Mel Hopkins

Some of us were not socially conservative but fiscally conservative. We believed in the bootstrapping way in life. -That was until I woke the eff up and realized that was a lie too. (Pre-Obama) I was actually a card-carrying republican appointed official for two years. When I moved to Illinois, the GOP preyed on me like I was a lost native venturing too near to the door of no return in West Africa. They snatched me up and appointed me an elected official. Once inside, I saw the GOP for what they were really are; gang members.- The political party system in America is nothing more than a bunch of thugs and gangsters. Prior to my two-year GOP stint, I was strictly independent and only voted issues - and that's where I've returned. I vote for folks who represent legislation that I believe is best for the nation.

@Troy what moved you to recommend this show? What's the plotline? Is this a lot of testosterone and chest beating - or are there some real life lessons? C'mon, give us the 411? 😉

YOUR WEBSITE!!! First, thank you for updating and managing your digital platform. We book lovers, and avid readers enjoy visiting you and purchasing your books directly. We like finding out about your appearances and events. We appreciate your photos, videos, blog postings, and podcast. We especially like updates such as information on when you'll release your next publication. Those of us who don't use social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, etc., like knowing we don't have to sign in just to read your thoughts. We trust you with our email address, and we appreciate that you won't track us throughout the internet. Since we're on the topic of email addresses, did you know if you don't secure your website - you leave us, visitors, vulnerable? An unsecured site makes it easy for bad actors to get our information if we visit and purchase anything from your website. Now, before you say it, yes- big corporations are hacked all the time; this is why I'm asking you to secure your website. Visitors are hack-weary and if we see a not secure notice on your site - we may bounce. Let's make it easy for your supporters to do business with you. PLEASE SECURE YOUR WEBSITE with a digital certificate such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate. More on Digital certificates from Verisign. https://www.verisign.com/en_US/website-presence/online/ssl-certificates/index.xhtml

@Wosey Thank you. As a professional journalist, research takes up most of my time. But when I get a chance to encounter a primary source I jump at it. I’m familiar with the secondary source information on Yoruba culture - I even follow a priestess on wordpress (smile) but when you shared the background of the language, you appeared to be a native speaker with first hand information. That’s not to say I don’t use wikipedia - but I only use to determine the author’s sources - and then I go to the source. Usually when I ask questions on this board - it’s more for the member’s first hand experience.

@Troy any of them! BUT who has a product like CBS' 60 Minutes to distribute that caliber of an interview? Maybe because I was a managing editor/news producer for a CBS' Network Affiliate I understand what goes into making a polished product like 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday or even 48 hours. Ed Bradley was an excellent journalist but trust me, 60 Minutes, Sunday Morning et al - also has an elite team of writers, videographers, editors, graphic artist, sound, lighting technicians... AND it appears they had a generous budget too. 60 Minutes, the media product stands alone. I really do miss the days when we cared about packaging good journalism! ALSO, I did feel the gripping loss watching this interview! Thank you so much for sharing it! Toni Morrison was a giant! She was courageous and eloquent too. I don't think we'll see another like her, of any ethnicity or sex, in our lifetime. Morrison stood alone on that pedestal. And I'm not just talking about her literary skills, either. Morrison was the whole package who embodied all that a great writer represents. She made us want to be in her world.

@Troy can we purchase "The Africans" - A triple heritage through AABLC? I couldn't purchase this one through the publisher - and it appears Mazrui's website is defunct.

Let the church say "AMEN" and celebrate life!

@Delano Gotcha! And I think that's the truth for most of us. I think your position should also be considered too. Often we believe others are appropriating the African american culture because we expect people too look a certain way - but who can dictate who belongs to the culture and who does not. @Delano this is documentary I referencing. @Wosey, thank you. Are you a native speaker? what is the name of the universally accepted dialect?

@Maurice no apologies needed! I laughed because reading it - really highlights the absurdity of it all. Like, yes - who shoots up a “Garlic Festival?”

