Mel Hopkins

On 2/6/2017 at 9:25 PM, Troy said:

Yes we are crazy. But that is a normal reaction given the conditions.

Nope crazy isn't normal. If it was, then it's true we get the leaders we deserve.

In a letter sent, November 3, 2016, to the Government Accountability Office by the 5 U.S. Senators request-

"As one of the largest advertisers in the United States, the federal government should play an active role in ensuring that minority-owned media outlets have fair opportunities to compete for and be awarded federal advertising contracts."

A 2007 report revealed the federal government agencies spent more than $4 billion in advertising but " a pittance of that amount (5% from 5 agencies) was spent with minority media publications." 

Maybe some of those advertising dollars might find its way to websites with  large audiences too.

Follow or contact these five senators .S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was joined by fellow Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) for updates on how to bid for these advertising contracts. 

13 hours ago, Troy said:

I'm doing my own thing to help...despite the government.

Me too... and with the government's help if possible -

and yes black women have been instrumental to our survival since time immemorial from when we migrated through what's now called Africa and out of it to travel and settle the rest of the worlds.  It was then men and women were smart enough to work together.

BUT your comment is indicative of the flawed mindset of men in the black community - and men overall, today. 

Case in point, I've had a twitter account for 8 + years and  for the first time my numbers of likes and retweets soared through the roof  last night- because I tweeted that Trump now lives in public housing as a result of his bankruptcies and poor credit rating.   The trolls went insane... one so far as to tell me Obama sucked D to find financial success whereas Trump made his money from the private sector...

Then it hit me;  Men are conditioned to believe the worst thing in life is to accept a handout. Even if his surrogate (i.e. baby mama) is accepting an handout then he might as well be dead. No man wants to be reminded of his perceived failure. 

And before anyone speaks to the psychology of women being a man's surrogate in the market place... tell me you've never heard a man ask or say "is that you, homey" when referring to the man's wife/girlfriend or life partner.  

(Women may date "projects" but men marry their projection" )

As I wrote in my profile status and blog post " AALBC Discussion| I'm not your mule" patriarchy has been a great disservice to men too. For many reasons, but especially because if you look closely a man's psyche has been severely damaged and it's allowed him to become a tool of oligarchy.

Want to know the cause that is producing the undesirable effect in the black community?

Y'all (generally speaking) don't recognize help when it arrives nor do you know how to ask for help or accept help when its offered.  If you do accept help you make sure to bury the helper's body so deep it can't come back to haunt you. 

You can't apply a solution to a symptom.  It's like applying  a band-aid to a gunshot wound, you may stop the blood from soiling the shirt but the bullet remains to destroy the body from within.  No the solution is for men to get their  mind right. This action produces consequences that benefit us all.  Especially because so no one can get you to use your own hand to punch you in the face.  That old 'hood trick's time has run its course.

 

10 hours ago, Troy said:

do you not attribute responsibility to the culture that created the conditions that produced the type of black men you are complaining about?

I'm not complaining about black men.  I'm complaining about the focus put upon black women for the disappearance of some black men. An alleged impoverished baby mama society doesn't happen in a vacuum.  Black women aren't equipped for parthenogenesis as are Komodo dragons.   Therefore, blaming the woman for the shortcomings of a man will only allow his apparent dysfunctional behavior to continue.   

We're all experiencing these adverse cultural conditions both directly/indirectly.  Maybe it's the nature of a woman to ask for help when the going gets too hard.   "I need help" is definitely in my vocabulary as is " Yes, Please and Thank you".  

Maybe the lack of compassion  for some is the "twisted culture" that produces "Disappearing Acts" [see what I did there - always bring it back to black literature] 

But before one can receive compassion one has to admit he needs help and recognize and accept it when offered. 

As I mentioned black women fared well under the Obama administration.  However President Obama also did what he could to help black men too. Reports indicate  prison population was reduced.  The Fair Sentencing act in 2010 and other acts, legislation and programs were championed to alleviate some of the pressures on the black community.

 

@Troy thank you. The sharing and editing features haven't returned to the profile status... I'll keep checking

3 hours ago, Troy said:

 

Mel, I would not characterize Black men as the weak link, the entire chain is broken.  Both men and women will need to repair it.

I don't like to characterize black men as being the weak link either especially when 46 % who handle their family responsibilities aren't.  But that leaves black women with sole-custody of 54% of the nation's black children.  

So, if we're to believe Xeon's claim of” a celebrated impoverished American Negro baby mama society” in which black women give birth to the children, raise the children, work a job/start a business to maintain the household and get advance academic degrees to provide some semblance of a life for herself and her children; then the only person missing from the 2-parent equation is the man who sired the child(ren).

Black women are left holding the chain. So, you're correct @Troy.  Black men who choose to be absent aren't weak links - they are the missing links.
.
There's no excuses for fathers/men who choose to be absent.   Nor is it a woman's responsibility to get him to return.

A mother/woman raises her children but it's not her responsibility to raise, repair or rehabilitate a broken man or the relationship from which he walks away. That is all very much an inside job. 

3 hours ago, Troy said:

Please try it again to make sure the problem persists.

