KENNETH

On 10/23/2025 at 10:45 PM, richardmurray said:

 

@KENNETH if you want the honey and not the pot, just scroll to my conclusion

 

Idealistically it is a positive thing. But let me use NYC to explain my counter point.

Is NYC a black city? no

Is NYC a white city? yes

does NYC have more disadvantaged communities than any other city in the USA? yes

does NYC have disadvantaged white communities? yes, more than any other city in the USA? yes

Why can't NYC's white elected officials align with white businesses to aid white communities that are disadvantaged? 

Because the cost is very high. Aiding the poor is not financially cheap. 

 

How does NYC get money every year? the mayor of NYC whomever they are goes to Albany and begs. The federal governments welfare money to states are more vital to every state in the union, including california. But the federal government gives its money to states, not cities, ala when atlanta/detroit/new orleans are any town/village/city that was or is black wants money... they have to beg a white states, thus...

 

What is my point?  overall it is very expensive to finance poverty. It requires losing a fortune. Black people with money, correctly, are the least interested in losing money. Remember, the fiscal wealthy Black populace don't come from Indian Killers or Enslavers, they come from enslaved black folk like fiscally poor black people. They are not interested in losing their money. And yes, you have to give up your fortune to improve disadvantaged neighborhoods. Remember andrew carnegie of new york, he gave up his fortune and built many of the libraries that are all over the world, but that wasn't cheap. He needed every penny. 

Remember in the late eighteen hundreds, circa 1865, the black populace of the usa was denser than ever after, and that is why white people in black states/louisiana/mississippi/south carolina or white people in white states everywhere else, cut open pregnant black women. State power matters in the usa.

 

HArlem Children Zone and the larger field of charter schools had support from the government of NYC and NY state. Remember, most charter schools didn't have to build new buildings, the government allowed most to use buildings they did not buy for repurpose or use public school buildings spaces. That is a financial advantege brought by the government. Second , across all phenotypes most children in NYC, black/non black/ male/female go to public schools. The charter school movement was never about the mass education of any group of children. It was about making another layer for parents who wanted their kids to go to a school like styvesant or bronx science but the seats are filled, so charter schools became a second tier. But remmeber one thing, when a child fails in a charter school, you know where they go... public school. So Canada, whom I ... Canada has said many things but I know the truth. His movement was about a particular sections of parents having their own zone. 

Now why does this matter? what your talking about isn't about helping a section of the disadvantaged but you want to help a whole disadvantaged community, you have to find actions that actually help a whole disadvantaged community. In the USA those are not easy to find.

 

This like your first is idealistically correct. The problem is, unlike the USA who spent most of the  nineteen hundreds revitalizing completely war torn  or fiscally mired countries[japan/england/france/germany/spain/portugal /italy/korea/china/mexico /canada ] to gain their allegiance against the soviet union , losing the financial advantage the usa had over all of them. Said countries are not interested in any fiscal deal that will not return something of equal value. Sequentially, the Black DOS populace or even the larger black populace in the usa don't have mineral access, don't have aquaspheres, don't have anything physical to trade with. China gives money throughout afirca/south america/south east asia for minerals/resources. West Africans wealthy pay for high end european goods. DOSers don't have any luxury brand businesses. The Middle Easterners sometimes give for long shots or long term investments, but a welfare line around the world exist to them. As I type this comment, people from every community in humanity are in saudi arabia, qatar , or united arab emirates begging for the oil barons to give them money. 

I think some DOSers plans may reach them but many want their money. 

Another Ideal. positive. But I have a little history with this topic in the forum here.

You say demand more from so called  leaders, being a poor leader, one who doesn't get positive results, doesn't mean your not a leader.

But then you want leaders to provide viable solutions. 

Here is the issue. In the usa no system exist for any voter to demand anything from any elected officials. That is the difference between a parliamentary system and the statian system. In the usa's entire history voting is a gamble. The gamble is, if I vote for you, will want to stay in the position so you will do for the voter, the trick is, I am guaranteeing you a set of time, even if you do nothing for the voter. So, there is no way to demand anything in the usa system. White people don't demand votes. Poor whites don't demand votes. Rich white people buy votes, that isn't even demanding, that is paying for a service. Which black people don't have the money to do. 

The problem with providing a viable solution is a strategy can only be considered a solution after implementation. No matter how intricate or well spoke a plan, no plan is worth anything until it is implemented. 

So, I comprehend what your asking, but the legal system in the usa doesn't allow for either. 

 

A little history:) of me and one of my solutions,a  black party of governance.