@Delano I shared this concept with my Nigerian ( Igbo) friend - because he displays this rhythm, tempo and cadence in all his creative endeavors. He mentioned I have it too. I’ve noticed it others - who like Slim Shady, do not share our phenotypic traits. So, these traits appear to be genetic but not limited to ethnicity. So, do you include genetic traits in your definition of culture? If so, would this mean African-American culture would be a misnomer? Would it be more inclusive to say - cultural traits found predominately in the African-American ethnic group. This is what the documentary video, I posted “The Africans - Three Heritages” talks about too! 😂😂😂. @Pioneer1 I keep telling you that’s the main reason I can’t be moderator! Moderators are supposed to provoke NOT agree! Sadly, history has shown this to be true. Whenever a group is captured and colonized the first thing outlawed is language.

@Wosey Thank You! Is the language called “Yoruba?” If not what is the name of the dialect? Also, is it your native language?

See @Troy ! I know that was harsh but sometimes I just don't feel like sugarcoating my thoughts. Actually, I grew up in a household where we say the most inappropriate things - but for the most part, I play nice on these here internets :D

This comment caught me off guard LOL.. but men are crazy. So, really that's all the answer ever needed. The only time "life" is sacred is when a woman is carrying it in her body and a man gets to decide through his laws whether she's allowed to terminate. After that all bets are off. So, really if roe vs wade is overturned here in the states - all women have to do is give birth ...and then keep it moving. Some man will eventually kill the kid anyway.

Ali A. Mazrui, also wrote a companion book to his documentary "The Africans: a Triple Heritage" " Originally issued in connection with a PBS series, this volume by the Kenyan political scientist offers a stimulating introduction to Africa's peoples and problems. ""Throughout, Mazrui provocatively suggests remedies for Africa's malaise,'' PW wrote. (September) " The Nature of the Continent | Program 1| Link is in the above comment A Legacy of Lifestyles | Program 2 https://youtu.be/fByaUQppoGs New Gods|Program 3 https://youtu.be/zyZHhMtgDzM Tool of Exploitation | Program 4 |https://youtu.be/fNnN63hXLfo New Conflicts|Program 5 | https://youtu.be/sAxOGImWWF4 In Search of Stability|Program 6 |https://youtu.be/zdhp5JeZkKY A Garden of Eden In Decay|Program 7 | https://youtu.be/98DeZLWnkJg A Clash of Cultures|Program 8 |https://youtu.be/B3AGGHooJ6I Global Africa | Program 9 | https://youtu.be/Nf25hZe1ZhE

@Pioneer1 I agree! (damn!) And there's an actual academic studies authored by an actual African scholar Ali A. Mazrui, who also specialized in afro-linguistics that helped me to understand that this was the truest statement made on this board to date!!! Most African-Americans come from West Africa where the base language is bantu - which is the root of most swahili words - when swahili speaking cultures refer to the etymology of their words - they refer to bantu NOT latin...and etymology of those words form the culture to which many can refer to even though the british colonized a lot of Swahili-speaking people. In fact, when we look to the seven principles of Kwanza it's important to look at the bantu etymology of the word AND NOT the AMERICAN translation. So, when I first thought of this topic I was trying to make a point. African-Americans subscribe to the american culture. It is our language that dictates our culture. Most of the time, without even noticing it -we reinforced the dominate culture - because we only know one language -american english The things we do today would be virtually unrecognizable to a pre-colonized African.

@Del EMO is Ebony Media Operation. The new owners, CVG, LLC gave the media company ( EBONY & JET magazines) that name shortly after purchasing the media division in 2016. Johnson Publishing Company is the previous owner of EBONY and JET Magazines, the photo collection and Fashion Fair Cosmetics.

@Troy 50 % OF retail. I think with your experience in coding AND books, you can create a better model. - Lawd knows, I was thinking of something similar but this group created this model first. I don’t want to link to it. Look for | Every where store dot Zola books |

We black women straighten hair or we don’t. We color our hair or we don’t. Sometimes in the same week! Beyonce at the Lion King Premiere 2019, Serena Williams at the royal wedding 2018. Mary J Blige (undated) BUT Women worldwide change their literal body parts to look like black women. So, that makes black women the standard. There is no low self-esteem when the world wants to look like you.

From what I heard, the father was grooming the son to take over the business but the son passed away. The daughter went to business school but allegedly her “heart and mind” wasn’t into it. Also overheard in one of the editorial meeting “LJR didn’t care for the target market” that EBONY served. So, yes I agree it would be an excellent story!!!

