Mel Hopkins

@Delano indeed, in this material world, mind, heart, and intiution are probably our best bet in operating in spacetime.

@Troy Wonderful! I just made my purchase! Thank you!

Thank you @FerociousKitty Buying mine now!

So far, I believe the conscious is spiritual and a facet of the Divine Consciousness i.e. AETHER. I believe subconscious is a simulation - kind of like web browser that we turn to when we don't operate on faith. Like with answering this question, it's wavering between DIVINE and corporeal so, I'm using my internal browser liken to chrome or Firefox. I'm searching for the answer that would best communicate my belief because I don't have faith you'd understand me. That has nothing to do with you but rather the subconscious... By the way, that simulation is programmable by things like organized religion and it controls how we operate in the material world.

@Pioneer1 you inspired this post. I've heard a lot of people say they want to help their community. If they got a chance to see the ballots before the election it may inspire them to do exactly that, talk to the candidates or even run for office themselves!

I don't believe the two concepts are in opposition. I believe my mind is my consciousness. I also think of the consciousness as the spiritual self.

Therefore, please vote on or before Tuesday, November 3, 2020 to help their community thrive. For example here's Michigan's ballot sample - if you notice there are only 3 federal races president, U.S senators and U.S. representatives. The rest of the ballot contains questions relevant to this particular precinct, ward, county and city in Michigan. Also, the referendums aren't written in everyday language so if you're not sure what the vote will mean for your community - check with your local election office. They should have someone who will tell you how your yes or no vote will impact the community. Also if you want to see a sample ballot for your county -visit the secretary of state office online - there should be a link to access your county's sample ballot. I got this Michigan ballot by filling out the form at https://vote.michigan.gov/PublicBallot

Absolutely! I've "trained" my mind to accomplish things I need to do, without thinking. But I think we all do this just don't realize it. I don't think about driving to the store. I've trained my mind to learn the way - so that I can drive while considering these non-driving atlantans. I've trained my mind to carry out simple math functions - so I don't hold up the line when I'm ready to check out. While these are mental functions - I've also trained my mind to prepare for things I want to accomplish in my careeer - so when the opportunities present themselves I've already ready. I just did this the other day - before speaking to an editor who could commission a story I was working on. Before we even spoke for the first time I was prepared to answer his questions but in a way that wouldn't waste our time. Now I have an ally in a place I had never considered. I just prepared me my mind to recognize it when it arrive.

Genius level work here! Taking a complex subject like the 3 branches of Government and making it plain is every writer’s dream. YelloPain does it well! Take that, Ice Cube!

Indeed. Stupidity, greed, fear, and lack of empathy definitely explains "Covidiots." And it also explains why one would not wear a mask even if they might unwittingly infect someone. And for the record, Troy, you know I work hard not to be reductionist - but this isn't a complicated matter. COVID-19 is a novel virus, which means, as you know, its total effect on humans, how it's transmitted and, a cure is unknown. Virologists, who spend 3 to 5 years' POST-doctoral-level research and are likely to have licenses to practice medicine, have reported as much. AND with more than one million dead worldwide in less than a year (since December 2019), I'll never want to understand how the alleged pro-life group can be so cavalier. So, I'll go with reductionism because I don't want to relate to that mindset on any level.

@Troy there's no cure for ignorance. By the way, I'm not talking about the GOP leaders, their focus is on money and power... nothing will separate a human from their goal to get that money - not even death. So the GOP realize how serious COVID-19 is but they have the money to survive it. @Pioneer1 yes. We both knew him. He was Nigerian and lived here but would also go back home occasionally.

@Troy, I saved a conversation our classmate and I had about 5 years ago and one of his goals was to bridge the divide between Africans and African-Americans - He was really a forward thinker making a difference through his actions when and where he could.

@Wendy Jones you're welcome! Thank you for making the request! There's always something new to appreciate about this forum. Also - when you type the " @ " symbol, and type a letter. a list of aalbc member names that begin with the selected letter such as "W" for wendy jones , will appear in a pull down menu. Next, you can just click on the name and it will appear in the dialogue box.

Yes! I know of "Aunt Nancy" (Anansi - west african origin) from the research I did for my novel. In fact, that's how I found about many of the African Gods/Goddesses. Funny thing is Western civilization would have us to believe that there's only gods/goddess from North Africa - so we ignore or not realize the greek & roman gods were just ripoffs of the indigenous deities. But for every god/goddess the West claims - there is the original from the motherland. I don't think it's disputed but like in the book and TVshow of the same name "American Gods, " the gods disappear when their people stop believing. So, sadly, colonization left us with jesus while the conquerors took and renamed the African god/ess. But early on, I think it was just translation not theft that turned Shango into Thor. For example, Shango would have been prevalent in the Viking world - because of rough traveling on stormy seas. Recent reports like the one highlighted in the NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/16/science/vikings-DNA.html indicate that the Vikings - weren't all nordic as previously thought but were made up of several ethnic groups. So, trading stories about weather gods probably helped calm the sailors.

