Pioneer1

Troy That is a highly variant figure that definitely changes based upon region. That figure is for a ONE healthy adult living in a mid-sized urban area that is NOT on one of the Coasts. That figure isn't designed to get you rich or even get you into the upper middle class. But to keep you STABLE and living a relatively comfortable life with all of your basic needs being met...which should be the standard. -Now if you live in San Francisco, New York, or L.A. it will be much higher. -If you have children, it will be much higher. -If you have chronic health problems, the figure will be much higher. Again, that's how much ONE person should be making atleast to take care of themselves in a mid-sized middle American city without struggling.

Troy How do you define smart? Knowledgable. There is little doubt that she is both knowledgable (about politics atleast) and articulate. But WISDOM???? ....now that's a different story. If she was wise, she wouldn't take the political position that she's taking because she'd know where it would eventually lead her and her people.

Troy I heard it said that flies are attracted to shit. LOL....I was thinking the same thing when I saw it. I would have used it as a sign that it was attracted to the bullshit coming from that man's mouth. But most Democrats don't think like that.....which is why they keep losing to the more ruthless Republicans. As far as Kamala goes...... Not many people know she's from OAKLAND California which has a large historic AfroAmerican population. Infact, outside of South Central Los Angeles it has the largest historically Black community on the West Coast. And she was raised in it by her Indian mother back in the 60s and 70s. I'm sure that's where she gets the "attitude" from that she can turn on and turn off at will.

? All you have to do is look it up. All journalists know about this, it's been out for MONTHS. The problem is the media picks and chooses what they talk about and what they decided to "cover up" or hide or push to the back burner. For example..... The racist corporate media was focusing on George Floyd INSTEAD of Breonna Taylor because he looked more suspect and you could raise more questions about his arrest and murder while Breonna's murder was clear cut and obviously unjustified. It wasn't until THE PEOPLE started pushing for justice and focused their energy on Breonna that the main stream media decided to give it some air time. They had little choice. Now with this story about White Supremacists spreading the virus................ The racist mainstream media doesn't like to make Caucasians look bad. This is one of the reasons they don't like to give the public CLEAR CUT examples of racism where the Caucasians are clearly in an act of evil while the AfroAmericans are totally innocent. They won't show you a story of a Black woman being lynched or shot by a racist civilian. They like to show you a story about a Black dope dealer running away from the police who get's shot in the back. They love giving you stories that raise doubts....raise questions...even makes the VICTIM look bad or like they deserved it so that the Caucasian comes out looking like their racist act was somehow justified. THIS story about them going around spreading the Coronavirus is a CLEAR example of White Supremacist evil. And because of that, they don't like talking about it. It explains the unusually high amount of Covid 19 cases among AfroAmericans and raises other questions. Constantly talking about this would put too many AfroAmericans on alert to the OTHER games that the White Supremacists play.

Michigan is a northern and pretty industrialized state with a very large AfroAmerican population of nearly 2 million, but too many people mistakenly believe it's some rural white state full of rednecks running around in the woods. Stories like this portrays a distorted image of my state to the nation and world................. 13 charged in plots against Michigan governor, police LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Agents foiled a stunning plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, authorities said Thursday in announcing charges in an alleged scheme that involved months of planning and even rehearsals to snatch her from her vacation home. Six men were charged in federal court with conspiring to kidnap the governor before the Nov. 3 elections in reaction to what they viewed as her “uncontrolled power,” according to a federal complaint. Separately, seven others linked to a paramilitary group called the Wolverine Watchmen were charged in state court for allegedly seeking to storm the Michigan Capitol and seek a “civil war.” The two groups trained together and planned “various acts of violence,” according to the state police. Surveillance for the kidnapping plot took place in August and September, according to an FBI affidavit, and four of the men had planned to meet Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear.” The FBI quoted one of the men as saying Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all. She has uncontrolled power right now. All good things must come to an end.” Authorities said the plots were stopped with the work of undercover agents and informants. The men were arrested Wednesday night. The six charged in federal court face up to life in prison if convicted. The state terrorism charges the other seven men face carry a possible 20-year sentence. https://apnews.com/article/michigan-checks-and-balances-archive-gretchen-whitmer-da09ca66cd8d5f36722021d3593425ff But the question I have is, why Michigan? Of all of the states these militias could have such a strong hold in and could have plotted against or attack the capital of.....why Michigan?

