Pioneer1

Cynique Not only do I agree with your post, I often wonder do you REALLY mean everything you post.... Or do you just read my ATTEMPTS to argue with Troy....feel sorry for me.....and out of pity and frustration decide to take up my argument and present it in a stronger more detailed fashion simply to show how it SHOULD be done....lol. But just one thing...... That book I presented on Native American savagery wasn't RECOMMENDED by me. I haven't read it so I'm not promoting it nor am I condeming it's content. I presented it simply as an example of how you can find books for or against any group of people. 　 　 Troy I only asked for a single title @Pioneer1--one book. I figured you would come strong--definitely a book you'd actually read. Is this the best book you could come up with? A book, from some unknown publisher written by an even more obscure author whose credentials, knowledge and bias are all unverifiable. This is what you share with me as your reference material? ???? Lol.... Excuse me but your EXACT request was: @Pioneer1 please refer me to a single book, written in the last 50 years, that describes native Americans as "blood thirsty savages and cannibals." You said nothing about my having to have read it or any other criteria. You asked for reference material, and I provided exactly what you asked for. Not only have I NOT read the book, I'm not INTERESTED in reading the book. I only posted it to illustrate to you and prove to you MY POINT that there are as many books out there that negatively portray the Native Americans as there are those that portray them positively. As far as the documentaries you recommended....... I'm not sure what point you were trying to make, but my argument isn't whether or not Africans OR Native Americans had great civilizations before.....because we certainly did. MY argument revolves around the benefits of Capitalism over Communism or Socialism and that's where I'm gonna stay focused on. I'm not gonna divert from that and chase you all around the planet going all the way back to ancient Egypt in an attempt to prove to me something I already know about Black history. Ofcourse we had our own systems back then, but we DON'T have one today and until we GET one of our own we should stick with works best for us. Man, this is such a profound statement. So @Pioneer1, if you were a slave living in the big house, the child of a raped African (your mother), who was later sold. You work 18 hours a day every day, wiping the ass of the dude that raped your mother and every other decent looking enslaved Black woman--including your wife... The only thing that comes to your mind is figuring out how to have fun? That is deep. No....survival. It's easy to sit in a comfortable home in 2017 and "philosophize" about what you would do or not do back in slavery. But in those days it was about SURIVAL. Most slaves did what they had to do and what their LIMITED KNOWLEGE allowed them to conceive of doing. It wasn't about being brave and vituous and enduring mutual suffering, it was about survival and getting through a jacked up situation as best they could. Besides..... Aren't YOU the one who questions life after death and the reality of a spirit world? If so, why the hell SHOULDN'T he make the best out of such a terrible situation? What good would it have done the house slave to give up what little benefit he was getting just to go out and suffer with the rest of the slaves? Atleast in the house he had the influence and resources at his disposal to help himself and his family....if he chose to do so. Perhaps you put your finger on the mentality that keeps us mental slaves to this day. People are too busy having fun for themselves instead of trying to make things better for everyone... Again, this is not our nature, this is our conditioning. Again, this is basic human nature.....for MOST people. By nature most people are selfish and AREN'T concerned about the well being of others but only themselves and their family. I didn't say most people wanted to HARM others, because I don't believe this. I'm just saying most people DON'T CARE about what happens to others outside of their family and circle of friend. Just like only a select few people are psychopaths who have NO empathy or feeling toward others, a select few people are universal empaths who care about the well being of ALL of humanity and go out of their way to help everyone. But most human beings...regardless of race....reside somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. This is one of the reasons GOVERNMENTS were invented. Knowing that most individuals are basically selfish, it was smart and wise to come up with some sort of collective system to ensure the safety and provision for people who ordinarily would be ignored or even taken advantage of and abused by their fellow man.

　 Many Black men are depressed because they're living in a society that has become too complicated for them to function successfully in. They are frustrated because they can't seem to obtain the wealth and power that they want (and need) in order to remain psychologically healthy. To make matters worse...... In an age where homosexuality is more acceptable, for some reason Black men are often STILL chided by eachother as being weak or punks if they express any emotion other than one of strength. Even among Black women......... I know so many Black women who have gay effeminate Black male friends, but yet turn around and call many of the straight Black males they know "weak" if they can't maintain a relationship or challenge their manhood if they can't hold a job.

Del The precision was a bit off but the date is right within a week Who realised it was my first attempt. Well, maybe you'll learn from it and NOT attempt it again.....lol. Lol @ "precision" being off.....　 Man, I'm glad you don't build houses for a living. I could see you struggling to explain to some poor family why their home you built for them slid down the hill and into the nearby pond. "Well..... My precision was a bit off so I didn't build the house EXACTLY on the foundation laid for it but I figured it was CLOSE ENOUGH seeing as how it was my first attempt and all." And one really talented one like the prediction I'm sure they did. Your prediction reassured them of their JOB SECURITY...lol.

