Mel Hopkins

@DelanoI don't think it's disappearing... but if it were - it would be the result of fact-based teaching versus concept-based teaching.

my favorite trigger is "unmasking"

@Troy to use the word mainsplain is like a white person using the n-word.. It's unacceptable and you further prove the point of the woman you're attempting to "mainsplain" ...So no men haven't flipped the script - they're only outting themselves. @CyniqueI read the Best "mainsplainin episode on twitter - Dude told a woman about what an Atlantic article "actually meant" and it turned out she was the author. He suffered a 3rd degree twitter burn

@Cynique I haven't a clue .... But I think @Pioneer1 just taught us something!

Someone once mentioned every living being is hologram of the Universe and that felt right to me.

@Pioneer1 are you having a difficult time getting oxygen to your brain. Where do you come up with these wild assumptions. I just happened to live in county that is run by a woman and the Mayor of the city is a woman,... I think the mayor even served in the military. By the way, both of these women are black. Our county sheriff is a black man but there are quite of few deputies that are women...and dispatch is also staffed by women... While some men may use my services -it's mostly women...so if I had to count on those sustaining me I'd have to go with women. Currently my copyright registrations are issued and signed by the black woman who is the register of copyrights - the librarian of congress who happens to be her boss is also a black woman. I'm self-employed now but looking to get my 501 (c) 3 certification for my proposed non-profit ... Now you may be correct there - the dude who heads up the IRS is white man. He can either deny my application or approve it - but he's no savior... Like I wrote I'm not looking for anyone to save me and especially not a man. If anyone is going to save this country - as shown by our latest election it will be black women, women of color and then women - full stop

Yaay! I wanted to post something yesterday. Thank you! I didn't sign up to help via the survey because I didn't know how I could be of service - until now. I'm boycotting amazon by not selling my books through them. It won't have an impact on amazon but it will allow me to engage my audience directly. As for buying books - Amazon will be my last resort. I bought 3 books in November (1) - two directly from the publisher and another from lulu (the author didn't have copies available through the website. ) So, since I worked at both G.P. Putnam's Sons (1988-89) in the Special Sales department and Penguin USA (1989-1992) Academic Marketing and Sales department; I'd be happy to share some insight on how we sold books before Amazon. I also have a note from Zane on her pitch for hand sellers and have information and a website to link regarding successful hand seller tools. I have a lot of ideas for people who are afraid to take the plunge and sell without amazon. If there are self-publishers who decide they don't want to grovel to brick and mortar book store owners to sell their books - I have ideas to share with them too. In fact, when I first self-published in 2006 - no bricks and mortar bookstore wanted to be bothered with me...so I won't be selling through any distributors either. I welcome anyone to get inventory from me if they want have access to my books. Since I circumvented the who business model in the first place - I don't know why I wasted time trying to fit in their game in the first place. (off soap box)

Yes, it is. Stop believing everything you think.

What? @Pioneer1 stop being a weirdo.

human behavior fascinate me - but I don't study people unless I have to communicate with them. I study concepts, philosophies, ideas etc... I don't follow "people" - so, it's unlikely anyone can tell me what should be important to me. As for Mr. Fuller, Jr. it was inspiring to hear, he believes it's important to educate ourselves instead of sleepwalking through life. But this how I live so I doubt there's anything I can learn from his theories in that respect. I've visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, that he mentioned. It definitely highlights all the areas of modern life such as politics, education, industry, economics, entertainment et al he speaks of . In some cases, it showcases how we excelled or performed better than expected in areas where the odds were stacked against us. There is a room - Mary McLeod Bethune interactive exhibit room where one can leave their ideas on how we can do better - but that's about as close as it comes to creating and erecting a prototype of this universal man universal woman he speaks about. BTW, that was an interesting idea with a specific goal attached. -To bad the talk show host directed him to talk about white supremacy. Fuller clearly had his sights set on something far more inspiring, initially.

@Pioneer1 Not sure where you got that information. It seems the other animals and reptiles can control when they get pregnant. And Komodo Dragons can decide whether to give birth to males or females through parthenogenesis.

@Cynique Thank you for sharing Franz Fanon. I hadn't heard of him. Have you heard of Edward Bruce Bynum, PhD - I found Dr. Bynum after he commented on an "Experiment" (crowdfunding website) where one of my BTHS classmates was doing an experiment on dreams. From her response to him, I learned Dr. Bynum is well-researched in the field of consciousness. I have two of his books - but they are so dense -I had to put them aside so that I could finish projects related to my livelihood. Dark Light Consciousness - Melanin, Serpent Power and the Luminous Matrix of Reality is one book and The African Unconscious: Roots of Ancient Mysticism and Modern Psychology is the other. I've started the first one and read the foreword on the latter and both are mind-blowing.

Guest Asexual , Humans are mammals of the animal species. And as humans we are far behind the rest of the animals... According to this article there are a few animals that are asexual and already producing on their own. And if we humans did reproduce without sex - men would eventually become extinct. Virgin births (parthenogenesis) in human animals would only produce female humans. This becomes life-threatening and risky for women - especially for men who prefer not to die off. So as a woman who has given birth to women... YOUR utopia is MY nightmare.

