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Hi AALBC fam! I was watching this video on YouTube, Comedian Shuler King and Pharaoh Head Part 2. And while I was listening to him drop knowledge, I thought about how much I missed this forum. It is funny how you can go through life and acquire a bunch of skills, knowledge, and still not know how to use them until you add LOVE. I feel like that sometimes, like I ask What's the point? Then, I remembered whenever I lost my balance, my family would fill me up with love, give me that pick-me-up, and I would get energized. But it hit me, there was still something missing. It was the part I felt while listening to Shuler. I remembered when I'd come right back here, get into some battle of wits, and then I'd remember who I am completely. AALBC forum is like drinking from the chaotic and primordial waters of NUN. I'd come here to fight with @Pioneer1 - every time I do, I learn so much about myself, thank you! or see my whimsical self in my twin, @Del @Delanoadmire the wit of @Cynique @aka Contrarian,and I get energized to know how strong and brilliant women can be! I recently wondered if I'd recognize @ProfD if I heard him whispering in a library or lecturing in front of a class. You are such a mystery that I feel like I know you. Just this morning, I sent energy to, @Chevdove so she will finish her book. She is the one who needs to tell the story of African Adam!. I am proud of my alumni @Troy. Dude, you are an inspiration to me! I'm enjoying watching you beat your dreams into submission. @richardmurray you make me crazy with your projects, but please know I enjoy your enthusiasm! @frankster we haven't engaged in debate, but I'm glad you're here. You echo many of my beliefs and remind me to uncover their origins. @harry brown 's commentary through prose and poetry is a great wake-up call... I could probably go on and name many more if I searched through my memory, but I'm about to go skipping back into the world again. Thank you, thank you, each and every one of you, even the ones I missed and didn't list, thank you for sharing your Love!

Got this one last night! I forgot. The photographer owns this copyright. I removed it from my YouTube channel.

Hey Fam! I shared my heartbreak with all of you; now here is my joy! Mom, my twin daughters' father, my oldest daughter, Cheyenne's (my daughter who passed away) childhood bestie, is in the family photo with us. I love her so much, and me sitting next to my oldest twin daughter! My daughter married the love of her life in August, and we all got to share in their transformative weekend celebration. Here's me getting ready for the wedding and checking my rearview . Yes, this is a very current photo!! And that's my gorgeous mom!!! Yep, she's in her 80s!!!

Made it! Today's my 92nd birthday. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. Such is life.

Here I am, setting the record straight again, doing so, not because I think anybody cares, but rather because some may be curious as to why a 92-year- old-senior citizen wastes what little time she has left, hangin' out on an online discussion forum, engaging in verbal fisticuffs with a pioneer who has never blazed a trail anywhere except up his own butt. My answer: since the cyber space universe enables one to adopt an alter-ego, and take on a user name and lead a secret existence, quite a while ago I decided why not do this? What the heck. Might be fun. And it has been. In the real world, I am a widowed mother of 5, grandmother of 7, great grandmotherk of 8, family members of whom know very little about Nana's on-line activity; too wrapped up in their own pursuits. They just know she surfs the internet, amusing herself by engaging in various activities, and they remain clueless about the extent of my involvement on this forum since they don't come to this site. Nor do any of my associates. And, rest assured that my "Contrarian" persona is different from how I am in real life among polite company. However, because I can come here and hide behind an avatar, all bets are off and I can express myself anyway I please, Since I'm no longer a single young woman "out-to-catch", I feel no need to tread lightly and act sweet and feminine. I'm off the grid, and favorably impressing men is no longer a priority of mine. Who needs 'em? Welcome to Super Bitch land. Anyway, I say all this to say that, contrary to what some seem to think, I do not expect others to ward off my detractors or take my side. I can fend for myself. Now you know. What we don't know is how much longer I'll be around? Who cares. I don't. But until my time is up, Nana aka Contrarian will just keep poppin in and out, doin' her thing competing with others who jam the board with long self-indulgent posts full of useless information.