 

The Black community in the USA need an alternative to Black officials from the Party of Andrew Jackson or Abraham Lincoln 2022
https://aalbc.com/tc/topic/9211-the-black-community-in-the-usa-need-an-alternative-to-black-officials-from-the-party-of-andrew-jackson-or-abraham-lincoln/
commentary
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=1890&type=status

What Blacks haven't done?
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=1929&type=status

Immigration on African Americans
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=1941&type=status

Black PArty of Governance Post
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=1945&type=status

Detroit and the state of a Black Party of Governance
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2124&type=status

Black Women and the two main parties of governance in the usa
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2137&type=status

The lessons in 1865 not learned
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2549&type=status

Shirley Chisholm proved the college of black elected officials isn't serious, that is why she left them
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2571&type=status

With the 250 year anniversary of the USA maybe black people should celebrate radically

https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2776&type=status
Multivisions in parties of governance
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2148&type=status

Specific needs
https://aalbc.com/tc/profile/6477-richardmurray/?status=2238&type=status

 

To 1 , Your correct black people don't live as close together as in the late 1800s , but the reason why isn't self inflicted, remember when you were a kid and they showed black people hanging in jim crow, that wasn't a joke. Black elders to their forever dishonor don't like to admit the reason black people left the south was fear based on white terrorism. It is that simple. And like today, even back then, many black people, DOSers in particular, are unwilling to accept violent action. Jim Crow's purpose was not merely to harm black people but to make our communities suffer at the hands of whites so we would break up. whites succeeded, it is not easy undoing that damage.

 

To 2 + 3 In defense they never have, even in the late 1800s there were black tribes nonviolently fighting each other. And remember when the usa was founded most free blacks fought against, so... the most free, most financially wealthy blacks have always been split in themselves and at some level to the larger populace of black people. I argue the problem today is the nonviolent, self determination mantra black people preached to black people has succeeded, the problem is, it isn't enough to reach certain levels of growth as a populace. Black individualism made the modern usa. Black financial wealth has grown in the usa despite historical financial disadvantages strictly to black people , persistent  governmental limits specifically to blacks . That is black individuals fighting. BUT, individualism has limits. I will even be nice and say, the Black people like frederick douglass in the past, hoped, dreamed, that Blac Individualism would carry black people to a day when the greater USA embraced individualism the same way. the two problems are, most whites still enjoy and desire the power one can have access to with communal strength over other communities. And most non Black people of color came late to the party so to speak, so they carry a communal nature from the countries they come from and thus it will take their bloodlines more time to reach the individualism that exist in the white anglo saxon protestant slavemaster/black descendend of enslaved/first peoples commonly called the native american.

 

IN CONCLUSION

To municipal power, the quickest idea is to get the fiscally wealthy black to support a campaign of breaking up the states in the union. why? no matter what any city in the usa does, if the state government to the state it is in wants to stall or stop, they can and that is that. 

I rephrase, if you get a willing black city, and willing black fiscal entrepreneurs, a white state government can use its power to hold up anything in the courts. So, your first idea needs state power. Get the wealthy behind that. 

 

To private public pooling, great idea but you need to have a specific goal that actually helps a wide swath of black people. At the end of the day, many of the initiatives that helped black people in the usa from 1865 to today, didn't help a wide array, they helped black people in specific places or with specific means or specific scenarios. When the usa gave native american land to white settlers, the condition of the white settler didn't matter. Find a specific thing that can help across the board of black people. 

 

To the money outside the USA, the most common invester will want to see an automatic return of wealth or near term wealth growth. You have to find something that the Black populace in the USA has that can do that. Keep looking you will find it. 

 

The best strategy to increase the rate of results in the usa system that maintains the philosophical line of black voters is to emphasize parliamentarianism. Most Black people in the usa are :not radical enough, not anti usa enough, not anti white enough, too pro individual, to accept a Black party of governance. But parliamentarianism is the best solution for your desire to get better results. Make it where the time of voting isn't enough. The reason why both major parties of governance in the usa are filled with do nothings is because the only time of consequence is the voting time. Not the time in office. Make the time in office consequence and it will change the rate of results. You will have opposition but I think it is doable. 

 

When you assess the black populace in the usa , never forget, that our timeline isn't whites. Black people were enslaved before during and after independence. 

IF you look at the usa from a important moments for Black people, 1492 to 1865 is one whole era of enslavement. White people have the french-indian war and independence and war of 1812  but from 1492 to 1865 remember, over 95% of black people in the usa are completely enslaved. Over 95% of black people in the usa from 1492 to 1865 were born, lived and died enslaved. No, house in martha's vineyard, no lincoln hat, no wage, no sailor on a whaling ship. I know you know black history. But one of the problems with black history throughout humanity is the timelines for non blacks we black people consider speaking of ourselves. 

That means 95% of black people were enslaved for almost 400 years. And what came after the period of enslavement from 1492 to 1865 in Black Statian history? the period of Jim Crow. Now what is Jim Crow? Most will say Jim Crow is segregation, but that isn't true. Segregation is the white view of Jim Crow. The Black view is how long it took for black people to nonviolently integrate with the white populace in the usa. 