@Delano mmm, I'm on twitter - so I'd say whenever I log in. I usually don't engage.

@Pioneer1 @Pioneer1 Have you even read anything I've written? Remember me, “the overachiever” you once called me? I find solutions to my own problems. Nope, I’m not a damsel in distress looking for a knight... So, what the heck are you talking about? If you haven't watched the documentary "End of Poverty? then we can't have a conversation about it... As for the rest, you're the one who seems to be in love with white men. You give them all the credit for all that's wrong in the world. You are the one who speaks about "white supremacy" as if it’s enough to impact the lives of 6+ billion lives on this planet. And you're the one who wants to be the premier authority on white supremacy. I don't give white folks credit for anything. Ok, sometimes I blame an individual white person for some of the shenanigans. I will, however, give credit to individuals who are focused on making this world a better place for all to live in. Their color doesn’t matter to me. But back to this idea that I look to white men as saviors. Remember all the stats I posted about President Barack Obama's administration? Yes, his mom was from Kansas, but I admire him... You on the other hand talked down the first black (biracial) president of the United States. ... But if you've reviewed anything I've written here; if you were really paying attention, you’d see a pattern of those I admire most are black women, then women of color, then women... I find us fascinatingly strong and game changers and have been since the dawn of modern civilization. So, if there's anyone who is going to save us, my money is on black women. Not being racist or a misandrist, I just believe black women are fabulous. Then black men because, well, we create them, then give birth to them and raise them.

Speaking of white supremacy... check this out

I vote for --- 1)The Underground Railroad and its conductor Harriet Tubman. I especially like how the enslaved joined with like minded groups such as the abolitionists which powered the movement like coal and steam moves a locomotive. It even led to legislation because it was a force that disrupted the slave trade. 2) Civil Rights Movement - and it also led to sweeping legislation but this time to benefit minorities and women. 3) Third would be HIP HOP... it's a culture for us, by us and continues to influence the psyche of the western and eastern civilization...As of two years ago the Japanese were still into HIP HOP...

Working in economic development - I learned the first thing you do is determine your goal. Once you determine a goal and how to achieve it, that's usually when you can identify a problem. So, if racism is the problem facing the black community - this would mean solving racism would allow the black community to achieve its goal. What goal will the black community achieve when the racism problem is solved?

@Delano, It seems many have an opinion without a bit of knowledge. It's the way of this "new" world. smh I knew I was asking to borrow the group's time when I asked you all to watch the video - but I wanted to know what others saw. Documentaries are subjective. I don't mind tangent conversation but to not watch and still have an opinion on it - is just a bold display of ignorance. I won't waste my time on it. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me." Anyway, like @Troy mentioned , it is an old documentary but the information contained within provides a map so we won't repeat history. Troy 's crusade combined with this video was a great wake-up call - especially since the five tech giants are poised to become Emperors -over an empire built on this millennium's most precious resource - "information" ...

Yes, Guest Philip Robinson! There's a lot of unlearning many of us have to do before we can shift into the entrepreneurial paradigm. Also we have to be willing to support each other with Su-Sus, microloans; donating skills, talents and time and anything that's needed to get a small businesses up and running.

Hi, Antonio, Have you checked in your personal network? Have you sounded the alarm to let your friends, family and associates no what you are looking for and where and what you want to do? Have you asked them if they know someone who knows someone who can get you the "hook-up" ... Creative writing jobs are a lot easier to come by from people you know in the business. I never went after a writing job per se - but I am a professional writer. My writing jobs have always been connected to the needs of an employer. My creative writing pursuits have always been freelance - such as writing a book, news commentary et al. Those opportunities have always come from my professional and personal network. People who knew me hooked me up with the gig. Sometimes it was a paid gig sometimes it was high-profile publications such as being featured in major newspaper or a major magazine. The clips are worth the "free" write. Be mindful not to write for free unless you own the platform or it's for a major publication. Ta-Nehisi Coates reported here he has written for free "for the exposure" https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/03/lucrative-work-for-free-opportunity/273846/ As he discusses in the piece, I definitely recommend writing on your blog to get exposure and growing your network to include influencers. Side note: It's been my experience, words are powerful and they influence your trajectory. I've never asked for "equal consideration" I've asked for top or the highest consideration. I don't feel there's anyone equal to me when it comes to my talents and skills. And I make sure that those who are in the position to make a difference in my career know it. Much success.

I found a post that explains the process but I don't want to lose touch with my handful of readers. I am anti-middleman LOL

AND the AALBC blog ranks #144 for industry focus!

And here is where we agree... I HATE that people sell "Jesus"...and to me they are no different than folks who sell quasi-quantum physics. It really boils my blood. And like the Amazon cult, once a person is a devotee there's not getting through to them... I'm definitely a mystic and yes I share my esoteric beliefs... but I will say, "It's been my experience"....when I find that people are looking for a guru.

Oh snap! Your blog is for sale on Amazon? How, Sway?