Cynique

Sandra Bland is the latest casualty in the war between black motorists and white cops. Not surprising, a highway in Texas was the battle ground for a confrontation between a pesky black woman who bugged a white patrol officer, a face-off that eventually led to the arrested woman being found hanged in her jail cell under suspicious circumstance. The sad, stark lesson to be learned from this incident is that you have to humor cops, Carrying a gun does not sufficiently stroke their egos. They need submissiveness to reinforce their need for control. When you thwart their aggressiveness, you disarm them. In this battle of mind games, you triumph. The prize is your survival. Justice laughs at the joke it has played, and the cop is left to wallow in his false sense of security. Just another day in post-racial America. Just another chapter in the "black lives matter" saga.

I don't usually agree with black conservative, Thomas Sowell, but something he said a while back did resonate with me. He deconstructed and dismissed "intellectual academics", saying something to the effect that they were self-appointed and enjoyed the luxury of never having to defend their opinions because they never stated them as facts but relied on their superficial credentials to get them over. I also am very receptive to the advice of Buddha who said no one has an obligation to believe anything anybody says. Shakespeare spoke of the "sound and fury of idiots saying nothing". Words, words, words. I'm right, you're wrong. Blah, blah, blah. Cornel West is a malcontent who thinks all wisdom originates with him. It is my further observation that a lot of living people are getting by on their reputations, and that the passage of time elevates dead leaders to the status of icons who happened to be at the right place at the right time. Martin and Malcolm have become sacrosanct but they were not infallible. They were master of rhetoric who had their fingers on the pulse of their followers. and they were adept at manipulating the truth. When I hear people aggrandize James Baldwin, I ask myself why, since I was around during his heyday, don't I think of him as anything but an accomplished author? He and Malcolm and Martin and militants like Angela and Stokely and Eldridge were certainly very visible and much in demand on the popular talk show circuit that during the early days of TV played a big role during the civil rights movement. The controversy these high-profile personalities brought to a discussion panel was a boon for ratings and they were as entertaining as they were informative. Baldwin, in all of his drama queen charisma, was at his best throwing hissy fits that fed into the white guilt of slack jawed liberals. Yet to me, he never voiced anything that wasn't obvious when it came to race. But his ability to communicate apparently vaulted him into the ranks of being a visionary. So be it. Bottom line is that clever leaders bedazzle with rhetoric that rivets their followers and intimidates their adversaries. Hello, Obama. But, in the process, not a lot gets done. Change occurs but by the time it comes, the sought after goals no longer apply to the problems which have morphed into something that calls for a different solution. When it comes to FaceBook, nobody is forcing people to haunt this site and scroll around for something to captivate their interest. Why has the traffic slacked off to the discussion boards?? Why, indeed. Nobody is forcing people to stop frequenting them. People like what they like. As H.L. Menken said, nobody would ever go broke betting on the stupidity of the American public. And how surprising is it that in the Internet Universe the big monopolies crowd out small independent entrepreneurs?? The purpose of going into business is to best the competition. The more money you make, the more powerful and ruthless you become. Nobody cares about playing fair, and the old cliches about green power co-opting black power still apply. The object is to be all you can be, and this applies across the board. That's how this cruel world works. That's my 2-cents. Fortunately for dreamers, I am the voice of the past, not the hope of the future. zzzzzzzzz

