Cynique

@Pioneer1You need to go somewhere and sit down. Nothing you say applies to me or proves the point you are attempting to make. You are seeing what you want to see in a desperate hope to elevate yourself and discredit my ongoing dismissals of your opinions. Show me where i posted anything other than indifferent expectations when it came to black men defending black women or where i reacted in any way other than to proudly proclaim how sistas had each other's backs! You must have me mixed up with Mel or Chevedove. The first Malcolm video inspired my post about past memories and had nothing to do with black men protecting their women. My reminiscing was in regard to Malcolm telling it like it is was when it came to white people, not black men protecting black women. i didn't comment on the second video because i didn't watch it but relied on Mel's assessment. Of course, however, Malcolm has always told it like it is and for you to compare yourself to him is ludicrous. Your favorite subject is black women's hair and their attempts to lighten their skin and the same ol drivel about the sexual prowess of black men who you advise should pick and choose who they will try not to run away from when danger threatens. Then you try to portray me as "starry eyed" because I accurately described Malcolm's voice as resonate, something the contrasting squeal of Evie enhanced, I have always liked Malcolm and given him his props, and disliked Farrakhan for being complicit in his murder but as I said, back in the day, he wasn't saying anything i hadn't heard before from my father. So stop taking bows as if you have busted me. You ain't done nothing but reveal how much you yearn to be a winner. Try a little harder, LOSER.

@Pioneer1 So what is your point? I ask myself if you ever say anything that i don't have a knee jerk reaction to rebut. The answer is apparently, "no". Where did i heap praise on Malcolm? i simply described his role during a protest era whose time had come. And, yes, if he came on here today, i would be arguing with him about Islam because it's a rigid, vindictive, misogynistic religion that i do not like. And i would also wisecrack about the NOI being who Muslim sisters needed to be protected from because of the humble submissive behavior this organization requires of its women who are expected to defer to their men. Black women have gotten past expecting black men to put their lives on the line for them. Now, black men need to stop expecting certain things from black women like stroking their egos and propping them up and mothering them so they can go out and face the cruel white world that picks on them.

When you assist somebody, you're helping them. When you help somebody you're assisting them. period. Your definitions are not how the dictionary defines these twin words. You are simply putting your spin on them, diluting the purity of language.

DUH. i think your response was highly opinionated. But not the expression of a self-centered person. What i said about me being self-centered was that i thought this was how others viewed me. i don't view myself as self-centered however because i am too busy focusing on contradicting what others say. So i guess that kind of ties in with Troy said. Note that i never bother to capitalize "i" when it stands alone and this is for a reason... Once again i have a confession to make. i didn't join this thread until late because sometimes i stay on the sideline and just let others go at it, especially when it involves videos because as i've gotten older my attention span is short, and both spoken and written comments have to instantly grab me or i lose interest. So, when Del asked my opinion on black women marrying white men and Chevdove shared her thoughts on the exchange between Malcolm and Evie, i back tracked and checked things out closer, which is to say i actually watched the video. And it was, indeed, like going back in time. In 1961, i was 28 years old and immersed in the blooming civil rights struggle. This was during Martin's and Malcolm's hey day, their friendly rivalry kinda like a Michael and Prince thing; different sides of the black coin, one edgy, the other smooth. This was also when TV had really come into its own having just started to command a wide audience in the mid 1950s. So "M"&"M" were superstars, thanks to the exposure granted them by the MEDIA of TV as well as talk-radio which was also an up and coming outlet. The thing about what they were both saying back then was although it was revelatory to white people, it was familiar to blacks, and when these 2 started spreading their messages, black folks immediately identified with them. They weren't saying "Oh, Wow", they were nodding "Right On". The things Malcolm was saying about whites i had grown up hearing to my daddy say, something that was common in all black families who lived in a racist society. i never had any illusions about the guilt of whites but my particular environment also enabled me to see benefits of what Martin was saying about integration. As soon as i heard Malcolm's resonate voice on the video, telling it like it was in response to the shrill, high-pitched enunciations of Evie, the years fell away. Now, as then, i have mixed emotions, - which is what it means to be black in America...

