ProfD

AfroAmericans aren't complaining or whining about their right to vote. It's ridiculous that AfroAmericans aren't fighting to make our right to vote a birthright instead of a law.

First, I fear nothing therefore I'm free to type and/or say whatever pops into my brain. No caution required. Secondly, while you're entitled to read my post as a "sweeping statement", it is presumptuous to assume that I lack understanding of the underlying background and history just because my position doesn't fit through your lens. The brotha makes a great point here because literal and figurative interpretations of information can be influenced by an individual's emotion and/or bias. Even more challenging to have a virtual discussion over text because it is devoid of physical expression. Maybe we should recalibrate the discussion on how China became a powerful nation in the modern era. I'm certain that in addition to other countries they got a lot of help from...US (United States).

AfroAmericans should be able to vote by birthright. Just like white folks.

I have no idea of which Black group would be in control as it relates to others. That shouldn't be the concern. Leadership and unity should be priority. Aso, I don't how long the current empire will last. They have enough history and technology to outlast empires of the past.

@richardmurray, white folks have differences among themselves but they are unified when it comes to maintaining the system of racism white supremacy. If Black folks from every continent got together and formed a Black United Nations working towards strategic alliances sharing knowledge and resources consolidating into real social and economic power, white folks would 1) destroy us or 2) blow up the planet. White folks do not have militaries and weapons to defend themselves from each other. They play war games. They pretend to disagree with each other. That's all a smoke screen to make folks believe they aren't unified. It's BS. White folks are prepared to go to war against non-white people if/when their power and way of life becomes threatened and/or is under attack.

@richardmurray, I was referring to law enforcement and police officers in general. I know the history of the NYPD and how it was created. Maybe you would have preferred that I start a separate broad-based thread and kept this one specific to the NYPD. The end result is still the same...the Blue brotherhood as a militarized, criminal gang is not localized to NY. They are everywhere.

AfroAmerican unity has been discouraged since chattel slavery. Among AfroAmericans, not even our 1) shared history nor 2) skin color seems to be a tie that solidly binds us. OTOH, other Black groups of people at the very least have a 1) homeland and 2) culture. That should be the tie that binds them regardless of whether or not they choose to create minority groups among themselves. Overall, the lack of leadership and unity among all Black groups of people and coming together in order to form strategic alliances is the only impediment to dismantling the system of white supremacy. White folks work overtime to keep Black folks segregated by any means necessary. Black unity is their biggest fear. We are too afraid to rise up.

@Rodney campbell, I'm totally aware and I'm in agreement. In that regard, I don't believe I'll see that type of revolution come to pass in my lifetime. The masses have been anesthetized and neutered by that social conditioning. Most of the folks who want to go to *heaven* are afraid to die.

Police officers are supposed to serve and protect citizens. At some point, they became militarized and turned into an overseer. Neither statistical assessments nor rules mean much when it comes to police officers holding themselves accountable for mistreating Black and Brown people especially here in America.

There shouldn't be a need for a Voting Rights Bill. The fact that our right to vote has to be legislated is the bigger problem. Neither AOC nor Bernie Sanders should be relied upon to help solve it. AfroAmericans in Congress and political positions all over the country should be making it their 1st, 2nd and 3rd priority to pass legislation favorable to us.

@Stefan,, China has been doing the same sh8t for hundreds of years. Their hands are no more dirty than any other powerful nation. The United States did not become the lone Super Power on the planet from being nice. The US is fully aware of every potential threat and prepared to destroy it. Every closed eye is not asleep. All powerful countries engage in espionage (spying) to varying degrees. The US does it too. Weaker countries allow themselves to be exploited. Most are complicit. Otherwise they would fight for their sovereignty or die trying to maintain it. In my eyes, human beings are either white or non-white (people of color). Chinese people are non-white. The US didn't need radar to see that balloon. They've been tracking balloons and spy activities forever. The citizens don't hear about most of what's really happening.

The Prince of Reggae lives forever through his music.

Absolutely. I was hoping you would come along and provide the blunt version of it.

Don't be too obsessed with a green comet that won't be back any time soon. It is a coincidence that earthquakes are erupting on the tail end of the comet. Unfortunately, natural disasters cause major losses of life. The Earth has a way of cleansing itself.

Yep. AOC is a media darling. I would not be surprised if she is propped up to run for POTUS in 2028 or 2032.

The US has the most powerful military on the planet. At their disposal is no shortage of ways of taking that balloon down without putting Americans in harms way. The US could have taken that balloon down a week ago well before it entered US airspace. China is not the world's bully. They are the most powerful nation consisting of people of color. Creating adversaries justifies reinforcing military strength. The US is making China a Boogeyman. At first, it was North Korea. Looks like a pattern. If China was a real threat to the US, they would not be allowed to manufacture a large percentage of US products. Also, Chinese people would not have such a huge presence within the United States. Geopolitics is a dirty game running the world. A relatively handful of people controlling how billions of people live. The media is used to spin all types of narratives in order to maintain the bottom line...system of racism white supremacy.

You're correct in that I do not live in New York City. However, I'm astutely aware of the 1) power of the media and 2) how governments and money works. Again, NYC is spending more $150k taking care of immigrants who were bussed there from Florida and Texas. It is not a lack of funding issue to NYC government. That community center and those other initiatives are not high priorities.

H8ll, we don't really know that it was a Chinese balloon. American citizens cannot fly or walk in restricted spaces without getting shot. I refuse to believe they let a foreign object take a stroll through our skies. They come up with all types of distractions. Divert folks attention from some other BS they're pulling elsewhere.

Human beings would have better luck in life if it was less random. We create patterns and rhythms to increase the probability of desired outcomes. Even with humans best laid plans, random sh8t makes it go sideways.

Just know that our position is a minority around here. Many folks line up on one side of the aisle or the other politically. A classic case of insanity.

Yeah, I knew this situation didn't meet the criteria for Blacks folks to go out and tear the club up. Black folks were in disbelief that it was a wild pack of n8gglets who got caught on video using excessive force.

The cavalier response to these Chinese balloons had me looking sideways: The US didn't want to shoot them down to avoid starting a war. Yeah right. These people play too many games.

Yeah bro, you're used to that brick weather and already know what to do when it drops down to frostbite.

Sista @Chevdove, accept that you saw the comet. Makes no sense to break your negro-noculars or beat yourself for the next 50k years waiting for a funky comet to come back.

Wind chill factor enough to produce temperatures that feel like -45F degrees. Exposure to sub-zero temperatures can result in frostbite within 5-10 minutes. Stay indoors as much as possible. Dress in layers. Leave a water line open to keep pipes from freezing. Bundle up and stay warm. This too shall pass in a couple days.