Troy

40 terrific books were nominated for NAACP Image Awards. Several are AALBC Bestsellers! Congratulations to all the authors and publishers.

This is really a follow up to a conversation that divereged from the inherent beauty of Black women to spirituality. Often we hear the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason." The phrase is bandied about so much it is a cliche; a catch-all, used in place of an actual explanation. No matter how bad the event: "Everything happens for a reason." Death of a child, genocide, a fender bender, lost keys, running into an old flame or meeting a new one; "Everything happens for a reason." Of course this means that the Universe, Zeus, Jehovah, or (insert your favorite deity) had a hand in it. Does anyone believe this? Does everything really happen for a reason? Why?

@Pioneer1 Motown is a terrible example. Where is that "institution" today? I have clothing that has lasted longer than Motown.

@Pioneer1 this clip actually makes @Mel Hopkins's point. I agree no woman, or man, should worship at the alter of a European designer. However, any religion, or man exposing such a religion, that mandates chaste attire for women is oppressing women. I've seen women in the ocean down here in burkas (or whatever you call that crazy getup some muslin women wear that covers everything but their eyes). Is that really what you in favor of? Pioneer truth be told some of what you write is confusing and inconsistent. I recall previously you saying man was millions of years old. Now we are billions of years old. Which means we must be extraterrestrials because Earth could not support our form of life billions of years ago. When presented with this info you come if with something that some people believed centuries ago. Given your conversation with Chevdove about the Bible I figured you must be a Christian or some pioneerized version of one. I was curious to know which parts you believed.

No, @Mel Hopkins I meant i draw them. But technically the metal attract the magnet too, so my analogy was a bit off. I was raised in an all female household and my own family was all female. still there is so much to kearn about women and hair 🙂

I believe the vast majority of Americans share this world view. @Mel Hopkins i actually do believe that everthing happens for a reason. Cause and effect; from the moment of the big bang 13 odd billion years ago, the die was cast, and everything that would happen was set in motion.

Yeah I hear you @Cynique, but Steve Harvey is not any funnier than Monique. Sucess is never really is about pure talent in the entertainment industry. Do you think the striper turn rap phenom, Cardi B, is the most talented female rapper? Do you think Colin K. lacks the talent to make a pro team? Steve is great at working the system, Monique despite the Oscar sucks at it. It was probably not a good idea for her to be managed by her husband. That has obviously not worked well....

Yeah, on the web today, I saw a several ads promoting articles with that subject. I could not bring myself to read any of them.

Yeah that reminds me of the Jherl Curl or the Mullet... I see a lot more and more sistaz with purple hair including a couple i took out. Is purple hair really a thing, or am l i just a purple-hair-having-chick-magnet? 🙂

The "money game" IS the "white game" See Steve, and he said it himself, ain't trying to sacrifice himself or his family or the cause -- certainly not for Monique. What Steve describes as the "wrong way" is the way that would cause him some discomfort (i.e. potential loss of income). That is why Steve and the rests of them are very wealthy money and why a Monique, a Kaepernick, or any one of us can be shut down -- regardless of what other Black people say or think about it. Boycott?! Black folks have not successfully boycotted anything since Montgomery, over 60 years ago! That tactic is off the table because, like Steve, no one wants to sacrifice anything. No one will boycott Amazon because people want discounted books and free shipping -- who cares how many Black businesses are crippled in their wake. No one is boycotting Netflix to support Monique and more than they'd boycott the NFL to support Colin. Collectively, we are a relatively weak, powerless, dependent, group of people...sorry. Sure there are some individual successes, like Steve Harvey and others, but if Steve can't protect a fellow comedian, one he claims he "loves," what good is his success to anyone but himself?

After reading this speech I could not help but think: Why the hell was this speech even necessary -- were people really that evil?! It seems incredible -- even by today's standard that someone had to explain why lynching other people for kicks is a terrible idea. She must have been speaking about the behavior of some really retarded and or immature demons. To call the people who participated in these atrocities "devils" is an insult to Satan. These words would have no impact on anyone evil enough to lynch a child. Lynch Law in America by Ida B. Wells

... @Cynique you gonna go down that road? LOL!