The woman is cute, smart, and feminine....but she's CONFUSED as hell. I'm focused less on what she's saying and more on that tiara or whatever that is on her head and the way her hair is parted down the middle. I'm not sure what "look" she's trying to convay. But looks like she's auditioning to be part of some Amish community. Having said all of that....... Yeah, I'd STILL wife her up. She's definitely wife material. I'd just make sure she stays in the house....stays AWAY from Troy....and I'm starting to like that white thing she's got on her head! Maybe I'll have her wear it while cooking the food, cleaning the home, and keeping the children....lol.

One of the problems in this society today is the "own your own business" and "be your own boss" mentality that has been promoted in America and especially in the AfroAmerican community for the past few decades. It's caused a lot of problems in the work force and has eroded the morale in the workplace in general. Most people aren't interested in actually EARNING a decent wage* by working. They're focused on getting a business and eventually getting rich, so because of this they aren't fighting for higher wages and more good jobs with benefits like their grandfathers were in the past. They are ignoring the wages and job availability while focusing on trying to "do their own thing". But one of the problems with this is the fact that most people aren't mentally fit to even be a MANAGER let alone a business owner and when they eventually flop at their venture (which usually doesn't take long) they end up having to work on some low wage job they hate ANYWAY until they can get back on their feet and make the same mistake over. Most people need to be taught and reconcile with the fact that they are workers and will be most of their lives. Once they realize this and reconcile with this they will desire to improve the status of workers by demanding more jobs, higher wages, and more benefits, under improved conditions. *Atleast $35 an hour or atleast $1000 a week.

Troy Why can't the people running these debates simply cut the speakers mics? For the same reasons the so-called "debaters" kept breaking the rules and not even pretending to answer the questions...... Like you said, these are NOT debates. They are merely forms of entertainment and distraction to make you BELIEVE that you really have some say so over who get's selected elected for the office. If you noticed, neither of them actually answered the questions the moderator posed to them. They always took up their allotted time to either go backwards and argue some stupid point or allegation from their adversary that they disagreed with OR totally ignored the question and went on to rambling about some crap that was totally unrelated. I have a pretty good memory both short term and long term however both of them did so much filibustering that on occasion I actually forgot question the moderator asked! I WILL say that I liked Kamala's "sister girl" confrontational attitude toward Pence. You don't see a lot of women of color confronting Caucasian men on television like that so it was refreshing. But outside of that, the only high point was that fly that landed on Pence's head.....lol.

Troy "Covidiablos" isn't bad, but the GENERAL term of "White Supremacist" as it covers the entire gamit. Is Dr. Wesley a medical doctor? None of what he said passes muster with me. But I can easily understand why people would believe it. He's not an MD, I believe he got his doctorate in religious studies....however what he said in that clip was true and backed up by FBI documentation. did you observed many covid-19 effected white boys running around your neighborhood coughing on money and going on shipping sprees? Honestly, not only that but I've seen quite a few Caucasians going around coughing and touching things around the society in general KNOWING that they were spreading the germs. I told you Caucasians have a history of coming among people of color to spread their diseases and this goes back HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of years. But I didn't need Dr. Wesley to tell me that. When you already have a healthy distrust of a people who have a documented and well known history of trying to harm your people AND you have good sense (this is the key ingredient that a lot of our people miss) then you don't need anyone to tell you to be on the look out and be careful, you STAY on alert about the activities of White Supremacists everytime a Caucasian comes around. You remember that story I told you about the old red-eyed MAGA cap wearing Caucasian man I had to run off in the grocery store....lol. I STAY on the look-out for devil's mischief. Daniel I guess to any guy who is "brave" (hah, hah...) enough to drive around all day in New York without a weapon in the middle of a Pandemic picking up total strangers, ANY sign of concern or caution would be mistaken as "fear".

