Cynique

Some food for thought. More and more it is coming to my attention, that the hierarchy of many churchs are hip to the concept of religion and there are probably just as many agnostics among them as there are in the general population. Seems like the fire and brimstone variety of black preachers are the ones most likely to cling to the idea that god is our father and we are his children who must obey him without question or we will go to hell where that devil lives. http://youtu.be/5BkP9-HG8-I

Why not? Religion attempts to personify "god" as a means of explaining "him". If you don't accept religion than you are left to your own devices to conceptualize this higher power and you have no way of knowing if you are "right".

Get real, Pioneer. Homosexuals may be annoying but they are no more immoral or unethical than any other segment of society. Political correctness recognizes this. Most Gays are creative, enterprising, gainfully-employed people, leading upscale lives, driving fine cars, living in nice apartments. The idea that there's a secret conspiracy to turn the black comunity gay is ridiculous. The black church as well as the rampant homophobic vibe throughout the black community will deter the success of any such crazy agenda. Not all gay guys are flaming queens. Many are conservative in manner and dress and this includes black ones. Like everybody else, young Blacks may experiment with bi-sexualty, but nobody can be turned into a genuine gay person unless they were born with this orientation. If people begin to go both ways just for variety, it will not be restricted to any one race; everybody will be doing it. Why do you think Blacks would be any more receptive to a pseudo bi-sexual life style than crazy-assed white people???? Furthermore, such a trend would be more akin to an option for those so inclined. The natural human instinct to mate and reproduce its species will prevail. And when are you going to bid the 1960s good bye and move into the 13th year of the 21st centurey?? The days of bearded, hippie, anti-establishment college students "dropping acid" are over. Smoking weed, spiking the drinks of coeds with ecstasy, sexting, cheating on exams, getting drunk at Frat kegger parties is more like it. Once white college graduates enter the corporate world they continue to do a variation on these things but are simply more discreet. Some African Americans had strong families; others never did. Nobody "introduced" the idea that black women could raise children without men. They were forced into this situation because of poverty and a ghetto mentality that fostered loose sexual habits that were aided and abetted by niggas who went around knocking up women with no intentions of marrying them. Black women would've loved to have been taken care of by their men. But marriage is not a the strong suit of the black community. Shacking up is. 50 percent of black women never marry.

Puleeze, Pioneer. Prince frequently sang in a high falsetto voice, but his speaking voice is quite low. Not that a low voice proves anything about masculinity. Prince was a notorious womanizer. So was El DeBarge, having once been accused of rape. The high falsetto voice is adopted by many black male singers, especially the lead men in the quartets like the Temptations. Can you say Eddie Kendricks! Marvin Gaye also had a high voice . These type of singers were secure enough in their manhood to sing in the tenor range and are not caught up in myths. Your thinking that pretty boy entertainers were prissy is tinged with jealousy. Women found them "fione" and irresistible and - manly. These brothas didn't care if other men were less than impressed. They were too busy bedding groupies. Tattoos, smattoos! I have 2 tattoos on my right wrist. I know a lot of ordinary people who get a little inked up. I get a kick out of the reactions I constantly get from straight-laced folks from all walks of life who can't imagine that a nonconformist would use her skin as a canvass. For me it is also a rose-entwined tombstone, bidding my husband and grandson to rest in peace. I'm not defending rap lyrics but, as usual, Pioneer, you generalize. There are a lot of young people who are able to separate music from reality and don't think of rap as anything more than a facet of their hip hop culture.

We don't seemed to have advanced much beyond the old criteria from way back in the day that advised: "if you white, you all right; if you yellow, you mellow; if you brown, you stick around; and - if you black, you stay back." Colorism just never seems to disappear. I've often wondered if it's because color is associated with certain elements and entities in nature. And the sun that is the center of our world, has set a gold standard... Is anybody from any culture with honey colored skin ever rejected solely because of their complexion?? There was a reversal of fortune among black heart throbs when Biggie usurped Al DeBarge. But currently, guys like Chris Brown, Drake, Maxwell, and John Legend have re-emerged and the spectrum of black male entertainers now runs the gamut in the color spectrum.