I think @NubianFellow's example of Black men (and some women) sagging their pants is a good example. It would be entirely proper for a sister to step a youngin' and tell them to pull their damn pants up. If no one checks the young Brother then there are no standards for dress and anything goes. Now some people believe there should be no standards -- as long as I'm not hurting you -- what difference does it make how anyone dresses? I'm not one of those people. I'm not saying I should make the rules, but there should be rules for behavior, including dress. These rules can be different over time and place, but again there must be a certain level of accepted behavior for a civil society. Saggin; pants if different that wearing a weave, for it speaks to slovenly dress and sometimes behavior. I'm no longer inclined to care what a woman does with her hair as long as it is clean. Personally I think women invest FAR too much time and money in their hair. Black women's fixation on hair is not because of racism (thought it may have started that way) but skilled marketing, for white women are under the same pressure to have their hair look a certain way. It is part of American culture. I've become friendly with a hair stylist recently and the stories she tells about white women and their hair would amaze you. I've recently taken up sporting a goatee. I prefer to be clean shaven, but every woman I've gone out with says they like it, so I'm keeping it because it is relatively easy to maintain. My ex-wife also preferred the goatee but I figured she should accept me without it. I guess that is why we are no longer together 🙂 But to @Cynique's point looks are superficial. But I think most of us are "superficial" to a certain extent. I prefer women who are not obese, shorter than me, my complexion or darker, and a whole laundry list of physical characteristics -- some within the woman's control and others not. I don't think I'm shallow, I'm just a human being; this sort of thing is natural. Does my check list have to be 100% met - of course not. The woman that meets all of my desired requirements does not exist. We make trade offs. So when it comes to women's hair, I don't even care and more. I know what I like and unless someone asks me, I keep my mouth shut. There are far more important battles to fight in the war for Black liberation, like getting folk to support Black businesses.

@Pioneer1, so you believe your theory of Black people being billions of years old is more plausible?! Are you shitting me? You can't be serious? The planet is only 4.5 billion years old, just a few billion years younger than the universe. That's a silly statement. Try living in the northern climates and see who is better adapted. Man adpats to their environment through randon mutation and natural selection. (btw. did you procreate, or have your genes been dropped from the gene pool through natural selection?)

I never knew the Tops covered this song. I don't think I ever heard this.

Whoa stop the presses. How did I let this one slip by… @Chevdove, see, most people would doubt, that someone walked through a wall. There has to be some modicum of skepticism when you read something as extreme as this -- otherwise you are liable to fall for anything. Also, nothing in quantum theory suggests that people should be able to walk through walls. I know you did not say this, but just in case, keep in mind these "objects" are sub-atomic particles electrons, photos, and the like. Objects, like people, do not behave the way electrons do. The locations of people are not based upon a probability function. @Pioneer1 how can Black people have been around for billions of years when the planet has been capable of supporting human life for far less time? Do you believe Black people are extraterrestrial?

Mine too 🤔

@Cynique (anybody) what makes quantum physics so compelling for you? Is that the rules at the quantum level are so different and difficult to comprehend?

I had not heard this she died several years ago. I heard her read onc, at a tribute for that guy who wrote that long ass poem "Howl."

@Pioneer1 it is if they claim to be a Christian. Ain't that right @Chevdove? Pioneer do you think the likelyhood of a man, having multiple children by different women, "properly rearing them and providing for them all (including the mothers)," is high?

@NubianFellow I've heard people expose these ideas, but I've never heard it asserted as a actual theory. You know the kind of theory that a scientist has written up in a peer reviewed journal. People like Deepak Chopra says these types of things, but they are not backed up by the science. But it is an interesting idea through. The theories discussed at the quantum level don't apply at the macro level. @Pioneer1 dayum man, i was just asking a question lol! Maybe you believe Adam lived a million years ago. Besides you and Chevdove are talking over my head with this biblical stuff.

@Chevdove I'm not sure if you follow Harry's rants against Black social dysfunction -- especially that of the Black church leadership. While he is singularly focused on these issues. He does not exaggerate. Have you (or anyone) ever considered that Black Christians are so often victimizers, abusers, and financial exploiters of these ones they are supposedly leading and helping to save? Of course this is not just a Black thing the Catholic church is rife with sexual abuse and pedophilia -- so much so it appears that providing a platform the sexual abuse of children is part of it's mission. Couple that with the fact the Christianity has been used to justify so many horrors across the globe since it was invented. It seems to me that the form of spirituality divorced doctrine of any of the world's so called "great" religions is far more righteous, less judgmental, and natural.

@Chevdove thanks for the detailed reply. I was not absolutely clear to me that you were, at your foundation a Christian. I can see why you might make some other Christians -- even minsters -- nervous or why they might not be aware of your information. I'm a firm believer that one learns more from people who are most different than they are, and your world view is very different from my own 🙂 However, I respect and appreciate you sharing you beliefs here despite the opposition and challenges to them. That takes a lot of heart. I hope you feel you are benefiting in some way too. I also hope that you are open to change. That, I think, is where the real benefit and growth comes. I learn from you all. Thanks everyone!

My bad. I thought you were being sacastic. My percieved sacrasm was reflected back to you when i wrote "alien invasion." I was referring the "Alien Spacecraft" post where you refused to link to a source.

You obviously have a lot of knowledge on this subject and put a lot of time and effort in aquring it. Is this the result of self study primarily, or did you learn this in school or Church? Are there others who believe as you do? Is there someplace i can read more about this? A link to a website would be ideal. Thanks. My understanding is that Y DNA goes back much farther than 4,000 BC.