ProfD

Some people work jobs that pay a minimum wage. It is not enough to pay bills and buy groceries. Food stamps supplement their income. Many folks have a job and still live from one paycheck to the next. They borrow money to make ends meet.

Both countries have ethnic minorities. Otherwise, I believe those countries are more homogeneous than culturally diverse.

My point was that in both China and Russia, the people have no reason or desire to overthrow or kick out their leaders because as a mostly homogeneous society, they are apparently fine with their governance. Therein lies the reason the US is considered the great experiment and a melting pot. In its 250 years of existence, this patch quilt country consisting of people from all over the globe has become the most powerful nation on the planet. Seems far more people want to immigrate to the US versus those who want to leave.

There is no shame in individualism. The key is understanding how it can be beneficial to the collective. A sports teams is a collective built on individuals who either work together or find something else to do. Same thing applies to your labeling of tribes which I interpret to be a collective of like-minded individuals. They each have a personal responsibility to carry their own weight within the tribe/collective. The Black populace in NYC is made up of people from all over the planet. The main thing they have in common is skin color. Otherwise, they sub-divide by cultural identity, class, religion and any number of things. The Million Man March was a moment in time back in 1995. Black men from all over the US came together. They did not leave Washington DC with a plan of action and milestones to be accomplished. In a circular way, I think we are getting to Black folks having a choice as individuals to forming collectives. Obviously, a child does not get to choose anything. However, Black folks over time can certainly choose which collective(s) to which they want to belong. I'm not giving white folks undeserved credit. Based on my observation, they run the planet. IMO, there is a level of coordination among white folks that enables them to maintain power over non-white folks. It is not about cohesion. Maintaining power is knowing how to pull the levers of it and if/when to close ranks. Most countries on the planet are made up of homogeneous people. Apparently, they are fine with their culture and way of life. That's why Chinese and Russians haven't overthrown their leaders. Surely, those who favor individualism will form their own tribes and/or break off and move to a country like the US that embraces it. They have done collectivism well enough to have created the most powerful nation on the planet. No frustration, envy or confusion. The proof is right before the eyes of those who choose to see it. It has been thousands of years since Kemet/Egypt was the most advanced country on the planet. The technological advancements and shift in power is way ahead of where Kemet/Egypt ended over thousands of years. I don't believe the Egyptians have contributed a significant invention within the past 100 years. No vehicles, TVs, computers, cell phones, social media apps, etc. History is a wonderful thing that humans should know; not to dwell on the past but in order to grow.

Right. Human biology is wired in such a way that people are going to procreate regardless of their conditions and/or circumstances. Humans still have a choice. People choose not to procreate for various reasons whether it is class or s8xual orientation or whatever. Again, my position remains that if people cannot afford to procreate...they should not do it. Provision is food, clothing, shelter and protection at bare minimum. Exactly. Cold wars and proxy wars between super power countries enable them to maintain the balance of power over the rest. I have not checked it out yet. I will get around to it. To me, it is not about placing higher value on individualism. A winning sports team is a collective of gifted and/or talented individuals. Everyone on the team has a personal responsibility to train and prepare to be the very best. IMO, the same thing applies to society. The stronger we are individually, the better equipped we are in contributing to the collective. That's not advocating the "I got mine, go get yours" mentality. The problem is when individuals would rather depend on others instead of pulling their own weight. As a musician, I always look to play with the best musicians around me. It is a waste of time and energy and does not serve the music well to play with musicians who have not put in the work to be their very best. A collective is only as strong as its weakest links. That starts with individuals putting in their work. In order to run the world, white folks clearly understand when they need to put their individuality aside and function as a collective too.

Our enslaved forebearers were often bred to have children. They did not have complete autonomy over their bodies. However, those who had a choice could have abstained from bringing children into such a world. A war between the US and China is unlikely in our lifetime. I still believe such a war would be a hi-tech affair if it comes to pass. Not necessarily nuclear either. Black folks don't need outsiders to keep them from having children they cannot afford. Birth control is free. Interdependence does not absolve humans from personal responsibility and accountability. As an adult, we are expected to make rationale decisions. Our survival is dependent upon it. Beyond the historic and systemic issues, a huge part of our dysfunction as Black folks lies in decision-making; personal responsibility and accountability. As Black folks, we cannot continue to do selfish, reckless and/or unproductive sh8t and expect positive results. The reality is that nobody and nothing else is going to save or take care of Black folks. We have to fend and fight for ourselves.

No conflation or confusion. We've had this discussion in other threads. Different perspectives. Cosby is a multimillionaire but he was never a billionaire. I'm being realistic when it comes to O-Money's bread. She's got that equator loaf. Sh8t wraps around the planet at least one time.

The question is why don't Black folks already have this information. Money is made from products, good, services and labor. Power is acquired through various forms of war which according to NF Jr. is an area of human activity. The elders pushing their offspring to get a good education in order to get a job were not less intelligent. The Silent Generation and Baby Boomers didn't see a whole lot of Black entrepreneurs during Jim Crow and segregation. Those elders just worked hard to provide a better life for their offspring and figured a good education and job would make life easier for them. They meant well. As adults, they often end up living in the same communities along with the former prom king and captain of the football team who works at the local auto parts store and former prom queen and cheerleader who works at the grocery store.