I,too, have to wonder what would be the ulterior motive of having black people accept homosexuality. BTW, the guy Isaiah Washington called a "fag" later confirmed that he was gay. Here in Illlinois, after much campaigning and lobbying, the same sex marriage bill didn't even have enough support to get to a vote in the state senate. Much of the opposition was due to the influence of a highly-publicized collaboration between black ministers and Catholic priests. The black preachers, of course, said the failure of the bill was an "act of god". The bill is scheduled to come up for another vote and backers think it will get through next time. If it does, I'm sure it will be referred to as a "victory for satan". Gay people get on my nerves with all of their "drama". Their religious opponents irk me with all of their sanctimonious references to any obscure, ambiguous bible verse that suits their agendas. Political correctness is a refuge for people with guilty consciences. I'm not so sure that neutralizing the stigma of homosexuality isn't also neudering people, leading them to an eventual lifestyle that is more about sexual diversity rather than sexual orientation. Will people gradually start to look upon themselves as just people who consider sexual partners as interchangeable alternates that provide different ways of achieving sensual pleasure? Is a trend toward bi-sexuality picking up momentum?? I don't put anything past the up-and-coming generation. (pun intended)

Lately, an intriguing phrase has come to my attention, one that refers to the movers and shakers who shape the zeitgeist of the 21st century. The term being bandied about by those who keep tabs on sociological trends is “The Nanny State”. This is a label I find very appropriate because television, the Internet, and the print news that permeate every aspect of our lives, have merged into a politically-correct nursemaid babysitting the masses. Presuming to know what’s best for us, they have sat us on their knees and pacified us with fairy tales. Robbing us of the initiative to think for ourselves and dousing us with superficiality, the "Nanny State" tells us how we are supposed to react to any event that is deemed newsworthy. To wit: We are supposed to gaze with awe and adoration at Mother Superior Angelina Jolie because she could afford an operation to increase her life span. We are supposed to cheer from the rafters and give a standing ovation to NBA center Jason Collins the superstar benchwarmer who came out of the shower and finally decided to declare he is gay - and can now look forward to a state of wedded bliss with a same sex slam dunker. We are supposed to gawk in admiration at Apple’s peeled mother, Gwyneth Paltrow, who the blurred lenses of PEOPLE magazine have declared to be “the most beautiful woman in the world”. We are also supposed to be impressed by whose designer gown is hugging Jennifer Lopez’s ass on the red carpet. We are supposed to revere our all-volunteer military, ignoring that these enlistees are motivated by an aggression masquerading as patriotism, and are spurred by a warrior mentality to gravitate toward an occupation that will give them an excuse to shoot and kill, offering as a bonus, the females in the ranks whose bodies are available for any further urge to invade. We are supposed to obey the overbearing food police who put us on diets and tell us what should not be on our menus, as if there are no theraputic benefits to be gained from enjoying what tastes good and satisfies our appetites. I just put more salt on my red meat, and I feel better already. We are supposed to be waiting with baited breath for Prince William's wife, what's-her-name, to increase England's royal population of free-loading do-nothings by dropping out an heir who may very well have as little hair as its father. Waaaaah. We are supposed to fulfill our desperate need for heroes and think that, unlike garbage men, first responders are extraordinary for doing the jobs they‘re hired to do. "Sorry we took 20 minutes to get here. The 911 operator got the address wrong." We are supposed to assure “sexting” young hotties using the social media as a showcase for their nubile charms, that they are entitled to claim “rape” as a back-up any time their risky drunken behavior results in their ending up entangled with the body of a horny young man who thinks "yes" means "yes". We are supposed to be appalled at the idea that kinky Rihanna gave edgy Chris Brown a second chance to slap her ass and - deliver an orgasm. We are supposed to think that the Pope is a rock star whose agent is God, - that heavenly wheeler dealer who also has a side gig that entails blessing America, and being on its side in time of war. We are supposed to think that “going green” will neutralize killer tornados, or catastrophic earthquakes or devastating tsuamis. Oops. Where’s our house? We are supposed to think that Blacks don’t commit suicide when in reality, they take their lives into their own hands every time they walk down an inner city street, leaving their drive-by killers to hang themselves in jails cells. We are supposed to think that Arab Muslims in this country love America and don’t secretly want to get in good with Allah by bringing down a tall building full of Jews and Christians. Last but not least, we are supposed to think that Michael Douglas, instead of his wife, is crazy when he says oral sex caused the human papiloma virus (HPV) type of throat cancer he had when, in fact, he's right. HPV is also the source of genital warts, a common STD. EW. Me, I don’t follow the dictates of the mind-controllers. I know I'm supposed to be concerned about wild horses being corralled and shipped off to glue factories. But I'm not.