Jim crow is from 1865 to 1980. It took over a hundred years for Black people to nonviolently integrate with whites. Why? that was the black plan. When 1865 hit, a bunch of black church elders made a vote on what to do, cause whites were already killing black people after the war between the states for revenge or to take land or to force to sharecrop or to scare us into fleeing. So black churches new. Black churches, voted on the side of nonviolence. [I am working on finding the names of who voted] Remember at 1865 Black churches were the undisputed black leadership in the usa with a totally devoted populace. And what did black people do while whites guted pregnant black women/made up laws to place black men in prison for life to rebuild the south/placed black children in electric chairs/had black people fight in the spanish american war+world war one + world two all awhile no black person could open a bank account, use the bathroom, use the bus , own land, in 99% of places in the usa/black communities in the cities north and west were completely defunded by white governments/law enforcement agencies throughout the usa made money off of peddling drugs to black people sometimes by force while also making money by putting us in jail for the drugs they dumped into our communities .. black people nonviolently and individually suffered the blows embraced all the insults and pains and inequalities and never hurt white people while kept trying to be part of the systems they didn't want us to. With the help of the soviets, some mistakes in administration by whites, by 1980 Jim Crow was officially a little old man. Not dead, but no longer a major factor in the lives of most black people which is how he started in 1865 with what whites call the nadir of american race relations.  Remember Alice was in the 1970s. 

Now we are in the integration era. Black people collectively or individually  survived enslavement from 1492 to 1865 gaining no money no wealth losing many traditions by whip by shackle. Black people's collectives were shattered by Jim Crow from 1865 to 1980 but Blac individualism was able to thrive. Now from 1980 to 2025 and the near term, black people have to catch up to whites who have from 1492 to 1980 a near five hundred year head start on being statian absent any of the financial advantages of stolen land from other human beings or enslavement of other human beings and we have to compete with immigrant populaces including some that are black  who are smaller in populace, for example ethiopian americans are 380,000 people far less than the forty million DOSers,  so easier to move in fiscal capitalism allowed to pronounce and embrace the cultures they came with whereas DOSers were not allowed in enslavement of jim crow to cherish our cultures publicly. So... yes Black people in the usa today have a high level of individualism, but it isn't for nothing. It is unwarranted. Slavery nor Jim Crow were a joke, and we didn't do it to ourselves, and four hundred years is not going to be undone in forty sorry. Anyone black tell you that is a liar. When you see a nigerian/chinese/white jew say Blacks don't know how to do this or that. Remind them that, Nigerians ancestors were not in the slave boats, nigerians ancestors didn't have to deal with enslavement from 1492 to 1865 nor jim crow from 1865 to 1980. There wasn't a day in british west africa where 95% of Black people were told they couldn't have their culture. Where they had to live chained up. Chinese and white jews were starting businesses from 1492 to 1980 in the usa, in places black people were not allowed or could not. 

Yes, Black Individualism is high, that is how Black DOSers survived nonviolently. Give ourselves a hand. It wasn't easy. 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for your response. There's so much to unpack from many sides. But I'm going to make an effort. 

1. We have to approach this from enlightened self interest.

A lot of wealthy blacks in business still depend on black customers and government contracts. Advancing human and community development among other blacks translates into more employees and customers which is capital and market share. This is business not altruism. 

None of this is strictly governmental or philanthropic. It's market based. Changing how we think about business and growth is essential because most black businesses are very small. But it's necessary to think and do things on a bigger scale for your own sake. And it makes sense to partner with other blacks where possible. Think about a black barber and hairdresser coming together to build a distribution company with perhaps a black rental property owner. Groups like the National Black Chamber of Commerce can and should be forums to facilitate this kind of action. 

Despite all the persistent problems and challenges blacks continue to face as entrepreneurs success is possible. The opportunities to grow a company are real both at home and abroad. Think David Steward of World Wide Technologies and Robert Smith of Vista Equity Partners who are bllionaires. 

2. Local government and Civil Society play unique and vital roles in business and community development. 

Think about taxes, zoning, incentives, funding, and contracting decisions by City Officials matter. If and when blacks in these positions make decisions to help black businesses and communities grow that's progress. And white politicians do it every day. 

We as black people wrongly say among ourselves  -  Niggas don't help each other. That's not completely true. Think about United Negro College Fund. Black Greek organizations and even black churches with scholarship funds. Name a major black non-profit or group that has went out of business because blacks don't give? We have to scale up and raise awareness among our own about what's available. The same thing is true about all kinds of black individuals and groups working in our communities all the time making a difference. 

Black people today despite our difficulties have more money, education, expertise, political power, and opportunities than ever. We need a mindset and initiative to leverage the resources we have to benefit ourselves individually and collectively.

Sometimes we are  too focused on racism and economic injustice worrying about what's lacking or denied us. I'm firmly committed to fighting for our rights. But there are things we can do beyond advocacy and action at the Federal government level to help ourselves immediately on the ground.

Black people in the Jim Crow Era did this very thing with far less than we have today.