What if that was the point? What if Stan Lee made Wakanda separate for that very reason. In hopes, someone like you to come along and raise this point. Our content, our literature, always ask a question. This is what makes literature (comic books included) the best conceptual teacher! So, for example, you come to the aalbc community and teach / remind us about the Berlin conference - and now we are able to build our knowledge with that piece of the puzzle. One thing I learned after publishing my debut novel and gathering intel on my readers is that comic book aficionados are a “rare intelligent breed.” Stan Lee knew his audience and subconscious or not - if you want to keep a secret, hide it in a book. So, maybe Wakanda was a wink and a nod conversation starter. As you’ll see here in this forum - there are facts, perception and perspective and they rarely meet. But I do like conversations that help me understand the world a bit better. I like the short film that led to Raising Dion - better than Netflix’s version. The short was a true allegory of how to raise a black boy in a world that wants to steal his power. I have a hard time with Thor. I’m still mad at that one @Delano because Thor is a ripoff of “T'shango, the Yoruba god of lightning & thunder. He is a warrior god and wielded a wicked hammer and thunderstones according to legend.

@Troy, Is there room for a marketplace on aalbc? I follow @zaji on WordPress.com too. And I usually read her post in my WP reader. I hadn't seen any new posts, so I went to her website. Do you know this sister designs the most fabulous book covers and websites and...Well, long story short zaji is talented in the media arts and operates the Creative Ankh. So, I got to thinking. Is there a way to populate a page on aalbc.com that will would pull content from bios and if any member posted their business offerings, it would generate a brief listing? Or maybe, members could pay for a listing if their business is in a book publishing vertical market? Just a thought.

I still haven't. When the masses talk about a project their chatter influences the vibration. So, I'm still waiting for all of the hoopla to die down. I've recently seen Hamilton. I was able to experience the hype for myself. And beside the rhyming, the hype IS the rhythm and the drums, so to speak. I appreciate the influence Chadwick Boseman had on Black Panther. In his passing, those connected with the film are sharing the backstories. I think this is what makes the movie uniquely African, and African American. So. even without seeing it, I get now why Black Panther connected on soul level with so many African ascendants around the world.

@Wendy Jones I recommend aalbc.com member, writer and web designer @zaji at the Creative Ankh https://creativeankh.com/

And I would add “Editing.” I can write and a lot. It’s the editing that gets me all twisted. It took me practically no time to write my first novel but nearly 10 years to edit it and THEN hand it over to my editor.

@Wendy JonesIf Standard brand then or Kraft today never registered for a copyright (work for hire also requires a separate filing too) - they can't sue the publishing company for copyright infringement. That US Supreme Court ruling came down in 2019 and I wrote about on my blog (melhopkins.com : https://melhopkins.com/2019/03/04/copyright-registration-first-then-sue/ ) If a registration exist I hope you can get permission to use the photographs at least for fair us https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html and get a grant from the foundation to offset the cost of publishing your book - plus get a distribution deal with them too. I can only imagine how Kraft Heinz would love to support your book!!! If you follow this path - got through the KraftHeinz company foundation - check out their Corporate Social Responsibility report and consider back door your request through this department - (NOT legal ) https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/pdf/KHC_CSR_2017_Overview.pdf So excited for this book!

Wow - remember when we discussed black culture here - I don't think we ever came up with a definitive description. I'm still searching. I'd like to know how Dr. T'shaka defines Black culture. "white-american culture" is a misnomer because most americans are actually german, followed by irish. Even Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles are mostly german descent. Allegedly, the next largest group here in the US is those of us who ascend from Africa. ( I say allegedly because we may be the largest group but still undercounted i.e., 3/5) In 2010, I believe that the census group decided to put an emphasis on "race" to include latinx/hispanics but like the group in the video said they aren't a "race." That's a moot point for me, I believe race is a social construct - whereas ethnicity is cultural, biological and geographical.

Twin! I know right?! I have to listen again. I really wasn't expecting this - and now I wonder why I didn't follow up on him a decade ago!

@Yvonne Welcome! I love this idea! I was just complaining about keepsakes that I will never use or stick in a box. I'm tired of hoarding LOL. I would I prefer something digital. One of the digital keepsakes I like is royalty-free videos, photos, memes and gifs that I can share on my website without fear of someone coming to sue me. For example, I asked @Troy if I could print t-shirts with the readingblack.com logo - and he said yes! That works for both of us - I sell a t-shirt I get the money and he gets the exposure. Thank you for being environmentally friendly too

@Troy please reach out to one of your Random House contacts. If they aren't behind this - they should know that someone is taking money from the author.

In 2013, Dr. Oba T'Shaka predicted the rise of 45* through the tea party patriots GOP. Wow. :mindblown: This nearly 1 hour keynote address at the "Free Your Mind: A Revolution In Words Literary Festival, Dr. T'Shaka (formerly bill bradley) .shares a lot of insight in what he calls "the San Francisco Freedom movement " I found out about the Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University, when I stumbled upon a book note today, that I left to myself back in 2010. The name of the book is "Return to the African Mother Principle of Male and Female Equality" Pan Afrikan Pubn; 1st Edition (June 1, 1995) - It appears Dr. T' Shaka's website is down now - https://www.obatshaka.com/ It appears that he's also published "Political Legacy of Malcolm X" and "The Art of Leadership,"