of his policies meant every black women who desired to partake in the benefits could. Now if you can share an example of a black man who did this for black women, collectively, that would answer my question. Aside: That's not how the entertainment or specifically the music industry works. Both these women are independent contractors and/or corporations. Beyonce, Inc. is a corporation and Beyonce also owns her label, Parkwood Entertainment that is contracted with and distributed by Sony. This means Beyonce is the co-executive producer on on some if not all of her music with Sony. As an executive producer, this means she pays her musicians, songwriters band, et al. It is reported that she owns her master recordings for some if not all of her music. Side: Note: Rihanna, reportedly purchased her music recording masters as well. Owning your music recording masters mean anyone who wants to use your music has to license it through you, the owner.... If someone uses Lemonade (the album) without a license they will be cutting a check to Beyonce, for what ever amount she wants. Anyone uses her songs commercially such as when 50 Shades of Gray Film used "Dangerously in Love" they paid Beyonce not Sony because it is reportedBeyonce owns that master recording. As for their Managers/Agents, managers and agents get a percentage of the deals they make... Artist pay their managers - it's not the other way around. And magazines pay photographers for their work... but photographers are dependent on magazine distributions. I haven't followed Viola Davis' business dealings that closely - but it's true reported she has net worth of $12 million and if Forbes is correct, Beyoncé's wealth is put at $350 million as Forbes' "America's Richest Self-Made women" then these women aren't dependent on no one or no thing. In America that's the economic goal - to own yourself. These two own themselves. I've worked to eradicate oppression especially against black women since the age of consent - and before that I was learning about subjugation and oppression and how if effects mental development and achievement. Therefore, we have to fight oppression on all fronts simultaneously or you'll have groups of people who simply can no longer fight and lose the will to live. As for the Republican Party - they were not always overrun with the right wing nut-jobs that have taken over the party ...These stupid bedroom issues and radicalized christianity issues started creeping up in the last decade. As I mentioned before, I vote issues - and the platform of 41 (not so much 43) was admirable...When I was tapped to work with the Republicans around 2004, and appointed to office, the goal of our county republicans were to keep a balanced party and keep out the crazy racists. I saw where I could make a difference. Unfortunately, during Obama's administration the crazy wingnut racists got in -one is Governor and now Illinois has a credit rating of near junk because he is willing to bankrupt the state.

Hi there. As for me, my only reasons for not joining in on this site is that I forget. Yes, I do log into Facebook but usually to see family stuff, and I have only recently begun to "tweet". I am in the process of learning how to market my first book so I am also concentrating on getting speaking engagements and writing new articles and I blog. Yes, my publisher set me up on Amazon which I have no problem with. My book writing project was originally about inspiration, and I happen to be a Black person writing about a Black man. But I did not initially set out to specifically reach Black people. So I have become a part of the White mainstream social marketing media. And once I started trying to connect with Black book stores and what not, I became disappointed. Once I found AALBC I was delighted. But I have found that I have to remind myself that I need to engage with others on this site the same way that I do on my Blog, and on twitter. I want to have a site on AALBC separate from my blog and I intend to work at gaining a presence on AALBC by commenting on more discussions. Thanks for AALBC Troy.

@Troy , There's no echo chamber here... We are eclectic personalities bringing our homemade dishes to the party. I can stay away, and when I return there's a whole host of different topics... But one the best things about posting here is even though we all have our own things going on, I feel if I post something everyone would "get it." I don't have to struggle to be understood.

Beatty went on to win the Man Booker Prize! He is the first American to win this award.