Cynique

Are black women ever going to get past being preached to about a lack of self esteem being what motivates them to adopt European standards of appearance? This has been going on for over 50 years dating back to the “black is beautiful” movement of the 60s. Inasmuch as critics are still carping about this issue, it would seem their scoldings are having little impact. So maybe we should look at the situation with a new set of eyes. Consider that, as descendants of slaves and members of a hybrid breed who have assimilated enough into the mainstream of this country to represent their personal version of what is considered fashionable and attractive, black woman are entitled to do what all other women do. Be in style. How detrimental is this? "Vanity, thy name is woman." Maybe judgmental black men should stop wearing Armani, and Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren, and Men's Warehouse merchandise. Stop dousing themselves with cologne and playing golf. After all, these are trappings associated with the white western male. Perhaps brothas should think about going barefoot as opposed to sporting exorbitantly priced athletic shoes made in sweat shops. Stop buying white-manufactured expensive rides that apparently elevate their self esteem when seen cruising around with white Beckys in the passenger seat - yet another self-esteem booster. Self-indulgent African American men have to be among the most European-influenced people around, yet black sistas have been singled out to tow the line and expected to generate an undying love for their hard-to-tame hair - in order to elevate their self esteem. What a monumental effect doing so will have on combating racism. It would be more constructive to reprimand black females for having more out-of-wed lock children than they can properly raise, a result of oversexed black bucks indulging their innate promiscuity... and speaking of polygamy, what is the proof that a "variety is the spice of life" attitude about women is more natural to blacks than other "races". Were black playas in the slave quarters worse than their horny white masters ravishing black women? Was "jumpin' the broom" just something to do while eye-ballin another nubile Nubian at the ceremony? What a brutish bunch black men would seem to be, and how proud some are of what they associate with male sexual prowess, while smugly relegating white men to the ranks of wimpy cold fish - choosing to ignore the lusty legions of them who raped the world.

They are not futile. His efforts have changed the dialogue about what the American flag represents and have also brought change in regard to giving NFL players the option of staying in the locker room when the anthem is played.

"Funny" is right. Describing yourself as "silly" and "paranoid" are your words; not mine. And putting a nebulous, centuries' old power system that evolved naturally in the same category with a 72 year old white crook being charged by white investigators of colluding with white Russians, is a comparison made by someone lacking in perspective - who can't see past his own nose.

Nope. They're both in the collard greens category because they are both opinions. You insist on stating your unproven theories as fact. There is no scientific proof for your bogus claims about polygamy as it relates to African Americans.

You men on this site just don't get it! You're so busy trying to discredit another brotha, that you can't wrap your mind around the fact that his taking a knee has scored a moral victory because it is still being discussed, debated, challenged, and prolonged. It exposes and lays bare the hypocrisy of what the American flag is supposed to stand for. It embarrasses white patriots, it galls the twitter-happy fool occupying the white house, it makes franchise owners uneasy, it makes black athletes soul-search, it is a thorn in the side of white law enforcement. But, noooo, you naysayers stand around criticizing Colin Kaepernick when his only crime is that he is in the same category as all the other back men who have failed to make equal justice a reality is this country that doesn't give a damn about them.

@Pioneer1Yes, and the Illuminati is out to get you. Spare me your tired old divide-and-conquer explanations. The white power structure is a system, not an entity. It didn't have to organize and hold secret meetings. The only membership requirement was "white" skin. Everything just fell into place as white-skinned marauders invaded and conquered with their supreme weaponry, overwhelming thirst for power and mental acuity. In their all-white world, the fittest among them thrive. And "fittest" encompasses a lot of traits. And BTW, the "absurd" reason for the plight of victims of racism is that they haven't found a way to change the color of their skin from black to white.

@Pioneer1Well, if you're going to generalize about why polygamy is innate when it comes to black males, i will observe that not all black women are trying to look like Beyonce! It you would bring yourself up to date, you would look around and see that just as many black women are currently using their hair to make a statement, and they wear it in natural styles or opt for natural looking extensions. In fact, most black women alternate their hair choices, because - that's what fashion and glamour are all about. And it's not like African tribal women don't powder their woolly black hair with red henna and other colorful shades. @Troy@Pioneer1The fact that Beyonce is a successful, independent woman is certainly what inspires all black women. She does it her way and more power to her. She refers to her on-stage persona as "Sasha Fierce". At home with her 3 kids, she is Mrs Shawn Carter and is seen wearing her hair in its natural state which is shoulder length, wavy, and brownish in color. (The pop culture vulture accepts your thanks for this pertinent information.)

@Pioneer1Well, there's something to be said for judging people by their good deeds, rather than their appearance. Beyonce doing what countless other female celebrities from all ethnicities do to their hair, is no worse than your advocacy of polygamy - because it has African roots.

What you and Neely "what's-his-name" seem to be saying is that the white power structure is a cabal of conspirators who have secretly met and decided this is how things will go down - that they will "allow" certain ethnicities priority over black people and share a bigger piece of the pie with them, and "granting" this is really not influenced by their having stronger families and or being better educated, but - just because. Why has this decision been made? What does "Jr" say is the reason for it?

