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Black women have always been creative when it came to their hair and many, as Mel has noted, parlayed this creativity into profitably businesses dating way back. I'm not sure whether a black woman invented the all-but-obsolete curling iron that being adept at manipulating required a trained skill which produced the perfect results, an artistry more to be admired than condemned. I truly believe that what black women traditionally did to their hair was always about making it manageable and easier to style in different ways. Women that they were, they liked glamour which is why they would also paint their nails and wear lipstick and rouge. I'm not here to defend weaves because they are an extreme. But from what i gather, extensions are slightly different from weaves, and are easily added and removed and, of course, perms are a process not an add-on. Braids involve synthetic extensions that take hours to plait and are not so easily taken out. So they're kind of a faux display of black pride. For years, i tinted my mousy brown hair with with a Miss Clairol selection labeled "golden brown". So shoot me. But i loved how this color complemented my skin tone. All during the 1970s, like everyone else, i wore my hair in a big (golden brown) natural. I didn't sweat whether or not this sent a mixed message, because i used words to make a statement about racial discrimination, and i wrote about this injustice in the print media on a regular basis. To me, the press was mightier than the tress.

Start where you are. You can have degree a skill or can hustle. You can play ib the game or make your own. Shore up your weaknesses or play to your strength. Or you can complain about the game and blame (fill in the blank) for failure. Black America has GDP that rivals many nations. But we own little because we are culture whores. Who sell our own inheritance for a bowl of stew. I have been lucky to attend good schools. And was fortunate to do jobs that allowed me to travel and have a 300 book library. Instead of watching TV i read widely. Words are warming but what's you're plan or where will you be in five to ten years. You have success stories here. Two entrepreneurs and two writers.

@NubianFellow A tinge? My post is dripping in it!

Rise up, black women of America! You have your work cut out for you. Let your hair bloom in its natural state and await a miracle. You might also want to stop shaving your pubic and under arm hair. "Get out that funk!" BTW, Madam C. J. Walker was the richest black woman in America, amassing a fortune which in today's economy would be equivalent to a million dollars.

Pioneer, come on Brother, how many Black women do you see dyeing their hair blonde and bleaching the skin so that they can look like a phenotypical white woman (other than Michael Jackson ). Women of all so called races change their hair from it's natural state for a myriad of reasons. I think you may be overstating the self-hate cause particularly in the case of Black women. When I was in Kenya I visited a Maasai community the women shaved their heads and the male warriors did all kinds of ornate things to their hair. I think those people loved themselves and their culture despite changing their hair from it's natural state. Rachel Dozal is a completely different matter, but you know you would have accepted as a Black Light skinned Black woman (of the high yella, red-bone variety) just like everyone else. Some Black women have naturally straight hair (you know that "good hair"). I bet you'd assume they are trying to be a reverse Rachel Dozal huh? It is interesting to ponder if Colin K came from a poor, background and was darked skinned would the reaction to that Brother have been the same? We can't know, but it is interesting to ponder. Somehow I think that brother's shenanigans would have been nipped in the bud.

The NY Times reported today in reaction to the above statement, "Google Critic [quoted above] Ousted From Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant" @Mel Hopkins, I tough you might appreciate this article because it addresses my concern about America's ability to reign in these emerging monopolies. As discussed in your post about the EU's fining of Google. Meanwhile Google's dominance continues to grow. This affects ALL Black owned businesses doing anything online. These monopolies cripple existing companies, large and small, and prevent new business from starting. This is effecting more Black jobs than I can even quantify. But we are willing to invest all our time and energy into trying to get one wealth ex-football player a job, while countless jobs are being lost or failing to be created in the internet economy. While I, as a bookseller, can see this and have been railing about it for years, we really need Black media to pick up the ball and help people understand why this stuff 'matter to them... oh I forgot monopolies have all but obliterated Black media, and replaced it with social media driven news about one man who can get hired by the NFL. Even if we "win" that battle for Colin's job we lose the freaking war, a war we don't even know that has been waged against us...