It  does.  I can no longer edit more status or share them.  However, when I posted the following (11 year old girl...status)- I could do both (edit and share) With the share ability I can promote my profile status on other social networks - I think I can even embed in my own blog.  Thank you for looking into this. 

2 hours ago, Troy said:

They swing throw "shoot" their info here and never to return for fear of recognition or engaging with readers

I've studied this board for a year and that is exactly what I've observed - thank you for the confirmation. I hope he returns.

8 hours ago, Xeon said:

hyper-aggressive young males who are toxic by-products of fatherless

Well this would make black boys & black men the key challenge that needs addressing in this cyclical problem.   Black women (including single black mothers) are the most educated and employed according to the US Education and Labor Department 2015 statistics. Therefore this would seem they're the only responsible group in service to the black community.  But they alone are not enough.

So what is to be done about these black boys and men?  How, when and why did they become the black community's weakest link and make themselves the target of the former and current president?

@Troy Is there a suggestion, Q & A topic for current discussion boards & profile?

I have a question that wants to masquerade as a suggestion.  It seemed as if I could share my profile post on other social networks but now I can't.  I'd like to share my aalbc member profile posts on my other social networking accounts just like I can share my discussion comments.  I know it was available last year.   Is that possible now? Or will it return?
 

10 hours ago, Cynique said:

The only mystery deeper than Life, is Death. Two words that have no meaning.  

Welp, you win... "I got tears"   from "salad days of our youth" to the quoted.  All  beautifully expressed, @Cynique

On 1/31/2017 at 11:21 AM, Troy said:

“Growing titties takes focus.”

Ha! Well that's certainly an attention-grabber!

23 hours ago, Troy said:

I think the differences should be explored understood and inform our behavior.

I'm not speaking for the author  - ( Aside: It seems as though folks drop stuff here and never return) just offering my observation to your remark @Troy

Currently there is no difference between men and women because as the quote indicates "both men and women participate in the patriarchal system"... I believe some women are working to free themselves from the mindset and as the author suggest men too -  but as I wrote in my blog the other day, women spend so much time loosening themselves from the shackles that its hard to do anything else. 

All this to say; yes, men need to have that conversation separately -

On 1/30/2017 at 9:35 AM, Guest Michael Taylor said:

began a conversation about creating fulfilling relationships, taking care of their health, creating loving families, developing a spiritual connection that nurtured their souls and making a difference in their communities?

Sounds like the return of an egalitarian society. 

19 hours ago, Delano said:

Western Mythology gave birth to Astrology and has influenced Psychological.

Western mythology is influenced, if not, built on African teachings. What we call astrology was part of a star-worshipping curriculum which also included astronomy - maybe the western church separated them but the origins began in what is known today as Africa. I use the quote below because I'm unable to pull my research. 

The "star-worshipers" also studied or venerated the sun and moon and, roots of their practice dates back to well before 5000 B.C.E. Evidence for a level of sophistication and knowledge of astronomy has been found at several archaeological sites in Africa, including the complex at Nabta Playa in southern Egypt. The structure at Nabta is almost 7,000 years old, and is the oldest astronomical complex in the world.

Other astronomical sites in Africa include: Namoratunga II, near Lake Turkana, in Kenya, which was in use around 300 B.C.E.; the Senegambian stone circles; and the Bouar megaliths in what is now the Central African Republic.

Also psychology was originally the study of the soul, spirit  (psyche) - while these words have latin and greek origins if we look further back there's a Canaanite origin...  I apologize for not making my statement clearer - I didn't make the time to condense my explanation.

On 5/5/2016 at 5:59 PM, Troy said:

I guess the next thing we will be reading is Twitter's role in to making Donald a viable candidate for presidency. 

Nailed that one didn't you! LOL!

My introduction was horoscopes.  My friends mother did my astrological/natal chart.   When I began researching the scriptures - astrology for me became the study of the constellations and planets and its perceived effects on society.  Now when I think of astrology I tend to combined it with psychology.

On 1/24/2017 at 1:57 PM, Guest Cherese Thomas said:

I have been contacted in the past and some have even indicated that there is a fee to be represented.

No reputable Literary agent will ask for a fee upfront - they get a percentage 15-20%  of the deals they make for you.  As a screenplay writer - you're best bet is to look for an agent in Los Angeles- they do contracts for screenplays ; remember most screenplay writers have to belong to the writers guild - but before you can gain membership you have to first sell a screenplay - I know it sucks but that's the nature of the game.

But who knows you could be the one that breaks the mold. 

if you turn your screenplay into a novel you may have a better chance of landing a literary agent on the east coast.  Those agents represent fiction and non fiction writers.  Best way to find a fiction nonfiction literary agent is to use search engine and enter the genre of your project and book agent - for example " literary agent, Occult"  this should result in literary agents that represent occult writers.  Once you get to their website read their terms carefully - if they ask for money upfront - RUN!!! 

All this is spelled out in a great book I found "Get Published! Get Produced!  A literary Agent's Tips on How to Sell Your Writing"  Much success!

28 minutes ago, Delano said:

 message is that mastery is both simple and difficult.