I forgot where I heard this, but someone suggested that strippers might fell a little different about what they do seeing Harriett Tubman's face stuffed in their crotches... ...something tells me they will get used to it. Brutha, the strippers I KNOW have had so many REAL FACES stuffed in theIr crotches (among other crevices)....I don't think Harriett's paper face will faze them..lol. That reminds me...... I need to stop by the store and get some singles so I can "make it rain" tommorow night....lol.

Lol...... I don't know about the predictions you post on FACEBOOK but I know about the one you posted HERE on AALBC....and again, it DID NOT COME TRUE. Let's see..... I can knock down your so-called "prediction" from 2 different directions: 1. I can use YOUR OWN WORDS: "@Pioneer1 in about two weeks the 26 days will expire. I wold say his approval will be between - 26 - 31% plus or minus 7. " .....which, when read in context, CLEARLY implies that 2 weeks from the time you posted it (which was in January) Donald's approval ratings would be between 19-38%. The date April 21st was to be found NO WHERE in your prediction. Not on THIS site atleast. Now if you really meant for those following your predictions on THIS SITE to understand that you meant "April 21st" then perhaps you should have included that in your post instead of posting it NOW after the fact. 2. Or I can post ANOTHER article from a reputable source that puts his approval rating OUTSIDE of your predicted margin: "A Gallup poll released Thursday shows Trump averaged a job approval rating of 41 percent since his Jan. 20 inauguration- a figure 14 percent lower than any other president in Gallup's polling history." http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/donald_trump_approval_rating_p_2.html Not only was that poll from GALLUP but the date it was reported on was APRIL 21st! That's the same date that you NOW claim for your predicting that his approval rating wouldn't be over 38%. But that's the nature of polls and political statistics. You can dig up numbers to support any argument. So....... Unless I'm talking to Donald "when I said the armada is on it's way....I didn't mean what it implied at the time I said it" Trump who's words have to be taken with a grain of salt, I'm gonna go ahead and say that your prediction failed. Next.

Troy @Pioneer1 please refer me to a single book, written in the last 50 years, that describes native Americans as "blood thirsty savages and cannibals." I believe that book was published in 2008 I just found that one after a quick 2 minute search, but there are others......... I didn't post this book because I agreed with it's content, but to prove my previous point that for every book showing how gentle and peaceful the Native Americans were there are others that say the exact opposite. Again, it's fruitless to debate pre-modern history because as soon as you THINK you know the truth about an event someone comes along with brand new information that was stored away in some old vault somewhere. I'm not going to deny that the exploitation of Black labor wasn't one of the key factors in making this nation the economic powerhouse that it is; but slavery existed and STILL EXISTS in dozens of nations all around the planet If slavery was the sole reason why the United States is so rich then why aren't OTHER nations that practiced and STILL practice slavery just as rich? Slavery....especially the exploitation of Black labor...was prevelant ALL OVER the Americas from Cuba to Brazil.....why aren't THEY doing as good as the United States? CAPITALISM and is one of the reasons for our tremendous wealth. Not JUST because of the exploitation...although that admittedly is a factor...but also because: a) The incentives Capitalism offers to not only the business owners but also to the workers themselves actually encourages productivity with the hope for more gain. b ) The light restriction and regulation under most Capitalist systems allow for a more flexible way of designing and managing economic structures and businesses to maximize profits and production. 　 　 No man, what we have is an oligarchy and it is sad to see so many people defend it when so many people are suffering under it. I guess it is no different that the house slave who fights to defend massa's house... Well..... If the field slave doesn't have anything to OFFER the house slave and doesn't have a plan to get both of them free, perhaps the house slave is better off keeping his ass IN THE HOUSE and enjoying as much of massa's luxuries as he can get his hands on! Think about it. If the field negro doesn't have a plan to get free, and is just mad because he has to work his ass off sweating in the hot sun.....is YOU leaving the comforts of the house just to come out and keep him company in his misery going to help either one of you? It's always best to NOT be a slave. However if by misfortune you are gonna be slave ANY-damn- way.... And you didn't receive divine revelation to help you free yourself. And you aren't willing to die fighting massa for your freedom And you don't have a viable plan for your freedom. ......then wouldn't the logical thing to do is derive as much pleasure as you can out of such a jacked up situation? I agree that we live in an oligarchy.....an Oligarchal Republic to be exact. And it's rapidly becoming a PLUTOCRACY. But the few have ALWAYS ruled the many, in just about every human society you can think of. You'd like to live under a Democracy but a true Democracy among humans is almost impossible because if EVERYONE is in charge then who would be authorized to make rules and keep order? You don't want to live under a theocracy where only one religion is allowed. You certainly don't want to live under a dictatorship with on man calling all the shots. So do you want to live in an anarchy where NOBODY rules and everyone does whatever they want with no one to answer to? That'll last about 2 weeks......lol.

