ProfD

Senator Richard Shelby has done for Alabama what elected officials are supposed to do for their home state. I'm in agreement there. Most of the billions of dollars have gone into state infrastructure projects, ports, harbors, railways and educational facilities. I cannot help but to wonder how many job opportunities were provided to AfroAmericans in the state of Alabama where 1 in 5 people lives in poverty. Sen. Shelby has been in DC for well over 4 decades. He learned how to pork barrel early on and he's one of the few who still does it. Helps that he sits on the appropriations committee. Otherwise, most congresspeople are working for party-wide interests moreso than their constituencies. But, the American people (voters) need to do a better job of understanding 1) for whom they are voting and 2) what they plan to do and 3) how Washington DC works.

I'm not a recording artist/musician. I mostly sit down and play for my personal enjoyment. Music is my opiate.

Most public domain music I play is Jazz and R&B. Every now and then, I'll do a drive-by and play Gospel (spiritual, traditional, contemporary).

I play piano/keyboards.

I've mentioned a few times here that I'm also a musician.

I'm neither a writer nor a book reviewer. I was attracted specifically to the Culture, Race and Economy discussion forum here. That's where I've plopped into a chair.

As I wrote in another thread, some forums will only have a few active participants with more folks who are lurkers/voyeurs. Considering the topics discussed here are not popular (sports, music, gossip, etc.), fewer people will engage in the conversation.

But, that's just it...Dr. Johnson is not building the school from scratch. He runs around looking at existing buildings to convert into a school. i know for a fact that if he had enough money to build a school from scratch, it could be done in less than one year. Rehabbing a standing structure into a small private school can be done in 3 months or less again providing the money is in place. I don't believe the school will come to fruition either. I think Dr. Johnson has found a legitimate hustle that dovetails into book sales and speaking engagements.

While I can understand the desire to have more participation on the forums, sometimes, it is what is and we have to roll with the fact that it might appeal to a smaller audience. Even in social settings, there's always a few people who keep conversations going and others who prefer to be wallflowers (lurkers).

No you didn't. According to Dr. Umar Johnson, he's having a hard time getting contractors to do work in the building. Dude has been working on this school thing for at least 13 years and counting.

Sexism and homophobia are issues white folks would rather address instead of dealing with America's original sin of slavery. AfroAmericans should not be overly impressed by white folks who appear to be allies for the following reasons to name a few: 1) we have no idea of their ulterior motive 2) they have consistently flipped the script to their benefit 3) to this day our civil rights have to be ratified every so often 4) there's no real conversation about reparations. A wolf in sheep's clothing is the best way to view white folks who claim to be allies but have zero real interest in dismantling the system of racism white supremacy.

I'm not surprised that Dr. Umar Johnson took exception to certain aspects of the movie. While Dr. Umar Johnson's critique is his to make, the movie is based on a comic book. The storylines were already written. Movies are an example of an industry AfroAmericans need to take control of the entire process of telling our own stories and creating super-heros. AfroAmerican companies should be able to cover everything from financing movie production through to owning theaters to screen them.

Millons of AfroAmericans still believe it.

Motown put its artists through a finishing school to present a clean and articulate image. Marvin Gaye was a product of it.

Correct. No handbook or proclamation required when everything is being controlled by your own folks in one way or another.

Entertainment. These folks are actors who get paid to stir the pot. They don't believe half the foolishness of which they speak. Most of the conspiracy theories and other rhetoric they talk about is a smoke screen to avoid the real elephant in the room. None of them talk about dismantling the system of racism white supremacy. Black folks with a platform cannot afford to talk about real issues without getting permission from their paymasters.

Always great to read that you're doing well. Thanks for checking in on the gallery.

White folks are unified in the maintenance of the system of racism white supremacy. They enjoy the privilege and benefit of it.

I'm still here. It's cold around these parts but thankfully we didn't get any snow and not too much ice from the rain.

I don't know how the Ukrainian President Zelensky was on the frontlines of the battlefield yesterday and jumped on a train to Poland and a plane to the US. Pictured above, President Zelensky is addressing the U.S. Congress. Of course, he thanked the US for billion of dollars and weapons. This war is interesting especially considering the number of journalists and camera crews running around in Ukraine. Then, the Ukrainian president can make TikTok videos and visit other countries in the middle of a conflict. I refuse to believe the Russians can't catch president Zelensky. They don't want him. That's not the goal of this dust-up.

Before establishing any non-familial relationships, AfroAmerican men and women should have their sh8t together (mental, physical, financial, spiritual) to the highest degree. Individual self-esteem should be very high. Low self-esteem is toxic and leads to dysfunctional behaviors and it is destructive to healthy relationships. A sound mind and body; high self-esteem and confidence produces positive and constructive results within humanity. Winners *train* to be the best. When well-balanced human beings get together, good things happen for the greater good of humanity overall.

Do yourself a favor and Youtube Jesse Lee Peterson on the Dr. Phil Show. It is hilarious and sad. The audience even looks befuddled.

Jesse Lee Peterson is a modern day, 1st class coon and pitch man supporting racism white supremacy. The garbage that comes out of the man's pie-hole would be more comical if he wasn't so serious about it.

White folks who do not practice supremacy still benefit from it in one way or another. That's why very few of them denounce it. Both sides of the political aisle are always looking for dirt on each other. That former congressman was an idiot on several levels.

No need for apology bro. You have a right to accept or reject any agenda, value or belief accordance with your own understanding. That's one benefit of living in this part of the western hemisphere. The liberal media does seem to have a fixation on AfroAmericans within the alphabet soup community.