In answer to your e-mail questions, Troy, during the time all the above was going on, buying a house wasn't something that me and my husband, who were in our 20s, were interested in. We were more focused on having a cool, "freaked out" apartment with Danish Modern furniture, abstract wall paintings, geometric mobiles suspended from the ceiling and a hi-fi unit to showcase our Jazz albums and R&B singles. A house of our own complete with a manicured lawn, a white picket fence and a 2 car garage didn't excite us, mostly because we weren't ready for the financial responsibility or the dilligent upkeep these things involved. Paying rent and leaving all the maintenance to somebody else was our rationale for rejecting the America dream. But, I was aware that buying houses on contract was emerging as a popular alternative to being turned down for a mortgage by banks who were not receptive to black applicants. Ironically, the people pushing the buying on contract deals were unscrupulous black realtors who were a part of the block busting boom that enabled the white flight panic triggered by white home owners eager to escape the prospect of having black neighbors. Circumventing the restricted covenance codes designed to keep neighborhoods all-white, fleeing white home owners began selling their houses to clueless blacks eager to move into nicer areas and better homes, and contract buying was part of this equation. This was what was happening in my home town and this scenario was undoubtedly typical. Later, in our 30's, with a growing family, my husband and I decided to take advantage of available HUD houses, and his eligibility for a G.I. Loan, both of which allowed us to buy a house the conventional way. Over the years, however, he and I never really developed much enthusiasm for owning our own home. High interest house notes, property taxes, home repairs and yard landscaping neutralized the pride in ownership having your own home was supposed to inspire. But we persevered. The history of black people has been one of ongoing exploitation. We are consumers as opposed to manufacturers. We seek to escape the drudgery that seems to be our lot in life by pursuing our materialistic wants instead of our economic needs. But is this a crime? The argument can be made that life is too short to be on a permanent quest for the elusiveness of justice and the compensation of reparations. Life is not fair. Individual success and the acclaim this inspires are there for those who have the talent to earn it and are, perhaps, the most a black person can hope for in this racist country. And speaking of success and acclaim, I watched Caitlyn give her acceptance speech at the ESPY award show. There she was, in all of her transsexual splendor, gowned in a designer dress, her hair well-coiffed, her make-up skillfully applied. I listened as she made a plea for tolerance and compassion for those who are different. I found her gracious and eloquent, but I couldn't help but think that tolerance and compassion for those who are different is something black people in white America have been vainly demanding for over a century. Unfortunately, human beings have never been that big on embracing those who are different from themselves. So, lotsa luck, Girlfriend. Deep in my contrarian mode, I also got into an argument on FaceBook because while commenting on the ESPYs, I remarked that the football player getting an award for sacrificing his playing time in order to be there for his cancer-stricken little daughter wasn't that heroic because he just did what any caring father would do. Tragic situations abound in life. The world is full of people who are struggling but don't get to tell their stories on TV shows in order to boost their ratings. ...and so it goes.

Looks like the nails are being hammered into the coffin of Bill Cosby’s dead career. All the critters are abandoning his sinking ship and his house of cards is collapsing. Like all of these metaphors, the deserters are mixed, a cross section of former supporters who are now denouncing him, including staunch defender Whoopi Goldberg and a former male cast member of the Cosby show. Other unnamed sources are also starting to reveal that it was common knowledge among people he worked around that Cosby was a lecher. And this well-kept secret perhaps explains why all of the high profile black organization have been so quick to condemn and abandon him. Were they themselves familiar with Cosby’s behind the scenes piccadillos and for this reason had no problem believing the current accusations being leveled against him? It’s too bad that in the twilight of his long and successful show business tenure, Bill will live out his remaining days in disgrace. I am not that sympathetic toward him because so much of what has doomed him was brought on by the ego that let his fame and fortune go to his head - and I don’t mean the one on his shoulders… Here’s a guy who didn’t think the rules applied to him and his hypocritical credo seemed to have been don’t do as I do, but do as I say do. This is borne out by the harsh criticism aimed at the black underclass who he chided for embracing a welfare lifestyle and an Ebonics mentality. Yes, he did demonstrate a black consciousness about racial injustices and he has been very generous, using his millions to aid black colleges and prestigious institutions, but now one has to question his ulterior motives and whether these gestures and gifts were to enhance his image as a man worthy of the admiration he thinks he deserves. It is even coming out that he didn’t write his masters or doctorate thesis but hired 2 academics to complete the requirements that elevated him to the status of an intellectual scholar. tsk-tsk. Admittedly, I have never been a big fan of Cosby and, to me, his rambling anecdotal monologues were more corny than funny. One thing that struck me about him was how obvious a control freak he was. Whenever he appeared on talk shows, he would always take over the interview and turn it into a subject of his own choosing, while giving the host instruction on how to be his straight man. And to think that he reprimanded comics like Richard Pryor and later Eddie Murphy, pointing fingers at these upstarts for stooping to gutter humor and using profanity in their stand-up routines, apparently expecting them to emulate his clean, family-friendly approach to evoking laughter. To further implement this wholesome philosophy, he made the momentous decision to introduce the world to an affluent overachieving black family via The Cosby show. Early on, black critics of this long running sitcom, dismissed the Dr. Cliff Huxtable family as not being an accurate depiction of the average black household, and Cosby’s attempt to counter the idea that all Blacks were struggling working-class stiffs reeked with the implication that they had to be twice as accomplished as Whites in order to be on a par with them. Even so, this well-produced, ground-breaking show did serve to dispel negative misconceptions about black people. It also provided Cosby with the perfect cover for his sleazy hobby. Like all of his victims claimed when questioned as to why they didn’t come forward with their accusations: Who would believe anyone accusing the alter-ego of the respectable, consummate father figure, Cliff Huxtable, of being a rapist? In the final analysis, Bill Cosby made the mistake of becoming too big for his britches. And when he pulled them down in order to assault helpless females, he exposed his penis as being an erection to his sordid underbelly. Yes, he still has his millions, but is sadly paying the price for allowing power to corrupt him. Unfortunately, Cosby is not the first man to whom this has happened, and he won't be the last.