If the NYC mayoral race were a novel, I'd deconstruct its architecture. From one election to the next, the narrative appears to shift away from focused policy debates, instead centering on the influence of religious groups. The major religious factions—Christian nationalists, Muslims, and Jews—each appear to compete for cultural and political dominance within the city. Amid this religious competition, the African diaspora in the U.S.—a powerful and often underestimated voting bloc—continues to be overlooked and taken for granted by both the candidates and the dominant religious groups. It sometimes seems as though these competing religious groups neglect the African diaspora’s influence. Ironically, the roots of these religions trace back to African science-based spirituality, yet this connection receives little attention in political or religious discourse. This dynamic played out in Election 2024: Christian nationalists—including evangelists, southern Baptists, and likely Catholics—rallied strongly behind DJT. Media and external influencers shifted the conversation away from local policy and toward polarizing international issues, like the U.S. stance on Israel and Palestine, further affecting how voters chose among domestic candidates. When reviewing 2025 election results, I noticed Mamdani was not the only Muslim elected, which raises the question of whether heightened coverage of Gaza led to greater sympathy and increased Muslim representation—a trend potentially extending into the midterms. Don’t misunderstand—I bear a grudge against all religions. Religious study should bring wisdom, spirituality, and growth, yet it often has the opposite effect. Religions lead to violence instead of joy and peace. Add patriarchy, and it’s chaos. Returning to the story's structure: Is this a narrative of democratic socialism rising in the heart of Wall Street? Consider Manhattan—the FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD—and its boroughs. Is the city that never sleeps really ready to move from capitalism to social ownership? Notably, NYC is the largest property owner according to Curbed.com, and the mayor administers these assets. Perhaps social ownership is the underlying story arc behind recent shifts. So, in this story—call it Project 2025 (S)—the central figure is a young millennial poised to challenge the reigning power and reclaim Manhattan for the people. Behind the scenes, religious struggle, human trafficking disguised as immigration reform, and pervasive surveillance set the chaotic stage for change in the city. Meet the Muslim and Arab Americans who won in US local elections Jews vote for Andrew Cuomo over Zohran Mamdani in NYC mayoral race | The Jerusalem Post "In addition to the Jewish vote, Mamdani lost the Catholic vote by a significant margin: 53% supported Cuomo and 14% backed Sliwa, against 33% for Mamdani. A decisive 75% of voters with no religious affiliation supported Mamdani." Here's a past look at Manhattan when DJT began buying up NY property in the early 70s(?) a look back at Palestinians, Israel, Libya, etc.

You are a very kind and sweet person @Mel Hopkins with the ability to find the beauty in everyone. Thank YOU!

