Stefan

If you know the history of Black people in the U.S., then you know the many times African Americans have tried to form their own towns, communities and regions. But racist Whites became jealous and embittered and always found a reason to attack and usually burn them down. A Black political party? And how many electoral votes do you expect to win? Because that is how this country elects its Presidents. Remember, not all Blacks think the same. We are not a monolith. As far as building our own towns and communities ... Eight thriving Black communities destroyed by racist Whites

@Delano There are various schools of thought on this subject. What is interesting is that you are talking about Black Slavery. Because when individuals mention Slavery, most people believe they are discussing Slavery in the U.S. Which is further proof that the word Slav has nothing to do with it. The dilemma that we face when discussing Slavery is that were different forms of it. In Black Africa, Slaves were generally not mistreated and could even be freed after a time. Women were not raped and families would not be separated. But there were exceptions. This is also true in Ancient Israel, where Slaves had to go free in the Jubilee Year. But each region and each nation had their own rules. But in the Americas, Black Slaves were considered property and a vicious institution known as Chattel Slavery developed. It was brutal and inhuman and afforded a slave no rights. The Slave was wholly owned as were his or her descendants with no hope of redress. Five countries that profited from Slavery Karl Marx, among others, believed that Slavery made the U.S. a wealthy nation. But here is an opposing view from Corey Iacono, a Master of Business grad student at the University of Rhode Island: He wrote this piece in 2019. Slavery did not enrich the U.S. So, in answer to your question, in the U.S., plantation owners in the southern regions of the U.S. became wealthy. But horse breeders, blacksmiths who produced leg irons, those who owned forests that produced wood for shipbuilding, auctioneers and bankers also generated income. It was not so much countries as certain classes of workers who made money. Many would be surprised to learn the names of companies made a lot of money from Slavery.

There's a lot wrong with wanting constant attention. But ask a psychologist.

I don't give a darn about White policing since the 1800's. I am only interested in what happens these days. Black people, Latinos and Native Americans were never viewed as equals since the founding of this so-called Republic. So we lacked the respect and consideration that most White people receive from Law Enforcement. Self-defense? It is whatever any ruling authority of a nation, province, state, territory or region says it is. I will not tempt fates. So my paperwork is always in order when I am driving. All of my vehicle lights work. I drive the speed limit, obey traffic regulations and use my turn signals. It helps that I don't drink, never used drugs and my windows are not tinted.

Slavery was not the backbone of Capitalism if you're only talking about the U.S. But it was the key and a certain path to wealth building for shipowners and planation owners.

I just cannot visualize a Terminator playing chess.

I've been published thousands of times as a Journalist, Editor and as a Freelance writer. I rarely had the chance to be humorous except when I had to author a daily news column where I was free to be slightly funny. Now, I can be funny when the opportunity presents itself. But I am not going to poke fun at The Almighty, even though many of his worshipers are fair game. But the following has nothing to do with Christianity. It is an item tied to what our publication called: "This Day in History." THIS DAY IN HISTORY: July 28, 1586: Sir Thomas Harriot introduces potatoes to Europe. Years before he became Europe's version of the Spud Stud, young Harriot was hired by Sir Walter Raleigh, he of the muddy cloak, to be his chief navigator. It seems that Raleigh and his half brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, had sailed with 11 ships to the Cape Verde Islands in 1578, and the ships had become badly scattered. So Raleigh needed Harriot, especially since Raleigh had decided he wanted to pay a visit to what was then some other garden spots in the New World. Besides being a navigator, Harriott fancied himself something of a botanist, and his love of plants and all things fauna brought him in close contact with Native Americans. After painstakingly learning the phonetics of Indian language, Harriott was thrilled to learn that for weeks his new friends had wanted him to take a bath. It is believed that soon after this, Harriott learned about potatoes and published a treatise on the need to cut down on carbs. Delighted with his findings and a new book contract, Harriott sailed for home and dumped the potatoes before the Queen. The new repast was met with mixed reviews. The English were noncommittal but the Russians were ecstatic. As were the French, who immediately began to deep-fry them. Harriot, however, never became wealthy. Unlike Lord Hamburger, whose name we all know and venerate today. ( I wrote this on July 28, 2009 ).