Bill Cosby's words seem to be coming back to haunt him what with the release of an old tape of a court deposition. Admitting in it that drugs were his aphrodisiac of choice when seducing young women, seems to be a very self-incriminating act. His career now looks to be irrevocably damaged. Apparently drunk with power, Cosby made his own rules to live by. Catering to his penis instead of listening to his brain has brought about the ruination of his reputation, as has been the case in so many prominent men. And unprominent ones, too. Even Jared of Subway sandwich fame, has been removed from his spokesman position over suspicion of child porn charges. Losing weight on a diet of Subway menus, apparently reduced his ability to exercise good judgment. tsk-tsk. And speaking of "dickheads", Donald Trump is leading the Republican presidential polls, thanks in no small part to his verbalization of racists remarks about Mexican immigrants. Ironically, this ludicrously-coiffed hot air balloon has found an audience because America is full of people who appreciate someone they believe is telling it like it is, even if this exposes their ignorant misguided views. I must confess that even I, in all of my ignorant misguidance, liked how Trump made that twit, CNN anchor Don Lemon, look like an idiot during the portion of an interview with him that focused on Trump calling Mexican immigrants rapists, to which Don informed that it wasn't clear who was raping the women... Making things even more bizarre is black Republican political candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, accusing Obama of trying to start a race war by speaking out against racism. 'Guess this myopic neurosurgeon believes in letting "sleeping dogs lie". Presumably, against the will of "Uncle Ben", South Carolina finally gave up the ghost and its state legislature has voted to take down the confederate flag that flies over its capital. This reminds me of how the Berlin Wall just one day collapsed, - brick-by-brick. And the overwhelming disapproval of same-sex marriage also did an abrupt about-face and just fell apart. All of which reinforces the idea that nothing stands in the way of an idea whose time has come. Makes one wonder about whether the idea of Blacks getting it together will EVER come - its delay undoubtedly stemming from reasons as varied as the black "race", itself. I also find myself wondering about the black religious naysayers insisting that all the bad things happening in this country can be attributed to God being displeased with such abominations as gay marriage. Has it occurred to them to question what message God is sending with the burning of and murders in black churches? Increasingly, I'm beginning to regard political correctness as a caveat whose time has passed because it can also be repressive. I think the trophy for courage that ESPN is awarding former Olympic champion Bruce Jenner for transistioning into a female, is a ridiculous gesture. Gimme a break. This decision didn't take guts, It took having the money to implement a weird whim, and I am coming out of the PC closet by declaring Brucilyn to be a walking, dysfunctional freak show - which I would buy a ticket to gawk at.