OMG...YES!!!

On 1/12/2017 at 0:34 PM, Troy said:

If forgot one to mention one of thing that has completely blown my mind.  The majority of white women voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton! 

and how about 13% of black men voting for Trump?  Really?

Unsurprisingly, turnout for Clinton was higher among black women than black men, with Hillary earning 94% of the female black vote (4% for Trump) and just 80% of men (13% for Trump).

To what all of you have written... YES!!!

My journey into the occult began with the scriptures .... Those scriptures not recognized and canonized reveal so much - After a deliberate search, the words had me wondering if it were a handbook for angels. 

If a magician has a specialty, mine would be oneiromancy (dream interpretation); psychography (automatic writing) and  I can, as it seems to be the case with @Cynique and @Troy , read energy.  It extends beyond presence to include when someone thinks of me. I can pick up the vibration accurately.  It wasn't until I was watching a movie that I realized that each of us has a distinctive rhythm to our heartbeat... So that may be what I'm sensing.  EXCEPT... that heartbeat rhythm stays with us when pass on. I can tell when I'm in the presence of a loved one that has passed on - or even an energy of a stranger.  

I believe we all have these abilities but I think many have allowed them to become latent.     

 @Delano Interesting that you mentioned we haven't transited into the age of Aquarius yet.  So these labor pains continue - oh my! What's your take on Ophiuchus, the 13th sign - is its appearance responsible for the delay? Or no?

14 hours ago, Delano said:

Mel is that a yes for experience possibility or both? If you feel comfortable can you share your experience?

@Delano I like that idea and yes I will share my experiences.  I've only shared my knowledge of magick in my debut novel.  I've always been too embarrassed to share the practice publicly, the fact that I used to practice magick and how today, I'm still energized by the subject means I shouldn't ignore it.  

As you mentioned there are many levels of magick and they can overlap.  When working within nature there's a real possibility to invite those in from other dimensions that may revel in destruction.  This is what I found when I was completely immersed in the practice.  As an alchemist, you have to be mindful of your vibrations (energy levels) at all times.  Sadness low energy/ low chi brings about forces who are "hellbent" and destruction and those forces will use your low vibrations to complete any task. 

I was once so sad that I was laid off from my job that I made myself sick with fever.   I drifted off to sleep and felt as if I was on fire.  I began to toss and turn from what I thought were the effects a high fever. As I rolled over in my bed - my former co-worker text me to tell me my immediate supervisor and my departmental co-worker were trapped in the office and the section of the office building was on fire. They got out unharmed but very much shaken  The fire investigation revealed ongoing construction in that section of the building as the cause.  

11 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

threaten to withhold sex from the men in their lives until all of the structural sexism in society's various institutions are eliminated.

The challenge with this strategy is it undermines the overarching goal of eliminating sexism and inequality.  It plays into the narrative that women don't enjoy sex and instead use it as a weapon or a bartering chip.  This doesn't change society's structure it reinforces it.   Plus, it's a lie.

Some intimate the strategy was used in Liberia and Ghana - but it was actually peaceful marches and protest that allowed them elect their first woman president - Also it did however have a short-term effect of stopping a civil war.  It didn't change the overall structure of the patriarchal culture.  

Change is gradual - and those oppressed women you speak of...they are in the first stage "Awareness".  

I do agree with you about our dysfunctional relationship with  western ideals -We've been living under it for about 5,000 years and I suspect it's like a bad relationship - it's hard to break up because it's a habit. A bad habit and  we all know how hard those are to break.


 

11 hours ago, Troy said:

The link you provided says that NY State will increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2012!

2021... and the council of foreign relations and other think tanks would disagree.   Those groups and I credit Occupy Wall Street for making it a thing.  Here's the list by states .

12 hours ago, Troy said:

Real, substantive change only seems to come by force.  

The film "Pray the Devil back to Hell" and Women of Liberia mass movement proved the opposite.  

Right up until Saturday, I also believed marching and protesting were a waste of time.  I've only marched in "Save our Sports" protest in '79 at Brooklyn Tech.  <- @Troy  (did you march to the board of education?)  A lot of high school students converged of BoE and we won!

But as I got older it was my belief that we should use the time to draft legislation and find a senator/ representative to sponsor the bill for us just as ALEC did with the "stand your ground" legislative proposal.  Then a little before Saturday, I began to remember what marching and protesting was all about. It raises awareness. It forces the news media to do their job.  It puts the poor folks concerns in the national lexicon - a news article sprinkled here and there can't do it.    Nationally/Globally, no one paid attention to the wealth disparity until Occupy Wall Street movement brought it to our attention. Now we do studies on the 99% vs 1% to find ways to achieve equity. There's probably no one on the planet who doesn't know black lives matters - and police will go to jail for killing unarmed civilians (well at least here in Georgia).  

As for the corporatists and their leader DJT -  I agree with you, I don't think marching will have an impact on them either.  It will, however, keep him and his minions spinning. 

51 minutes ago, Troy said:

With the benefit of hindsight can anyone point to a single piece of legislation that was impacted Occupy's protracted protesting?

Minimum wage increase goes into effect in NY this year -