ProfD

Yeah, it's the 1st thing I question when things happen. Someone just so happens to be recording an incident but they aren't doing a d8mn thing to resolve the situation. I don't believe these are the last and evil days as the old folks used to say but people surely seem to be indifferent as h8ll.

Friendships are built *on* shared common interests and/or emotion. Alliances are built *for* strength, power and protection. There can be overlap only when folks clearly know the difference and have the ability to separate it.

Those Key & Peele skits were hilarious. Black folks would be an unstoppable force *if* we treated each other with that kinda love.

Every state in the union should be able to stand on its own. Federal funds should only required to offset shortfalls in state budgets. Of course, fiscal management is a different kettle.

I think one aspect of Juneteenth should be a moment of reflection and remembrance for the holiday. We should come up with a prayer that every AfroAmerican recites upon awaking on Juneteenth. Otherwise, Juneteenth celebrations should be festive...party, food, drinks, music, etc.

@Pioneer1, I don't see an AfroAmerican movement building up that would be strong enough to force reparations. I believe 50 years from now, any AfroAmerican interests will be totally diluted and absorbed into the fabric of America. The movements of the 1960s, Black Power and Consciousness, etc., have already been relegated to the rearview. The lessons of our master teachers, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Yosef Ben, Dr. Francis Cress Welsing, Neely Fuller Jr. to name a few, are only being embraced by a handful of our folks. Maybe a younger generation of AfroAmericans will pick up the information and carry the torch of fighting for reparations. Doubt I'll see it in my lifetime.

I'm proud that our AfroAmerican sista is doing her thing but as she's in a different generation from mine, I have zero connection to her otherwise.

@Pioneer1, the People's Party was started by Nick Brana who formerly worked for Bernie Sanders.

AfroAmericans were on code when it came to respect for elders. As the grandparents are getting younger, I guess it's harder to tell the difference between adults and teenagers: We fittin' to go up to the school and whoop our grandson's teacher's azz.

@richardmurray, while I understand the desire to focus on your own tribe, there is nothing inherently wrong with proselytizing if the overall intent is constructive. Another tribe may very well benefit from your ideas and insight. Your participation in this discussion forum could be exposing you to different ideas too. Ultimately, you will make your decision but it's something to consider before changing courses.

Unfortunately, gun violence will be a recurring them in America until people 1) find a better way to solve problems and 2) deal with mental health issues. Also, over a couple decades now, there has been a gradual decline in the respect for human life. Now, some folks don't think twice when it comes to killing others and/or themselves for whatever reason. People want to blame violent movies and video games and a proliferation of guns for de-sensitized Americans. I don't believe that's it. People who hate others and/or themselves to the point of killing either 1) have a mental problem or 2) lack love or 3) some combination of both.

Agreed. Dr. West did exactly what we're supposed to do when it comes to elected officials. Hold them accountable especially as it relates to getting things done within our interests. Maintaining the status quo doesn't serve us well.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I enjoy bringing levity to the discussion forum. Life is short. Yep. Smog from the Canadian wildfires is in the air where I live. This too shall pass.

@Troy, thanks for linking the video interview. As I've already known from listening to Dr. West many times over the years, he will probably need an interpreter to break down what he's taking about for the intellectually challenged. However, there's no doubt that a Dr. West State of the Union speeches would be lit. He would probably have some type of music playing in the background for punctuation. To be clear...I would vote for Dr. West in a NY minute but I realistically know he cannot win. Getting on the ballot will be a major feat.

Drugs have always been used to criminalize Black folks and enrich white folks. There is a whole economy and prison industrial complex built on drug enforcement laws. From elected officials to civil servants and everyone else, the real question is what have Black folks done to correct an ill that most adversely affects us. The short answer is nothing. Instead, Black politicians, judges, lawyers, police officers, correctional officers, social workers, etc., are getting paid a salary to enforce the drug laws that enable them to buy houses, vehicles, groceries, education and vacation, etc. Many Black folks are complicit in the maintenance of the system of racism white supremacy.

