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Thank you, Pioneer. Yes, she's my daughter, my baby girl. She loved it here. She told me before she passed away. She also lived life - she was courageous. She was on a mission, and by the turnout at her Celebration, she touched a lot of folks with her light and life. One of her high school classmates learned of her passing and came from Seattle to Cincinnati to say fare well. He told us that when he was friendless, Cheyenne became his first friend. Cheyenne wanted to be treated by traditional medicine - and she was. However, she had to push her initial health caregiver even to test her when she told them of her symptoms. Cheyenne didn't take "no" for an answer. It was after the treatment that she realized that the treatments were inadequate - more for money and destabilizing than curing. This is what she wanted everyone to know. What I learned during her experience, as@ProfD alluded to is that many pharmaceuticals could heal and possibly even cure, but those treatments are reserved for the wealthy. Two days before Cheyenne suffered seizures, the doctors prescribed a therapy that could reach her brain, but they had to wait for her insurance provider to approve it. They did the same day she transitioned. Oddly enough, they could have prescribed the medicine before her brain surgery. - My daughter and I are not separated. The part of her who is eternal is still with me. I don't remember the skills to engage with her as I did when she was here in the flesh. I do, however, remember how my ancestors processed the transitioning of our loved ones, and it is a lot different from how Western civilization deals with the death of the body. So, while I miss her physical incarnation, her soul is boundless. ❤️‍🔥 I made this post because I want us to think about our health care—especially as Black people, we must reach back to our ancestral ways to maintain our health. Despite my daughter's paternity—she got her mtDNA from me—mitochondrial DNA, which comes from the mother to its offspring. The mtDNA houses ATP, also known as the God cell, that gives us life and our cells' energy. The medical establishment knows this even though lay people don't. As Prof D said, cancer has been around for millennia, we must remember the ways of our ancestors to survive.

In October, I lost my youngest twin daughter to breast cancer. She didn't have health insurance when she found out. Still, she got health insurance through Obamacare (Affordable Care Act.) Several months after cancer treatments, she went into remission after treatments. Still, she refused radiation because there was a possibility of leaving her mentally and physically disabled. By then, the cost of her treatment was nearly a quarter of a million dollars, a poisoned and mutilated body. She lost so much, but she refused to give up her way of life. The cancer treatments didn't extinguish her light, though. She was still helping others see what a gift life was to them and how they could use it to lift others up. When the cancer returned, this time to her brain, she again chose life, submitting herself to brain surgery and another quarter of a million dollars. She came through with flying colors, and two days later, we were sitting across from each other at this beautiful restaurant. A month after her brain surgery, my dear BabyGirl was brain dead. Before the doctor removed her breathing tube, her family, friends, and her former boyfriend made it to her bedside. We had her funeral right there, and a month later, my BabyGirl's Twin sister and her best friend threw the most incredible Celebration of Life for her. We miss...I miss her terribly. However, it didn't change how I feel about the way the establishment treats cancer. It is a money-maker for the healthcare industry at the cost of lives, whether we survive for a few years or die. In January, a month after what would have been my daughter's 33rd birthday, a debt-collecting attorney for the hospital sent a bill for $300,000 to her estate. I've always given cancer treatments the side-eye. I'm not even into the SGK "pink" tober bullsh*t. I wondered what was the point of all that poison, disfigurement, mutilation, and radiation that ended with my daughter's untimely death. Btw, I don't say "eff cancer" because cancer cells are very personal - cancer is your DNA which is why no one can catch it from another. And just like you want to live, so do your cancer cells. Kill cancer cells, and you will most likely kill your noncancerous cells, too. Cancer cells are just doing what any living thing does, which exists and even thrive. Except cancer cells eventually kill their host. So, keep your cortisol low, and take your wealth and health treatment seriously. Your health, wealth, and quality of life are on the line. Below are three journalists, two of whom have tackled breast cancer differently. Ananda Lewis, by the way, decided to do nothing in the beginning and is also against mastectomy and is in stage 4 cancer -(which means cancer has spread throughout her body - death is imminent.) However, she's still here, and she did alternative therapies. These three women express many things I want to share in this post, but they deliver it way better.