@Troy Exactly! Apparently it is rocket science for some writers to figure out how to avoid getting burnt. Troy, I’m a writer and you could see my name in every publication out there but it’s not worth it, if I earn less than a $1 a word and I have to chase my paycheck. I would end up - broke with a portfolio filled with clips! Writers have to do better for the sake of the industry. It is our time (again)!and we still can’t figure out how to win. I agree but no one can get the parties on record. The closest is the press release from Linda Johnson Rice and the bankruptcy petition that names all the creditors. My source did say a lot reporters are calling with excellent questions that would reveal the truth of the matter but all the source can do is refer the journalists back to EMO. This whole affair is heartbreaking - the multimillion-dollar media company didn’t make it two generations. The irony is the top tier of 1% owns the prized African American photo collection archive.

@Troy 😁 Luck had nothing to do with it! I get paid for my time - unless I volunteer. I never understand why writers don't get paid for their talent. Especially, when we know magazines are getting paid for those advertisements that run tens of thousands of dollars! Anyway, this is heartbreaking. I had a feeling EBONY Magazine and Jet were next. After following up on the Johnson bankruptcy and photo collection auction - it appears the EBONY Media Operations purchased the magazine through an partially owner-financed structured leverage buyout - (once you read the chapter 7 liquidation petition you'll learn of the creditors) Linda Johnson Rice is listed as a creditor plus she mentioned in her news release that the buyers of the media division failed to pay - which she says is one of the reason for the chapter 7 petition. So I'm not surprised. I followed up with the new owners for comment but they didn't respond. As for the photo collection it's reported a consortium of the known players purchased the archive for $30 Million. From theChicago Crusader. "Four foundations- the Ford Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Trust, and the MacArthur Foundation—came together to buy the archive in just a week to keep it from disappearing into private hands. They plan to donate it to the National Museum of African American History of Culture in Washington, DC; the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles; and other cultural institutions."

Thank you @Troy and Guest FAS! I can't speak for every black women but I sure don't share @Pioneer1 's opinion as it relates to black girls and women. I haven't met black women or girls who even look to Anglo women as the bastion of beauty. Throughout the ages, most women attempted to look Black -and were and are willing to pay to tan, get large butts, full lips, wide eyes, high cheek bones, be wrinkle-free etc. Even in the victorian age - large foreheads and wide hips were in fashion based on African women's natural... and let's not forget in the 50s and 60s perms to get curly hair were all the rage, From what I've witnessed growing up - there has never been a rush to look Anglo. Black women really like they way the look and in all sizes. Maybe some women lighten their brown skin but most of the time, it appears they do it to attract certain black men who fetish women with light skin. Nah, our looks are appropriated by women throughout the world, so no. We may have anxiety and stress but I doubt it's attributed to our looks.

@Troy I'm referring to Big 5 Publishing House direct to consumer sales - and as I posted (see below) D2C sales are definitely included in their revenue model. In fact, three of the big 5 have programs where they will give away books to consumers who buy direct. What you were referring to when you speak about discounts is included in their special sales and wholesale services... All 5 include those in their revenue model... In fact the two that don't sell direct to consumers make it quite easy to purchase through their special sales agents. I purchase the majority of my books from publishing houses or authors. Consider buying direct from those who sell and you'll see what I mean. In fact, it may help you devise a better book buying plan between authors and AALBC. I found a service that allows any website to sell books from all 5 publishing houses direct to their visitors and the website owner gets 50% of retail. I haven't participated in selling through the Everywhere Store but I do find the concept interesting.

@Chevdove yes you can! All day erry day! You got this!!! I didn't see this one! Thank you for the heads-Up 🤣 @Pioneer1 I already failed at the gig because I agreed with you! Plus sorry, men are men... and although there is this one light skinned hazel-eyed brother that I'm crushing on - he scares me speechless so there's that - ok TMI TMI ... No, I already have a club here at AALBC that Troy, appointed me moderator and I'm working on getting folks to contribute there at readingblack.com ... So y'all come on over!!!

4th Generation NuYawka!