Ofcourse seeing more of "yourself" in your day to day reality will improve your self esteem. One of the reasons so many Africans and West Indians who migrate to the United States and do so much better as a group than AfroAmericans has less to do with them being inately smarter and more to do with the fact that they come here with a higher sense of self esteem and self-worth. They achieve greatness because they BELIEVE they can! Despite the poverty so many were raised in, Africans are born and raised in an environment where everyone of worth and achievement LOOKS LIKE THEM. The president and politicians are Black The school teachers and principals are Black The police officers are Black The lawyers and judges are Black The soldiers are Black The construction workers are Black. Everyone who runs the society....despite the problems that society may have.....are Black. So you grow up looking at people who look just like you who are called smart, beautiful, powerful, brave, and any other positive attribute you can think of. You grow up with the mentality that you can aspire to and achieve the highest positions of the land through effort and skill. Contrast THAT with the United States where White people basically run the nation and keep it humming and you end up going to them for your every want, need and grievance. Black folks don't even make thier own toilet paper. You grow up feeling oppressed, opposed, limited in your options, and feeling that others who don't look like you are better than you and that you should "know your place" and rely on them. BTW..... I look forward to Harriet Tubman's face being on the 20 dollar bill....lol. I just hope they don't lighten her up or straighten out her hair. MLK and Frederick Douglass should have BEEN on some currency.

Troy For every book you can find me showing how peaceful and wholesome the Native Americans were and what a "heaven" the Americas were before White people arrived.....I can find another that portrays Native Americans as blood thirsty savages and cannibals who were ripping eachothers hearts until they were either decimated or "civilized". As I've said numerous times before, to me it's a bit futile to argue over history because no one is able to actually PROVE what happend hundreds of years ago. The most you can do is gather evidence to support your position and hope it outweighs the opposition. I'm sure the truth lays somewhere in between. Some tribes were violent and war like, others were peaceful and isolated. Some were matriarchal and had women leaders, others were partriarchal and men called the shots. The same with the continent of Africa and it's many different tribes and ethnic groups who like they are today were probably warring with eachother thousands of years before the first White man ever set foot on the continent. The point is, people very from one region to another and no place on this Earth is perfect. It wasn't back then, and it isn't now. The shit only works when people are exploited and enslaved--you know this right? And you DO know that Communism doesn't even work AT ALL right? I don't think Capitalism necessarily needs enslavement to work properly but it DOES need a certain amount of exploitation in order to function. But exploitation ITSELF lines up with human nature. A small minority of people are very smart. The majority are of average intelligence. A small minority of people are very ambitious and want to own everything The majority are content owning just enough to provide comfort for themselves and their families A small minority of people are managerial and love organizing and controling people The majority don't like the mental work of organizing or telling others what to do and would rather be TOLD what to do. Thus you have the recipe for exploitation. I'm not arguing that it's right....or wrong..but almost all human beings are exploited be someone to some degree at some time or another. When you realize this, you then demand adequate compensation for your exploitation or you go into business for yourself and turn the tables around. Cynique Miss Sunshine Is it any wonder that I am a pessimistic? What is there to be optimistic about? "Man's inhumanity to man is what prevails in this god-forsaken world were truth is a casualty, and equality a myth. The rich get richer and the poor will always be with us. Have a good day Hey Sunshine! I'm reading a pretty good book I think YOU should check out: You can take lessons from this dude......lol. He paints an even gloomier picture of humanity than YOU do! I have no doubt that Troy would also find much of the content of this book quite interesting as well.

A rich white capitalist crook perhaps...... But Donald Trump is no fool and most of those in power don't consider him one. Sure he was born with a silver nipple in his mouth, but he took what his father left him and multiplied it into a conglomerate. He may say vulgar and uncouth things from time to time because of his high powered aggressive personality but he's a shrewed business man which means he has to know atleast the basics of human psychology and how to talk to people to get what he wants. He's no George W. Bush.....not by a long shot. The people who run the country know EXACTLY what they're doing. They may PRETEND that they don't and act stupid and incompetent in order to fool the masses and blind them to their real agenda, but they are far from stupid. Katrina is a good example. They know how to ship military equipment halfway around the world in less than a day but they PRETENDED like they didn't know the hurricane would be as devastating as it was and they pretended that they were trying thier best to get aid and personel down there when they were clearly stalling and actually TURNING BACK assistance from places like Cuba. They get what THEY WANT accomplished. As far as Black victimization.................. When one thinks analytically we realize that the problems Black folks face not only come from White racism, but also themselves. Due to the poor education and dysfunctional environment so many have been raised in, this society has simply become too complicated for a lot of Black people to function in. So even when racism isn't directly being practiced against them, too many of our people are finding it hard to "make it" and live a productive life in the United States.