Some of the people you all are calling "Covidiots" are NOT idiots at all. They know EXACTLY what they're doing! ....intentionally spreading the disease; especially to Black and Brown populations. Troy as they impose a danger not just to themselves but to others. That's their mission!

Nnamdi My name is Igbo. Your NAME is Igbo......are you? Delano You have to understand the terms. They are giving household income. So a single Black Mother, is being compared with a dual income no kids White Gay Couple. These figures aren't founded in reality anyway, but are used for deception. Just like the phony unemployment figures they put out in the media, when they come up with these figures they don't count ALL of the people which would include the large number of AfroAmericans who aren't earning ANY form of income (legitimately atleast), but only those who actually pay incometax. But I also have to wonder WHERE they are getting these figures from because even if they got their figures from the IRS I doubt that the IRS keeps a record of the DEMOGRAPHICS of those submitting thier taxes. When I get my taxes done they never ask my race or sex, only marital status. So besided random phone calls which are notoriously inaccurate, how are they determining who makes what?

The Notorious FAS Keep my name out of your b.s. STRAWMAN ARGUMENTS! Lol, I didn't know "FAS" was an actual name. I thought it may have been your initials or an acronym of some sort. At any rate, point taken......

Ann Men and women in leadership often fall as a result of lack of integrity, not talent or potential. It's hard to regain that respect for your name once it has been tainted with poor character/integrity. I hope that more of us can use this as an eye opener/lesson of how important it is to know and understand the things we will not compromise on and live your life with integrity. Living with integrity comes before seeking out status and platform and thinking that because our name is Joe/Jane Doe that our talent and potential is enough to keep us there. While I hear exactly what you're saying and understand in part, I must remind our people (AfroAmericans) that we are NOT Caucasians. We can't take OUR moral and ethical cues from Caucasians. What am I talking about? Caucasians are pro-violence and pro-confusion but anti-SEX! Anything sexual or having to do with sexuality, especially natural sexuality and sexual expression between men and women....they feel "funny" and squeamish about it and most of their rules, laws, and moral codes revolve around the condemnatoin of it's expression. Therefore when we judge a person's character and integrity we must make sure we're judging from a traditional AFRICAN perspective and not a Caucasian one. Traditionally African men in power enjoyed having a lot of sex with a lot of women. That was NORMAL and there was nothing inappropriate about it from OUR perspective. The only time it was seen as bad was after coming into contact with Caucasians who influenced our thinking with their perverted anti-sexual moral philosophies. Not only did the men seek it but the women SOUGHT to have sex with powerful men in positions of authority (as many often still do) as a way of improving THEIR status in society. Again, wasn't a problem UNTIL "you know who" started whispering into the ears of our people. Viewing morality and behavior in general from a Caucasian perspective will portray our people in a DISTORTED image because the lense itself is distorted and perverted (Caucasian).

Troy I've heard other people describe how different things were in their childhood and I often find myself day dreaming about how things were and how they differ today. Summers were hotter. Days were longer. The Sun shined brighter. Certain foods were better tasting. You know what it is, I think because you were a kid the world was NEW to you so things that you're pretty much used to today seemed more INTENSE to you. To a person who's only been alive for 7 years....2 months summer vacation from school may seem like 5 years! But to an adult, 2 months of summer goes by like a week. If I wrote a book it would be a Science Fiction book about an IDEAL AfroAmerican community in an IDEAL America.

It goes back to what I was saying about psychology. A certain percentage of ALL populations (races) are natural PSYCHOPATHS who have no empathy for others and are only concerned with themselves. Nature saw fit to include them in the environment for some reason. They obviously serve some purpose. The problem is when they get into positions of authority like being President, a Governor, or even a police officer. They begin to act in cold callous manners using their power in ways that most normal people would find not only inhumane but unimaginable. As for getting people to realize the seriousness of Covid 19. Perhaps like those drinking and driving commercials where the skeletons were grinning at eachother while crashing their cocktail glasses together....maybe they should show graphic videos of people in the hospitals suffering and autopsy pictures of what the lungs look like. While some people can be reasoned with, others have to be FRIGHTENED into doing the right thing.

