Anonymous

Oh I like this *ish right here! Forgive my French. Let me think about what I want to say about this one...

When I think of the term "the slaves" I get the image of all types of things - struggle, fear, strength, violence, love, hope, etc - that I believe they experienced. In essence, I think of the human condition. The term in no way makes me feel that they were less than human. If anything, the term for me brings a reminder of the fact that they were human...hell, you had to be human to endure some of the stuff they did and still have hope for your children's future. Shout out to the slaves...for real. The slaves. Man, I couldn't have lived back then...I don't know how they did it...the slaves...

When I think of "enslaved Africans" I still can get those images, after pausing for a sec to wonder why we're using such a long name when we could just say "the slaves" (and we're already used to saying "the slaves" so why change now). After the pause, I think "Enslaved Africans? ...oh, you mean the slaves." After making that connection, then I'm okay with the word choice. Now I have 2 different ways of saying the same thing. Didn't Troy say something about the evolution of language? That's all this is. I say 'the slaves," you say "enslaved Africans." Potato / po tah to.

I'm thinking most people feel that way. Like, it's not that big of a deal.

Decided to cut my teeth on a short story by Toni Morrison called "Racitatif"...found it in one of my literature books that I saved from school. Absolutely loved it! I can see why she's a big deal. Can't wait to read more. Couldn't find that Home book at the library though. Everybody's checking it out. Bluest Eye wasn't there either, but I'll check on it later.

Can't seem to get into Perfect Peace. I really really tried, but I just kept putting it down. I suspect that's because I just finished reading Ruth's Redemption & maybe my brain has had enough of stories set "back in the day"...So I'll give it a try in a few weeks & I'll post a review on the "what is everyone reading" thread, if I do end up finishing it.

But back to Toni Morrison, I gotta say I really really like her style. She doesn't give away anything; as a reader you have to think...and I love that. Maybe didn't like it so much when I was 20; but really can appreciate it at 40.

OMG I love Joan! And as far as the age thing w/Cynique, if you never mentioned your age, people wouldn't know, but they might wonder "How the heck did she get so smart? Who is this woman?" like I did after reading some of your posts. But other than that, it would be virtually impossible to guess your age.

True story: There have been so many times that you've written something on a thread (or I've read a part of your short story) and I wanted to say "CYNIQUE GIRL!!!" and I have to catch myself like "Oh, I don't want to be disrespectful."

I think the reason Beloved didn't have more of a lasting impact was because it was "required" reading and so that took the fun out of it for me. I was 18 at the time. But I know it had to be good, otherwise I wouldn't have even remembered the name of the title or the author. I remember watching the movie at some point in my life too, and thinking that the book was better. I've been meaning to try Bluest Eye as well. Maybe I can get to both of them this week since I'm off. I'm still reading Perfect Peace. For some reason I have reader's block already though (I'm not even halfway through).

Fun story! I just now realized that Troy's name is "Troy" as in our Troy! But not really bc it's a story...but, you know what I mean! lol. Thanks for posting Cynique! I usually lose interest in things quickly, but I read this story in 3 separate sittings that were spaced quite a distance apart (basically reading in between odd projects & parenting), and each time I came back, I was able to pick up right where I left off, remembering all the characters, even the friend Wanda, because they were all memorable & believable. I'm glad Wanda wasn't killed btw...in that one chapter (was it 14? 15?) I thought the crazy guy got her. Anyway, good job Cynique!

"dogs don't discriminate..."

Cynique! Lawd! Who are these people? You can tell us...come on...someone has said this mess before haven't they! lol

okay i need to stop laughing or else i'm never going to get off of this animal section! this dern debbie is a mess!

<WRITERGIRL DROPS THE MIKE & LEAVES THE ROOM AT THIS ONE>:

“Being married to a black cat symbolically makes Michele Obama ‘the first lady of pussies’,” she’d laughed. “Who better to name my little kitty after?”

Okay pause! I just fell out laughing @ the part about Debbie & her lust for animal rights! bahahahaa!

love it!

okay, back to the story...