Del On January 28th you said: "@Pioneer1 in about two weeks the 26 days will expire. I wold say his approval will be between - 26 - 31% plus or minus 7. " This is April 22 How is a prediction you made nearly 3 months ago for mid-February relevant for today?

Joe Madison is a smart man and he's usually up on a lot of the issues so he's probably doing it for STRATEGIC purposes. As much as I think all this mess about him being beat up because he was Asian (although I do think it was wrong for him to have been beaten) is a bunch of horse manure, I don't think it would be good for Blacks to publicly dismiss this incident. We already have our hands full dealing with White racism and the peripheral racism from other people who come here and try to cozy up to Whites at our expense, so we don't need a head on collision with the Asian community by out right dismissing this incident or making light of it or trying to "one up" it by claiming how much worse we have it. Actually it could be used to help build some bridges and bridge some gaps between ourselves and other groups by illustrating the abusive nature of so many in law enforcement. So if I had a radio program I would use it to that effect...but only sparsely. Tariq Nasheed said that it's time for these other non-White races to start "holding their own nuts" when it comes to fighting White supremacy in America. We've been fighting it for decades while many of them sat back playing dumb wondering what we were complaining about....now they see.

Cynique Instead, you offer simplistic solutions for complicated problems. Well...... Atleast I OFFER solutions....lol. You articulate the problems quite well but leave the reader with a morbid hopelessness. After telling them how bad shit is going to get, sometimes you even taunt the poor reader by claiming atleast you won't be around to see the all hell they're going to catch in the future...lol.

To say that people are more effective when they share resources and work together is like saying society is better when people don't lie or steal from eachother. Meaning...the statement is just as impractical and unrealistic as it is obvious. Since when or in what society have people EVER worked together in harmony and shared resources? Even before slavery and colonialism and before Africans or Native Americans came into contact with Europeans.....Africans and Natives had their own despots, dictators, and blood thirsty strong-men who ruled over their tribes and kingdoms with violent absolutism. I'm not saying this was the case with all or even most African and Native American leaders.....but many. You always had men who were smarter than others and saw a way to "take advantage" of the other. Even under communism and socialism...... In THEORY everyone lives together equally with the same resources all working according to his/her ability. But in PRACTICE of just about every communist nation you have the masses of the people living poorly with just a very basics guranteed to them in the form of food, clothing, and shelter while the members of the communist party of that nation living large and dividing any wealth produced among themselves. Atleast in Capitalist America, England, Nigeria, or Brazil you have a handful of super rich people...a large number of poor....and a pretty decent size (but shrinking) middle class who own various degrees of wealth. When China and Russia were straight up purely communist EVERYONE was poor and living in the projects.....even those who were highly educated. While only a couple thousand people who were members of the government got to enjoy the finer thing of modern society like thier own house, cars, and fine dining....and even wearing a suit. It was actually nothing but an extreme form of Capitalism that eliminated the middle-class! I'm not coming from a right-wing conservative Republican point of view. But after having lived all over the United States, traveled to other countries, and spoken to people from all over the world about what they've experienced where they were ...it's lead me to my current beliefs that Capitalism in practice....although not perfect....is much better than Communism or even socialism. The desire for wealth and women isn't generated or create by society..... These traits are inborn. MOST men have the natural desire to not only procreate and spread his genes but also accumulate the resources to protect and care for himself and his progeny. Also, most men by nature want to CONTROL and OWN resources and property....not share them or have them taken away from him and distributed to others. I agree with you that most people aren't benefiting by this current system, which is why it needs to either be reformed or replaced. But the biggest problem with the system isn't that it's not working, but that it's just not working for most of OUR people. In other words....... In a Capitalist system that demands some people must assume the role of wealthy owners while the masses must assume the role of poor workers; Perhaps Black people should take a lesson from the Asians and other immigrants in this nation and start trying to audition for the role of WEALTHY OWNERS instead of constantly begging for a role a poor worker....who doesn't even WORK half the time!