Well, i should have been more specific. i should've said a man who has never been married is not a reliable source of why a woman would marry a man of any race, especially if this single man wrongly assumes that white men are not virile and potent and are, therefore, not someone a black woman would fall in love with. And if he further assumes that there aren't light-skinned black men who would produce the light-skinned children with curly hair a black woman might want, and if he lastly assumes that race is a factor when it comes to raising the social and financial status of a husband-seeking black woman. Any professional black man could do that; a doctor of any ethnicity is a "catch". Back to the first claim which is that of a black man who desperately clings to the idea that black men are the only ones who are well-hung and good in the bed. Untrue. I will further describe myself as an iconoclast by nature, one who has been influenced by the advice of Buddha to question everything, which doing, often leads to shattering traditionally held beliefs. e.g. In their desperation to establish their own mythic figures and heroes, black folks have elevated certain leaders to a sacrosanct status; a bracket that immunizes their designated icons from criticism. So, to not blindly revere the likes of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King or dare i say, Louis Farrakhan, is something akin to committing a sin. Once a quote from any of these icons is injected into a conversation, the person to whom it is directed is expected to automatically acquiesce to the validity and veracity of the words or deeds cited. To react otherwise is a "no-no". White folks also use this tactic to shut down blacks. Yes, these noteworthy black men were/are articulate and charismatic but they were/are not flawless or infallible. Bringing up their names in an effort to mute rebuttals is something I scoff at. I have become a truth-seeker, and the truth will reveal itself in the context of all the facts. So, what does this make true about me? i'll never tell but i will confess that black female icons are so much more awesome to me than male ones.

RANDOM THOUGHTS SMH. Husbands don't even understand their wives, and for a single man to broach the subject of why black women marry white men is beyond the pale; pun intended. Dispensing answers to this question is on a par with a black man explaining why white men marry black women; these are both subjects he is not qualified to speak on. Why black women marry white men is a choice that is as individual as their finger print and the reasons Pioneer provides for black women marrying white men can also apply to why they marry black men. Sheeze. Conspicuously absent from his explanations for an interracial marriage is that the couple are in love, and very revealing is his reluctance to believe they could possibly be sexually compatible. As for his other tarnished nugget of wisdom in regard to woman wanting to reform wayward men, Maya Angelou offered this sage advice years ago: "if a man shows you who he is, believe him." Pioneer's intrusion into unknown territory is an exercise that is comparable to me pontificating on a subject such as the pros and cons of circumcision. Puleeze BTW, wealth has been described as "old money" that has been inherited. So Trump is wealthy. Madonna came from an average middleclass family, but through talent and ambition she was able elevate herself to the ranks of the "noveau riche". Khalid Muhammad is like a character from central casting, selected for a sinister role for which he is perfect thanks to his appearance and manner. "This above all to thine ownself be true" has always been my mantra. I know why I'm hypercritical and argumentive, why i hate maudlin things, and the why of my love/hate relationship with males of the species. It all has to do with perfection, something i lack but crave. I also have 3 different personas and believe i am reincarnated because of certain things I've known without being told. And i also know nobody gives a damn about me revealing this because i am considered self-centered and am hiding behind a facade - which i'm not.

Could it be that you are influenced by the claims of the Democratic party? This is not what the Republicans say. LOL The available information also says that the majority of blacks in all states voted for Clinton in spite of Russia hacking FaceBook. If the Russians hadn't meddled, the skewed electoral college would've still been the reason for a Repubican win just like it was when it denied Al Gore's popular vote victory over Bush. And Russia wasn't even a factor. The flawed electoral college is a travesty to democracy - a dinosaur left over from slavery days that, aided and abetted by America's enemies, put a tyrant in office. i am not vigororusly defending FaceBook, I am passionately attacking the electoral college which voids the popular vote! I am not even aware that FaceBook is making a case for absolving itself from its role in the election outcome. Is there available information on this claim? i thought it conceded its guilt. Whatever. You can re-think your opinion all you want but the fact remains that i am among the millions of FaceBook users both black and white who didn't fall for Russia's attempt to besmirch Clinton. Nothing could've changed my intentions to vote for her because even back then, i knew the future face of the Supreme Court was at stake. Down with the electoral college! A grossly unfair process - that inspires nothing but a shrug from you.