Can't help but mention how the subject of black relationships ties in with my latest book which deals with the legs of an interracial love triangle, and the choice between a white or black female this provides for a black cat on the prowl. http://conniediversbradley.simplesite.com

The only thing that gets on my nerves more than flaming gay folk, is sanctimonious religious ones, obsessed with one bible verse. The fact that black people were guilible and naive enough to think Obama would be their savior is an indication of how susceptible they are to the idea of investing all their hopes in a man. This is why they are so enthralled with Jesus and why they so thoroughly embrace religion - which I am more and more convinced is a cult. People ask me do I believe in God and the answer that is gradually fermenting in my mind is that God is our higher self, and prayer is auto-suggestion, and the bible is a multi-dimensional manual that draws from many sources, - all of which originated with man and myth. But that's a whole other discussion. In spite of all these deflated, disapppointed, black homophobes, I think history will give Obama's presidency a decent grade. As far as abolishing racism, because he has not fully evolved, he could not perform this miracle. And a Republican president is not a viable option when it comes to black lives mattering. IMO.

I said that you 2, growing up probably had the same experience with the frequent use of the word nigger as I did. The difference is I became desensitized to it, while you guys seemingly internalized it. Being old and set in my ways, the word is no big thing to me and I will continue to use it around Blacks - and around Whites as well, when I'm trying to make a point; I have no qualms about using the word "nigger" around Whites during a discussion about bigotry. I like how uncomfortable this makes them. On the occasion when some Whites have ventured to ask me why it is alright for Blacks, particularly rappers, to use nigger , but unacceptable for other ethnicities use it, I refuse to be put on the defensive. I simply say something in the vein of it being similar to how it's OK for one to criticize one's own family, but not OK for others to do so. Take it or leave it. We can, however, all agree on one thing: that this anecdotal bantering proves nothing because it really doesn't matter. Maybe one day you talented 2 will become multi-million dollar entrepreneurs, and the only thing you'll have to worry about in your aspirations to rival the success of white businesses will be that you won't duplicate the duplicities that made them rich.

I think Obama might very well have used the other bigoted slurs, Troy, if he'd been chastising a hate crime involved Jews, Italians, Muslims or Gays. "Impact" is the operative word here, and tip-toeing around epithets sanitizes the situation. At some point, it becomes nitty-gritty time. IMO. I'm thinking that this dialogue between me and you and Chris might be a generational thing. I am a product of a black experience where black folks freely used the word nigga among themselves applying it in many different contexts. Moreover, because I didn't live in the south, if a white person called you a nigger, where I came from, that was grounds for a fight or at least a heated exchange which would include such words as, cracker, peckerwood, honky and my all time favorite: white mothafucka. I also lived through the Richard Pryor era when every other word that came out of his mouth was nigga, and also during the days when the seminal rap group The Last Poets rapped about niggas. I subsequently loved it when Chris Rock uttered the "I love black folks, but I hate niggas!" phrase that transformed him from a comic to a satirist; " All of this has desensitized me to the painful effect this word presently evokes among Blacks. I didn't get the memo advising me that the official stance of black people today is that this word should be exorcized from our vocabularies - as if demonizing it would dissipate rather than empower it. You 2 would probably respond that your experiences with the word nigga is similar to mine, yet - why is my reaction so different from yours? Who knows? Who cares? It doesn't matter.

I never said nigger is a term of endearment - altho it can be, as well as a term of contempt. Which is what I wrote, it is a multi-faceted word that is never misinterpreted when one black directs it at another. Obviously you understood how it was to be regarded when a black man who was holding you up called you that and he knew that his calling you that wasn't a term of endearment but a way to emphasize his seriousness. Never underestimate the endorphin effect of a moral victory; especially since the chances of Blacks winning economic victories are next to nothing. You and Troy keep pointing this out. What makes you think you are wrong????? You 2 also keep downplaying the removing the confederate flag from public places. But this can have a domino effect; that's what die-hard Southerers, themselves, are currently bitching about. They're afraid that taking down statues will be next and then changing street names. It's a process.

It was my impression that reaction to Obama's use of the word nigger was mostly favorable. He told it like it is. I think Kanye's publicity stunt was an attempt to render the confederation flag impotent by him, a black man, embracing it, Would superstar, white, C&W singer, Blake Shelton, have dared to attempt to render the word nigger impotent by using it publicly - since it is on a par with the rebel flag?? Black people have made such common variations of nigger as nigga, niggaz, ninja, their own because they created and annointed them. I have no idea whether the sales of confederate flags will rise. Do you think the use of the word nigger will go up because Obama used it?