3. We have to put people, places, and things in perspective to see how progress is possible.

Cities where blacks are a majority and dominate local politics like Atlanta, Detroit, or even Jackson Mississippi are centers of opportunity to experiment with all kinds of ideas. Places like Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago are different. But even in the latter possibilities exist. 

Geoffrey Canada built the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City with mainly private money from wealthy whites like Bill Gates and corporations. That's an important factor. Black thinkers, activists, politicians, and business people need to study his successes and failures and the possibilities and limits of what Geoffrey Canada did. 

Think about what happens when black voters want change. It's possible to kick out leaders who are too focused on themselves rather than the people. Two examples come to mind.  Charles Rangel defeated Adam Clayton Powell in New York in the 1970 Democratic Party primary for Congress. 

Corey Booker lost the Newark New Jersey Mayoral race to Sharpe James the sixteen year incumbent in 2002. But Booker returned in 2006 to beat the candidate backed by the retiring James- Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice. 

Ultimately there are no guarantees or easy answers. But blacks must be persistent and think differently about the challenges we face. We might try and fail doing different things. However failure is guaranteed if we do nothing at all. Now is the time a kind of black pragmatism that includes advocacy, protest, national, state, local government, entrepreneurial, human, and community development.

10 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

It's not like all white people have their thing together. It's no secret that millions of them are in the same category as black folk, struggling to get ahead. And a whole lot of them are worse off that Blacks who have reached some degree of success. 

It's really about elitism and oligarphy. About wealth being  concentrated in the hands of a few who exploit the masses.

Yes, white skin is a pass port to opportunity, but it can only take  you so far. 

 In reality, true equality has never existed in the world, and traits like honesty and integrity don't necessarily reward you with success.

The law of the jungle still pervades human civilization. And rugged individualism has to be fortified with ruthlessness and driven by greed.  Luck also plays a role.

 

Life is a bitch. Black folks lost Africa to foreign invaders and they've been struggling ever since. Unity is a pipe dream when skin color is too often the only thing groups have in common.

 It's a cruel world

 

 

 

 

I think you make a good point. However Americans won't do anything about gross economic inequality and oligarchy unless they recognize these are systemic not individual problems. Moreover until they believe politics and government can advance the public good, it will be business as usual.

Just now, ProfD said:

I would love to see Black folks collectively do better in terms of nation and wealth building. 

 

Realistically, I know that Black folks are way too fragmented for that to happen.

 

It would take like-minded Black folks to join forces and get it cracking.

 

Otherwise, Black individuals and tribes will continue doing their own thing and whatever that means in terms of success.😎

I think this is the case. Thanks for responding.

There are Black majority cities in America like Atlanta, Detroit, Baltimore, and even Jackson Mississippi. What if Black politicians at the municipal level began working with wealthy black entrepreneurs to develop and diversity local economies especially disadvantaged neighborhoods ? Think about it.

What if we pooled public and private resources to replicate what Geoffrey Canada did with the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City ?  After all a good start early in life in a livable environment comes before any kind of academic achievement or entrepreneurial success. Right?  

Secondly, what if black business people and politicians formed public/private partnerships to seek out new sources of investment like Chinese, Middle Eastern, and West African ? 

Third, maybe we need real democracy in black politics which means independent thought and action that challenges the Black Democratic Leadership Establishment. I'm not saying move to the Republican Right. But demand more from our so called leaders. If you can't provide viable solutions to problems like crime, violence, poverty, academic failure, and the racial wealth gap then you get voted out. 

So what's keeping us from doing these things ? 

1. We don't live together and aren't forced to work and strive together inspite of our class, political, or status differences the way Jim Crow and DeFacto residential segregation forced us too. 

2. Middle and upper income blacks have their own priorities even among individuals that differ from poor and workingclass  blacks. Race, blackness, and struggling against racism don't matter as much anymore or in the same way to all black people. 

3. Black business and professional people aren't necessarily always concerned with advancing black people collectively. Elected officials and political insiders often benefit themselves and their cronies. And the Black Capitalist is no different from the white one if he's a major player. The Black Capitalist is about maximizing profit. They only help other blacks if there's money to be made.

So this is my non expert take on things.

On 3/22/2025 at 9:50 AM, Troy said:

@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.

 

 

 

 

Troy I read Eugene Robinson's book several years ago and found it very insightful and thought provoking on issues of race, community, class, and identity. With that in mind I think Black people in America are more complicated and diverse than ever. Depending on age, income, and education there are differences in our Perceptions of Race and Racism.

Ideas of freedom, protest, self help, integration, separation, and community no longer resonate with many black people. Things are different now. The Baby Boomers and Gen X myself in the latter see things and care about things younger people don't. That can be very bad or very good. Maybe the best we can hope for is that black people just keep living and striving individually and collectively. Whether it's separation or integration may not matter.

Joy Reid could make money with a YouTube Channel or web show like Roland Martin that's absolutely the case. Moreover with her salary from Reid Out on MSNBC I  doubt she's hurting as much as the average person who loses a job.