Nnamdi I've asked you before but you didn't answer, are you Yuroba or Igbo? It pertains to this discussion....... I personally don't believe the AVERAGE AfroAmerican worker is making nearly $800 a week. Because that comes down to roughly $20 an hour for a 40 hour week. I'd say less than 1 in 4 WORKING * AfroAmericans that I know have salary positions OR make atleast $20 or more an hour. Most are working class or poor and make LESS than that on their service industry jobs. Most CONTINENTAL Africans make more, but most AfroAmericans don't. And I believe much of that figure for "Black" people actually comes from combining the Continental African and Carribean African incomes with the AfroAmerican incomes....which doesn't give us a very accurate picture. Daniel Well hell, if you're earning THAT much then you should be able to afford yourself some health insurance not to mention a firearm for protection.....LOL. * meaning you're not counting those incarcerated, homeless, frequently unemployed, or living as criminals....and these make up a large percentage of the AfroAmerican population

LOL You know, someone should do another interview with YOU about your experiences growing up in Harlem in the 70s and your journey through college, corporate America, and on to your passion and involvement in Black literature. I can see the book cover now: 2 pictures side by side eachother...... One picture is of a little Black boy sitting on a curb next to a fire hydrant on a trashy sidewalk/ the other picture is of you in your office today grinning. ** **If you go with that idea...I DO expect to be paid a royal percentage for each book sold. I'm serious. No...really....I'm serious....I'm NOT playing. I'm trying to get PAID, my dude!

Troy I have to remind myself periodically to accept the fact that some people will never about others. And also check in with my thread about how some of our people just don't care from time to time: Just Admit You Don't Care: The Indifference of some AfroAmericans to eachother's pain...... Daniel It was probably more the stress from the lockdowns. If he owned a restaurant as Troy's post suggests, I'm sure the stress of the massive shut downs in New York weren't helping. But deaths from Covid 19 are pretty CLEAR CUT as having a physical causes and "stress" alone won't do it. It's been my observation in Michigan and a few other states I've visited and MOST of the stress from the supposed lock-downs aren't from the actual isolation itself but from the LACK OF proper government preparedness and conflicting and confusion information. CONFUSION is what stresses people out the most! Most of the stress from the lock downs don't come Are you two talking about the same individual? Did the classmate YOU speak of die or something?

Troy If he had a high profile job with Fox News or some corporation I might agree with you, but he go canned by PBS Caucasian media is Caucasian media regardless of the titles and supposed political leanings. Besides, PBS brands itself as being very pro-LGBTQ and pro-feminism. They most likely have a very low threshold for any type of sexism or perceived mistreatment of women by a man. for Christ's sake. You didn't learn to use that term in Harlem. You picked it up from going to college and working with those White New Yorkers....lol.

Nnamdi @Nnamdi Azikiwe Well brother the ORIGINS of the Caucasian race isn't the Caucasus mountains. They came into being somewhere else but were DRIVEN into those mountains about 6,000 years ago after causing trouble among the original peoples in Africa and the Middle East.

Troy True Breaking News: It seems that now even the White House PRESS SECRETARY has contracted Covid-19! Kayleigh McEnany

Troy Lol....... Well if you don't know what he actually did or the details of what he's accused of, how can you make the argument that he should face jail time? You're condemning the brother on mere speculation. Him being a high profile AfroAmerican man in a racist dominated industry like the mainstream media.....it seems to me you would actually give HIM the benefit of the doubt and presume his mistreatment. You should presume that not only is he innocent, but that he he is a actually a VICTIM of racist targeting and a shake-down for money by disgruntled opportunists.