IMO, there is no need to reinvent the wheel for everything and/or start at a grassroots level. Starting a political party is an example. It only takes a few people with a vision/goal/agenda and a significant amount of money behind them to start a movement. To date, most 3rd political parties have rolled up into the main 2 political parties. That's because of money. Former POTUS 45 had zero political experience at any level prior to joining the GOP and tossing his hat into the ring. His accomplishments up to that point had been shady businessman and reality TV personality. The qualifications to be POTUS are 1) natural-born citizen of the United States (US), 2) be at least 35 years old and 3) have been a US resident for 14 years. Dr. Cornel West is over-qualified for the job regardless of what he says or does. Sen. Bernie Sanders had lofty ideas that haven't been implemented in his home state of Vermont or anywhere else. The measurement of a politician is what they can do to secure the interests of their donors and constituents...in that order. The history of the United States is well documented. It would be a tall order for anyone to make America a more perfect union. That's *if* America even wanted it. Dr. West's concepts and ideas could be building blocks to a better society and shaped into policy *if* Americans wanted it. There's no shortage of *smart* people in America both inside and outside government capable of bringing a vision to fruition *if* America wants it. The reality is that America is a divided country with a sordid past. Regardless of politics, it will take more than one person to begin to right the wrongs and clean her up. But, I think it will take a non-politician to put America on the *right* track. Along with his intellect, knowledge and wisdom, Dr. West at least brings that voice to the table.

Of all the people who have died and/or NDEs (near death experiences), I never hear about them enjoying it so much that they expedite their exit from this existence. In other words, they aren't in a hurry to do anything to get back to that peaceful, beautiful place and make death permanent. There must be some good in being alive.

Dr. Cornel West may not be as Samsonite-free as former POTUS Obama in terms of baggage but I doubt that a closet full of skeletons will spill out either. Unless they try to tie him to Bill Cosby or R. Kelly, at 70 years old, I don't think Dr. West has any past transgressions that will come back to haunt him. However, it will be interesting to see if they try to round up dirty laundry bags on Dr. West especially considering the cast of characters in the wannabe POTUS field. The former POTUS has more dirt on him than a graveyard but white folks are content with allowing the clown's elephant to trample over everything in the house.

Dr. Cornel West has tossed his hat into the POTUS race on the People's Party ticket. https://www.newsweek.com/cornel-west-2024-presidential-bid-peoples-party-ukraine-russia-war-1804730 Of course, Democrats will be upset with Dr. West for taking votes away from their base. Neither Democrats nor the GOP has a candidate capable of holding a candle up to Dr. West intellectually. Unfortunately, politics is about raising money and BSing people. Intelligence is not a prerequisite or requirement. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to hear Dr. West outline his agenda for getting America ro pay its debt to AfroAmericans and becoming a more perfect union.

Surely, there has to be a better way to protest corrupted courts instead of throwing rocks at the police and getting shot.

Fair enough. I've heard that faith changes things. Absolutely. IMO, the demand for reparations has not been made with a solid outline/plan nor followed up with enforcement i.e. actions

IMO, most AfroAmericans have not thought much about reparations. It's impossible to fathom. There's only been a handful of AfroAmericans advocating for reparations throughout our history. Neither Black leaders nor politicians have attempted to seriously frame and/or tackle the issue of reparations. Most of them have either been manufactured by and/or co-opted by white supremacists. The idea of reparations is like asking one's parents for 1 million dollars. The majority of folks wouldn't even bother full well knowing that it's just not going to happen. America is definitely indebted to AfroAmericans but it will never pay. Mainly because there is no way to enforce collection of it.

As the resident agnostic around here, I don't *believe* too much of anything man has to say about anything. As human beings, our knowledge is severely limited in the grand scheme of all things. Self-preservation is a primary concern of human beings. Very few people want to die. Yet, in one way or another, it is inevitable. No one escapes leaving this existence. Beyond saving the planet, think about everything human beings do on a daily basis that compromises lives. Again, natural disasters is the Earth's way of purging itself. Dinosaurs didn't leave voluntarily nor did they f8ck up the environment.

Bingo. Russia doesn't want to break up the (countries falling under sphere of influence) and the US by way of NATO being in their back yard.

The young folks in Senegal are acting a fool in protest to because candidate Osumane Sonko who is very popular among them has been charged with crimes. The high road for Sonko to take would be telling his supporters not to clash with police. They don't need to get caught up in his issues.