@Delano My first impulse was to use the laughing emoji. While what you wrote is funny, I also understand you are being serious. BTW, I enjoyed all three Matrix movies.

I respectfully disagree. Under the Creator's Laws which were given to Moses, humankind was to remain together as a group of tribes or Society. And astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is an excellent source of scientific information. Bill Nye is not a scientist. Lastly, you need an editor. You post many words, but you're not saying much. I assume you believe you are imparting great truths. Many of us have heard much shortened versions of what you believe. But I thank you for sharing it.

In actuality, we would end up with a Wild West. And this is not because individuals do not want to accept training. It is because so many as just plain nuts while others will resist restrictions on gun use.

I am hoping there is no violence. That is not the way to honor Tyre.

I will never endorse handing or approving a firearm for any individual without requisite training and evidence of taking precautions. Now, ask me about a Black civilian defense force that offers firearms training and I can easily get behind that. I don't want anything to happen to you. Black people need most of us.

ChatAPT may only help the phonies and those pretending they are writers. Even though there are a few teachers and even college professors who push the use of this app, it is cheating. Ask a user to author a piece in front of you or on the spot. Without using the app. Watch the fun. Real Wordsmiths should not fear. Unless an individual has a corresponding background in a subject, knows how to do research so they don't come off as an idiot, they will continue making basic mistakes. They will not be conversant in history, they will be prone to believing conspiracies and unproven theories. Remember the cheerleaders of Cryptocurrency, the so-called new experts in wealth building? Where are they now?

The videos are horrific. Two of these cops waited until Tyre Nichol was completely defenseless before piling on. One whaled him with a baton and waited for a chance to get in a good and unimpeded swing. A second approached and kicked Nichol in the head a couple of times. One kick was so violent, the cop nearly lost his balance executing it. All the while Tyre was lying on the ground and had no way to defend himself. But they piled on him anyway.

@ProfD I get what you were trying to explain. But you were never specific and were unclear. You said every citizen should be armed. That means little. Because immigrants and migrants are also victims of gun violence. They deserve protection as well. You also said citizens should be able to carry an equalizer. Which means different things to different people. To you, an equalizer is apparently a gun. To others it could be pepper spray, a taser or even a hammer. Even though most of us know either of these may not offer much protection to a sniper, a spree shooter or someone who wants to shoot a specific individual. Letting anyone have a gun who wants one is not the solution. There are many layers to the gun violence problem and a major component is mental illness. Any comprehensive solution must come from legislators who have, thus far, demonstrated they have little incentive in ending this scourge. Do you remember what happened to Philando Castile? He was a Black legal gun owner who lived in Minnesota. Castile had a firearm in his car when pulled over by the police. He told cops he had the gun. The cops ended up killing him anyway. This is what Troy is warning you when he said you must be careful. Cops love killing us. They do not respect Black Lives. Philando Castile was a smart and cautious gun owner

@ProfD When Black people speak of Reparations, this does not mean payment for a real estate transaction. Especially one involving a piddling amount. In all the scholarly writings on the subject, the amount discussed is always in the billions. I have no idea why some deliberately ignore the truth of what many have discussed for decades. Money given to one family does not constitute Reparations for the Black Race. Why Reparations for Black people are needed

@Troy Excellent analysis. Early news reports of the Texas Roadhouse incident actually claimed the assailant's gun was fake. I don't know and I am reluctant to investigate this further because of the races of the alleged robber and so-called good guy with a gun. But Troy is correct. Not everyone should own a gun because they may not be a responsible gun owner. Just look at the incident in which a six-year old boy shot his teacher.