What is the difference? These synonyms are interchangeable.

Out of 39 million black folks in this country how many of today's young generation have been resurrected by the Black Muslims in comparison to those helped by the likes of the Urban League and hundreds of other charitable and religious organizations especially ones started by pro-athletes like LeBron James and entertainers like Rappers Common and Chance, and so many others who have established foundations and are giving back to their communities. This is 2018, not the 1960s. 85 year-old Farrakhan is old news. He couldn't even stop his grandson from marrying a white girl. And he, himself, says from his Chicago mansion that doing anything about its black crime and killings is beyond the scope of him and his bean pies.

It's been my observation that the Wakanda frenzy has died down and nobody is doing the salute any more. I asked my grandsons who come in all ages and background about this, and they didn't even remember how the salute went. Everybody is into CREED now, and females are excited over idris Elba being selected as PEOPLE MAGAZINE's sexiest man alive.

@Troy Your response didn't enlighten me. How much of the internet scamming and phishing going on can be traced to the victims' participation in social media which, itself, regularly dispenses anecdotal warnings about the clever techniques of scam artists. As for the election, obviously Russia didn't exert as much influence on the outcome as the electoral college did. But for it, the Democrats would've won, in spite of the Hate Hillary campaign launched by the Russians. In regard to Hillary, the "lesser-of-2 evils"mindset of blacks prevailed over Russian propaganda. Even in the red states the majority of blacks voted for her. So spare me the theory about Russians turning blacks against Hillary via social media. The blacks and whites who didn't bother to vote because of Russian ploys don't really count and other "stay-at-homes" probably weren't denizens of social media which is why saying fewer blacks voted during this election has little relevance. You never question things that support your argument but, like everybody else, you find fault with rebuttals. What you have convinced me of, however, is what you are so quick to remind me about: i am not representative of the gullible people you are talking about. Soooo, i'll just be on my merry way, manipulation be damned! La dee dah dah daaaaaah

@Troy I have been on Facebook since 2010, and have also been using Google for about that long. I assume all the spam and pop up ads that clutter my "in box" are a result of this. (l also think some of my spam mail has a been triggered by the subject of discussions on this very site.) My response to this has been to simply delete everything that is of no interest to me, and that is a lot. Social media has never swayed my vote on any political candidate but it has exacerbated my dislike for Trump and right wing Republicans. Other than that, i have experienced no major difference in my personal sphere. Calling on all of your expertise, explain to me how i am being manipulated by this activity and what will be done with the information gathered on me and who is it that will be doing it? And how really dangerous is the situation? If the delete key generated a profit i would. indeed, makes its source rich.

Bean pies must be magical. Ho-Hum.

@Troy ardent? defense? Have i ever said Facebook was anything other than a pass time, not to be taken seriously? That's where we butt heads. You take FaceBook seriously, and i don't. To me it's pap, to you it's poison. You see gloom and doom hovering on the horizon, i see a daily dose of laughter, you lecture me and i taunt you. You think i'm trapped in a bubble and i think your locked out of perspective. You say Twitter and Facebook arent long for this world, and neither am i. So why should i sweat it? I'll leave the worrying to you. i have more pressing crises to fret about, like e-mail eliminating the post office and, thus, my pension. i don't wanna die poor.