OK, Troy I didn't know you could track how many new hits this site got on a daily basis and far be it from me to be a spokesman for Hickson, or to protest your putting him in check. I just figured all the regular members were used to his excesses and took him in stride or ignored him. All I have to say further is that new visitors turned off by Hickson's saturation of Thumper's Corner did have alternatives to check out like Cynique's forum, The Poetree Corner and the New Release board. Kola, of course, was one of my favorite sparring partners and she kinda immunized me to "flamers".

Well, you do have the option to skip Hickson's posts.

The question is: does Hickson's formula work for him? If his business plan is reaping good results in the big picture, then we have to concede that there's more than one approach to achieving success. I agree that the way he blitzes this site is overkill, but this is only one venue. Kola Boof certain overwhelmed us with her annoying self-promotion, and I'm sure she considers herself a successful author. As for constructive criticism, whether it is constructive or not, is in the eye of the beholder. If the genre of fiction Hickson is promoting isn't your cup of tea, then short blurbs typed in regular size won't be any more effective. All I need to do is read the synopsis of a self-published book, to discern whether it is something I want to read. There can be all kinds of red flags in the way a summary is written that will turn me off.

You disputed my saying that the legacy of slavery was at the core of current problems in the African American community, Pioneer. There's always a dark side to the bright images and it's my job to focus on this. Funny how when I think of West Indians, shiftlless, pot-smokin Rasta-types come to mind. When I think of Africans, it's about Nigerians trying to recruit "mules" to transport heroin out of the country. Back in the day, $25,000 was the going rate offered by these slippery crooks to any young woman with a baby who, under the guise of going to visit her soldier husband in Germany, would secretly transport drugs in her child's diaper. ( A stiff jail sentence awaited anyone who got caught.) Forget Black Muslims. They are grim, rigid, self-rightous, male chauvinistic bores. Farrakhan lives likes a king whose only function is to periodically appear on a dais and deliver 8-hour rants Yes, they have parlayed their strict disciplined way of life into a degree of success, but do they ever have any fun? The Fruit of Islam are an over-rated bunch of sour grapes. Yawnnnnn. My work here is done.

In answer to your question, as to whether I can name 5 TV series that ran for at least 2 seasons at the same time, I would say "No". Can you name any? If I did list some, would you know whether or not my responses were accurate? Finding the answer would require extensive research into the archives of TV programming, - a project you can take on yourself if you're that curious. As I said before, I mentioned movie titles in response to the open discussion you, me, Troy and Pioneer were having about black exploitation films and strong black male roles. I didn't list any TV "specials". I spelled Lamont's name wrong twice because that's how I obviously thought it was spelled.

I am a stickler for CLARITY. The reason I was quick to correct the name of the actor who played SuperFly was because Ryan O'Neal is a white actor, - Farrah Fawcett's boyfriend - and star of the lengendary tear-jerker movie - "Love Story". Ron and Ryan are 2 entirely different names and spelling is not a factor. I don't expect educated people to just write any ol way and blow off their not being detail-oriented by saying "you knew what I meant". This is an exact quote of a sentence you wrote yesterday, Delano: "Okay Cynique I can't type bit at least my grammar is bad and I don't use spell check". This is typical and it's not about anything but carelessness and the assumption that readers will figure out what you mean. You know better. I stand corrected on the misspelling of Lamont's name, even if my spelling wouldn't lead to confusion with another actor.