I am working with a palmist and we are creating a divination/actualisation system. That uses Palmistry Astrology Numerology and Tarot. To divine the future. We will be using Mudras (hand positions) Chants Visualisations and Crystals. To help the querent create that future. The hand shows abilities and challenges. The technique will create change in the querent and will rewrite the lines of the hand. We are going to write a book on and in the process. It's a three to six month project. Will post the results.

Every now and then you find a hidden gem. A piece of history you had no idea existed or even thought to think it would. A Black man becoming a millionaire in Russia? During Jim Crow? When the south became too much to bear, Frederick Bruce Thomas migrated to the Midwest in search of escape and a better life. Settling in Chicago and Brooklyn, he worked as a waiter and sometimes cook before heading to London seeking more freedom. And as fate would have it, he ventured to Russia and while many of his fellow dark-skinned Americans were being lynched and terrorized, he was able to amass a fortune and lifestyle no one could have imagined. Once settled in Russia, away from the racism of America, he renamed himself Fyodor Fyodorovich Tomas, became a Russian citizen and utilizing his penchant for hard work and talents he learned waiting in restaurants, became one of the nation’s richest and most famous owners of theaters and restaurants. Like many other citizens, The Bolshevik Revolution ruined his businesses and barely escaping with his life and a few dollars in his pockets, he escaped to nearby Turkey where he again re-utilizing his skills and had a second run at success in Constantinople becoming ‘the sultan of jazz,’ introducing this new musical art-form to the nation. But American racism and xenophobia crept in and unfortunately he was unable to escape these unfortunate times being embraced throughout the world. A remarkable hidden story of rags to riches to ruin that has escaped the mainstream but should definitely be told to display the ‘success against all odds’ especially during arguable the world’s most tumultuous timeline. More info: http://www.valexandrov.com/summary/ To purchase: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-black-russian-vladimir-alexandrov/1112319054?ean=9780802122292 My full review: http://www.mafoombay.com/the-black-russian-vladimir-alexandrov/ http://www.mafoombay.com Fascinating to say the least.

This was a fluff piece, to get my foot in the door. Later my submissions were much more militant, so much so that the newspaper was flooded with complaints from whites, something the op-ed editor loved, assuring me that they wanted to provoke reader response. I also got a lot of hate mail that scorched my ears...

PREACH!!!! This is so good @Cynique !!!! <3

What better segue is there to: New Hair-do is a “Natural” by Connie Bradley (circa the 70s)

Yeah all of the links to "the study" were broken. Whenever I see a article referenced in a blog, or a site like Essence I usually skip the article (they are usually very thin anyway) and I go straight to the study. I usually find people draw conclusions that were not stated in the study.

@Pioneer1 do you ever use a search engine before you come up with your "next step" ideas? It doesn't even have to be google... use Troy's Huriasearch I only use black hair care products made by black women. It's not even hard to find anymore. If you don't buy direct you can find them on the store shelves. One website list at least 55 black-owned hair and beauty product companies ..A lot of them are founded and run by black women. Anyway, don't just stop at Madam CJ walker there was also Sarah Spencer Washington and her Apex Systems https://www.sswmovie.com/

Yes , the funny thing is that two of my techniques have a link to Vedic Astrology and the I Ching.