Of course I'm of the view that we should fight all this stuff. However there's never anything wrong with self help. Here's what I think : 

1. Black people own and start all kinds of businesses all the time. Most of them are very small and don't employ many people. We need to get into growth industries to make money off everybody and create wealth and opportunities. The idea of thriving self contained local ethnic neighborhood based economy as the road to freedom will not work. That's been over.

2. In cities where blacks have political clout and successful companies like Atlanta or others we need to focus on community development with black businesses central to that effort. However it's not enough just to make some blacks richer and part of the elitist 1%. We need look at pulling up all blacks as the focus of public policy in mostly black cities like Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Washington DC. 

3. If white people don't respect us or our rights then black businesses people, activists, and politicians need to start looking to strategic partnerships with foreigners to do things. We need to also look at boycotts and financial pressure.

There's no outcry by black people or anyone else because the white man did the dirty work. He made a sick person who annoyed and made us uncomfortable go away. It's very difficult dealing with mentally sick people especially if they are unwilling or too often unable to get help. A lot of us are struggling with our own issues and trying to survive economically. We don't want or need the added burden that comes with family or friends who mentally sick. 

The simple fact is we are selfish. That's a sin. Yes I said it. It's a sin according to God's word the Bible. The wages of sin is death. They could have ignored the man or restrained him without killing him. However they were selfish and vain only concerned with themselves so instead they killed him.

You know what I'm a sinner too because I wrongly think somebody should kill that white man for what he did because once again the criminal justice system has failed us.

On 11/19/2024 at 5:23 AM, Pioneer1 said:

Perhaps all of these Black Conservatives and MAGA supporters are starting to have an influence on me too, lol.

I'm beginning to wonder if it IS actually better to have Trump or Conservative Republicans (Trump IS NOT a Conservative)  in charge of the government for a while INSTEAD of these so-called "progressive" Democrats.

Why?

We know Republicans tend to be more OPENLY racist, however their racism seems to engulf ALL groups who aren't Anglo Saxon and their agenda seem to be pretty clear.

With the Democrats, it seems like most other groups like Latinos, LGBT, and feminist organizations seem to stand the most to gain while AfroAmericans....especially AfroAmerican men....are being left out.

It used to be the Liberals spent tons of money on government programs that helped ALL poor people.
Now these government programs have been designed and crafted to go to SPECIFIC groups that skirt around most Black people, especially Black men.

In other words....
Instead of building more government housing around the country so that ALL people who need a place to stay can just check into a modest apartment either rent free or low rent like they were doing under Roosevelt...
They aren't building SHIT anymore.
Instead, they'll spend BILLIONS on Section 8 programs to move people into houses and apartments to make the landlords rich and they'll pay HALF of your rent or a QUARTER of your rent BUT you have to either be an abused woman, an immigrant, a woman with children, a non-felon, or some other specially seclected group that most AfroAmerican men don't fit the description of.
Meanwhile you have Black men who are homeless laying on the street or in alleys with no shelter.

Billions of dollars spent and NOT going to those who need it the most.
 

Instead of pushing for UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, so-called Progressive promote bullshit ideas like "Obamacare" where billions of dollars are being spent to make PRIVATE INSURANCE companies rich and makes for more confusion as to who will pay the fees for your healthcare provider OR force you to go with your companies healthcare provider if you have a job.

Just billions of dollars spent to add to more confusion.

That's not "progressive".


On a personal level......

When I've worked under conservative White bosses, I tended to get along with them much better than when I worked under Latino or Arab or Asian bosses.
Almost all of the Latino, Asian, or Arab bosses I've had would talk about White people to me.
I'm not sure if they did that as some sort of psychological trick to make me feel better or more comfortable around them...but nearly all of them did.
But despite them dissing and talking about White folks, many if not most of them seemed to be harder and more critical of their Black employees THAN the White folks they talked about.

Atleast White folks...including the conservative ones...TRIED to PRETEND to be fair and non-bias to their employees.
Most Arab, Latino, and Asian bosses almost OPENLY showed favoritism to their respective racial/ethnic employees over others.


They say an enemy "recognized" is an enemy half defeated already.
I prefer my racists out in the open and clearly identifying themselves.

Remember if you really want what's best for black people including black men or anyone else who works hard Democrats are far from perfect. However you won't get a hearing from the Republican Right including Trump and MAGA with their fake Populism.

Black men and women work hard and belong to unions,  also work low paying jobs, have good paying Federal jobs, and own all kinds of businesses that benefit from contracts through DEI programs. 

Trump and Republicans want to undermine organized labor, oppose raising the Minimum Wage, scale back the Federal government, and end DEI initiatives. This hurts all Black people. 

We can pressure Democrats and get a hearing. The Republican Right doesn't give a damn. They want just enough Black voters to make sure Democrats lose. As far as racists and systemic racism are concerned as I always say there's no substitute for struggle.