Hummmm. I beg to differ about the word nigger and the confederate flag being comparable. Nigger and all of its multi-faceted nuances and usage is a word rather than an image. It is an abstract amoeba. Is there a poster boy who could universally represent the word "nigger". The confederate flag is a tangible visible immediately recognizable object whose appearance is always the same. There is nothing subtle about it. You either approve of it or you disapprove of it. If you are neutral about it, then that silence conveys approval. It represents one thing; pride in a bygone white supremacy culture that upheld slavery of black people. The word nigger has many variations and the "beauty" of this is that no black person ever misinterprets what another black person means when using the word. Black folks rather than abolishing the word nigger have made it their own and given it exclusive status. It is a pass word that initiates them into the bond of blackness that is a centuries old cult of people who, if nothing else, were creative. The word nigger is also a powerful weapon that keeps white people in check because the public use of it can make or break high profile ones by branding them as racists. For once in their long history of oppression, usage of the word nigger has now put black people in the position of saying: "Don't do as I do. Do as I say do." Rap on. The confederate flag is the pathetic last hurrah of a people who lost the Civil War. Nigger is a word whose versatility is a reflection of a people who won the semantic war. Yes this word's past is associated with a painful era in American history but it should be noted that one of the most feared person among white overseers were the legendary "Bad Niggas" and their close relatives the Crazy Niggas. NOBODY messed with them. And don't underestimate the manipulative skills of the House Niggas. Southerners liked to portray their darkies as childlike and ignorant. But they were the gullible fools because this was what their servants misled them into believing in order to surrepticiously get over on them.

It's not about the effect the rebel flag has on you, a black man, Troy. It's about how near and dear it is to those who cherish it. When this banner is besmirched and reviled and exposed as being a symbol of treason and racism and degradation, then this deeply offends those who believe it should be honored. Having this banner negatively characterized and yanked from it place of prominence is a moral victory for Blacks because it deflates the pride of white southern die-hards, and reduces the rag they revere into a national disgrace. Maybe we can't kill it, but we can maim it. . The American flag represents many things to many people. So does the Cross. But they are both symbols of power. The confederate flag is a symbol of defeat and inhumanity.

I think Cynique's Corner has pretty much run its course. I've have no new theories or crazy opinions or hyper-criticisms to foist upon people. And I'm really sorry to disappoint you, Troy, when I confess that I am no longer your target audience. I'm becoming indifferent to the literary world of books and authors; there's too much to sort out. When it comes to my PC, all that currently motivates me, besides e-mail and YouTube music, is the instant access it provides to information about things that I come across and am curious to learn more about. And you know what that entails:the Terrible Two links that you hate. My enthusiasm for FaceBook and the Game sites is also dwindling, a good thing inasmuch as they are addictive pass times. The Internet has always been a novelty to me because I lived so long without it being around, and then suddenly there was the cyber world where you could enter and do really cool things. Now the novelty has worn off and I find myself back to where I began, which means I'm wallowing in the past, consumed by nostalgia and reminiscence, a mindset wherein my browser is replaced by my brain. Oh, well. But you have the skill sets to be a survivor, Troy, so you'll be fine.

