Mel Hopkins

Good looking out! I will do the same so please share. About.me/Mel_Hopkins Twitter : @Mel_Hopkins_ Twitter: @The_Leadstory Google+ = +NickyJett Youtube: NickyJett I deleted my facebook account. And thank you for heads up on @Troy new video! #Shared

I didn't know about this one. It will probably be another year before information comes on this shooting. I was referring to #BlackLivesMatter marching on Magnificent Mile before Christmas.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with Dr. Edward Bruce Bynum so I'll write this as if I'm writing for anyone who doesn't know of him. Dr. Bynum is clinical psychologist at the University of Massachusetts. He says we, as a species, engage in a battle with our "primitive impulses". Psychologists/psychiatrists call this battle the threatened "return of the repressed". I've dismissed this term simply because I thought they were referring to ape-like behavior. It wasn't until the other day, I heard Dr. Bynum (for the first time) make the reference and spell it out in his two-hour lecture "African Genesis" . He explains a lot of the subject matter from his book "African Unconscious" . In short, Dr. Bynum says white culture has a difficult time reconciling African civilization was the first civilization to discover everything from writing to spirituality. He says it was so difficult for Europeans to attribute the discovery of mathematics, astronomy, writing, measurement et al; they, through academics, began to identify the first civilization as white people from Egypt or they attributed the discoveries to Greeks and Romans. Of course today we know that would be biologically impossible for white skin to exist in Africa but the idea still persist. He also clarifies Egypt was occupied by Africans from the west who had migrated there due to a change in landscape in the sub-Saharan region. I learned about this migration through the National Geographic Genographic project - which clearly outlines the journey out of Africa ... Anyway, here's an excerpt from his book "African Unconscious" "Recall that prior to 25,000 to 30,000 years ago all Homo Sapiens were Black and that racial diversification as we think of it today, had not yet begun. The present day implication of this, of course, is that beneath the wealth of contents in our shared or multicultural unconscious the primordial essence and genetic roots of our African dynamism dwells. (Carl Gustav) Jung felt this deeper racial memory as his bedrock memory and it unfolded within him a great peace and sense of unity between all peoples of this planet. Many people have had similar experiences and insights. This repression of the primordial African Unconscious is an act of represssion not only in Europe but also Eurocentric science. It might be thought of as the collective "threatened return of the repressed."

Maybe Kshama Sawant does now..but I was in Seattle when I first heard of her and during her campaign and she identified as an Occupy activist. In the link, Democracy Now which covers Occupy extensively she speaks directly about the Occupy movement as well. Another part of her platform and her work is with protecting those in the transsexuals. She's not the only #Occupy activists that has run for office either. Some of us may lose interest but I find a lot of these folks in the movement -are dedicated. If you have time, keep an eye out for them and you'll see what I mean.

Oh this isn't just a referral service - if I were to hire you; I pay Amazon for your service package. Amazon pays you. No haggling. No schedule conflicts.

Ok Alfred Edmonds, Jr is not incompetent but he was getting paid. and he has a website ...too! He ain't slick!

I'm right there with you. I believe Policing definitely has its role. Law Enforcement dances that fine line with criminals; it's the nature of the beast. But during the Dinkins/Giulani years there was no racial profiling. Police had their hands full with Jamaican/Colombian drug trafficking cartel. Law Enforcement targeted the correct individuals back then. We lost a lot of police officers during that time because they went up against armed individuals - my dad included (Koch years). Prior to 9-11, Law Enforcement was better in the neighborhoods because Department of Justice poured a lot of money into community policing... After 9/11- all the money allocated to community policing was moved to the Patriot Act activities and Department of Homeland Security. Shortly thereafter militarize policing began. #Blacklivesmatter is demanding Law Enforcement return to the pre-9/11 community policing protocol. Today, with local Law Enforcement having to "fund" itself. They just park in poor neighborhoods and harass poor black people. Here in Georgia we call it the Law Enforcement Tax - but in the inner cities, it is taxing, harassment and finally displacement in an effort to gentrify the neighborhood. Yes, some neighborhoods are high crime/gang/drug trafficking neighborhoods but when was the last time a police shot a known gang-banger? There's all type of organized crime in Chicago - but police don't even mess with Mexican cartels. It is well known and even the judge my daughter clerked for here told her about the gang drug activity in Illinois. There's Chinese drug cartel operating in San Fran/Oakland - but who do police target? I haven't heard of a chinese "Oscar Grant" and I probably won't. #BlackLivesMatter - may be a small voice but they have a lot of followers who amass in every city when called upon. See what they did at Christmas time in the major cities. I betcha the latest rogue police officer in Chicago was indicted. These young people are tap dancing on a lot of #Whiteestablishment nerves. I applaud them. Reminds me of us when marched on the Board of Education to "save of sports." Betcha we didn't get any sports budget cuts that year ! LOL! As for #Occupy - did you hear about the $15 minimum wage increase in Seattle? Do you know how it happened? An OccupyWallStreeter made it all the way to city council and fought for it.... Movements don't fade away, its members run for government offices and some even get elected. ;-)

Have you checked out Amazon Professional Services? Heh heh heh...;) Actually if you chose for your services to be available Amazon has a deal for you right here...