Perhaps the lack of sympathy for Black males was by design and in the making for a long time. Like the Irritated Genie said in a recent interview, before you get ready to wipe out a particular people you must first remove all of the public's sense of empathy for them to the point that if they are slaughtered there won't be any outcry. To the point we discussed in another thread over how Black men can be routinely shot down by the police and few outside of our community will even raise an eyebrow over it, but one Asian man is beat up on a plane by the police and there's an international uproar! Although I'm not very religious, I personally have a STRONG FAITH in God. That strong faith has not only gotten me through a lot of things but has prevented me from doing a lot of things that may have otherwise been considered harmful. A distant second is my linear form of thinking. I always liked the "direct approach" to solving problems so while a lot of my friends would get drunk, high, or even fight in order to release thier frustrations or forget about their problems.....I'd actually drive way out into the deep suburbs among the trees or go to some very secluded neighborhood and sit there and ponder over my options....even as a teenager. Because I wasn't the smartest person in the world I didn't alway come up with the best solutions for my problems but the good thing is I never developed the habit of getting drunk or high as a means of escapism and it's saved me a lot of money. However I recognize that many if not most Black men DON'T have this type of belief and many either believe in a religion that doesn't actually help them or teach them how to solve their day to day problem OR they don't have any type of belief system at all and live life by the moment and react impulsively to each situation they face. This isn't their fault. They have been "let down" by a society that teaches children half-truthes and gives them false narratives in school and on television and unless you were blessed to have GOOD PARENTS who were wise and caring enough to tell you how the world really works and what to do to get ahead.....many times you're just shit out of luck. You're probably not going to like this because it gets into "racial" differences but I sincerely believe that Black men and especially AfroAmerican men.....because of our unique experience and history in America....have a unique psychological make up and we need SPECIAL or UNIQUE help when it comes to dealing with life's issues. The tools used to help other people deal with thier problems can't be applied to us and expected to work anymore than the unique tools WE NEED to help us deal with our issues can be applied to others. I've seen so many Black men and women walking around the downtowns of major cities not just in Michigan but all over America these past 5 or 6 years just talking to themselves and looking tattered and tore up! I remember 25 and 30 years ago you NEVER saw a Black person walking around talking to themselves! Oh you had your bums and wineheads, but they could atleast hold a conversation while begging for some change; but now....... I wish I could organize Black psychologists, sociologists, and psychiatrists and hold a series of major conventions in order to map out some sort of broad based strategy to address the problems of the Black American community.

Although I'm not a pure Capitalist and prefer a mixed economy with the best elements of both socialism and capitalism....I lean more toward Capitalism and the so-called Free Market system as the best economic system for not only Black people but human beings in general. Booker T. Washington said the same thing and this was one of the reasons he and Dubouis didn't get along. Capitalism isn't perfect, but it's more in tune with human nature as it provides motives and incentives for most people...especially people with ambition...to aspire to. It inspires you to be creative and bold and take risks for rewards. While I think SOME things should be socialized and used for the good of the public....like healthcare and police protection.....socialism in and of itself isn't very practical for our people. To keep it real..... Too many of our people are LAZY, and if they know they can get taken care of in the way of food, clothing, and shelter while not having to work than many of them will take advantage of such system and pretty soon society will collapse from so many people not working. What we need is Capitalism with a strong social safteynet. But most people in general, and especially our young men need a strong INCENTIVE to work and be ambitious. The promise of getting rich, getting plenty of women, having nice things, and owning property is that incentive to make sure people keep the society operating.

I guess the manhunt for the "Cleveland Killer" or "Facebook Killer" has been called off and the situation resolved. After mercilessly killing a 74 year old innocent man on live social media and bragging (and probably lying) about having murdered over a dozen other people, the suspect ended up killing himself after being tracked down and surrounded by police in Pennsylvania. Besides themselves, few people really know what really goes on in the minds of people who "snap" and feel the urge to go on a killing spree, but part of me really believes that this situation could have been prevented. Which is why when people do things like this, I'm the type of person who likes to dig into the background to TRY and understand why or what may have led to it. When you look at his previous videos he not only blames his girlfriend ultimately, but he also blames his friends, his own mother, and society in general for not paying attention to his calls for help. Many people have called this a weak pitiful excuse by a deranged monster who just trying to justify his own evil. But I've heard this time and time again from other Black men. I hope people don't take this the wrong way or think it sounds "soft" but but I really feel sorry for Black men in this society. We don't have many places to turn to when WE need help dealing with problems whether it be legal, financial, or even relationship. -White people don't care. -Black women have their own concerns that are just as if not more dire -Often times we don't have money for the therapists what wealthy Whites have traditionally used as a "shoulder to cry on" -Unless you have a serious mental illness requiring medical attention, even a hospital won't really help you -And probably worst of all OTHER BLACK MEN tend to brush eachother off and even belittle eachother as weak and "bitch assed" for even complaining about their problems. I find it ironic that Black men who know FIRST HAND what other Black men are faced with and how other Black men are treated in this society are often times that hardest and coldest on eachother when it comes to financial and societal hardships. After being born in poverty, going in and out of jail, and straight catching hell for 30 years a Black man who hits the lottery or finds a rich girlfriend to take care of him will turn right around and look at another who is in the SAME CONDITION he was in just 2 or 3 years ago and with bitter contempt say: "Man, f*** that sorry ass nigga ! I made it....why the f**** can't he ?" I actually believe Black men not being able to "grieve" or "lament" their problems is one of the reasons the homicide rate is so high in many urban communities where Black men explode from a lifetime up pent up frustration. I'm not saying this is an excuse for murdering innocent people nor am I attempting in any way to justify his monsterous behavior, however with so many people in the media and even people in real life chanting the same lines over and over again that he should have sought help before he did what he did...... My question is, where should this Black man have gone to seek this "help"? Who feels sorry enough for Black men in THIS society to actually sit down and listen to them crying and complaining about how hard it can be trying to survive in a society designed by and for White males?