I'm confused as to who is saying what?????? Are ChevDove and Guest the same person?? Anyhow, welcome to the board whoever is whom. Regarding the conversation, I am somebody who would pass the brown bag test and over the years, I noticed that I am treated differently than sistas darker than me. They observed this, too, and never hesitate to tell me about it. Sometimes in jest and other times in resentment. People from time to time ask me if I'm "mixed" and I simply tell them "not to my knowledge". I've never had the desire to try and pass, and consider myself a legitimate black person in psyche as well as experience. I must confess, however, that at this point in my old age, people of all races get on my freakin nerves. Everybody is crazy but me. I've pretty much given up on this fucked up society turning itself around. I am not optimistic. Nevertheless,ChevDove/Guest, I'd be interested in your thoughts about my take on the Rachel Dolezal case, an opinion I expressed elsewhere on this board under the headline "On Being a "Wigger". Anyhoo, as a result of my disillusionment with America, instead of watching the News which is alll bad, and the prime time TV fare which is mostly tripe, I've gravitated to almost exclusively watching the Science and Discovery and True Crime and TLC channels. The massacre at the black church and the reaction to it, just numbs my sensitivities. I need a respite for racism. More and more I am captivated by programs about quantum physics and how things are made, and UFOs and Aliens, or about people who murder their mates in order to collect their insurance money so they can hook up with the person who they're been having an affair with. I am also an avid fan of Game of Thrones which is violent and lascivious and utterly incomprehensible.. As for reality shows, I look at ones about gluttonous slobs who weight 600 lbs and can't get out of the bed, or about nut-cases who are compulsive hoaders and are buried in their homes under mountains of trash and feces and filth. Or, could I care less about my hometown hocky team, the Chicago Black Hawks, winning the Stanley Cup. zzzzzzzzzz I do watch the opening monologues of the Late Night TV talk show hosts, just to hear them skewer celebrities, but the interviews with the guests rarely command my interest. As for the Net, I hang out on FaceBook mostly to harrass anyone who is too comfortable in their views. i just go on their walls and highjack their discussions with my opposing views.. I am especially a menace to devout Christians who consider me the spawn of Satan. So, ChevDove, you ask why am I spewing all of this drivel. Well, this is what I've degenerated into. Since you've come aboard, maybe you can take up the slack because I'm fading awaaaaaaaay.... World weary and jaded. Now, for the real reason I jumped into this subject. It occurs to me that since my latest book "The Only One" is about an interracial romantic triangle that pits a black sista against a white gurl in a contest to see who can win over a fione brotha, this novel suddenly has some relevance due to the hot topic fueled by Rachel Dolezal in regard to the entitlement and advantages white females fall heir to. http://conniediversbradley.simplesite.com/ ,

I tried to work with the WordPress account you put in place for me, Troy, but for some convoluted reason I am never able to get past certain steps with it. I had no luck in accessing whatever it was that you set up. There's always confusion about old or new or temporary passwords or user names or security measures, all complicated by the fact that since I tried before to host a domain at this site all my info is duplicated in some area and different in others and co-mingled to the point where i can't sort it out. Whatever. I decided to just go with what I know and what is easy to me. So, I ended up simply reinstating my previous web page at the cost of $24.00 for 3 months which I considered reasonable. Then, I expanded and revised this original web page - for no major reason other than that I just like to fiddle around with it. http://conniediversbradley.simplesite.com

The crazies I encounter who represent themselves with avatars, are mostly on the game sites, more specifically Pogo Bridge and Spades players. I've always maintained that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she plays cards, and these people are unbelievable. They cheat, they are sore losers, they're rude, vicious, psychotic, impatient, racist, bullies - you name it. Playing bridge, which used to be a civilized game, seems to bring out the worst in the new influx of young players from the "Gamer" culture which is an offshoot of America's obsession with winning at any cost. I also play the devil's advocate when getting into on-line discussions which usually involve religion and these people literally equate me with the devil. Rachel and Caitlyn are examples of a world where now anything goes, and political correctness which once fostered tolerance is becoming intolerant of people who ridicule the outrageous. And so it goes...

Nothing surprises me anymore. Lunacy is rampant in the land! And when what constitutes blackness is juxtaposed with what constitutes craziness, there’s a common thread. In addition to all the bizarre occurrences daily reported by the media, I have never in my life encountered so many people who strike me as crazy as the ones I come across on the internet. When folks don't have to be accountable for their behavior because they can hide behind avatars and anonymity, their true selves emerge. And it ain't pretty. I find myself wondering that if one's behavior is sociopathic, is one a sociopath no matter what one's facade masks? Applying this question to race I ask if, as many claim, it is an artificial concept, then if you identify with blackness to the point of passing for black, are you black no matter what your DNA is? This situation is too crazy to assess because of the ambiguity of blackness. To me Rachel Dolezal, the white wanna-be sista making headlines, sounds like a woman who has taken on a leadership position in a black organization for the same reason that some black people do. They like the spotlight, the prestige, and the authority that goes with this status. An extra perk for these spokespeople is being entrusted with the role of dramatizing black victimization by delivering the scripted rhetoric that calls attention to their “mission” - and themselves! Racism provides a platform for their egoism. It is also been my observation that some African-Americans who look like they could pass for white but identify themselves as black, secretly like the favorable reaction they get by doing this, particularly the approval of any dark skin people who are humbly honored by this act of condescension. To me, Rachel Dolezal complies with this profile. Bottom line, she engages in this charade because she’d rather be a black somebody than a white nobody! I consider her an opportunist whose motivation suggests a psychosis; a coo-coo Caucasian. ( And people of her ilk are making me neurotic!) As for Walter White, back in the day, he was what was known as a "voluntary negro", a “race man” who could, but did not pass for white. One explanation given for his long career in the NAACP was how, when it came to fund raising, his appearance helped ingratiate him to white philanthropists who felt more comfortable making financial donations when approached by someone who looked the way they did.