"coochie-coaxing personification of virility" ----- and yep, that is Troy all day long! Good stuff! lol

Hey everybody. Thought I'd jump in on this one because I've been meaning to see if my library has this book. I was just there yesterday and for the life of me couldn't remember which book it was that I was meaning to look for! I ended up checking out Perfect Peace by Daniel Black. Now I am going to have to make a mental note that the book is called Home, and hope that I don't forget again.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading it especially since the setting is the 1950's. I remember seeing the zoot suiters in the movie "American Me" and I did a little digging (I'm nosy) to find out more...and so of course I learned about the riots. Anyway, I also like the fact that Home is a novelette. I've only read one book by Morrison, and that was twenty years ago. It was Beloved, and I had to read it for a literature class. For some reason I never tried anything else by Morrison, even though I'm well aware that she is a famous author. But always in the back of my mind is this reminder to "try one of Toni Morrison's books" so now I'm going to give Home a try. And since I'm not familiar with her writing style, I am glad that the book is short. That way I can finish it, even if I don't like it.

These are the makings of the American Dream. This is the foundation on which all American freedom stands. Capitalism and free enterprise has meant the good life for some and hell for others.

This reminds me of a short story I read for a philosophy class a few years ago called "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin. The story was about a utopian town where the inhabitants remained perfectly content and happy as long as this one resident child suffered a living hell while chained and locked in a basement. It's been a while since I've read it, but that's what I remember most. The people knew about the child (it was the child's suffering that afforded them this fabulous life) and they were free to leave the town if they didn't like it, but they were not allowed to free/rescue the child. This story immediately popped in my head as I read this thread because essentially that's what was being described...several people suffering indescribable horrors so that a select group can prosper and live happily ever after. Those that don't like it are powerless to free "the child"...their only option is to leave. So sad.

oh how I miss the board! I've been MIA trying to finish up finals & then had to start summer classes. Now I get to play catch up on the topics. Let me put my glasses on! :-)

@Troy, true! I am glad he/she pops up too...good, bad, or indifferent, at least our fellow-poster is consistent. :-)

Boitumelo,

I think most younger men date older women because they like the fact that they can get those cookies without a whole lot of headache and expectations. They don't have to pay bills bc usually the woman has her ish together. They don't have to hear her bitch and moan about the kids bc all her kids are grown & she has none with him.

Younger guys usually don't have to listen to older women telling them to "grow up, get a job, take care of these kids, blah blah blah" or whatever else the women in their age group are griping about. Being with her is like being on a miniature vacation...that is, until she gets serious and decides that she wants all those things the younger woman wants - which is for him to grow up, commit, make babies, take care of them, etc etc...blah blah.

p.s. The day Boitumelo responds to one of his/her posts, I will probably fall out of my damn chair! ***WHUMP!!!***

so bummed about D. Rose! unbelievable...but what'r'ya gonna do. Poor thing. He was probably so worried about all the other near broken parts, that he forgot about protecting those knees. Some lady on the news this morning said that it didn't help that the season was so short & they crammed all those games in without the benefit of their normal conditioning & physical therapies and whatnot. Oh well...no choice but to keep plugging along. Go Bulls!!! I'm still wearing my jersey! )

Thanks Waterstar!!!

!!! dog gone it - i wanna know what happens! okay...okay...until the next chapter.

p.s. how about I could really "see" Carole's parents...they remind me of my own...and now I want some greens that only my mom can make just for me. awwww

I agree w/Troy in that race relations are a distraction. It doesn't make them any less disturbing, but yes, they are distractions. In fact, they are just one of several "divide and conquer" tactics put into place for generations and throughout the world, with the wealthiest always at the top reaping the benefits. I often wonder how we'd feel about the way we treat each other if we all recognized that there are no races; that we are all from the same place (Africa) and that the different color variations are genetic mutations. That's what biologists are saying anyway, and I think that's a reasonable explanation. It will be interesting to see if their findings go mainstream and really get talked about among the general public.