Maybe there's no real consensus or even a concern among large numbers of Black voters especially men about race specific policies. How many brothers care about stalled police reform and voting rights legislation in Congress. Are they willing to fight for it ? Did they do anything to press Congress or President Biden or Kamala Harris on such issues ? I bet they didn't.

Moreover how many disinterested 

brothers really are aware of what Biden has done to benefit us through Student Loan Forgiveness or parts of the Inflation Reduction Act.  The former gives us badly needed debt relief while the latter creates thousands of new skilled jobs. 

It's easy to get mad and complain or simply drop out. But too many of us don't want to do the hard work thinking, speaking up, and advocating even when there are setbacks. Often the benefits aren't always immediate.

But what's worse is the contempt for and opposition to Black women for doing what we men often refuse to do. Kamala Harris might lose this election in part because alot of us brothers will stay home.

On 8/1/2024 at 7:53 PM, Troy said:

I’m not giving up @KENNETH I’m just saying legislation isas out best solution, that was what the civil rights movement was about. 
 

i often cite the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a prime example of identifying a goal and getting everyone organized to achieve that goal. That was a local effort that resulted in national legislation that impacted far more people.

 

 

Troy I agree with you that protest and advocacy should lead to concrete change especially law and public policies. Please don't misunderstand my point. But things are different now with technology and people being less attached to community.

5 hours ago, Troy said:

A Black agenda has been created before.

 

You just can’t get enough Black people to support it. In my years of life individuals always hurt our ability to organize as they eventually or their own self interest ahead of the group. 

 

 

I understand what you mean. But we can't give up. It takes persistent effort and adjusting to a new time and different kind of Black community that's not like the one that produced the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

2 minutes ago, ProfD said:

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/31/donald-trump-nabj-interview-00172104

 

Former POTUS Orange Julius had a meeting with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). 

 

Instead of making any case for what he plans to do for Black folks, former POTUS OJ was combative, insulted his hosts and doubled down on his ignorant rhetoric. 

 

Not that we should have expected anything different but former POTUS OJ clearly did not use the opportunity to ingratiate himself with Black folks.

 

Former POTUS OJ is consistent in letting Black folks know he's doesn't and never will give a d8mn about then.

 

Surely, that interview wont stop Tim Scott, Candace Owens and Larry Elder and others from supporting the Orange Jackazz.😁😎

You got that right ! 

Back in 2020 I wasn't for Kamala Harris as Biden's VP. I felt at the time there were more Progressive Black women in Congress who were better suited like Barbara Lee also from California. But then again I was also for Bernie Sanders until Biden got the nomination. 

At times she has struggled as Vice President but she's persistent and willing to take the fight to Republicans. Now she's likely to be the Democratic nominee, and if she wins President. What will that mean for Black people? We would benefit from certain policies in a Harris administration just like that of Biden. But it's not likely that Harris will do anything significant that's  race specific like Reparations or even the George Floyd Police Reform Act which has stalled in Congress.

While some of this can be blamed on systemic racism in the political process and Rightwing Republican obstruction. It's also important to recognize that Kamala Harris like Barack Obama is the kind of Black Politician who came up through the White community not Black Interest group politics. These kinds of Black politicians aren't focused on politics or policy solutions targeted to Blacks like others who come  from the Black community.

Furthermore the Democratic Party hasn't passed any major policy initiative targeted at Black people since the 1960s. Too often the party is focused on getting and keeping white working class men or white suburban moderates. While we gain some benefits they are never adequate in relation to our support for Democrats or the particular problems we face.

Ultimately Black people must be better organized and more willing to hold Harris if she's President and Democrats accountable for not doing certain things. But then Black people at every level need to develop and push for an agenda with specific policies. 

When it comes to politics you can blame Kamala Harris and Democrats for not doing enough. However we have to take some responsibility ourselves. 

Thanks aka for responding to my post. Standing and fighting as a united front win or lose works for the Republican Right every time. Even when they lose a Presidential race they come together to obstruct the Democrat. They just might win again with a lying convicted fellow whose willing to flirt with authoritarianism. 

Too often Democrats are reactive and defensive due to media narratives, polling, and opposition from the Republican Right. They come off as weak and Standing for nothing while also being too divided. 

Biden was a fighter who did a lot of good for the country despite being old and slow all along. He was a likable and known quantity which may be especially important with independent swing voters needed to win the election.  Kicking him out and going with Harris or anyone else poses a big risk. 

But I will vote for her.

3 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

Thanks, Joe. I know I been bad mouthing you, but you've redeemed yourself and have come through in the clutch. You've saved your legacy, and Ametica owes you its gratitude for all you've done to make it a better place.

Kamala, you may have to make a sacrifice too, girlfriend.  Are the undecided swing voters ready for a black woman president? This country is about to be tested. If preserving democracy is the goal, you may have a shot.

But desperate times call for desperate decisions, and - testosterone is better fuel for aggression than estrogen is. 

