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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." "

@Cynique your response reads like "America, the review"... As I was reading your words you'd think I was in church - head bobbing up and down, and I'm saying "Yes, so true" at every period. The last sentence was reminiscent of an item I read on Adam Smith's economics. The author implied that the only way free market capitalism could really work is if no one was oppressed. So yes, definitely mythical but I have to "keep hope alive."

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.

@Troy Since you have nothing to back up your argument, you've provided no evidence, nothing to validate your claims and I have; I'll accept your final post as a concession. President Obama has done more black women than any other black man in history. And it's about time we black women get a bit of help.

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.

Blacks were, indeed, outraged when pictures of Obama being lynched circulated all over social media. Pictures that push the envelop are meant to offend and provoke. The photographer who shot this pose of Kathy makes no apologies for this shock art, and apparently subscribes to the idea in the quote i previously cited about "all art being political". Kathy Griffin's career is in shambles because of the horrified backlash, She has lost her endorsements, her up coming gig in Las Vegas was cancelled and she was fired by CNN as permanent co-host of their New Years eve telecast. She has profusely apologized but she has now become persona non grata in the entertainment world. C'est la Vie. For some reason or another, i found the graphic picture bizarre but - funny. I've become desensitized i guess. I'm more horrified by real life offenses like the 2 men who were recently stabbed to death by a white supremacist when they came to the defense of the Muslim women he was harassing. I could go on and on listing the terrible things that happen daily that are real life events, not posters meant for the consumption of social media. Trump has only himself to blame for these types of display because he has lowered the bar when it comes to civility in this country.

@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.

@Pioneer1 Just because you don't like the responses Mel and i provided doesn't mean they don't have substance. it actually means that Mel's question wasn't tailored to your specifications so you created your own criteria, which when met, did not qualify the 2 women you named as having been black women who were uplifted from the bottom of the totem poll, thanks to black men. Your 2 females are actually just tokens because they wouldn't dare defy the men who made themselves look good by "helping" these women. Unlike Beyonce and Viola, "what's-her-name" and "whoever" are not powerful women but just big fish in little ponds. Beyonce and Viola can pick and choose when it comes to what they do because they are rich, famous, powerful, independent individuals on the world stage who don't have to answer to anyone. Famed author Toni Morrison is another example of this. If you were really on your toes you might've come up with Venus and Serena Williams whose father was behind their world class status and independence. Why is it so hard for you to come up with something other than anecdotal evidence when it comes to Farrakhan who basks in the myth that he has helped blacks other than the sheeple who adhere to his strict demands and keep him wealthy. Apparently you admire him, so you lick his boots. Obviously i don't like him and regard him as just another hustling control freak who feathered his own nest under the guise of being a religious do-gooder. I try to agree with you, Pioneer, but our opinions are just never in alignment.

@Pioneer1 I'm sure white people of all ilk from poor white trash to upscale Republicans agree with your advice to LeBron who spoke the truth when it comes how hard it is for blacks to be liberated from the word "nigger" and all of its connotations. Shame on this black buck for being an uppity nigger who realizes that his dignity is also important. He should jes keep his big mof shut and be glad he's allowed to stay in this half-assed country, instead of being shipped back to Africa. i've come to the conclusion that you are an Oreo, Pioneer. The hypocritical united states of amerika is the best of the worst, but unlike you, i will never be one to sing its praises. i was born here but i don't have a patriotic bone in my body and Donald Trump is not my president.

Just goes to show that no matter how much a black person like LeBron James succeeds, they are still "niggers" to a substantial number of whites. Something loud-mouthed basketball player Charles Barkley needs to realize when he's always taking the side of white policemen and dispensing his conservative Republican drivel. And it also should be noted that the rich and famous but current has-been, Tiger Woods, who tried to divest himself of race, was listed as "black" on his rap sheet after being found passed out in his car from a drug overdose. Everybody is up in arms about Comedienne Kathy Griffin appearing on social media in a picture of her holding a bloody decapitated head of Donald Trump. White liberals are horrified by this as if it's any worse than how hate groups pictured Obama and Michelle all over the Internet. Just recently a noose was found hanging in the new African American Museum in Washington. Donald Trump has made racism acceptable and although he gets criticized for this, he has also solidified his support base with people who want to remind niggers that they are - niggers.