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@Pioneer1, I have much respect for your raw views (even if I don't agree with some of them and even when I'm offended by some of them) on this and other discussions. Your responses are truly thought-provoking. Thank you. @Chevdoveyour observations are on point. I, too, have seen lots of 'promo' for LGBTQ, BlPOC, and even with specific content requests. IDK, but what I can attest to is the challenge of marketing/promoting with impact (which is a whole other discussion) Haha… @Troy I was one of those (in your own words) ‘narrow-minded’ sistas who self-published on am*zon, but it was solely because, when researching how to self-publish, the resources listed included only the well-known sites. I can't recall how I found AALBC, but I'm delighted that I did - you do better when you know better. (Wink) To give input into my thoughts of the 35% fewer books published by black authors in 2022 than in 2021 and almost 50% fewer than the peak published in 2015, TTTGA (that thing that’s going around) played tricks with many our minds in that many of us spent the last few years so worried about our mental well-being, physical well-being, and overall spirit that, for me, I could not settle down - fearing that depression, restlessness and pity parties would rule the day. Safe to assume that 2019 - 2021, at least, remained consistent, or, at least, not much of a decline? Sh&@! by 2022, I was still recovering from the mental burnout of TTTGA, and yeah, I admit that it handled me a little as I witnessed what was happening around me, and I’m not one to be handled (I much prefer to be loved for the beautiful mess I am). Don’t get me wrong, the downtime kept me ‘still’ and allowed for some great self-reflection which included working on book IV, which, by the way, thanks to aalbc, I’ve printed copies via BCP digital, and self-distributing, temporarily, that is, until I list on aalbc, but the down time didn’t sustain my attention until mid-2022. The impact of TTTGA is not an excuse, but, in fact, a ‘whole event’ (whether a conspiracy or reality or our imagination) that influenced heavy adverse outcomes. BUT, what remains consistent is the resilience of my people - We still stand, we still have lots to say, and we will see an increase in black author publications!, again! Just look at me - ‘I wrote you 37 letters’ published in December 2022!!! Not sure if my December 2022 publication had much impact on the stats, but I'm baaaaack!

Intelligence is less meaningful without application and/or productivity. Capability and desire notwithstanding, an alpha-male does something to merit the classification. An alpha-male doesn't bestow it upon himself. Proof and evidence lies in his actions, deeds and words producing constructive results. How's that for connecting dots of dialog. Again, Dr. Umar Johnson would have built and be running that school by now if he was truly an alpha-male. Let's not get wrapped around the axle concerning one dude because he's not it.

Cynique, it's just too easy to get a rise out of you. Totally predictable and amusing, indeed. I am not interested in trying to get anyone on this board to leave the safety of their own backyard(s). From the beginning, it was very obvious that this was an uninformed and immovable liberal discussion platform that bounces between the guardrails of sheer ignorance and pure insanity. On reflection, if one didn't know better, they'd swear it was infiltrated by CCP trolls. Nothing here is taken seriously, nor is it a sampling of demonstrable intellectual prowess. I will say that as long as you keep reacting instead of thinking, you'll be destined for a continued long life of political, social and (perhaps) financial irrelevance, at a minimum. And yes, it's quite nice down here on the ground where slithering is indeed an art, sans dodging the clown car you're in as it blindly barrels down the highway. One more thing, you do a great job of insulting yourself. Troy, the pleasure of receiving your humorous digs is entertaining. Helps pass the time, too. Remember, I'm not expecting a course correction from you or anyone else here. Only time will show you how close you are to the last fork in the road.

Slavery is more like the heart of capitalism

Right. The reality is that very few people are spending their time trying to figure out conspiracy theories or who's orchestrating their oppression or how to escape from the prison of it. Instead, people indulge in whatever form escapism that allows them to cope with their circumstances and condition. The world we live provides enough opiates for people to get high however they choose. Money, s8x, drugs, material possessions, entertainment, etc., are just a few of the things that people use to cope with the prison conditions. Same goes for thinking and talking about it. So, as soon as you start getting too deep in telling folks that they are incarcerated or reminding them, it becomes depressing or too much to process and they need a hit...time to escape. Since most folks are born into their condition, they have been institutionalized from the very beginning of their existence. No amount of intelligence or education will force change. Very few people have the divine wisdom to see a problem. Even fewer people have the power or desire to solve it. Action is the only way to solve problems. Recently, NF Jr. said that if the smartest people got together, they could solve the racism problem in less than one year.

@Pioneer1 Dude, just answer my questions. You've already proven you're a dullard when it comes to current affairs. Now, how many Blacks have left California because YOU demanded they do so? How many Haitians have dropped their beliefs in Christianity to adopt worship of African spirits? You don't think Blacks should run for elective office? Wes Moore is now Maryland's Governor. Unlike Arizona Republican phony Kari Lake, this guy actually won his gubernatorial race and was just inaugurated. Wes Moore is Maryland's new Governor

Cynique, No truer words have been spoken.