As my 92nd birthday approaches on August 18th, I have drifted into a reflective mood. At this point in my journey I'm experiencing a need to look back and reflect, even as I wonder if I'll make it to August 18th, considering how much my health has deteriorated during the past few months, a situation that renders me as ready as I'll ever be to blow this pop stand. This ol world is currently so screwed up and, imo, on a collision with what I think will be changes so drastic that I will be out of my element. So, whatever. All the points of view and personal philosophies of those who regularly post here, especially as it pertains to the black condition, have inspired me to put myself in perspective and share my thoughts when it comes to where I fit on the black spectrum. Bear with me because this is probably my swan song, and I may ramble. Hopefully, however, something learned about the caliber of my blackness wiil be enlightening when it comes to examining the multi-faceted nature of black America. I have always described myself as a "hybrid" descendant of slaves. That's my tribe. And it's a HoHum passive one. According to Ancestry.com, my blood lines include Irish, German, Native American and, last but not least, African by way of the Sierra Leone region of Nigeria. I do not consider the Atlantic Ocean my homeland because my ancestors obviously reached and landed in America, and were transported to the North Carolina location of what had been one of the country's most prolific slave markets. And the rest is my history. My genesis begins in the territory that originally belonged to the native American tribes like the Osage one which my paternal Grandmother was descended from. . Both my paternal and maternal great grand parents were born into slavery, the women folk, typically raped by their white slave masters... My forebears have always identified themselves as colored, negro, black, depending on the era, and I have never strayed from or had any desire to identify myself as anything other than a non white person who has no delusions about the treachery and guile of the ruthless men who established the White Power Structure that controls the globe. The most negroid thing about me is my hair, having once had an abundant, bushy crop which lent itself very well to an afro style which I affected during the 1960s when I felt compelled to establish my "negritude", (a popular term back in those days.) And, when it came to the civil rights movement, although I was not an activist out there demonstrating in the streets, in my own personal way via the Op/Ed pages of 2 of Chicago's major newspapers, I was very supportive of those courageous enough to put their lives on the line to secure equality for all. I consider myself, for want of a better term, a "soul sista", very comfortable in my skin, having no great affinity for Interacting on a regular basis with Caucasian Americans. I am a product of the middleclass black bougeoise values that I was raised with, having no illusions about the superficial materialistic aspects of this designation. Paradoxically and inexplicably, I harbor a great revulsion for right-wing conservative black Republicans, and I despise Donald Trump and his Maggots! I was born in 1933 and grew up in the small town suburb of Chicago where my parents settled in 1922 as part of the first wave of the Great Migration of Negroes leaving the south, seeking a better life up north and, uniquely, even in those pre- civil rights years, I always resided in mixed neighborhoods, always attended integrated schools and, as part of the great Civil Service work force, always held jobs working side-by-side with white co-workers. So, my mutated homo sapien "cousins" are no strangers to me. I neither like nor dislike them, opting to just judge them on an individual basis, always keeping my guard up. My politics are a reflection of my core personsality. I am a Moderate Liberal, not a militant radical progressive because I'm too cynical to take seriously these erratic types with self-serving agendas. I have never been ambitious because I'm lazy and don't like too much responsiblity or anything difficult or demanding, just content to do enough to get by. I am not proud to confess that I have gone through life, avoiding anything that required great effort on my part. I am lazy and unmotivated, only good and creative at things that interest me. I do, however, lean toward the aesthetic, profound spititual things in life and this includes liberty and justice for all. I have lived through the terms of 15 presidents and can honestly say that the administration of whomever was in office never greatly impacted on my personal day- to-day life. I've managed without even trying, to stay under the radar and - get by. I retired from the US Post Office in 1992 after 30 years of service so I have been retired longer than I worked, collecting a substantial pension replete with COLA raises, receiving money every month for doing nothing other than waking up every morning. If a problem exists when it comes to my black status it stems from my objectivity coupled with an affinity for the whole truth, 2 traits lacking in "gung ho" black chauvanists. This has led me to "divorce" on the grounds of incompatibility, the black race as it exists in the judgment of those who seek to mold it exclusively in their personal image, focusing on what in my judgment, amounts to merely chasing their tails when it comes to effectiveness. So, It is what it is, and I am what I am, - someone who will leave this earth, strong in my conviction that I am as authentically black as the most passionate chest beater. I close by acknowledging that, black is beautifully bountiful but - there are 2 sides to every coin. And so it goes...

@aka Contrarian, thanks for contributing your perspective, thoughts, opinions, zingers and insults, etc., to this coffeeshop on the internet that is AALBC. I always enjoy the exchange of perspectives regardless of whether we agree or not. That goes for each every one of you who contributes regularly. Of course, the coffeeshop would be incomplete without the hilarity that ensues from virtual dust-ups. Regardless of age, each and every last one of us is getting closer to the finish line than starting a new race.

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.

Sounds like somebody has replaced Pioneer with an AI entity. the BEARS continue to amaze, inspire, and revitalize me. I adore Caleb and I'm loving every minute of this fantastic season, - knowing all good things must come to an end!