 

Humph. Listen to me, talkin like I give a damn about rescuing America from what Donald Trump represents.

 

...I got grandkids, y'all.

 

I hate to see the President forced out because people are driven by the media, polls, and Rightwing Psychological manipulation rather than conviction and a willingness to fight no matter what. But Kamala Harris maybe the nominee unless others come forward at the convention. I hope she won't face opposition. 

If Biden steps down that's fine. But I don't believe in pressuring him because he's come this far and hasn't ruined the country.  Last Thursday night was nothing new. Yes it was really bad. Biden is mentally and physically slow yet he hasn't hurt the country thus far. Meanwhile nobody is saying Donald Trump the convicted felon, Liar, unhinged, reckless, wannabe, dictator should leave the race. Even worse millions of Americans are ready to choose Trump over Biden. 

On 6/28/2024 at 8:07 AM, ProfD said:

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/aipac-jamaal-bowman-cori-bush-00165174

 

Coming against Israel does not bode well for American politicians. 

 

AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) put up the money to insure Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY) lost in the primary election. 

 

The next chip to fall could be Rep. Cori Bush (Mo). She's in a close primary race too.

 

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) takes money from non-Black special interest groups. As a result, they have marching orders that have little or nothing to do with helping their Black constituents.

 

Politics is a dirty business. Black politicians aren't remotely interested in playing the game to the advantage of lifting up Black people. They seem to be selling out solely to enrich themselves.

 

I don't feel badly for Black politicians losing their seats especially when they don't deserve to be in the chair.😎

Unlike in the 1970s a lot of CBC members represent majority white districts so they aren't rooted in or mainly focused on the black community or issues that effect us. 

The problem with AIPAC is that it's a big money special interest group that will go after any Democrat who doesn't uncritically support US policy on Israel. 

On 5/19/2024 at 6:33 PM, Stefan said:

Lord knows just how incredibly short-sighted many Black folk can be.

It seems some of you want to argue, insult other Black people and ignore the signs that Trump will win in November. (I sure hope it’s not because so many of you probably WANT Trump to win).

Here is what you’re missing:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott just pardoned a White man convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in the summer of 2020. Daniel Perry WAS serving a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of the protester, Garrett Foster, who was attending a racial justice protest with his Black fiancee.

But Perry, an armed White man, didn’t fancy that one bit. Abbott had faced pressure to issue the pardon from conservative media figures, or so he said.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-led-texas-governor-to-pardoning-man-convicted-of-killing-black-lives-matter-protester

Then, there’s the honorary Ku Klux Klansman in the Show Me State where a judge decided this man’s opinions and beliefs on race and other matters does not mean he should be shunned.

Nope.

This dude can remain on the GOP ballot for Governor, the judge determined.
 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/missouri-judge-allows-former-honorary-member-kkk-remain-states-gop-pri-rcna152933

Ah, but I would not worry about this. Sean Diddy Combs can chase ‘em down, throw ‘em down, then proceed to beat ‘em down. They don’t even have to be near Century City or Combs’ hotel room.

And this time, we get to cheer.
 

 

 

 

 

Our future is what we will fight and work hard to make it. Things in the past like Slavery and Jim Crow Segregation were far worse than what any of us under age seventy can possibly imagine. Things aren't as good as they could or should be. But our situation is far better than it was.

It's up to us. Systemic Racism, this prevailing brand of predator Capitalism, and the Trumpist threat to freedom and democracy are challenges that can be met and overcome if we stand strong and get involved.

We can restore black marriage, reclaim our neighborhoods from violent crime, and build bigger more lucrative businesses. But this requires us to be better individuals. It means practices real love that corrects, rebukes, encourages, and supports each other as family members and friends.

Nothing good is guaranteed. Nothing bad is inevitable.

On 1/19/2024 at 4:39 PM, Pioneer1 said:

What most AfroAmericans want today is SEPARATION....not Segregation.
There's a difference...........

50 or 60 years ago most AfroAmericans didn't want Separations.
Some did...a minority...but most wanted full integration into White society because they felt it would make us better off collectively.
Now 50 and 60 years later, we realize that it did not.
While SOME Black folks benefited....MOST of our people are worse off today than most of their grand parents were back during the Jim Crow era.

Personally.....I want BOTH:

SEPARATION with the option to INTEGRATE as needed or desired, lol.

Black people want freedom and to benefit from living in this society. They don't want to be deprived of rights, opportunity, or material well-being. Whether these things come from living in Black neighborhoods and having black businesses; it can also be found in the White mainstream. That includes elite universities or professional jobs in Corporate America. Black people often feel like we're losing something we need or want. 

On 1/19/2024 at 10:53 AM, Jeromex said:

Do Blacks want to be segregated from whites? It seems as if they do. Many black communities are complaining about white people moving in. Blacks are claiming “ they dont look like us”. They are also saying it about asian people as well and claim blacks need their own communities. Seems a bit ironic to me as well as hypocritical. Blacks are the first to claim discrimination even when most often its their imagination.