If you will notice, after I re-read my post just now, I clicked on "edit" and corrected the errors it contained. LOL

To me, a Catholic mass at a historic cathedral would be an object of curiosity. We are all drawn to experiences that are different from what we are familiar with. Sometimes there is an admission fee to watch religious "pageants", be they ritualistic or jubilant. Other times, the financial gratuity amounts to a contribution. Churches are tax exempt "businesses". If their product is not attracting customers, maybe they should replace their CEOs - or introduce a new advertising campaign.

???Where did I say that women were not portrayed as "objects" in the media? That's what I meant when I implied that the strippers were "caricatures" whose function is primarily to represent the eye candy that would appeal to men. I disagree with Dick Gregory's "opinion". There was a very special, affectionate, father and son bond between Lamonte and Fred Sanford. Yes, "Cotton Comes To Harlem" was based on a book. "Sanford and Son" was patterned after an English TV series ???Where did I say that I objected to role models? Or images? Why would I??? The references I made about movies were in conjunction with the topic of black exploitation films that were being discussed. Can you be more specific when you ask can I think of more commercial TV series??? If you're talking about white ones that ran at least 5 years, there are plenty of them. I don't know where to start. "MASH", "NYPD BLUE", "CHEERS", "DYNASTY", "DALLAS", 'MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW', 'FAMILY TIES", "MIAMI VICE", "BEVERLY HILLS 90210", 'LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE" "IN LIVING COLOR", "GRAY'S ANATOMY", "LOST", "CSI" - just to mention a few. I could come up with more if I continued to wrack my memory. In regard to proof-reading, it's hard to figure out what you're trying to say because of typos and run-on sentences and omitted words. It's just commmon courtesy to make your statements coherent. The "edit" feature at the bottom of the page allows you to go back in and correct your comments after you've posted them and read them over.

Delano, I have 2 words for you. "proof read". You didn't say anything about "role models", during the course of a discussion about Blacks on TV. But, as a matter, of fact, George Jefferson was a successful black businessman who had "moved on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky." He even had a maid. The father, James, played by John Amos in "Good Times" was specifically written into this series to show a strong black father figure. Lemont Sanford was a honest, hard-working guy who was a good, patient son to his irascible father, Fred, played brilliantly by comedic genius Redd Foxx. TV shows and movies could be considered examples of "art imitating life" and maybe that's why there are so few good role models. BTW, here is my post that Delano is responding to. "The name of the actor who played Superfly was RON O'Neal, not Ryan. The character he played in the movie was a cocaine dealer who made a final big score that he hoped would make him rich and liberate him from "the life". Richard Roundtree was the consummate cool black dude in his role as a private eye in the original "Shaft". Ex-football players Jim Brown and Fred Williamson also starred in these type of roles. "Cotton Comes to Harlem" was a comedic treatment of blaxploitation directed by Ozzie Davis and starring Raymond St. Jaques and Godfrey Cambridge. The adventures of feisty, gun-toting female cops were also the subject of blaxpoitation flicks. Pam Grier was the queen of the genre. Sidney Poitier's role in "Raisin in The Sun" showcased a new type of black hero, leadind to the "large-and-in-charge" type he played in "In the Heat of the Night". Paul Winfield in "Sounder" and James Earl Jones in "The Great White Hope" also played strong black men. TV series like "Good Times, "Sanford and Son", "The Jeffersons", and of course, "The Cosby Show" had pretty long runs. 5 years is a long time for any TV show to last. I wouldn't consider these reality show strippers as women the average young black girl could identiify with. These scantily-clad, curvaceous, buxom, golden beauties, skillfully made-up and well-coiffed in long silky hair extensions are female caricatures whose sole function is to entertain men."