Social media doesn't build brands and never has! An effective communication program builds a brand. A good communication plan includes using many channels to send a message not just one to achieve the goal. Further, social media websites are part of what communication practitioners, such as me, call New Media. New Media is one channel you use to communicate to and with your audience. There are as many websites in this media channel as there are people. Therefore, to use one website in the channel to reach your market gives you the same odds as playing and winning the powerball jackpot. Dude on the panel that shut you down @Troy was either on payroll or he's incompetent. Even if a billion people visit one website, such as Facebook; the first rule of Marketing 101 indicates everyone in that billion is NOT in your market. Save for impulse buying of teeshirts on facebook through page set up like storefronts (See: Threadless Tees) most people come to facebook to be seen. [Update: I just went to Threadless Tees facebook page and the store is gone!] McDonald serves a billion customers - and they use every channel available to reach them including premium promotional imprint channel. HEADS UP for our resident children book authors/illustrators Sellers are always looking for short cuts and there's always a shill willing to sell it to them. While It is true people buy from people they know; producers have to remember SOCIAL media is for developing and maintaining relationships. In fact, @CDBurns said as much in another thread. He offered access to him here on AALBC. Social = relationships! bots not included. As for marketing and sales, a competent marketing strategist knows it's better to first determine who is in the market for her product. She then determines how best to reach them (communication) and then she employs her media strategy (communication plan) to take her sales message to them. Note: While a producer may have a brand in mind for his/her product, it is the CONSUMERS , in the market, who define the brand for that product. For example, United executives want to brand themselves "flyer friendly" but until recently the market said the airline was anything but friendly. ~ Signed a longtime Marketing/Communication strategist who began her career marketing books for BIg 8 publishing houses (now Big 5)who was fortunate enough to work in Broadcast news both in front of the television camera and behind the mic in Radio.

UiUC=University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign . We lived in Naperville while my daughter was in attendance. I'm all too familiar with that 3 -hour drive -(one way). Btw, I'm familiar with UIC too! My oldest daughter worked in the engineering school there while she was in undergrad. U of I degree is definitely a great value. My daughter was awarded her degree (psychology/statistics) and found enployment at the salary she wanted within 1-month of beginning her job search.

I agree. I remember when I was a cigarette smoker, I thought, this is "suicide by cigarettes"... Then when I don't eat properly I think "suicide by sweets". Yet, slow-suicide isn't quantifiable. African-American Suicide by (fill in the blank) is prevalent in our community. If we add "suicide-by- (blank) atop the current suicide-rates for all groups ... white males still come out on top. I know it is a reach but I find Dr. Bynum's theory intriguing. Now I just have figure out how, what he calls, the "threatened "return of the repressed" affects African-Americans. Surely, we don't fear our own origin.

This line... it really tickled me! This is a great story - one that you'd see play out in an irreverent type tv comedy. Grace & Frankie (Netflix) comes to mind with Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin... Btw, My middle daughter graduated from UIUC in 2015 ... She says she loved every moment!

... OMG!!! that last line! Oh No you didn't!!! Life's absurd twist and turns...

Here's something you don't hear a lot of about. While I was working on a piece about the absurdity of life, I found out middle aged white males have the highest suicide rate of all groups here in the U.S. In fact out of the more than 42,000 suicides in 2013, 7 out of 10 were committed by white males. Next highest were American Indians/Alaska Natives who ranked up there at 11.7% out of every 100,000. Guess who is near last on this list with the fewest suicides per 100,000? You guessed it, at 5.4% per 100,000 suicides for African-Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage is less for African-American women. The report indicates women overall make more suicide attempts but rarely succeed. Sadly, however suicides are increasing among African-American children according to SAMHSA 's statistics from JAMA Pediatrics. I have no clue, and none was offered as to why so many white men here in the U.S. end their own life. I don't take the findings lightly either. I was curious. Initially, when I went looking for the statistics I thought African-Americans would have the highest suicide rate since many of us report experiencing high rates of stress. The CDC statistics, however, doesn't support my theory. If I had to guess why the rate was so high for white males here in America; My guess would be influenced by Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph.D. (Dark Light Consciousness: Melanin, Serpent Power, and the Luminous Matrix of Reality). He says the deepest level of the mind in modern humans is an African structure or an African Template. Dr. Bynum suggest in his lecture "African Genesis" "Most nations, most cultures fear the darkness and part of that fear is of one's own origin - 'The Threatened return of the repressed'." African-Americans already know where they come from. Maybe they don't have the location of the village but they have a clue they come from the African continent. Maybe it's hard for other cultures to reconcile they also originate from the Motherland. And that could be their undoing. I don't know of course but I'm fascinated by the theory. Self-Destruction comes in many forms.