The older I get the more sense things make...... After thinking about it I've recognized that the outrage over this incident isn't necessarily coming from "everyone" but from a relative minority of Whites and East Asians. But because they tend to be more technologically savvy not to mention having more media resources at thier disposal they are able to make a bigger fuss over a minor issue than Black people are over major issues of police brutality. That's one of the priveledges of power. The same can be said about most issues in America. White people with money and power have the ability to focus the media on whichever direction they like. Historically speaking, Black people's concerns only got attention when a few of those Whites with money and power happen to feel sorry enough for our cause to give it a little attention.

You bring up a great point. Actually I WAS going to mention that but forgot about it. I think this is actually a testimony to the social power and status that Asians have achieved in this society. Black people have been murder by eachother AND the police in Chicago for years....decades.....and you didn't get the type of national outcry you got after one Asian man....a doctor....gets a busted nose from security on an airplane. The way the media portrays it..... And the way most people who follow this see it.... Him not complying with police orders takes second place to his being mistreated as a human being. And that's the way it SHOULD be, but the problem is when it comes to Black victims they dig up as much dirt as they can to justify the mistreatment. Although I personally believe that him being Asian had NOTHING to do with him being asked to leave or beaten up, I STILL applaud the Asian community for making a fuss over this. They'd doing what they're SUPPOSED to do, which is jump on incidents like this with ferocity and nip acts of racism and abuse of their own people in the bud before it gets out of hand.

Troy you have not changed a bit. Black don't crack Maybe he didn't spend his early years guzzling down 40s....lol. 　 I hear what you're saying cousin..... And actually I used to say the same thing. I said I'd rather someone let me know straight up where they're coming from, than smile in my face and hide their rage. I used to live on the West Coast where people aren't as straight forward and direct as they are back East. You could hang out with a person all day and night laughing and joking and wouldn't know they had a problem with you UNTIL you heard if from another friend the next day. "Ah man....so-n-so don't like yo ass! You ain't pick up on that????" I grew up with people letting you know when it was time for you to get up out their house....lol. They'd yawn and say, "Let me get around here and get some rest I gotta get up in the morning" or even a straight up: "Yall niggaz need to go home I'm about to turn in" ....with a SMILE ofcourse....lol. Instead, out West people would just start staring straight ahead like they weren't participating in the conversation anymore or they'd start playing with their phone HOPING you'd get the message.....lol. So being TOO polite and smiley ain't good. But on the other hand there's something to be said about a "polite" society. When people tend to be civil and respectful of one another and TRY to tolerate differences it cuts down on the hostility and violence. I mean, look at the Trump rallies and how some people behave when they have just a LITTLE taste of freedom to step away from being politically correct and like the real "them" come out! So although I don't care too much for the sneaky racists who smile in your face but then turn around and plot all types of mischief behind your back. ....I've been called a "nigger" to my face before by a few White people who let me KNOW where they stood and I almost ended up seriously injuring them in return. That's when I changed my tune and said that if were going to get along in this society without bloodshed, it's best to politely keep some of our views to ourselves.