Some men's packages aren't big enough and they're shamed to even try to put it inside a Black snatchbox, lol.

ProfD Yeah, and I've been posting on here for over a decade....lol. I'm glad the site is still up. I consider AALBC part of my ONLINE family.

@Pioneer1 well right:) you are the common self interested patriot or matriot

Nah bro. I've still got my own flow. No polls. 1) I can recognize a good point. Brotha @richardmurray was spot on with tribes. 2) I posed the questions to see if it would increase participation in the discussion. Once the ice melts through climate change there is belief it will open shipping lanes. Additionally, there's oil, gas and rare earth minerals. They claim Russian and Chinese ships are already there. Vlady Putin says it would be great for the US to have an interest in Greenland.😁 The US military already has a presence there.😎

richardmurray Ok, thanks for educating me on this "alvino" category. ProfD Speaking of Tiger Woods and who he's dating...... I guess he's dating Donald Trump's granddaughter...lol.

Man you better HURRY UP and say that again...lol. Black Music is the main reason the United States is the entertainment capital of the planet. No other nation has "us" like the United States. The only other nation that comes anywhere close is Jamaica. For some reason, Reggae music sells a lot.....especially when it comes to Africans and Western Europeans. However the rest of the world isn't too hot for it. But Rap and RnB is almost Universally loved and often imitated by people all over the planet.

Again, that's why I wrote most. White Asians including Indians will throw shade at their darker brethen. Black folks here in the US can easily find out Asians are done with them shortly after money changes hands.🤣😎

ProfD See, I KNEW all of that interaction with richardmurray was affecting you...lol. First you started calling out the Black "tribes" of America...lol. Now you're asking the forum questions. Next you'll be doing polls and shit....talking about DOSer this and DOSer that, lol. Absolutely Greenland would be a good fit for the U.S. We could use the land, and it IS a pretty good strategic location. If there was any REAL conflict with Russia....Greenland would be a good buffer zone where you could set up enough bases and interceptors to thwart any major blows. For some reason, I thought the U.S. already had military bases in Greenland anyway.

Duly noted.😁 Most Asians regardless of where they come from and where they go are anti-Black. Surely, Asians will take Black folks' money but otherwise most of them would rather deal with us as necessary...means to an end. Before anyone brings up mixed race couples that produce a Tiger Woods, there's exceptions. That's why I always write *most* or some other quantifiable. H8ll, to this half-Asian Tiger Woods doesn't want to have anything to do with Black folks. I don't believe that dude has ever dated a Black woman. 🤣😎

ProfD Just one more reason as to why we need OUR OWN hospitals, doctors, and research centers. We can't rely on White people and those educated by them to heal the problems so many of our people face. If we want to cure these diseases, WE need to figure out a way to do it ourselves. Cancer should have BEEN cured. Diabetes should have BEEN cured. Autism should have BEEN cured. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say..... I'm willing to bet that if a group of AfroAmericans got together and said point blank that we're going to build our own research centers, study these diseases, and develop OUR OWN medicines and technology to cure them instead of sitting around waiting on a bunch of White and Asian folks in glasses and white coats to do it for us....I don't think they (Caucasians) would stop us. Maybe a few of them may try, but at this point...I don't think they would. I'd bet MONEY that they wouldn't stop us. Infact, so many White folks are angry and tired of THEIR OWN system at this point and are ready for something new, THEY'D probably be the first ones in front standing in the way to defend us...lol.

Condolences sista @Mel Hopkins on the loss of your Baby Girl. May her soul rest in power.🙏🏿 Cancer is definitely a major money grab. The number of *survivors* is a fraction of those who end up dead from the disease. The fundraising, research, treatments, surgeries, hospital stays, medications and funeral expenses generate a lot of money. Cancer has been around for over 6,000 years and counting. There's no cure for a reason. Follow the money.😎

Despite the diagnosis, Ananda Lewis looks great for her age. I remember her from back in the 90s when she actually started off on BET's Teen Summit....before going to MTV and running around in bikinis...lol. Mel At first I was hoping that the commentary above the video was from and about someone else, but when I took a good look at the woman in that picture...especially the eyebrows and the mouth...I realize it was your daughter you were talking about. Very very sad to hear about your daughter but even more sad for YOU. Atleast your daughter doesn't have to deal with it anymore and is in a better place, but YOU...part of the living...have to continue to think about and deal with this the best way you can until you two are united again. I think a lot of the problem is acceptance. Even when they're diagnosed early, a lot of people don't want to accept treatment because they're in denial and hope that it "goes away" or gets better (which diseases often do) or just don't want to think about it. This delays treatment. They say Black women tend to have more aggressive forms of breast cancer, which I find very suspicious because the explanations they give don't make a lot of sense.