"Thinking outside the box" is fine if you are of a mind to do a lot of work and shoulder a lot of responsibility and stake claims on critical thinking. And, come to think of it, I never met a conspiracy theorist who didn't brag about "thinking outside the box"... so, there's that. But lazy lovers of leisure like me are not so inclined. However I, too, was an avid reader, with writing skills that enabled me to become a contributing columnist to the op-ed pages of a major Chicago newspaper back in the 1970s where my letters-to-the-editor invoked so much response that I was approached by the newspaper to become their resident voice of the black viewpoint. Which I was, for several years. Boy, was that fun. On the job at my local Post Office where I passed up supervisory positions because dealing with time cards required much more effort than the job I held stamping "Registered" on the envelopes of mail containing valuable contents, along with being the go-to person for revising and editing the bulletins and memos dispatched from the front office. And tho I wasn’t thinking outside the box, - I did sing outside the building, because on many mornings one of my favorite things to do was tag along with the maintenance man when he performed his flag-raising duty. While he ran ol glory up the flag pole in front of the building, I would stand by and sing the national anthem. To me, this was just for fun, but being a veteran, the janitor took his duties very seriously and always saluted when he was done. God bless America. And of course after I retired back in the 90s, I got caught up in the self-publishing craze and churned out 3 books which I lost interest in when time came to promote them; too much trouble. Having 5 kids would have to serve as my accomplishments in life, what I achieved - between the sheets. So the roles of a dilettante and wanna-be Renaissance person have been the "this above all" to which mine ownself "has been true". Have at it all you innovative go-getters. Somebody has to take up my slack. But keep in mind, being lazy may have something to do with my longevity. zzzzzzzzzzzz Being a CHICAGO BEAR fan may just become my undoing. I might slit my wrists if they lose to those damned cheese head Green BayPackers tonight! GO BEARS!

For those who have rolled into 2026, let's hope that it is a year filled with Love, Joy, Peace, Prosperity, Health and Happiness. In the meantime, I will continue calling balls & strikes i.e. offering my opinions/perspectives on whatever comes up around here. I enjoy the easy chair I've taken up. As always, many thanks to brotha @Troy for providing & maintaining this platform. Much appreciated.

This video popped up when I brought up YouTube today. On some level it feels like Google knows I was talking about this subject Neil describes 13 of things you should consider when evaluating information online. Some of this is common sense. @Pioneer1, for what it is worth, you should check out this video. Perhaps it will help you think about information you pull from the web and how you use it to form opinions.

For anybody who is curious as to why I no longer use my original user name on this forum, why I, who was once known as "Cynique", am now known as "aka Contrarian", this is the explanation. I have been contributing to this discussion forum off and on for over 20 years. Back in the day, as a retiree who was an aspiring author, its "African American Literary Book Club" title drew me to this site. And having always considered myself to be somewhat of an "iconoclast", I decided I wanted my avatar to reflect my personality, so I came up with what was a combination of "cynical" and "unique". And the "Cynique" moniker was born, replete with a somewhat devil's advocate persona; always skeptical and a tad sarcastic, - (something which contributed to my ongoing feud with the notorious Kola Boof, a semi-famous drama queen). Otherwise, with a few innocuous exceptions, over the years, I formed several cherished friendships with people I encountered here and with whom I still keep in touch with on FaceBook. Anyway, with the passage of time, while others came and went, I remained a long standing member of AALBC, and Troy rewarded my loyalty by naming this site "Cynique's Corner". As more time passed, however, I eventually became burnt out and, contrary to the insinuations of some people, I voluntarily decided to go on hiatus, subsequently telling Troy he could drop the "Cynique's Corner title; which he did. With the passage of more time, I finally decided to check back in, but I couldn't log on because I'd forgotten my pass word. When I tried to log on with a new password word, I was unsuccessful, the reason given by the computer being that somebody already had that user name. The fact that the "somebody" was me made things more entangled, and after I contacted Troy, he assigned me a special password to use. That, along with adopting a different user name, enabled me to log back on to the discussion forum, at which time I explained that "aka Contrarian" was the poster formerly known as "Cynique". Obviously, the word "contrarian" preserves the cynical essence I originally wanted to convey. Only one person ever found this to be a problem. Whatever. As Shakespeare once said: "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It is what it is... And, don't be surprised if that "one person" chimes in with a stream of pictures along with references to flowers and bees and wasps and Cynique this and Dolemita that, yada,yada,yada. zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Well, today is the American holiday where folks gather with family and friends in food, fun and fellowship. Eat, drink and enjoy however you so choose. I know the history behind *holidays* but I do not skip them for the aforementioned reasons. I use holidays as a time to further build and connect with my tribe. Every several years, my birthday happens to fall on Thanksgiving Day. When that happens, I don't have to cook anything for the family dinner. I'll pull up, eat, enjoy my folks and watch football games. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Nature putting on a show via the northern lights, reminding Earth to not sweat the small stuff.