@Troy Where in my post did i say that FaceBook was harmless ?? And i repeat why are your anecdotes any more valid than mine, or my experiences on Facebook any less significant than yours which are all about your vested interests. i said it was different things to different people. i have to suffer through your dire predictions and personal grievances over and over in regard to social media. It's not always about you, either so stop bitching about me reiterating why people go to FaceBook. And refresh me in regard to what the end result will be for Facebook and Twitter users. if they all stop going to these sites today what would happen? By chance, could there be a domino or trickle-down effect that would impact on people from all walks of life who work for or depend on the goods and services that can only be provided by corporations making a profit from social media??? Is there the remotest possibility that the users and suppliers are scratching each others backs??? Meanwhile everybody should gratefully heed your high tech ominous warnings and become robots of a different type. Instead of strolling through a deluded existence that provides an enjoyable respite, they should instead trudge through the gloom of reality, stifled by the knowledge that as dull as their lives are they are not being manipulated. Big deal! I suppose all of these simple people who you are the champion of should, instead of experiencing things, just read books and watch Public TV and treat themselves once in a while to a YouTube video of 1970 vintage. Oh, joy! And interesting observation as is your statement below about social media moguls. And so it goes...

Yes, he's a brand.

Blackness and all of its representations is the opposite of white. Black and white are also adjectives that can be used to describe inanimate things; like black Friday and white Christmas.

@Troy Why is it you can make judgments based on miniscule samplings from your closed circle of acquaintances, and i can't without being accused of existing in a bubble?? i have a broad cross section of relatives and friends and they are who help shape my opinions. I am not as sheltered as you think. FaceBook is different things to different people. i actually go there to be amused and engaged. There are a lot of funny memes and posts that crack me up, excerpts from liberal publications, old musical videos from back in the day, a spiritual community of loonie new-age nuts like me, a pop culture gossip mill, a site dedicated to my old home town, where present and former residents congregate to reminisce about the good hold days, ditto for my old high school's page where alums show up to share memories. And of course, discussions where you can argue about religion and politics. FaceBook is just one of the stops on my cyber itinerary. I spend more time playing on-line Bridge than i do there. So shoot me.

Yes. Farrakhan is like a black Joel Osteen, slick, smiling and glib.

Holidays are days off from work. Does it matter whether black traditionalists rather than white ones tell you what to celebrate in the form of a holiday? if you think for yourself, then you live for yourself, and when you die, your survivors will celebrate your life.

This is simply not true and is documented as such. When I was active on social media, I was feed so much anti-Hillary stuff, I almost did not vote for her. Cynique, it was you you talked some sense into me. The FACT is that Black voter turnout was LOWER in 2016. You can say that Facebook, and social media in general, had no impact, you are very ;ikely wrong given what we know today. So, you're saying the majority of black folks didn't vote for Hillary as the lesser of 2 evils, and then citing yourself as a reluctant black voter who did vote for her. Who, then, did the majority of black voters vote for? While keeping in mind all the black votes that weren't counted, i am saying that it doesn't matter if the black turnout was less than the previous election because the majority of those who did turn out, voted for Hillary and this was due in part to black people like you who voted for her in spite of their misgivings. In other words, you haven't made your point. And you are also implying that if social media didn't exist then the Russians couldn't have influenced the election and Hillary would've won. Pure speculation and if this conclusion is based on the vague "documentation" you refer to, then i am again underwhelmed especially if it was the finding of the analysts who previously predicted Hillary would win. Of course, I'm just expressing my take on this subject, but there are a lot of really informed smart black folks who make up the black twitter community and who could construct a strong case in support of it. What is your rationale for predicting Twitter will end with Trump's presidency?