Knock yourself out bro. Innocent butterflies don't deserve to be turned in flavor powder.

POTUS OJ ordered it be done. The Republican led Congress wasn't going to stop it. Just like everything else, once it reached the judicial level, a judge decided it was wrong. It took that long to go before the court. The judicial branch doesn't have the power to order troops be sent home. They can only rule in legality. We live in a nation with three (3) branches of government..executive, legislative and judicial. Someone has to bring that case before the court before a judge can decide it. There is a separation of powers between the branches of government. They each have a role to play and a process to follow.

Financial success leads to the same thing in other areas of life. Success breeds more of it. Men don't make a lot of money chasing women. However, a man with a lot of money can have plenty women. The point was that rich and powerful men do not promote women as integral to their success. The operative word being *good* which in this case can only be defined by the woman. I think you're overlooking the fact that Oprah is already a multibillionaire. No politician or government official can double or triple her net worth. Oprah has enough money to see the best doctors on the planet. She can buy a hospital. She doesn't need a man's help for anything. Rep. Crockett doesn't have Oprah's wealth but she's independently rich enough to stay unmarried and/or not tie herself down to a man or anyone else.

Most Black folks stressed the importance of getting a good education in order to get a good job. The proof lies in the # of Black folks with degrees working for non-Black companies and businesses versus wholly Black-owned entities. How many Black folks work in Black-owned hospitals, banks, engineering and accounting firms, shipping and receiving, trucking, etc.? How many Black athletes and entertainers work for a Black-owned sports franchise or record company or movie production company? Look at money and power too. Sure. There were some Black folks who preached ownership. They were usually drowned out by crowd pushing for get a good education and a good job.

There's a difference between running and giving up the fight (cowardice) versus guerilla warfare and other tactical strategies. Vietnam was such a mess the people fled to other countries. IMO, living a life of fear, poverty and/or any other form of oppression, pain, suffering, injustice, subjugation, etc. is a slow death.

Sure. Rep. Crockett could hook up with a multimillionaire or billionaire and make bigger moves. Ask a man like POTUS OJ if any of his wives contributed to his success. Wait for the amswer. Don't interrupt. Rich and powerful white men are rarely shown with their wives if they are even married at all. A lot of women do not want to be defined by men. Some folks are unwilling to *do* or put up with the strings attached to that help. Oprah is a multibillionaire. Only another billionaire could help her get more than she has already. Again, these successful women do not think they *need* a man.

Unfortunately, entrepreneurship is not heavily promoted among our people and often times frowned upon. Most of our people are taught to get a job or career working for someone else.

Hopefully, McDonald's won't get the bright idea to start using insects and bugs to sell McRoaches and McCrickets and McButterflies.

Religious folks are indoctrinated and radicalized into believing they are dying for a greater cause and will be rewarded on the other side. Humans have a natural desire to live and survive. Most don't want to die because it's final an as you mentioned, they don't really know what's on the other side.

That's exactly how robots and drones will take delivery jobs. More folks will be out of work.

Epstein Transparency Act has been signed by the Senate and supposedly by POTUS OJ. Let's see how long it takes for the files to be released and what comes out of it.

Sure. There are many opiates folks choose to use in order to cope with their existence. Black folks do not have a monopoly on undermining each other in the workplace. Certain types of jobs lead to backbiting and other tricks to get ahead. Starting a business or company is one thing. Creating an economy is no small feat because it would require coming up with something *new* and controlling the entire chain from production to distribution. Fair enough. However it manifests, fear can lead to paralysis.

She's already a successful politician without needing a man's help. People hardly ever say, if that man locked arms with the *right* woman he would be more successful. Your scenario paints the picture a lot of women work hard to avoid. They strive to prove a man isn't necessary for their success. Degree of success can be debated but it differs from one person to the another.

Reminds me of those Dawn of the Dead movies where they keep sending people to the zombies. At some point, folks are going to stop knocking on the doors of white folks. Especially not knowing how many guns they have up in there. Just throw deliveries or packages or whatever in their front yard and keep it moving. If the white folks call the company to complain...give the standard police answer "I feared for my life and safety".

Surely, she has traveled in circles and been around men on her level. Balancing her career as a politicians and having time to deal with a man would be the hurdle. A man on her level doesn't need game to impress her. That dude would be more interested in going shopping or having a girl's night out with her.

Absolutely not. It is the opiate that makes life under the system of racism white supremacy more bearable for some folks. China only has a higher population of people. They do not have the same military strength from a technological perspective. A world war won't be as many boots on the ground. Drones and other hi-tech sh8t will be used to *fight*. Most Black folks work for white-owned companies and businesses. Fear can be mental and/or physical. As @frankster mentioned, it doesn't have anything to do with intelligence.

Right. Marriage is a social contract of accountability that serves to maintain quotas and provide a moral framework in governing s8xual relations. Men tried to come up with a way to keep themselves from running around impregnating women without a commitment to take care of them and their offspring. Especially at time when women were not providers and head of households, it would have been at bad look to have men dropping children everywhere and not providing for them. We live in a society that believes it is a better look for men and women to be in committed relationships stamped in holy matrimony. Of course, like the late Heavy D said, independent-minded folks got their own thang.