You will find countless examples of this on you tube and black radio shows.

If this was the other way around, blacks would be protesting and rioting. You cannot have it both ways. Our black community needs to be much more rational  and realistic.
Please opine.

It's not about segregation or assimilation. It's about pluralism and agency. All Black neighborhoods with thriving businesses should be possible along with opportunities in the White mainstream whether it's a job or going to an amusement park like Disney World.

It's important to realize that during the era of Jim Crow segregation whites did business in black communities and rented property to blacks. None of this is about optics. It's about power and control with all its benefits. That's what most Blacks want. 

We don't value or pay workers like maids, janitors, home health, childcare workers, cashiers, or fast food employees.

We wrongly disdain politicians and hate taxes while complaining about how messed up society is because government doesn't take care of people at home over foreigners and immigrants. 

We idolalize rich people and wealth while never questioning certain negative things it takes to get rich and stay that way.

All of this cuts across racial lines and is true of ordinary working people who are the key to changing things. The problem is with all of us to some extent.

Thanks Troy for posting this and making the point. Whites are poor because of exploitation and lack of economic opportunity especially in the suburbs and rural areas. Meanwhile Black people are poor because of systemic racism and economic injustice. We bear the added burden of race. If poor and working class whites could get past racism, anti statism, and a kind of radical individualism there might be a chance to change America for the better.

Ultimately Capitalism unless it is reformed in big ways will generate lots of poverty. It has to be free enough generate growth yet restrained to an extent that it's fair and beneficial for everyone not just the rich owners of capital. The problem with Americans,  unlike people in Western Europe who wisely embraced Social Democracy, is that we don't like or want that kind of government action to tame Capitalism or spread its benefits. Add racism and its systemic component to this mix and its not hard to see why poverty is such a huge problem in America.

Her sexual orientation has nothing to do with her ability and it's not pulling black people down in any way. LGBTQ people are just as much part of the black community as anybody. We've got to move beyond the idea that authentic blackness whatever that may be is only straight male cisgendered and patriarchal. 

My only concern is that Barabara Lee whose been in the House for several years and lives in California wasn't chosen. But this woman has a strong background in labor and community organizing in addition to abortion rights. Give her a chance. She might surprise us in a good way.

On 8/20/2023 at 5:42 PM, Jeromex said:

Black people do NOT need reparations ! Our community needs more fathers, more family structure, and more trade schools. Far too many blacks are sitting around and waiting for that big reparations pay day rather than trying to lift themselves up. Playing the victim is easy but how about our community teaching our youth that they arent victims? Thats a much better and more constructive idea. 
Slavery happened 160 years ago, how would they even determine who gets reparations? So many blacks have white or hispanic blood anyway. Should the families of White Union soldiers who died freeing slaves also get reparations?

Should black Africans that sold their own people to slave traders have to pay reparations? Should muslims pay reparations to enslaved Christians during the reign of the Ottoman empire ? Where does it end ! 
Our black conmunity needs to wake up and start realizing the democratic party is using us and constantly dangling carrots to our community in the form of reparations, more welfare, and more victimhood excuses. Every other Brown ethnic group managed to lift themselves up except our black community.

Its time we start making responsible decisions and stop the blame game. We are better than that!!!

 

We don't need no reparations
We don't need no thought control 
No dark sarcasm in the media
Liberals, leave us blacks alone 
Hey! Liberals, leave us blacks alone 
All in all it's just another brick in the wall 
All in all you're just another brick in the wall 

 

I disagree with the standard rightwing characterization of black people as dysfunctional, whining, malcontents, who just want to blame whites and society for all our problems. And it's utter nonsense to suggest we need to emulate other ethnic groups in order to make it. Our experience of injustice and deprivation is unique. Yet we have made progress since the 1960s. But racism and an unjust economy that harms all working people still pose a challenge. When it comes to reparations it's not a question of merit, We should have got forty acres and mule along with money after Slavery. We didn't. The problem with reparations now is threefold : 

1. They will not change the way the system works to deprive us rights, opportunities, or material wellbeing. The economy, criminal justice system, schools, community development practices, and mass media have to be reformed otherwise we will continue to lag behind and suffer the consequences of inequality such as lower life expectancy, poor health outcomes, higher levels of poverty, unemployment, financial instability, and unsafe communities. 

2. Reparations if paid will let whites and the system off the hook. Congress and Corporate America will declare the race problem solved. It will be nearly impossible to raise concerns about other problems and get action taken because they will wrongly claim " they paid " so there's no reason to consider any further claims. 

3. Reparations will be the biggest stimulus package for White dominated Corporate America in history. 

We don't need reparations. We need more and better. 

Over time I became more disillusioned with President Obama. He did some things that benefitted all Americans to some degree. But there were things he didn't try to do especially for black people. I'm over him the same way as Bill Clinton who really rubbed me the wrong way more often than not.