Yeah its very exciting palmisty astrology numerology tarot and magic. The part i love is that the querent will feel the changes. And see them on their hand.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Derrick A. Young MahoganyBooks Office: 703-730-3873 Email: derrick@mahoganybooks.com Website: www.mahoganybooks.com MahoganyBooks partners with AfricanAncestry.com to host an Author Talk and Book Signing featuring Michael Twitty, author of The Cooking Gene, on September 19, 2017, at 7 PM. Woodbridge, VA, August 30, 2017 - MahoganyBooks, an online bookstore that specializes in books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora, is excited to partner with AfricanAncestry.com, the world leader in tracing maternal and paternal lineages of African descent, to bring MahoganyBooks presents an Author Talk & Book Signing with Michael Twitty to the Gateway Arts District in Mt. Rainier, MD. This book talk will feature author, independent scholar, culinary historian, and native Washingtonian, Michael Twitty, discussing his new book The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South. The event will be held at The Adinkra Cultural Arts Studio (ACAS) on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Twitty will read from his book, discuss the genealogy research conducted, answer audience questions, and autograph each book. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the program will begin at 7 pm. The Adinkra Cultural Arts Studio is located at 3804 34th Street Mt. Rainier, MD 20712 in the heart of the Gateway Arts District and provides classes, workshops, and events specific to the arts of the African Diaspora. Said Twitty, “I am excited about working with MahoganyBooks and AfricanAncestry.com for my next book signing and having the opportunity to share my experience and know-how in genealogy research. I’m passionate about helping people uncover their heritage. Ultimately, when people leave this event I want them to realize that food has made us a family and has given us a vehicle to tell profound truths about our journeys.” MahoganyBooks presents an Author Talk & Book Signing with Michael Twitty is a free event but seating is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis for general admission tickets. Premium ticket holders will have reserved seats in addition to a guaranteed autographed book. Tickets for admission can be accessed at bit.ly/koshersoul. About the book: In his book The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, Michael brings a fresh perspective to our most divisive cultural issue, race, in this illuminating memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry--both black and white--through food, from Africa to America and from slavery to freedom. As he takes us through his ancestral culinary history, Twitty suggests that healing may come from embracing the discomfort of the South's past. Along the way, he reveals a truth that is more than skin deep--the power of food to bring the kin of the enslaved and their former slaveholders to the table, where they can discover the real America together. “Drawing on a wealth of documentary digging, personal interviews, and plenty of time in the kitchen, Twitty ably joins past and present, puzzling out culinary mysteries along the way.” – Kirkus Reviews About MahoganyBooks: Founded in 2007 by husband and wife duo, Derrick and Ramunda Young, in response to their love for literature and their desire to see it empower others as it has empowered them. MahoganyBooks is the fastest growing online bookstore for people of the African Diaspora that has also developed a reputation for connecting readers to writers for exciting, engaging, and thought-provoking literary events with the likes of Misty Copeland, Rep. John Lewis, Walter Mosley, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and former Mayor Marion Barry among others. About African Ancestry: Founded in 2003, African Ancestry Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com) pioneered genetic ancestry tracing for Black people worldwide. Utilizing its proprietary database of African DNA lineages, the company most accurately assesses present-day countries and ethnic groups of origin for people of African descent. African Ancestry’s products include the MatriClan™ and PatriClan™ ancestry tests and customized memorabilia and informative resources. African Ancestry is African-American-owned and headquartered in Washington, DC. For inquiries, contact taylor@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com. ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jada F. Smith 832-656-2654 Sankofa Video & Books hosts author Ta-Nehisi Coates for the DC premiere of his book, We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy Monday, October 9, 2017 Washington, DC: Sankofa Video and Books, a beloved anchor institution in the Georgia Avenue corridor and educational resource in the Washington, DC area will host the DC Launch of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ third book, WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy, celebrating the highly anticipated and timely work of this talented son of the DMV. The D.C. book launch will be held at the historic Metropolitan AME Church on Monday, October 9, 2017 and will feature an intimate conversation with journalist Kojo Nnamdi and Ta-Nehisi Coates discussing WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy. Doors open at 6pm and the program will begin at 7pm. Metropolitan is located at 1518 M Street, NW. Kojo Nnamdi is currently host of The Kojo Nnamdi Show and The Politics Hour on WAMU. He hosted WHUT-TV's Evening Exchange program from 1985 to 2011. The Washington Post has described Nnamdi as, “Maybe the best interviewer in town.” Sankofa Video and Books was founded in 1997 by filmmakers Haile and Shirikiana Gerima, the producers of the internationally acclaimed film by the same name. For over two decades Sankofa has served as the premiere Black bookstore in the Nation’s Capital specializing in videos and books about people of African descent. The bookstore is an important meeting place, hosting author talks, film screenings, poetry readings, community discussions and more. Guests who have held readings and other events at Sankofa include Sonja Sanchez, Haki Madhubuti, Eloise Greenfield, Tananarive due, Sista Souljah, Solange Knowles and others. The store is also home to the largest collection of African-American children’s literature in the city. Of his decision to partner with Sankofa, Coates states: "I grew up surrounded by Black books, reared by a father who spent much of his adult life either running a bookstore or a publishing company. I was made, as a writer and as a human, by Black books. Those bookstores that specialize in this literature are sacred. It is, thus, wholly appropriate that I begin my tour with Sankofa." In his book WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy, Ta-Nehisi Coates examines the cause and effect between the unprecedented election of Barack Obama as the first Black president, to the vicious backlash that fueled the election of Donald Trump, who Coates calls America’s “first white president.” WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy builds on Ta-Nehisi’s previously published work, including “Fear of a Black President,” “The Case for Reparations,” “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration,” and The Beautiful Struggle, and showcases the same riveting storytelling and laser-sharp honesty that distinguished Coates’ best-seller, Between the World and Me. WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER contains eight essays which revisit each year of the Obama administration, tracking the impact of white supremacy on our community and the nation through the personal narrative of the national correspondent for The Atlantic and National Book Award-winning author. As Coates states, “The Confederacy is not dead, and African Americans are well aware that this history is still with us.” Ta-Nehisi Coates was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Cheryl Waters, an educator, and William Paul Coates, former Black Panther and founder of Black Classic Press, a publishing house that specializes in African-American titles. Ta-Nehisi Coates attended local schools in Baltimore, and Howard University. His first job in journalism was as a reporter for The Washington City Paper. Coates is currently a national correspondent for The Atlantic. His book, Between the World and Me, was awarded the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Coates is a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, and is currently writer of the Black Panther series for Marvel Comics. Sankofa Video, Books and Cafe was established as a place where thoughtful consideration of the past, present and future can take place via books, videos and programming that encourage reflection. Sankofa bookstore showcases classics in Diasporan history and culture, as well as recent releases like Coates’ new book. Co-founder Shirikiana Aina states that Coates’ book launch is a perfect fit with the organization’s mission, to foster an intellectual environment, to gather, read, contemplate, discuss, challenge and be challenged. She says, “The content of Ta-Neshisi’s new book provides us all an opportunity to digest important critical analysis and discuss next steps.” Ta-Nehisi will not sign books at the October 9, 2017 event. Copies of WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy can be acquired at the bookstore or online at sankofa.com. The D.C. book launch of WE WERE EIGHT YEARS IN POWER: An American Tragedy is a free event but seating is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis for general admission and premium ticket holders. VIP ticket purchasers will have reserved seats. Tickets for admission to the event and reserved seating can be accessed at: events.sankofa.com and https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sankofa-bookstore-presents-ta-nehisi-coates-washington-dc-book-launch-tickets-36785358999