From a reader and prospective buyer's point of view I can only speak for myself. I prefer illustrated cover designs as opposed to those with real people posing on them. What I immediately check out is the book's synopsis. This tells me all i want to know. How well and concise it is written indicates to me whether the author has skills. But the book's subject matter is what ultimately determines whether or not I want to buy it.. A long author's bio that reads like a resume is also a red flag because it is usually more than I want to know. I have had results in unloading books by simply having a few copies readily available for the people who, when they know or find out that I am an author, are curious about this. If they immediately have a copy of the book in their hands and there's chance of getting it autographed, they will buy it if the price is no more than $10.00. Bottom line, I don't think a book cover and a lot of promotion can turn a non reader into a reader. Exposure may catch the eye of avid readers but they still gravitate toward well known authors. Fortunately for me, writing books has never been a profit driven venture. Actually, I guess that's unfortunate for me. LOL

The debut of Caitlyn, alter-ego of female wanna-be, and former Olympic champion Bruce Jenner, is the trending topic on social media. The Internet is all a-twitter either praising or panning Caitlyn’s flipping of the gender script. For daring to share with the world her angst about being a woman trapped in a man's body, "Bruclyn" has become the anathema of the Religious Right, the poster child for the LGBT community and an enigma for ex-wife Kris Kardashian. But, since “she” had the money to remedy this mix-up via plastic surgery and hormones, she has earned the honor of appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair, flaunting her new identity, all glamorous and feminine, skillfully made-up, sporting long hair extensions, implanted boobs, not to mention her big feet and the tucked-in penis she couldn’t bear to part with. Since she also revealed in a previous interview that she is not attracted to men, basically, what we have here is - a lesbian who won’t have strap on a dildo! WTF. I don’t know who’s less worthy of adulation by the avid American public. This dysfunctional diva, or the Duggars, the god-fearing baby-makin’ parents of 19 kids, one of whom got lost in the shuffle and ended up molesting a couple of his sisters, an indiscretion triggering the cancellation of the TLC reality show starring this tribe of clones. Good riddance. Screw all these dysfunctional, self-absorbed, narcissistic, exhibitionist idiots who make up the freak show carnival of celebrity. All over the world, children are starving, diseases are infecting, wars are killing, the weather is devastating. Here in America, the rich are oppressing, politicians are exploiting, police are murdering, schools are failing, prisons are profiting, cities are deteriorating, athletes are battering, pedophiles are molesting, students are bullying, dates are raping, and hanging on the words of gossip maven Wendy Williams is right up there with believing the empty promises of Hillary Clinton. What's wrong with this picture? Everything! Meanwhile the religious crowd stands around waitin’ on Jesus, wringing their hands even as their greedy leaders extend their palms demanding the tithes to finance their extravagant lifestyles. SMH. What’s even more disgusting as I bring my rant to a close is having to confess my own guilt when it comes to being mesmerized by the aberration of civilization that defines the 21st century on planet Earth in the year 2015. God help us. I give up.

