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The Victor LaValle interview was actually aired on Fresh Air on February 29.Sorry for the misinformation on a previous post.

Cynique that's à tight piece of writing. The difference between the greedy power obsessed and your average person is opportunity. So what you are talking about is more power for the group, that you are a member, and by extension your crew. Which is generally the way. The rebels get corrupted.

I'm not voting for ANY of those currently running because none of them are saying what i want to hear as far as universal healthcare, good paying blue-collar jobs millions of unemployed men and women, and totally rebuilding America's infrastructure. None of them have an actual VISION for building a new America. They just want to patch up the same old shit and keep it running. Besides, who really thinks electing a President will really change things in today's political climate anyway? Obama is a Black Democrat and America's foreign and domestic policies are pretty much the same as they were when a White Republican was in office. Chicago is Obama's hometown, Michelle is from the South Side....what what is he doing about the violence and poverty? Hell, atleast Republicans kind of halfway look out for and toss a few dimes to it's constituents. Democrats just completely FORGOT about the poor and Black issues and are now focusing on the "middle class" and Latino and women voters. No matter who gets in office, it appears that the agenda stays the same. Bust up the unions, destroy decent blue collar jobs, raise the price of healthcare and tuition, and figure out ways to reduce Black economic and political power while keeping the inner cities of America chaos. Until we get another president with the balls to implement REAL change....like Franklin Roosevelt......if change does comes, it will have to start at the LOCAL level. Sincere Democrats and Republicans in the cities of America should take off their political labels and sit down to a table and talk about how to improve things locally because Washington ain't caring.

These are the questions we get all of the time. Everyone discusses the topic, but when I look at it I always come back to the same solution: reestablishing responsibility. The only thing a person really has control over is their own circle. If I start a business and it inspires my mother-in-law to start a business and then my sister-in-law starts a business I've created change in my circle and this has radiated out and it may create more change. It's like when people ask teachers how can the school system be fixed? My response is better parenting. If a parent isn't capable of being stronger and better, then what will happen? The quick answer is you get a few kids like the Cook County sister who grew up in Cabrini who make it through. What typically happens though is the kids just don't have a real chance when the parenting is not very good. It doesn't take money to be an attentive parent or to do better parenting either. It takes a real understanding that a kid needs to be heard. Is it easier to be an effective parent when you aren't worrying about eating? Of course, but at the same time the Black family has to re-learn cohabitation. My family was poor just like most kids in my neighborhood. The difference was everyone lived in the apartment and everyone shared parenting duties. So Big Momma, Auntie, and Big Sister all supported Momma when she couldn't be there. The whole house all participated in the child rearing and there wasn't a father around. The only type of guy that was around tended to be the preacher and the reason he was effective is because he worked and held a job as well as ran the church, but today the preachers don't work so the church is not as vital and now, people don't live with each other so kids are really alone when the parents aren't there. There isn't a system of support. You can't trust the next door neighbor and the lack of community and family fails the parenting system. I guess I'm rambling, but 40 years ago, even the poorest kid in our neighborhood, knew they were going to get one good meal from the church each week and that if things were really tough they could go next door or across the street and eat a little. There weren't any dads around, but there was a community. The community center had free one lunches in the summer and in the fall, people pooled their money together to help out. You ask how can we fix things? I say it happens from the inside out. As we fix our families, the communities get better and the people get stronger. It's a lot easier said than done.

Jaz Well first of all, if you're an AfroAmerican........ Stop worring about ALL people. Because ALL people ain't worried about YOU. Various groups both inside and outside of America are concerned about thier own plights and the future of their own progeny. Our problems as AfroAmericans are unique and trying to beg everyone to join in with us to help solve some "universal" problem of injustice will just add to the confusion that already exists. AfroAmericans need to work on getting more economic and political POWER and the justice will come. The quicker we learn and accept this, the less time will be wasted. You can sit around "brain storming" solutions all day long, but at the end of the day if you don't have the POWER to enforce any of those solutions and make them work....what good is it? All that arm-chair philosiphying is worth little more than hyper-active day dreaming unless you have POWER.

Do you have a solution, Doctor Jazzy? The monumental scope of this problem is mind-boggling. It should be obvious that, if after all this time, the problem hasn't been eliminated, then elimination is not a part of the solution it's part of a self-perpetuating problem. If we look closely at the Big Picture, we will notice that the world is in a state of flux; variables abound, and human beings vacillate. One thing that is constant is a desire to thrive, Another persistent factor is a vulnerability to corruption. Just because people are deprived, doesn't make them immune to sin. The "have-nots" want to become "haves" so they, too, can wield power and indulge their greed and manipulate justice. If the "have-nots" become the "haves". there's no guarantee that the situation will improve. Whomever is in control is who reaps the benefits of power and the wherewithal to oppress. The way of the world... I've come to the conclusion that since their organizations and demonstrations and charismatic leaders are just going in circles, Blacks just have to concentrate on their personal sphere of existence, try not to burden themselves with a lot of baggage, and use whatever resources are available for them to get ahead. Millions of them have done this. The newly-elected Democratic candidate for Chicago's Cook County States Attorney is a young black woman who grew up in Chicago's notorious Cabrini-Green projects, the child of a single mother drug addict. I know what I am saying is just hot air to you, Doctor Jazzy. So cool me off with some answers, instead of questions.

Because I have been so immersed in writing my book for the last 15 months I haven't been reading. Prior to suddenly being moved to write, I was reading two pop culture oriented books: I Would Die 4 U by Toure, quick read about Prince, and I Am Charlie Wilson which I did not finish but I will pick back up once I finish getting my marketing plans in motion. The last "serious" book I completed was FDR by Jean Edward Smith.

If there is a candidate who begins to address entrepreneurship and small biz, that candidate could literally push themselves ahead. I'm idealistic so Bernie appeals to me, but on some level and I know it's sacrilegious, Trump is interesting just because I get how business people are for themselves and really don't care about anything except how to strengthen their own position in a capitalist society. I would never vote for Trump, but a business person running for the White House who really doesn't need lobbyists to enhance his life is very compelling. I guess Kennedy was such a person so maybe I'm looking for someone with the savvy to figure out free two year college, regulating banks and forcing a "type" of equal opportunity in lending, and someone smart enough to realize the government doesn't need it's hand in every cookie jar and won't send my fellow military brothers to war over the control of fossil fuels. As of right now every candidate hits on almost all of these points. Not a single one of them is addressing the small biz person and like you said Cynique I think this is a bloc that is playing the waiting game in deciding who to really throw their vote behind.