@NubianFellow, funny you should mention a Black Search engine. I forgot to mention that I ran one for several years called Huria Search. I had to discontinue it for a lack of use. But I felt one was needed because there was quality content out there was just was not ranking high enough to be discovered in search. Actually Huria Search took advantage of a fee based service offered by Google, which allowed me to restrict search result to a curated list of a few hundred websites. If you run a Huria Search and run the same search on Google the results will be dramatically different and I'd argue better. The fee based service allowed me to strip out all advertising. I didn't even include my own site in the search results because i wanted others to use it and I did not want to risk it being considered a promotional tool for AALBC.com, my only goal was to uplift indie black websites. What is left of huria was moved from it's own domain to here: https://aalbc.com/huria/ I still use it periodically when I want to really see what my people are writing about a particular topic. I no longer use the fee based service, so ads are present now and I no longer curate the sites included in the search results. And the stupid Essence article speaks for itself. Besides the abstract of the actual study did not suggest that the study concluded that "Black people who are nixed look better" that is something Essence made up to attract visitors. @Pioneer1, sure people should hire qualified employees. But we could stand from a little bit nepotism our selves. White folks do it. I've seen it all my life. Look at 45.

　 Nubian 　 You nailed it brother and that makes a lot of sense to me. Our people are too indoctrinated and because I don't know everyone's religious beliefs, I will stay away from religion for now. But I agree, under this current system of white supremacy, we are being slowly destroyed - which in a way, is worst than being destroyed quickly where we could at least realize what's happening and fight back. You also make an impressive observation about the iq of a majority of our people which we should stop failing at addressing. the key is understanding and most of our people have no clue of what is being done and how, especially are precious misguided youth Well my religion is TRUTH brother. I believe in and worship The Supreme Being and I believe in truth/facts/logic/what makes sense to me based on experience and observations. But if the BIGGEST religion on this planet....which is White Supremacy....were to be destroyed TOO quickly, it would take MOST of our people with it. Gotta give them enough time to get their minds right and GET OUT (like that movie) before that sinking ship takes everyone down with it. Besides...... They say nature hates a void. Perhaps White supremacy is taking so long to fall and die because we as Black people haven't developed an adequate system to REPLACE it with yet. For example: We KNOW it's not good for Black women to be running around with straighted blonde wigs and weaves, but we haven't found a way to make the natural nappy hair of most of our women look attractive to most of us....yet. Or we know our people shouldn't sell dope or work for White people who exploit them without adequate compensation.....but we don't have enough good paying jobs to offer them instead.....yet. But more to your point. Many don't know, but even among those smart enough to know what's happening....many don't care. Being raised in Western society they are too individualistic and selfish to worry about what OTHER Black people are going through. Meaning, if they "got there's" they could care less what type of hell their brother or sister who is less fortunate may be catching and aren't the least bit interested in helping them. But even these type of people can be useful to our community because you can tap into their greed and selfishness and promise them incentives for their cooperation and favors. The Uncle Tom on the school board you've been trying to convince to vote for more Afrocentric schools may not give a damn about the Black community....but he LOVES coochie and if you send a fine sista his way......that MIGHT change his mind and influence his vote, lol. This is why I focus so much on the TRUTH. Because when the truth is told and everyone is honest about there desires and intentions, we can rally around the desires we all have in common and even those who DON'T share the same desires can be used to further certain goals by tapping into their personal desires and finding a way to fulfill them in exchange for that which may be valuable to us. We give so much praise and love to people who look the least like us. I suspect THIS is one of the major reasons Colin Kaepernick is getting so much attention and support from the Black community while others who may have done or are doing the same thing haven't. But I'll leave that one alone......lol. 　 Cynique If a sista is accomplished and responsible and intelligent and capable of earning a good living, who gives a fuck how she wears her hair? Nobody's perfect. You just can't throw that catch-all term "self hate" around and apply to everyone who doesn't conform to your criteria. In an ideal world she DOES have the right to wear her hair anyway she wants. But we aren't living in an "ideal world"......we're living in a society that is built and operates on a system called White supremacy which is HARMFUL to our people. Because of this, everything that supports and maintains White supremacy much be examined, challenged, and eliminated as much as reasonably possible. She can work for a White company and make money to support herself and be successful at it. That too is supporting White suprmacy....but it's understandable because she has few other choices at this point. But to go ahead lighten her skin, straighten her hair, and dye it BLONDE.....that's not necessary. That's a choice above and beyond her being successful and a choice she's making to PROMOTE the White supremist idea that White is more beautiful and thus perpetuate the ideaology of White supremacy. And to make matters worse...... Is she has daughters, she's sending messages to THEM that success and blonde straight hair goes hand in hand. This is why she should be condemned for dying her hair blonde. 　 Troy Black women are not the only ones buying straight blonde hair, white women do it too. White women go to the beauty salon get the texture of the hair changed, get the color of their hair changed, but don't have to contend with the same level of grief our Sisters have to. But white women don't have to contend with a lot of things Black women have to... 　 But the difference is White women dye their hair or even perm their hair generally to LOOK MORE WHITE or atleast look like another aspect of their own race. In other words..... Except for the Rachel Dolezal character.....rarely do you see White women trying to make themselves Black. They may get tans or what not.....but they aren't trying to actually look like someone of another race. When a Black woman uses skin bleacher and dyes her hair blonde....a color totally unnatural to most people of African descent.....that sends a clear message to the world about how she feels about HERSELF. 　 　 　 　 Mel 　 Maybe it's the black woman's hair that is the key to black people's success.. And it makes us super smart so we don't have ever worry about being in the bottom 20% of those poverty-stricken folks. Well you shouldn't be worried about that anyway, because according to you and The Atlantic: "The majority (73%) of black people in the innercities of America and the majority (80%) of black people in the suburbs are living above the poverty line. " Remember? https://aalbc.com/tc/topic/4625-naacp-says-avoid-missouri/?page=2 So not only are the majority of Black people doing just great..... Black women out number Black men, so ofcourse the majority OF the majority of these people doing so good HAS TO BE Black women....lol.　 But I DO think a major key to Black women's success IS their hair. So many Black females have gotten rich just opening up their own shop and becoming stylists. Madame CJ Walker became the worlds richest woman dealing with the Black woman's hair. I mean..... She made her money showing Black women how to make their hair straight.....but still...I ain't mad at her, lol. I'm not going to sit here and say I wouldn't have done the same thing if I were in her shoes and had the idea and opportunity. The next step in my opinion would be for Black people to start MAKING and DISTRIBUTING our own beauty products instead of Whites making them and Asians (mostly Koreans) distributing them to us.