Cynique I think you're totally misreading....or purposely misconstruing....what I'm saying. I didn't say only crazy criminal negroes were victims of racism in America. I'm saying their lack of willingness to unite, organize, and fight back INVITES victimization from racists who sense weakness and take advantage of it. I can't totally blame our people for the mistreatment they endured in the past because they were in a truely oppressive and repressed condition with very little power to fight back and get themselves out of it. But that's not the case today. When I said stop playing victim I mean start STANDING UP and TAKING CHARGE of your life and your community. Again, we have Black police officers.......why aren't they challenging the White ones or better yet organizing to patrol their own communities? The Nation of Islam used to patrol very violent housing projects and other urban communities and actually turned them around to be relatively safe places. So it CAN be done when you have the DESIRE to get up and do it. But if you'd rather sit back and let White men do it and then you can't complain too much about how they treat you because beggars can't be choosers. As far as other acts of racism so many of our people face around this nation. Many of them could be solved by us owning our own businesses and strengthening our own communities instead of begging for acceptance and assistance from those outside of the community. For the past few weeks I've seen videos of Black women being beat up by Asian beauty supply owners. Black customers standing around looking stupid or video taping the assault instead of actually coming to the aid of the victim. Others continue to patronize the store and support them. Again, not only playing the victim but being a willing victim.....then crying about their condition. As far as Obama goes........ Yes he was publicly disrespected on a number of occassions but I believe politics at the White House level is a big game. Rather than having his "noble goals" thwarted by racist White men who couldn't stand having a negro-in-chief....I believe he accomplished most if not all of what he WANTED to do. The problem is what he REALLY wanted to do differs considerably from what most people....especially Black people....THOUGHT he wanted to do and voted him in there for. The same goes for Trump and his followers. 　 　 And how do you know why Puerto Ricans and other ethic hispanics call themselves what they do? You are pontificating. IMO they take pride in their heritage and refer to it when identifying themselves, the same as European "Americans" do. I know why they do it because I ASK them and TALK to them instead of merely conjecturing. And again, unless they were born in Puerto Rico or any of the other Latin American nations then their heritage IS the United States. But when you constantly see yourself as an outsider and always play "victim" and "slave" like a lot of Black and Brown people do in the United States then ofcourse you don't see yourself as an American. Hell, you barely see yourself as a human being. Do you know that most of the Mexicans and thier children in the United States today wouldn't be welcomed IN Mexico? Why not? Because of the racism there that keeps the White and very light Mexican on top and the darker more indigenous Mexicans on the bottom and in poverty. This is the main reason they left and came here! And when they come they turn right around and play the victim HERE like overthere by taking on menial jobs and keeping the wages down all the while refusing to organize and develop strategies to fight the racism and economic injustices of thier beloved "home" nations.

now I'm beginning to see it as perhaps the beginning of our final decline as a nation... I'm not sure about the nation, but the beginning of the CURRENT (because there's been others as Delano allude to) Black financial decline actually started back in 2007/2008 with the stock market tumble and following Great Recession. Black people were the hardest hit and many of them lost their homes and other properties that they have yet to recover. I've met teachers with Master's degrees who ended up homeless after that 2008 fiasco. Infact, I saw a SURGE of Black homelessness that started right after 2008 2009/ There are some who've argued that as bad as some people have it, if the economy were to tank then it would just make things that much worse and they'd sink even further into the abyss. However with so many on the street with no source of income, no health care, and no prospects......besides DEATH....how much worse can it get for them financially? If there's a national economic crisis, perhaps bringing almost EVERYONE down to the level of poverty may "even things out" so to speak.

You see Cynique..... This is what I mean about Black people INVITING victimization and playing the role of a slave! We have thousands of Black police officers in this nation. How many of them are organizing to pose a challenge to the culture of racism in law enforcement? How many Black cops are willing to check a White cop on the scene and take the side of the victim? Infact....... How many Black cops are shooting unarmed White people? How many Black cops are arresting and beating up White people? You can't continue to complain about how someone is not doing you right when you don't exercise the little bit of authority you DO have to correct the problem. I'm not blaming the Black individuals who were victimized in these incidents but I AM blaming the Black community collectively for not not stepping up and maintaining law and order in our own communities if we don't like the way White law enforcement is treating us. BTW Harry...... I don't believe North Korea is "testing" anyone. I believe they are serious and not to be played with. There was an episode of the Twilight Zone (the later one with Forrest Whittaker) where the world came to an end from North Korea launching a nuclear war. Does anyone remember that one?