Jeeze! Do you guys wear mittens when you type, or are you in a hurry or posting from your iPhones??? The name of the actor who played Superfly was RON O'Neal, not Ryan. The character he played in the movie was a cocaine dealer who made a final big score that he hoped would make him rich and liberate him from "the life". Richard Roundtree was the consummate cool black dude in his role as a private eye in the original "Shaft". Ex-football players Jim Brown and Fred Williamson also starred in these type of roles. "Cotton Comes to Harlem" was a comedic treatment of blaxploitation directed by Ozzie Davis and starring Raymond St. Jaques and Godfrey Cambridge. The adventures of feisty, gun-toting female cops were also the subject of blaxpoitation flicks. Pam Grier was the queen of the genre. Sidney Poitier's role in "Raisin in The Sun" showcased a new type of black hero, leadind to the "large-and-in-charge" type he played in "In the Heat of the Night". Paul Winfield in "Sounder" and James Earl Jones in "The Great White Hope" also played strong black men. TV series like "Good Times, "Sanford and Son", "The Jeffersons", and of course, "The Cosby Show" had pretty long runs. 5 years is a long time for any TV show to last. I wouldn't consider these reality show strippers as women the average young black girl could identiify with. These scantily-clad, curvaceous, buxom, golden beauties, skillfully made-up and well-coiffed in long silky hair extensions are female caricatures whose sole function is to entertain men.

I'm sure you shifted into a double entendre mode, Pioneer, imagining oral sex in a reclining position as one way to interpret the "laid back style" and elegant taste of the middle class. Nobody ever said that the "whatever goes on behind closed doors between consenting adults" rule doesn't apply to the middle class.

These women are professional strippers, plying their trade, capitalizing off their voluptuous bodies, finding their niche in the reality TV format. Good for them. (A girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do.) The problem arises when there are no alternative programs featuring black women as more positive role models. And I don't mean Kerry Washington giving POTUS a hard-on in "Scandal". Black anchor newswomen are the only sistas I'm familiar with who represent positive images. But that's because I mostly watch true crime documentaries where any episodes about black women deal with them either kiliing or being killed by their mates.

You need to sigh and rub your head, Pioneer. Being ornery has nothing to do with my exposing that the figures you presented did not support your original claim that I questioned in regard to alchohol having a more negative effect on Blacks than Whites. You can go off on tangents and try to shift the blame to me all you want but when it come to this subject you were, was usual, spouting your opinion as fact. Your oblivious, ongoing narrative describing "the world according to Pioneer" just begs to be challenged. BTW, just because the military was segregated doesn't mean that there weren't substantial number of Blacks who served in it. During World War II the figures were quite high, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. So again, it's about proportions and percentages when it comes to determining who had more in comparison to what.

You're speaking in generalities and describing the aforementioned "noveau riche". The black middle class people I know do not favor a lot of flashy jewelry and loud clothes. They are laid back and elegantly tasteful.

The report, itself, says that : ("Given major underreporting of alcohol-related diagnoses..." ) furthermore, black people are more likely to go to free hoslitals and clinics with their alcoholic related illness whereas white people get private care and rehabilitation and stay under the radar. There are too many variables and too many "closet" alcholics in this country of a 300 million people to draw any conclusion about alchohol-related illnesses as it relates to race. Figures can be manipulated which is why critics get away with saying that there are more Blacks on welfare than Whites. Your observations are just observations. I worked as an Ward Clerk for Hines VA hospital for 3 years back in the late 1950s and there were twice as many sick ol white drunks on my ward than black ones.

"Proportion" was the operative word in my response. Percentages are extrapolations. If the possibility of how white people are affected by alchohol is under reported than your whole claim has no point.

It's not what people regard themselves as. It's how a Sociologists would classsify them in the cultural spectrum. The movie "The Great Gatsby" which just opened is a classic example of a man trying to buy class. Ghetto fabulous bling is not comparable to the expensive understated good taste of the middle class. A black athlete making big money doesn't have the inherited wealth of the upper class. He and other millionaire celebrities are examples of the unrefined noveau riche. Middle class values are grounded in WASP values and Southern Aristocracy. That's who house niggas got them from. As a voting bloc, it was all about middle income ranks because they are the ones shouldering the financial burdern. All middle class people have middle income but all middle income people do not have middle class values.