Yeah I am working with a palmist, who was able to remove an unfavourable line from a hand. We are going to trial it with ten people. And track their progress.

Spike Lee teaches (or used to) at NYU, but not a lot of Black people can go to that school. I finally saw Detroit on Sunday. The film was fine. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars. I thought the scene in the Algiers dragged on way too long, and that trail was not given enough attention. But it was a decent film definitely not a great one, and I'd be surprised if it is nominated for any oscars, but it is Bigelow, so you never know. The acting was solid; actually I can see that main white racist character getting an academy award nomination, but it is the era of 45 so I doubt that'll happen. The dramatics angle was very interesting. Though someone commented on the review's page page that the Dramatics recorded for Stax not Motown, as the film apparently indicated (I did not recall that).

LOL Definitely what are you waiting for Mel please share! I've met plenty of women who own their run their websites, but I have not personally encountered any that speak the way Nubian Fellow or Chris Hayden does about them. Nor have I ever been able to connect with any on any level over a sustained period of time. But my niche is books, and I'm completely aware that I'm far more technically oriented than others in my niche. They have the content (books) covered but the website management does not interest them. How are you getting the ranking for the website. If you are using Alexa (because you said worldwide and US) I don't cite them any more because their data is not very good I actually expected it to improve after Amazon took over, but it seems to have gotten worse. I'm using a site called https://www.semrush.com/ nowadays their data is qute useful and foots to the data I have much more closely unlike Alexa.

@Mel Hopkins Please share. I would like to visit these websites. Thank you queen.

@Cynique who knows maybe Nubianfellow has it point. Maybe it's the black woman's hair that is the key to black people's success.. My friends call my family the hair bear bunch because we have very long hair that grows from our roots... (see my profile pic - yep that's mine) So, maybe because we don't have weaves it allows us to communicate with directly to the Universe from which all our blessings flow you know god gave it to us for a reason. ...And it makes us super smart so we don't have ever worry about being in the bottom 20% of those poverty-stricken folks. We don't need weaves, because we love showing off our beautiful locks, because, well who doesn't love our hair. By the way loving your hair, automatically translates into us loving ourselves because hair is the major key.. And, of course we attract men who are not deadbeat dads. Because of our flowing Rapunzel-like locks we attract the men who have the most money, best character and family adhesiveness ... As for the men who feel it's ok to lie down create babies and flee the scene. Well, we all know they got that way because of some weave-wearing black woman - who didn't cheer them on when they did something you know, mediocre.... I just can't.