I also agree w/Cynique that the kids today are very disrespectful and just generally off the chain! I stopped a group of middle school kids one day. I was waiting to pick my first grader up from school and these kids were cursing and being loud and disrespectful and I was standing right there on the sidewalk!

I said to them something like, "hey, y'all need to tone down that language. I know you talk like that, but right now a bunch of first graders are about to walk out here and they don't need to hear that."

Would you believe I had to curse these damn kids out!!!??? They got to looking at me a certain kind of way, like rolling their eyes and mumbling smart remarks under their breath and I snapped on them and said "What? Did you say something? Oh trust me, you don't want to f*** with me today" and they backed down and got it together...

"No ma'am. No. I didn't say nothin'."

Later my friend was laughing about it, but I was really bothered by the whole exchange. My friend was saying "I'm glad you said something. That's what our kids need, somebody to care enough to put them in their place." And I had to disappoint her by saying that I won't be doing that again. These days, these kids carry weapons and try so hard to be tough. I don't feel like getting into a knife fight all because I was trying to mentor somebody's wayward teen. I have to try to stay alive to mentor my own kids.

I am pretty sure there are a lot of people who think like me...choosing not to get involved simply for safety reasons. I repeat, these kids are off the chain! What to do?

@Waterstar, I agree that the fear of being labeled "conspiracy theorists" causes many people to remain closed-minded, or to stay quiet about some of the things they do notice. I know people that won't even entertain the "possibility" of certain things. If it isn't on the news or on reality television, they don't believe it. lol

Troy said: Besides why do we need a police state when the masses are controlled by all the nonsense we have at our disposal now and a dismal educatoin system.

So true!!! We were on fb talking about this a few weeks ago. Someone said "why don't they send the National Guard to Chicago's inner city & do something about the violence." uh, hello? population control. They aren't sending anybody anywhere!

p.s. Sometimes though, I do think about going to get a gun...Just the thought of things getting worse and somebody kicking my door in saying "pack your stuff and get on the bus for your own safety" makes me a little nervous. But like Troy said, I'd be outgunned...What could me and my little 9 do against an army of cops w/an arsenal of weapons...probably go out in a blaze of glory. Lord have mercy. Am I reading too many sci-fiction stories?

Many people who pick up guns can't help but want to use them. It's almost like the gun possesses them or something...like the gun wants to be used...

The person finds himself (herself) wanting to pull that trigger..."give me a reason"...and that's why so many situations spin out of control when guns are involved. That same person who would ordinarily walk away from a fist fight is often that same person who will shoot someone and kill them and then say "oops" later...crying in court, saying they "lost it" or saying they weren't thinking...saying they're sorry...etc etc etc.

smh

I didn't go see it. From the trailers it looked as if they expected 1 or 2 black people to make it to the future. lol. So with that said, I lost interest.

Yes! I just watched it again. Gotta love the convenience of youtube!

And of course now there are people saying that it's not fair to put so much emphasis on Trayvon's murder when there are murders happening all over the place and nobody is doing anything about them. I wish people would understand that this isn't JUST about Trayvon. Really it is about ALL of the other senseless killings that go unchecked and are allowed to become commonplace.

Yes, there are still babies gunned down in the streets in drive-by shootings & the killers are allowed to waltz off into the sunset (whether the killers are black, yellow, blue or purple...it doesn't really matter...point is, this nation sees minorities as expendable; with black minorities at the bottom of the barrel - no surprise there). It happens & it shows up on the news one time & then we move on with life. No protests. Nothing. Do we want our senses dulled even MORE by adding this Trayvon Martin shooting (and failure to arrest) to the list?

If people don't take a stand now, then this type of stuff --- this, this...citizen police crap - will become as usual & customary as all the rest of the violence that we are used to hearing about.This is such a mess. Just when I throw my hands up and say "I'm done trying to figure out a way..." something like this happens (Trayvon) and I simply cannot ignore it. I'm so bothered by this. Really & truly.

Hmmmm...that is a good question (Google)...

I had never heard of this until now. I just read the review posted here. One word: disgust!

smh