@Rodney campbell I will pass on your advice. But I definitely admire you doing something a few people in this discussion group rarely do: THINK. One cannot possibly abandon societal control over their lives. We all have to live within a system of rules and laws or there will be mass pandemonium. You can live in a cave, a mountain retreat, even on a far away island. But at some point, you are going to require nutritious food, clean water to drink and as you get older, medical care. There are laws in place that govern the sale, procurement and safe guarding of such things. Imagine if every Tom, Dick and Harry was able to front as a clueless farmer using dangerous pesticides, dump harmful waste or chemicals into lakes, streams and reservoirs or work as an unlicensed physician. We know these things happen. And what is the result? Untimely deaths and serious injury. This is why we need laws, rules and regulations. This has nothing to do with any religion. But everything to do with Common Sense and with a view towards Communal Longevity. What would happen if everyone decided to follow their own heart, instinct and attitude when driving a vehicle? It would be a mess. Yes, God created Humanity. I will never subscribe to theories of Aliens and Evolution being responsible for the Human Race. But God instituted rules for the first couple Adam and Eve and later on, unveiled his Laws under Moses. If you believe. Fanciful philosophy may be fun to read and even act on in small groups. But when buttressed against what you to refer to as Society, there must be Order. Because too many people and rulers of nations seem to have this kind of thought process: "Is that yours? It's mine now." - ( Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson )

Some individuals simply don't know what they are talking about. The $20 million payment does NOT represent Reparations. It is simply payment for a real estate transaction that involves land that was taken from a family long ago. Read the following analysis piece from ABC News carefully: Payment to the Bruce Family for waterfront property There was no way for the Bruce Family to fully monetize the land. They were prevented from doing so by zoning regulations said State Senator Steven Bradford. And that is why the payment is so paltry. "This fight has always been about what is best for the Bruce family, and they feel what is best for them is selling this property back to the County for nearly $20 million and finally rebuilding the generational wealth they were denied for nearly a century," according to Janie Hahn, chair of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. Does anyone see the word Reparations in that news analysis? Stop accepting nonsense from individuals who don't understand anything and refuse to do research on matters and issues.

I was not discussing Black Society. My focus was on Black History.

Reparations will have to be in the billions, not a paltry $20 million.

Can't wait. Florida plans to revamp framework for rejected U.S. Black History course I wonder if Dr. King will end up a White guy and Mitch McConnell appointing Obama to the White House.

Giving everyone guns is a terrible idea. No matter what many claim, the average person has a moral center and would be horrified to learn they've taken a life, even if it is to save another. But the real problem are those who are violent may quickly disarm a person trying to help. Then use the weapon on the do-gooder and others. Cops gun down folks they swear are armed every friggin' week. They are often mistaken. The same is true of civilians. Now, the so-called "good guy with a gun" in the Texas Roadhouse eatery intervened and shot a robber nine times, killing him. But he shot him AFTER the robber walked past him. I agree with those who want to prevent nutcases from obtaining firearms in the first place. But that train left the station long ago. The day when White people in this country accepted 20 dead grade school children and six adults in the December 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, the debate over gun control ended. The recent spate of armed civilians taking the law in their hands

@Troy @Rodney campbell I've learned a lot from Troy as well. When I first joined this Website years ago, while Obama still sat in the Oval Office, we had many congenial discussions and more often than not, we agreed. I still look at Bernie Sanders' first candidacy as a tragic error. He is one reason why I roundly despise egomaniacs. He knew he had no chance of winning. But the damn idiot pressed on and deprived this country of not only it's first woman President, but an individual who knew the issues, cared deeply for families, is incredibly intelligent, knew all word leaders and as a bonus, is someone Putin was definitely afraid of. Secretary Hillary Clinton did not require a steep learning curve as George W. Bush and Donald Trump did. She would have been ready on Day One. Screw egomaniacs. They all have a few things in common. They rarely read and understand, don't do much research and spend the bulk of their time trying to convince everyone they know everything. When it's plain as day they are full of chit on many issues.

I guess he ignores the actual definition: Evidence: that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof. Meaning that is not 100% acceptable in all instances. It's amazing what one can figure out when they can read and actually comprehend the words.