Troy The main reason was the way you presented it as if it were factual, definitive, and indisputable, none of which it was of course, but I could see some kid coming here reading what you wrote and putting it in a school report of something, a lot of the site's traffic comes from schools. What you wrote belongs in Wikipedia Well I said at the beginning that the presentation wasn't very scientific, I'm not an anthropologist. But I know what I've seen and I trust my own powers of reasoning. So I hope this thread DOES have a positively powerful effect on any young students who may come across it. It's better for their minds than that "rainbow" garbage they're being indoctrinated with in school right now. Atleast when kids were told they were Black and knew they were Black they had a sense of unity and would collectively fight discrimination and injustice. They saw themselves as a separate group of people who were being preyed upon and recognized the need to "get ahead" as a group....like the Asians and Latinos do. So you had BLACK banks, BLACK grocery stores, BLACK funeral homes, BLACK hotels. Once Black children were told that everyone was the same and race no longer makes a difference....or doesn't even exist...THAT'S when the problems began. Many children born past 1970 figured racism no longer existed, so they began to let their guard down and get rid of the "Black business" mentality and settle for jobs working for White corporations. We saw how long that lasted.....especially with Black males. BTW.... Ofcourse I'm not above owning up to my mistakes just like you aren't with yours.....lol. My only demand is that when someone tells me I'm wrong they must bring PROOF (like you did in this particular case) before expecting me to change my position. 　 　 Cynique Those events you cited above were acts of racial hostility, which youc a find in almost every nation. It wasn't about citizenship nor did it call into question the nationality of the victims. You know.... I'm beginning to realize that much of the problem.....I didn't say most or even half....but much of the problem with the way Black people have been treated in America today and even through out much of history actually rests with BLACK PEOPLE. If you walk around acting like a fool, you're gonna be TREATED like a fool. If you act like a slave, you're gonna be TREATED like a slave. If you act like you're not a real America or like you don't belong here, then you'll be TREATED like you don't belong here. There are Asians who've only been in the United States for ONE generation and already speak better English than many AfroAmericans, and even have well ran businesses and have accumulated more wealth. I can say the same about a lot of East Indians and Arabs and even most Black Africans. Sometimes when you walk around acting live a victim you INVITE victimization. 　 Troy and Cynique The U.S. Constitution makes it clear that anyone born inside of the United States IS INDEED an American. She may indeed practice a Puerto Rican culture but unless SHE HERSELF was actually born on that island then she is no more Puerto Rican than I am. I know many people who's parents are from Jamaica, Haiti, Nigeria and other nations OUTSIDE of America but since they were born and raised here and look like me they are called BLACK. They don't get some special priviledge to just make up a race or nationality for themselves. Many so-called "Puerto Ricans" claim that as a race and nationality simply because they are confused about what to call themselves OR don't want to be categorized as Black or mixed raced. J-Lo isn't a Puerto Rican....she's a Mixed Raced American ....that's written.

I picked, "A race/ethnicity not identified," because my race is Sapien. What if you were meeting a stranger in public and had to describe yourself? Would you tell them you were "human looking".....lol 　 I usually don't bash political correctness because it's far better to have a society that is too polite than one that is ruthlessly vulgar and offensive, but...... This is political correctness gone too far. Actually when it comes to gender..like sex....there should only be 4 categories at the most: -Male -Female -Androgynous (having characteristics of both) -(and a word that denotes one who has the characteristics of neither) That fact that you noticed that there were more categories for gender than for race/ethnicity indicates that the strategy used by racists of not only equating homosexuality with race but even attempting to "over take" the race issue in America and turn the public's attention away from it and towards gender or sexuality issues is having a degree of success. For years I've been watching this "fake outrage" of young White people who don't feel they have an identity or anything to be angry about like "the Blacks".....so they spend a lot of their time trying to make up something. Some use environmental issues to "get angry" about.... Others use LBGT issues to "get angry" about......... Some conservatives make Christian rights their thing to get angry over.... Yet others go back to using ethnic heritage like being Irish or Italian to jump up and down over and claim how oppressed and discriminated they have been..... So this is just one more strategy from a list of them that they have used to try and drown out the race issue and focus the public's attention elsewhere.

A few quick points: 1. Yes Judaism is a religion. However the definition of a "Jew" has expanded far beyond just a member of that religion. It's now a ethnic group. You even have atheist Jews like Karl Marx and Woody Allen 2. There is more than just one race (human race) living in Africa today. You have millions of Caucasians living in both the North (as Arabs and Berbers) as well as the South (as Afrikaners) 3. Jennifer Lopez is NOT Puerto Rican. She was born in the Bronx....U.S.A....thus she is AMERICAN regardless as to what she calls herself. Infact, since America basically owns Puerto Rico now I'm not sure if Puerto Rican should even still be considered a nationality. The same goes for Hawaiian. 4. I must admit that you got me on the "nationality" issue. You're right and I thought about the fact that different nations have different methods of establishing nationality before I posted. I understand that you're not really consider a French citizen regardless of whether either you OR your parents were born there and this has led to a lot of hostility between France and the children of French born immigrants. I think you're not considered British unless your White too....but I may be mistaken. However because of the complicated and often nonsensical legislation of many nations I decided to make it a little more simple so that folks can understand the differences between a person's RACE (how they look) and a person's NATIONALITY (where they were born). But you're right....technically nationality is actually based on legislative rules of the respective nations. What do you mean those opinions don't reflect AALBC? Man...... Instead of distancing yourself from this knowledge you should EMBRACE it and take it to your class and TEACH it to your students! Lol....pass the torch!