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POWER! "It's wrong to do it in the streets, It's wrong to do it in a tweet, You cannot do it on the field .. You cannot do it if you've kneeled. And don't do it if you're rich, You ungrateful sonofabitch. Because there's one things that's a fact. You cannot protest if you're black" =

No redeeming value in Cardi B's ode to herself, braggin' 'bout bling bought with tainted wealth, lookin for validation and hoping to impress, unable to conceal what caused her distress in the past life vows of a determined gonna-be filled with the dreams of a strivin wanna-be. No matter how much she repeats her chant, her hollow victory is a pathetic rant, a yearning to be crowed by fame when all that awaits is her turn in a game where playas win at being lame.

I don't understand the point. How does Cardi b have anything to do with the state of Black American women or black women/girls empowerment? I remember posting the stats of Black American women here in this forum recently. Here in America, Black women make up 44 percent of the labor force. They head their own households, 1.5 million black women are business owners, 88 of those are start-up tech firms. Black women are homeowners, underpaid, and medically under serve to name a few stats. The greatest achievement of black women is they are the most formally educated group in America as of 2016...oh and 94 percent of the black women tried to save America from Pumpkinhead. So, I know, I'm missing the correlation here. What is the point about Cardi b having the number 1 recording in the U.S? It's a musical recording not the state of the world today. Or unless I missed it and we are using Future or Kanye as a role model as the standard to raise our children and a measuring stick for the state of black men?

If she is deceptive then you won't catch her being sneaky. You are being too generous.

How many times do I have to explain that Colin Kaepernick's bending the knee is one tactic designed to call attention to a grievance?? His symbolic gesture exposed the American flag for not living up to its promise and, in rocking the boat, he made a great many people uncomfortable. I applaud his moral victory because it not only accomplished its aim, but it created a snowball effect that is ongoing. Furthermore, Colin's personal protest has no impact on other more conventional methods of challenging racism. More power to those who take another tack. I am never that optimistic about any black strategies bringing sweeping changes when it comes to race, but I derive a certain satisfaction from Kaepernick's shaking things up. (Mel's previous post offers great insight about the criticism he has garnered.) In your contempt for the media you overlook the symbiotic relationship between it and the individuals or groups who get ribbons of free publicity in exchange for the profits generated by the coverage of what they do. Are there really any losers in this exchange? Scratching each other's backs is the name of the game in the public sector. I don't have a problem with this because I do have the option of changing the channel when I get tired of sensationalized stories - as do most people. I make up my own mind about trending issues and I appreciate that the media supplies me with the information to do this. What is the alternative?

@Cynique your quote reminds me of how some black men dismissed some of President Obama's work... If I were of age during the civil rights movement - I bet I would have heard a certain kind of black man poo-poo Martin Luther King, Jr, and Malcolm X too . Now, I expect certain types of black men to be a distraction to progress. They are like white women who voted for Trump or against Hillary. For them, as long as the status quo is protected no one will expect them to achieve anything. The best thing, though is those types may delay progress but they will eventually get run over by it.

Colin Kaepernick has been a catalyst. His protest is just the tip of the iceberg and America is on tap for a meltdown. Why do I get the impression that you guys are frustrated by Colin's longevity, and you'll be disappointed if his symbolic gesture brings about change? Instead of acknowledging that his demonstration is one spoke in the wheel of protest, you continue to belittle him as if to say your ways are the only ways to prod progress . tsk-tsk.

"Black stupidity" aided and abetted by the white privilege that saturates this racist country. But keep clinging to your red, white, and blue security blanket as you croon that Star Spangled lullaby and drift off into dreamland...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

They say I don't look like an artist - what the hell does that mean? Are my nails too long? Are my hands to clean? Is it in my strike? Is it in my walk? Is it what I say? Is it the way I talk? Is it because I'm from the projects of upstate New York? So I had a few fights; Kicked a few asses...does that mean I don't look like an artist? Hey, I graduated with honors; got my degree. Is that what it takes for you to accept me? Oh, and I was a small time thief - vandalized my coaches care - but, I was also a hell of a... hell of a TrackStar. A Big Sister, computer programmer - I'm on top of my game! Still don't look like an artist? Well that's a damn shame. Don't know what an artist looks like, but get used to this face... and ya better learn to love me cause I aint going to place. I love you.

@Mel Hopkins Your remarks are spot on! @TroyThis "bend-the-knee" fall-out is a legitimate news story that doesn't die because it is so relevant. It doesn't have to be hyped because it automatically inspires attention by virtue of being about something near and dear to the hearts of most Americans. And the fact that everybody seems to have an opinion on it is an indication of how it strikes a nerve in the population. IMO, the reaction this gesture receives is like a litmus test for racism. If a white person refuses to consider that troops didn't die for the flag, but for the freedom the flag is supposed to represent then, such people reveal themselves as being intrinsically racist. Why? Because implicit in their position is the message that blacks should overlook how the flag does not represent justice and equality for all and that black grievances are secondary to white perceptions. This controversy is forcing people to take sides and the true nationalistic character of this country is emerging as it marches towards a fascistic state with a fuerher at its helm. It's really appropriate that this debate is taking place in the arena of professional sports, a place in keeping with the "us" against "them" mentality, that reflects America at its worst. You say all of this is of little importance to you. Yet, you bristle about the repercussions of social media and the monopolistic Google and Amazon being of little interest to others. Everybody is entitled to their priorities of course.

I recently heard somewhere that Floyd Mayweather said that when Trump talked about grabbing pussy he was talking like a "real man". I think a lot of Black athletes like ASPECTS of Trump's personality for the same reason a lot of men in general...and especially many White men.....like him. He seems to be unapologetic in his masculinity. He talks about pushing himself on women, he goes through a variety of women in marriage, he talks tough and violent, he's rich, he flirts with and talks about women's looks openly..... These are things that most men in this society WANT to do but are afraid they'll get in trouble if they do so. This suppressed desire to express their "true" sexuality is a force that Trump and other White conservatives are able to tap into as an energy reserve.