Troy I've heard the same thing about Tavis. I've heard he was arrogant and aloof. But MOST professional Black men are that way because a lot of us feel like we aren't as valued by society as we SHOULD be. I'm not saying this is the case with Mr. Smiley but a lot of professional and intelligent successful AfroAmerican men have reconned that with all of the brothers out here who aren't going to school, aren't working, aren't taking care of their families, and living a life of crime and degradation.....those of us who ARE successful should be almost worshipped and adored for the successes we are. This is some of the reason a lot of AfroAmerican men who are successful feel they are ENTITLED to a lot of sex. They feel they deserve it as a reward for being a "good brutha". I feel the same way some times. Now whether that's right or wrong I'm not sure, but that's how a lot of us feel. Come on man Obama isn't even a genius few people are. The idea that you would attribute "charisma and social intelligence" to Trump is mind blowing. Hearing 45 speak off script is very revealing. Despite access to every conceivable advantage 45 communicates like a child. I don't know what 45's IQ but I'd be willing to bet it is below the median (100). Troy...... The man's a real estate mogul and (or was) a multi-billionaire. Do you think he got to that position with Down Syndrome? He's not very articulate or scholarly, but these are more academic attributes. He's a master MANIPULATOR when it comes to human emotion and "selling" people on ideas....which takes a lot of intelligence. Intelligence.....like energy....can be manifested in different ways. Much like a person with a lot of energy can be a football player or gymnast depending on their innate talents; a person of high intellect can use it to further their academic education or use it in business or even use it on the streets to be a big time dope dealer. He talks TO HIS SUPPORTERS like little children because that's what THEY understand. Another sign of an intelligent person who knows how to relate to his target audience. But don't confuse articulation (or the pretended lack of it) with intelligence. BTW, homeboy (President Obama) was President of the Harvard Law Review. He was certainly GIFTED if not an actual genius. The reason he didn't seem like the typical genuine geniuses you've probably encountered (as few of them as there are) is because..... Not sure how much you know about psychology and IQ but certain exceptional abilities will "throw off" your personality unless you have other exceptional abilities just as high to "balance" them. Obama did. Have you noticed that when your ideas are challenged to then take them to an extreme case. Well you're very observant (a sign of intelligence...😝 ..lol). I often use more extreme examples and analogies so that my points are clearly understood. Not that the subject should be considered as extreme as the example I give.

This happened MONTHS ago. Has there been any considerable repercussion from it? You say Google is fanning the flames of racial strife as if those flames weren't ALREADY stoked by your commander-n-chief and the others who came behind him. I'll tell you the same thing I told FAS..... Collectively speaking, what can racist Caucasian groups do to Black people that hasn't ALREADY been done on a slower scale? Black Americans are already being targeted and killed through disease, police brutality, criminal activity, ect..... So if they got together and decided to stop wasting time with slow acting weapons and do a MASS GENOCIDE that would be over in a matter of weeks, would it be THAT much worse? A man get's diagnosed with HIV at 25. He can either: - take his chances and live many more years and likely die a suffering death from AIDS. * Or - he can go home, enjoy a pizza, and grab a gun or take some pills and kill himself right then and there. ** The question is why would he risk years and years of suffering just to meet the SAME fate? The point I'm making is, IF*** genocide is the destiny anyway, then why waste time and take the scenic route to it (FAS...lol) ? What's the purpose of delaying it and keeping them on "stand by"? * assuming he doesn't die of other causes ** assuming there is no punishment for suicide *** I say "if" because I believe it won't happen but we as AfroAmericans will actually come out on top.

Troy CLEARLY Tavis was forcing himself on the women or men. Otherwise we would not be having this conversation. Well, we COULD be having this conversation because someone LIED on him. You know that DOES happen to Black men from time to time, lol. However that aside....... Unless it was physical (which would be criminal and he was never accused of that), explain to me HOW he "forced" these able bodied adults who weren't being held captive and could presumable leave the area to have sex with him? Help a brutha out.....lol. At least they did not toss Tavis' behind in prison the way they did Dr. Cosby. That's because Tavis wasn't accused of doing WHAT Cosby was accused of doing! Dr. Cosby was accused of RAPE. Whether he actually did or not, he was accused of drugging and INCAPACITATING women before having sex with them which basically means it was against their will! I haven't read anywhere where Tavis was even accused of that.