I'm talking about the quote! Troy said it, not Chevdove, who you attributed it to.

The credit for this nugget goes to Troy.

What i have offered is a tongue-in-cheek alternative to all the other suggestions put forth in regard to what black people need to do to surmount what is holding them back. My suggestion has nothing to do with individuals' personal problems or relationships. It had to do with eliminating the impediment to equality which is the skin color that identifies a black person as being different from the dominate controlling society and subjects him to the unfair discrimination of racism. A society where everyone is the same color doesn't guarantee that all problems will disappear, it just provides an environment for the separation of the wheat from the chaff and where skin color would not be a factor in doing this.

Racism is not all in the mind. If blacks were able to eliminate the prison of their color they would be on a level with the dominate society. This is "the absurdity of the truth".

"Not my specialty."

The Republican Senators would be so appalled by what has been proven about Trump, that they would put their country before their own interests and join with Democrats in bringing impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States.

How doe How does all of this relate to my facetiously saying that what black people need to do is to find a way to change the color of their skin and this would prevent white people from practicing the racism that is based on skin color, and which impedes black progress??

i didn't say wwwwhateva'. i said "whatever."

Not all white people are wealthy and powerful, and the reason there aren't more wealthy powerful blacks is because racism impedes their progress, and racism cannot be separated from skin color. Theoretically, in a population where everybody is the same color, the competition for success will be won by who is strongest and smartest. (fit).

@Kalexander2To be honest, i'm getting my info from TV, mostly CNN who show poll results regularly. i keep hearing that Trump's approval ratings are rising and the last i heard they were more than 60 percent among Republicans and in the 40 percent category among the country at large. Sooo i don't know how these figures pan out.

"What black folks need to do" is a mantra that has been chanted so long and so often, that you'd think by now the definitive solution would've transcended the droning and come into fruition. Doing what other ethnicities are doing is one thing some blacks think will be a magical solution. Let them tell it, Whites and Asians and Hispanics all do the right things. And they are rewarded for this by being above blacks on society's totem pole. Really? To me, the obvious answer to what black folks need to do, is overshadowed by a fixation on time-worn ideas which encompass the same ol imperatives. Black folks need to unite and be of one mind, they should diligently utilize their consumer power to boycott corporate America, start their own businesses and get a good education, at the same time honor those who fought so hard to win the vote, by making their demands heard through the ballot box. For some mysterious reason, doing what different voices suggest is in their best interest has never produced full scale equality for blacks and it is time to put a Plan B in place. What blacks really need to do is right before our eyes: Tell us, O Great Guru! What is the answer? It is simple, My Children. Find a way to change the color of their skin. Because it is what attracts trouble. The battle for freedom and justice is half-way lost as soon as white eyes view skin that is a different color from theirs; it's a reflex. Well-meaning whites can pretend skin color doesn't matter, but when it comes right down an "us" against "them" equation, they instinctively and probably subconsciously embrace the expedience of being among the "entitled" us while going through the motions of providing the disadvantaged "them" with token support. Unfortunately, white supremacy is holding fast, so if a way was found to prevent whites from relying on a person's complexion to aid and abet their bias, then it would boil down to people being judged by the content of their character. With all due respect to MLK, this is admittedly a double edged sword. But Life isn't fair and changing their color would eliminate the handicap of skin shade for blacks. Yes, shrewd ruthless people will continue to dominate vulnerable incapable ones, but at least it wouldn't be about melanin. It would simply be a testament to the age old truism about the survival of the fittest.

What is blind trust?

Trump has made the incredible request of his supporters to not "believe what they are seeing". And they are so under his spell that they will literally do this and remain in total denial about his corruptness and betrayal. All he has to do is yell "fake news" and they fall in line. What's significant about this is that his supporters make up half the population of the country. Removing him from office is not imminent.

Well, there's a psychological disorder that accounts for certain females who endure abuse, and it is called "masochism". This term is used to describe women who play into being punished, because they have a perverse enjoyment of it. Some of these types have a "martyr" complex, too. Time and time again they return to their abuser and forgive him, often thinking they can reform him. Then, there are those who think sexual abuse is their fault and they have done something to cause it. Their feelings of guilt make them reluctant to accuse their abusers. Abusers are recognizable early on in a relationship because they are control freaks who give off red flags, and this is when women should get out while the gettin is good. All victims of abuse are trapped by circumstances and how they deal with their plights and what they learn from them is obviously an individual reaction. i still don't buy that having a defense mechanisms is a liability. The opposite of a defense mechanism is blind trust. Trust has to be earned, not taken for granted.

The rich live by their own rules and morals. Wife swapping and extra-marital affairs are tolerated by the middle class as long as discretion is exercised.

Time brings change. The world is evolving. We may be entering a new age. Some things that happen are beyond our control and we are at the mercy of random fate and manipulated destiny.