I am finding words and numbers allow me to access the unconscious mind of the Querent and for myself i use omens and clock time Yes just be open and don't have set beliefs or feelings. Just allow the information to speak to you. One of the ways is to just doodle or write down the words that pop into your mind.

Thank you! That is one of the most classic and fabulous wedding celebrations that I have ever seen! Oh My Gosh! I don't know how many times I have watched this. @Mel Hopkins I can't imagine how happy you must feel! Your daughter and her husband are so incredibly beautiful. Again, you look amazing. LOL! Okay... @Pioneer1 Come on! But you are right on one count, that wedding look like a movie; As if it was straight out of Hollywood.

"He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool."

Yes. I voted. Dystopian executioner. For me, it's not about skin color, I just appreciate beautiful men, spiritually and physically, no matter what color or culture. However, as a Black women, I cannot help but to be drawn to beautiful men of African descent especially.

Suddenly I've drifted into a crazy zone. I have nothing but time on my hands, and I live around the clock, only sleeping when I'm sleepy, only eating when I'm hungry, suspended in limbo. My Samsung smart phone is my ever present companion and it's like there's a connection between my fingers and its keyboard and I have a compulsion to just write long dissertations or crazy vignettes, my words and thoughts feeding on each other like i'm overtaken by a rogue AI entity that compels me to write about things I didn't know I knew, - like my subconcious mind is on overdrive. Like now. Fortunately, I'm not immobile nor in dire health. But I do tire easily, and like to curl up on my recliner, where i still set aside time to do patternless crossword puzzles that seem to work themselves and play Bridge on line with computerized robots - who seem to becoming more human by the day... Family relationships are normal, but there's this other world that I drift in and out of and when I sleep I have vivid dreams about all those who have gone ahead. In a recent one it seemed like my husband had hooked up with an old girlfriend. Why do I find this funny??? Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining, not lonely nor depressed, just curious about this weird state I'm caught up in. I still sometimes sneak out at night and look up at the stars... Now i'm about to gear up for my daily walk up and down the driveway. Stay tuned, - or tune out if you have better things to do than read the ramblings of a crazy ol lady. Hoping some winning POWERBALLnumbers will pop into my head. Nothing like a billion dollars to calm your impulses.

Computed by whom? NASA? Or the aliens who launched it and subsequently turned it green for "GO"!

IMO, you have reached the zenith of life. We should all be so fortunate to get there. Relative good health is a bonus in the zenith of life. There is no shortage of posts that we express how much we enjoy your input here. I certainly look forward to and get a kick out of your ramblings. Keep posting as long as time allows..

Sista @Mel Hopkins, it's always great whenever you decide to plop into your chair in the proverbial coffeehouse that is AALBC. Always appreciate your contribution to the discussion. I don't work in academia or the ministry but if/whenever you run across a 6 foot, well dressed, nice watch wearing, bald-headed Black man pontificating about anything in a lecture hall or pulpit or playing the piano, that could be your brotha from another mutha.

I Love You Am I the only one on this forum who has ever met you in person? I’m still kicking myself for not spending more time with you that evening in Chicago almost a decade ago. Even when this picture was taken, you had been participating on the forums for 12 years! I think you’re the only person here who has firsthand knowledge of that guy named Thumper. After more than two decades of participation, here I believe other than myself, you have the longest tenure of any active poster. In my opinion, you have enriched this forum in many ways and more than any other person. You also set the bar high demonstrating what a 90+ year old person can do when it comes to technology, writing, keeping up with pop culture, politics, and despite a little cynicism maintaining a sense of humor. It is hard to imagine how quickly time has flown by and how fleeting life is. Happy birthday!