@ProfD Hi! Thank you! Same to you! Oh Snap! I didn't even realize I hadn't made a post this year! 🤗

Hey sista @Mel Hopkins, glad to you read you here in 2025. Hope all is well within your world.😎

@Troy 📚 Do Black Readers Prefer White Authors on Black Subject Matter? I remember a study you conducted on Black book sales where you discovered that Black subject matter books written by white authors tend to outsell those written by Black authors. Drawing from that information—and taking a bit of a leap—it almost seems like: Black readers may buy books to see how white authors perceive Black people. White readers may purchase these books to confirm what they already believe about Black people. 💡 Why the Sales Gap? Since Black readers live the Black experience daily, they may not see a strong return on investment (ROI) in reading narratives that reflect their lived reality. This idea might also explain why fewer Black users engage with this forum now that other platforms offer more tailored spaces. 🌐 The Changing Landscape of Online Engagement Forum regulars here probably come from eclectic backgrounds, which has always been our strength. We bring a diversity of thought and learn from each other. However, we may be facing a challenge: We're not Gen Z or Gen Alpha, which makes it harder to attract younger users. Online engagement dynamics have shifted, and we may no longer appeal to the new crowd. Possible Solution: You may need to bring in influencers to boost forum engagement, even if it means hiring them. 👉 Reality Check: Our regular posters may have outgrown their attractiveness to newer audiences. We're primarily conservatives with a progressive slant, and we often observe and gather information without aiming to convert or engage in activism. 🔥 Pioneer's Smoke Alarm Topic – A Case Study in Environmental Sociology Pioneer’s topic about smoke alarms is a prime example of a thesis-worthy environmental sociology discussion. It made me think about my own neighborhood: I live in an 800+ single-family home subdivision and walk it regularly with my pup. The only time I’ve heard a chirping smoke detector was when my next-door neighbor moved to a 10-acre property and couldn’t change the battery right away. Even though the house was empty, they still changed the battery because of the risk of property loss. 🛠️ Black People, Wealth, and Home Maintenance Pioneer’s observation overlooks the possibility that Black, single, or married individuals with financial means are more likely to pay someone to handle maintenance tasks, including changing smoke alarm batteries. Kevin Samuels often spoke about a specific demographic, but in reality: Black women with money don’t need a man to handle home maintenance. With platforms like Thumbtack and Angi's List available, they can easily outsource these tasks. For context, my former neighbor (single with kids and on her way to generational wealth) ensures her smoke alarms are maintained—either by doing it herself or hiring help. (For the record, I do the same.) 💡 The ROI of the Smoke Alarm Topic The smoke alarm conversation highlights an interesting point: people like to compare themselves to others. However, that curiosity alone isn’t enough to convince people to give up their PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and actively engage on a platform. 🎯 Final Thoughts: Time for New Strategies? If we want to reignite engagement and attract a wider audience, it might be time to: ✅ Leverage influencers to promote the forum. ✅ Introduce fresh topics that resonate with younger generations. ✅ Consider how we can offer value that makes people willing to engage despite privacy concerns. 💬 What’s your take? Do you think bringing in influencers could help, or is there another approach we’re overlooking? This version is structured to: ✅ Encourage thoughtful responses. ✅ Highlight key insights with subheadings and bullet points. ✅ Spark engagement by ending with an open-ended question. Ready to re-energize the conversation? Let’s get the forum buzzing again! 🚀 Note: I wrote my response and then I asked ChatGPT to make it more engaging for this forum. Just another suggestion on how to grow engagement

Soul food and Black music could make the world a better place. 😎