The popular vote does matter when it comes to showing how flawed the electoral college is! The fact that Hillary got millions more votes than Trump was a moral victory for Dems and provided a push-back for Trump's bragging as well as offering proof that victory has been unfairly denied Democrats; twice! And you are right up there with the Trumpites trying to dismiss this fact as insignificant! Bottom line, the Republicans won the presidency on a fluke, but this would've probably happened whether the Russian scammed FaceBook or not because Trump, himself, appealed to racists malcontents in key states, all on his own. Yes, the Russians galvanized stupid white voters, but the only impact they had on the black vote was to make them hate Trump more. Yes, the Russians polarized the country by fueling the flame of racial discord, and FaceBook inadvertantly helped them, but nobody had to convince blacks to oppose the party of George Bush, who they detested and disrespected, - the party of Barak Obama who they were loyal to. Yes, Bernie, may have siphoned off black votes from Hillary, but the fact remains that the majority of black people stuck by Hillary, as the lesser of 2 evils and the Russians and FaceBook had nothing to do with it. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. As opposed to you who are in denial about the significance of the popular vote being won by Hillary. No body wanted to "run back home, banging on the door looking for support from black men. The argument that black male journalists and political office holders were missing in action when it came to defending their female colleagues from Trump's bullying was a retort from black women. It was given in response to black men who were saying that they protect their women. Also accompanying this retort to men's claims, were remarks in regard to how reassuring it was that sistas had each other's backs and were strong enough to withstand injury. As For Goldie, Mel explained where she was coming from, but it apparently went right over your head. That's why i give her "likes" because she's always on point.

Blackness is a voluntary state of mind embraced by people with African bloodlines.

Troy, how many times do you have to be reminded that Trump lost the popular vote by about 3 million votes? Or that a comparatively small amount of black people voted for him, or support him now. Liberal and Social Democrats and Independents also didn't vote for and do not now support him and none of these groups are fooled by what Trump and his trolls put out on social media! They are more occupied with agreeing with all the anti-Trump memes and excerpts from anti-Trump Liberal publications, as well as arguing with and refuting Trump supporters. So who are all of these unsophisticated folks who you claim are being misled by Trump trolls? Trump's base are the ones who are guillible and misled and that's by choice. Social media was what greatly contributed to getting out the vote which resulted in Dems gaining a majority in Congress. So you do need to give up trying, because the point you are struggling to make is weak.

@Troy It never occurs to you that you aren't trapped in a bubble or that your "hopping around" isn't any more credible than my "hopping around" because there is absolutely nothing impartial about your opinions. After using the gigantic number of 3 regular male posters on this board as proof of black males protecting black females, you proceed to suggest further, using anecdotal evidence and personal speculation, that everything about social media is negative, and there is nothing to be learned from it, that it is the source of misinformation which is brainwashing black people especially those in a certain age bracket, and that everything wrong with the black race today can be traced to the media because black folks are either corrupted by financial pay-offs from the media or are so dumb and gullible that they can't think for themselves. Everybody is out of step but you. On previous occasions, no sooner did you complete your routine scoldings about black consumption of the fake news dispensed by the media, you switch gears and lecture us about how blacks should gratefully revere how far we have come in the good great country of America. Donald Trump would be proud of you as you share his bubble. I agree with a lot of what you say about the media, but you blindly hate social media to the point of being irrational about it. You and Black Nubian come across to me as romanticizing the role of black men as protectors of their women. Your breast-beating rhetoric reeks with mawkish nobleness and false bravado even if your illustrations are mundane examples of what most men would do if backed into a corner. Not to worry. Historically, white men rather than protecting their women, oppressed and controlled them. So they are not heroes either. The male and female of the human species seem destined to always be locked in a struggle over who copes best with the enormous male ego. You tell us to read inspiring "novels", which implies that the stories are fiction, and you expect these books to cancel what we have observed in reality. And your references to black Muslims protecting their women makes no impact on me because i can only go by what you say, having never seen any examples of this in spite of living close to Chicago, the home base of Elijah Muhammad and Louis Farrakhan. Who were they protecting their subservient women from?? Their lecherous leader? IMO, black men have no obligation to automatically protect all black women. Armed with the defense mechanisms which have enabled them to establish a reputation as being strong and independent, sistas can take care of themselves. Black men, on the other hand, are left with the constant burden of trying to show they aren't weak and inadequate. This assessment is so true and is what really resonates with me. At least we can agree on something.