There are still some of us die-hards readers out here, but I must confess that I read a lot less than I used to, and when I do read, I do so primarily via the print media where I can check out something quickly and not have to sit through ads or contend with a frozen browser as is my case on the 'Net. I'm sure there are also book clubs still hanging in there. The one I belong to recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. There has been somewhat of a turn-over over the years, however, and people come and go but the total membership number of about 15 remains stable. I found it revealing that when my club read and reviewed my book, "The Only One", a couple of months back, in addition to giving it the rave reviews I would expect from a biased group of friends, the one thing all the critics agreed on was how much they appreciated the length of the book. They all liked that this novel was a short, fast read with everybody remarking that they no longer liked reading long drawn out books with a lot of filler. And neither do I. I think this is a sign of the times. Unless a book is a non-fiction bio or documentary, I usually lose enthusiasm for thick books. So, I was pleased to note the length of Toni Morrison's lastest, "God Bless The Child", which I just finished and will be giviing a mini-review of soon.

I just watched Bessie again and, as is often the case with me, when it comes to movies, I really need to see them more than once to get the full effect. Which is to say, I liked this film better after a second viewing, even if I did have to make certain assumption about the uneven story line. And upon reconsideration I would concede that Bessie Smith's life although maybe not compelling was at least hectic. I liked the performances of all the supporting actors, particularly Monique, Charles Dutton, Mike Epps, and especially Khandi Alexander, the actress who played Bessie's sister, but - I don't think the star of the movie ever transcended her own persona. She didn't become Bessie Smith. She was Queen Latifa, playing the role of Bessie Smith. - a girl from New Jersey, affecting the accent of a down home woman from the South, sounding more "street" than "country". Out of a possible 4 stars, I now give the movie 3!

I've been looking forward to the much-hyped HBO bio starring Queen Latifah as the legendary Bessie Smith who was known as the "Empress of the Blues." I am drawn to movies and books about the 1920's and 30's and this was why I was such a fan of HBO's "Boardwalk" series. Altho I was a young girl during the decade of the 30s, I totally relate to the on-screen depictons of this time period. I remember my Daddy had a car that looked like the ones in these old movies, and my mother wearing clothes of the style women wore back then. Our house even resembled the settings the way it was decorated with flowered wallpaper, and furnished with the wing-back chair, club sofa and fringe-shaded lamps that occupied the living room along with a big floor model radio. I also remember my parents talking about Bessie Smith and I'd later heard scratchy old vinyl records by her, amused by these renditions of the blues sung in her powerful voice. Well, I finally caught "Bessie" on cable and although I appreciated how well her era was recreated and captured by the camera, I wasn't that impressed with the story line. The actors, who included Monique in the role of Ma Rainey, another well-known blues singer, did the best they could with their roles but the movie itself was just a series of episodes. There wasn't a lot of flow or character development. Personally, I didn't find this portrayal of Bessie's life that compelling. There wasn't even much footage devoted to her singing. And I'm curious as to why her tragic death following a car accident at the relatively young age of 43 was omitted from the story-line. One part I did like, however, was Bessie's encounter with the Harlem Renassiance literati, replete with brief appearances by black poet, Langston Hughes, and white author, Carl Van Vechten and someone who could've been Zora Neal Hurston. But - I'm going to give "Bessie" another shot and watch it again. Maybe it will resonate better with me the second time around and inspire me to upgrade my 2 star rating to a 3 star one.

OK. I'm actually not that surprised that Essence wouldn't have her on its cover because it is a fluff magazine focusing on fashion and cosmetics and hair care and the glamorous world of entertainment. But I would think that Ebony might at least have had an article about her, since it proports to be newsmagazine. Not too long ago there was speculation about whether putting Condi on a Republican ticket as vice president would split the black and womens' vote. I really think sistas would have mixed emotions about this; especially those who are disillusioned with the Democrats. This extraordinary woman is an example of the black dilemma. If you follow all the rules and achieve success, you disrupt the agenda of black activism and become part of the problem instead of part of the solution. To a certain extent, Obama is also a victim of this. What is the solution to this? Damned if I know, and at this point in my journey, I find myself in the position of not really caring. I'm just plodding along, shaking my head and very often laughing out loud.

This flag silently fluttering in the breeze speaks volumes. I, personally, consider anybody who displays it anywhere to be a person who is saying they are proud of their Confederate heritage which included the enslavement of black people, and I am automatically leery of these die-hard rebels.