Listen to these LOVERS of America bitch and moan because also being shuckers and jivers who, between constantly objectifying women, crow about black men being superior to males of other ethnicities, and who are now sulking because their fellow chauvinists can't control their "much-envied" sexual prowess the way certain other black men are able to do, thus providing newsworthy material for the dreaded white media which is controlled by the deep state racist conspirators plotting to demonize black men in order to keep them from acquiring the power they are too inefficient to acquire in the first place. HoHum. Same ol, same ol. What black folks need to do is ,,,.go find a deserted island and start their own country so they can fight amongst themselves without interference from dem bad ol white folks who have no intention of sharing their power with a sub culture of colorists debating who's black and who isn't. Obviously I'm not trying to win a popularity contest here. Since I've turned in my black credentials. I can spew the narrative of my tribe and keep on truckin'. What a wise man who should've said nothing, once let slip: "It is what it is."

Thank you @Pioneer1 . I think only in this country do you need to set aside a day of remembrance for mothers, considering this country's track record of continued abuse. I'm sure you know about the sterilization program this country ran to make sure certain women could not reproduce. Please don't get me started LOL Happy Mother's Day @Cynique @aka Contrarian Joy looks so good on you! You are a radiant beam of LOVE!

Is religion the "opiate of the masses", - or what?

If Jesus did exist, I believe he would've had an appreciation for irony. After all, his Daddy offers free will as an option. But exercising it can get you in a hell of a lot of trouble.

Personal observations can confirm or corroborate facts but it mainly serves as a form of mental masturbation. Statistics provide real data to define and reinforce a position or belief. Well constructed arguments require both statistical data and analysis combined with relevant personal observation. Personal observation on its own doesn't verify or prove anything. Gotta produce receipts i.e. statistical data.

March 13-14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse NASA: March 13-14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse: Telescopic View Released Thursday, January 30, 2025 https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5472 This week, on the evening of March 13 and into the morning of March 14, the moon will slide into Earth’s shadow, creating a wondrous and graceful event: a total lunar eclipse. The whole show, over three hours long, will be visible across almost the entirety of North America, Central America, and most of South America. From western Africa the moon will set while still eclipsed, and in extreme eastern Russia the moon will rise already in eclipse. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/where-and-how-to-see-total-lunar-eclipse-2025-blood-moon _____________________________________________________________________ This is so awesome! Even though there will be other lunar eclipses however, I think this one is extra special because it just so happens to occur in the middle of the month and even more amazing would be that it will happen in the month of March. The month of March is the scientific and universal New Year! March 14, is the scientific and lunar New Year! So if you count from March to September, it confirms this fact because Sept means 'the number seven (7)' and then the root word 'Oct' for the month of October means 'eight (8)' as in octagon. For America and western Calendars, the month of September is the ninth (9th) month, October is the tenth (10th) month and so forth. So for the earth to align with the moon becoming a full moon on the evening of March 13 is significant in how the solar system aligns at times. The vernal equinox will then occur in the third week of March. Eclipses though, are not always easy to see because of the nature of how they tend to pull up the clouds. But hopefully for those who may want to look up and witness this celestial event, the clouds will not gather and block the red moon.

IMO, humans are tribal by nature. In complex societies, people belong to more than one tribe.

Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Lisa Fischer and Valerie Simpson were among those who performed at the funeral service for Roberta Flack. I would like to know what was so important that our beautiful sista Lauryn Hill couldn't finish getting her hair done. Hair appointment aside, the mercurial Ms. Hill still has that voice. The woman can sing effortlessly. Surely, the late Ms. Flack would have approved of Lauryn showing up for her homegoing service. Of course, the great Stevie Wonder did his thing too. The man is a living legend. Deserves his flowers now. Ms. Roberta Flack was an awesome musician, singer and songwriter. She left us with an excellent body of music. RIP our beloved sista. DC for life.

I also don't consider her a jazz artist. Although that wasn't in the post . It just said music. I have to say on the Jazz side Robert Glasper is amazing. He did a show with a full orchestra on Northern Europe. Also his vocalist Bilal is amazing. The only current female I can think of is H.E.R. vocally Indo like Jazmine Sullivan and Muni Long

And Black America can and will do that on the very same day that Racism no longer exists! People tend to play the cards they're dealt in life. You want Black people to stop playing the "race card"....stop dealing it to them.