Yes I'm getting the sense that flowery is the new print journalism. Old school broadcast journalist here - and even with 15, 30 sec or 1.15 sec video at the most, it meant I had to get to the point with FACTS! And you nailed it - his description of Clarence Reynolds made me throw up in my mouth a little. @Troy ...I thought I deleted that part of my comment! I was going to write about the mistaken identity (but didn't, right?) because it was turning into long rant and reflection of my good ole days at Penguin USA.. I was actually offended that the author included how Chris Jackson is often mistaken for one of his writers. It made me really want to punch the author in the face for that one... It was offhanded "Stacey-who"; "all-you-black-people-look-a-like" remark. In fact, most of those New York Times reporters find a way to marginalize black people. They too are on my boycott list (as far as "paying") I will occasionally read an article - if it looks like the reporter has some sense.

I read that article too, shared it on my google page then quickly deleted it... I wondered too if it can be movement when Chris Jackson is a party of one pushing one "voice" from a group of male authors. It was Chimamanda Adichie who warned of us of The Danger of a Single Story in her Ted Talk. I get the sense with the authors mentioned this movement might be one of the monoliths she warns of. I could be wrong but I read as much of the article as I could to find his platform. I got tired of the purple prose describing black people much like one would if they were just visiting "darkest africa" for the first time.

"Good point", said the woman with 3 daughters. For now, however, I draw the line where "art", "religion", "politics", or any of our socio-cultural activity that draws its popularity and energy from harming women. Example nwa. Anyone who sings about offin' hoes and bitches - is obviously doing it in real time. so I won't support them. I don't believe Dre an'em have made one dime off of me. I probably watched "Friday" one too many times because I got tired of being left out of the jokes - but I will not support a group that is too stupid to realize without women their future is nonexistent. Still it is surprising to me how many people cosigned that brand of 'entertainment.' Then again, the labeling mentality is prevalent among those guilty of sloth.

Exactly! I read a washington post article this morning re: Deray McKesson filing for his Mayoral Candidacy in Baltimore. The founding members of #blacklivesmatter serve on his advisory committee. I'm so proud of the young women who started the movement; they are showing how politics is really a grassroots project. They even have a call to action - "Campaign Zero" with solutions. This call can and may end up on a ballot in our precincts. If anyone is familiar with - Florida's Stand your ground law, they know it was started by a group just like BlackLivesMatter - except their group ALEC ( American Legislative Exchange Council) , is against the people, not for. Unfortunately, ALEC has a farther reach and bigger influence than BLM. Still these young folks are doing something with their voices and they are UNIFIED! I think that is what really scares the mainstream.

Followed you on Amazon @CDBurns I think it might please you to know, Amazon sends me updates on the latest book you published. I have them all in my wish list now.

Oh Snap! Forget facebook and google (alphabet) amazon is living up to its name...this is crazy!

You really aren't obscure at all...lol And See what I mean - it doesn't happen automatically - I even have a browser that identifies that I'm in GA even when I go incognito. Dr . Troy Johnson came up because he's in Covington, GA. So unless you know something more about why my search would include you - I'm thinking you may hit first page results for others too... and how you did it is extremely valuable! So maybe you're "broke" but you are definitely a wealth of knowledge

I reached my quota for upload or I would show you the page but when I use the Google search engine- "Biography, Troy Johnson, Founder of AALBC.Com is the top result!

Re: Zane screenshot in your quote... This is pretty much what I get when I google my name... with AALBC.com coming in right after Amazon... Now what I did find, is when I type in "The LeadStory" my media communication business web site - it is #1 ... which is really confusing - after what @CDBurns mentioned about google webmaster tools ... because I didn't do it with that site... but I will keep pushing! "@Mel Hopkins, Google's search results OFTEN push "official sites lower in search results." Google is also a book seller, so people can learn more about books and buy them from Google without even leaving the search results page!" I'm giggling because a lot of what you respond to here, I mentioned in my last correspondence to you. I'm glad because it really allows me to know I'm on the right track. Google allows you to search inside the book which I believe is why it often comes up when I search for typical academic references. Also if you search for African Antiquity which I do quite often - those eBooks are free and Google allows you to save them to your digital library. Of course you have to sign into google to read your "free" book...so maybe some of us authors might be willing to do the same here on AALBC.com. Of course you can only read the book when you sign in but at least you can read for free...even if it's for a limited time. The method to my madness is I'm always looking for the pitch and placement angle - "AALBC... offering a digital library to readers/book club members " is pitch-worthy... But Zane is famous and has earned millions. I'm obscure and broke, so what do I know? I didn't know you wrote erotica too! But seriously, with the wealth of information you have here on the site - I already branded you, wrote and published several books for you (even if only in my head). I'll do you one better, when I do an incognito search for Troy Johnson ; your photo is included in the image - and aalbc is on the first page

I agree. AALBC.com is a community - websites such as these even have community managers... I'm recently active here otherwise I would know who - but from what I've seen Troy, its founder, also serves as its manager. So by its very definition, AALBC is an institution. We, by participating, give it is power.