@ProfDI agree with you. For somebody who considers himself sooo in touch with the "Afro American" scene, Pioneer is frequently off the mark, lacking authenticity. Young black girls are not sittin around, pickin up on messages celebrities are supposedly sending them. They're more interested in hair and nails and eyelashes and fashion - attached to their phones, going on FaceBook threatening each other, working part time at WalMart. They are not suceptible to the idea of white boyfriends. They enthusiastically pursue their own kind. Many attend black colleges, where they will not be around whites guys. Or go to large white universities where they will not be competing with white Barbies for white Kens. It's not until they are full grown adults and have careers and are on the dating merry-go-round that black females make up their own minds and begin to consider other options when it comes to a mate. Plus, the vast majority of them are not going to be superstars in sports or entertainment where they can pick or choose. In fact, as Troy has reminded, most people, including black ones, marry within their own "race" The only explanation for Pioneer's preoccupation with white men is that he's jealous of them, undoubtedly afraid that there's a chance their penises might be quite adequate.

Talking to ProfD about the ratchet behavior of some of the people we knew and saw growing up brought back memories of Cooley High and scenes like this: I don't care what city you grew up in, we all knew a "Damon"....literally. Either somebody NAMED "Damon" or somebody who ACTED LIKE Damon. Mostly likely MULTIPLE....lol.

Are Cynthia and Ariana queer? That might explain the off screen “relationship.” As far as the movie poster, if you don’t know anything about the movie and haven’t seen it how can you comment about the poster? I have not seen the movie, but I’ve seen the play and I’ve seem to remember the green witch being a sympathetic character and ultimately a positive one. Yeah, I do think you’re making too much of the poster. For one the character is green with straight hair. So unless you’re going to bat for our green brother and sisters, I don’t understand what you’re complaining about. This movie, the least of our worries. And Cynthia Evio is a net positive for the black community in my opinion.

Michael Archer aka D'Angelo was the pioneer of Neo-Soul music. His Brown Sugar record turned R&B upside-down back in 1995. His live performances were straight fire. D'Angelo was extremely gifted and talented. He leaves behind a body of musical work that will stand the tests of time. Thanks for the musicianship and music. RIP Mr. Michael Archer aka D'Angelo.

Every group of people on the planet seems to have folks who do whatever it takes to blend into the dominant society here in the US. European white folks put their ethnicity aside in order to reinforce the white population here in the US. White folks no longer identify themselves as [insert ethnicity here]-Americans. They are just Americans. Black folks from Africa and the Caribbean also lighten themselves with make-up. If they're too dark to hide it...they'll just conform to whiteness. Begs the question is it considered self-hatred when folks deny their ethnicity.

Now we know what kind of person "begrudges Serena her happiness". The usual opinionated blather and imagined scenarios, and obsessive, insecure attacks on white males and condescending assumptions about women. Put a sock in it! @Serena: kudos to you for getting your life in order. You go, Girl! Serena and her handsome 6'5" millionaire husband.

that video was interesting i lived in this apartment building for a month. my apartment was on the other side of the building with a view of table Mountain, which it that flat mountaintop you see in the background I was there in April. The pool was really too cold to ever use. The building on the left is a large mall on par with anything you find in the — Very nice. I would go food shopping there, put my groceries in the shopping cart, Push it all the way to my apartment door leave it in the hallway and someone would come by and bring it back to the supermarket. For some reason I always thought that was the coolest thing The rent was cheaper than a similar apartment you find in any medium sized city in the US, but without the nice view. Most of the people in the building were European For a black community, people live in what is described as “informal” housing or the Khayelitsha township 30 minutes or more drive from Cape Town.

Beautiful Lady

“The meaning of life is one of the oldest and most profound questions humans have asked. Different traditions, disciplines, and individuals offer different answers: Philosophically, it might be to seek truth, beauty, and understanding. Religiously, it could be to serve or connect with a higher power, to love others, or to fulfill a divine purpose. Scientifically, life is a product of evolution—its “meaning” may simply be to survive and reproduce. Existentially, many say meaning isn’t given—it’s made. Life’s meaning is whatever you choose it to be. In short: life’s meaning is what you make of it. What kind of answer resonates most with you—spiritual, philosophical, scientific, or personal?” —ChatGPT I guess in a couple years, the answer will get much better. It will be able to tell you the meaning of your life. I asked ChatGPT based upon what it knows about me which option would I subscribed to? “Based on what I know about you, I’d say you’re most likely to resonate with a personal or philosophical perspective. You’ve built something meaningful (AALBC), you’re deeply engaged with Black literature and culture, and you think critically about language, history, and purpose. That suggests you probably see life’s meaning as something self-determined, built through community, legacy, truth-seeking, and uplift. Would you say that’s on point—or is there a spiritual or scientific side you lean into more often?” I didn’t follow up with a response, but it was right.

Just recently as yesterday, ABC's "Good Morning, America" devoted about 10 minutes to a video showing 2 boys from opposing all-white hockey teams getting into a brawl that disrupted the game, with parents also getting involved. The discussion focused on how parents are the biggest culprits in these kind of disputes and portrayed them as the villains because they think the coaching is lax or biased. I really don't believe the media intentionally allows race to be a factor in what goes viral. Whether or not the videos are bizarre seems to be the determining factor. The local newscasts in Chicago frustrate me because they seem to be very reluctant to show pictures of perpetrators when reporting crimes. The only way i can tell if they're black or not is by the names or the neighborhood where the offenses occur. Recently, swarms of youngsters have been roaming the streets of Chicago's down town "Loop" area, harassing people, vandalizing stores and damaging cars. The media won't film them close up but they appear to be black or Hispanic kids. Since I've divorced the black race, and only associate myself with my "tribe", I don't blindly defend niggas anymore. They is beyond hope. So, shoot me. My tribe consists of slave descendants who, when it comes to Blacks, think like me and at this point there are only about 10 people left in it. Nor do we have much use for white people, especially the MAGA Retrumpicans! Hispanics, Asians, and NIGERIANS are also disposable. We only claim those who represent our philosophical approach, and our discriminating rationales. Not to worry. We will soon become extinct. Shout out to Senator CORY BOOKER!

@Pioneer1 when people start throwing around the word populace then you’ll know the influence is complete I think it is great that Jim Crow laws have been repealed. “Segregation” where people were forced to drink from different fountains could not stay in public hotels use public pools were forced into crappy schools could not get meaningful employment. All those things were bad. however, in desperation to integrate we effectively destroyed many black communities as the professionals and working middle class abandoned “separate” black neighborhoods in favor of white ones. This has been bad too. There have been a bunch of books written on this subject. Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America by Eugene Robinsonis one that I read recently another that I just added to the site is, Black Ghost of Empire: The Long Death of Slavery and the Failure of Emancipation by Kris Manjapra.

I don't know anything about comets. Will have a more I depth read through. This is considered Mundane Astrology, which something I tried when Trump was President. I made a couple of predictions both were wrong but the second the timing was close.

I don't think Alicia fits into the Jazz category either. Indeed, I have trouble grouping her in with the other three, but that could be my age talking I voted in the negative, as it is pretty obvious given the females who get the awards and attention, Bey, Doechii, Mehgan, Minjaz, Syza, (pardon any spelling mistakes). A Black man can gain notoriety and acclaim more easily than a sister... I'm not sure why perhaps a smooth brother on the keys appeals to more white people (which is necessary for any real recognition). Speaking of the Brothers on keyboardists. I recently heard a podcast on Stevie Wonder which reminded me of the 4.5 year stretch in which Stevie released 5 GREAT albums. What I failed to realize was that all of these albums were released before Stevie was 27! Music of My Mind — March 3, 1972 Talking Book — October 28, 1972 Innervisions — August 3, 1973 Fulfillingness’ First Finale — July 22, 1974 Songs in the Key of Life — September 28, 1976 I guess a streak like that over a career is impossible... but that was certainly and prodigious and perhaps an unparalleled run.

Brotha @Pioneer1, I was hoping you would pop up and start the thread. It's great that we live in the internet age where all of NF Jr.'s teachings are out there. Religious folks have their bibles. I have the United Independent Compensatory Code System Textbook. Thanks to Neely Fuller Jr. who was definitely one of our master teachers. May he RIP.