Troy

The publisher of this book, Blue Nile Press, is one of the most conscious Black-owned publishing companies I'm aware of. They are the first publisher to print a book with the AALBC.com Bestseller seal on it. Besides the fact that the book is an AALBC Best Seller it provides an additional incentive for me to promote and sell the book. In June I will be in Austin, TX presenting at the Austin African American Book Festival. I will be selling this book and any other AALBC bestselling books who have the seal on it. Peace, Troy

Is there a direct link on your site when one can get sent to buy your book? I can add it to the buy link too. Unfortunately some authors don't understand the market place and are ardent supporters of Amazon. But I'm beginning to see this change -- fortunately.

No I completely reject your point. On a fundamental level I reject the notion that the accumulation of wealth is the only reason one gets an education -- indeed if that is one's primary reason to get an education they are missing the point of an education. An uneducated amoral person can get wealthy. This statement reveals an lack of basic understanding of the differences between public and private institutions. Perhaps, but I think you are lowering them. I suspect most American's, who live from pay check to pay check fancy themselves as being in the middle class where in reality they are poor and lower class. I think you are looking at class distinctions the wrong way. You seem, based upon your statements, to be dividing the nation up by 1/3rds based upon wealth. so the folks in the highest 1/3 are upper class. The reality is that most American are in the lower class (no savings and minimal or negative net worth). The middle class has been shrinking for decades and the upper class is indeed a very small percentage of people who exert tremendous power and own almost everything. The upperclass are not the people you, or most American would know personally or encounter, unless you serve them directly as a maid or entertainer -- they live completely separate lives -- different schools, neighborhoods, etc

OK @Delano Bet. @Kalexander2 I'm fine with this bet with the clarification that if 45 chooses not to run in 2020, as opposed to prevented, I win. We can revisit the reelection bet once 45 completes his term.

@Delano, clarify "terminates in January."

You can't pull you titles off Amazon. Amazon will just sell them through 3rd parties who pop up like whack-a-moles. I don't normally include Kindle only titles on the site -- unless an authors pays to have me add them. The reason is because It re-enforced Amazon's monopoly on eBooks. I'll write up a short article once I finally cut the cord with Amazon. I don't plan to renew my Prime account either. Let me know how you make out removing your titles from Amazon. Maybe once you do this I'll drop my Amazon links. I really wish Libros and B&N would step up their game though. Libros is new so I get it, but B&N's, who was first out the gate with an online bookstore executed terribly. Maybe if more people do what you doing we can have a chance.= to end Amazon;s stranglehold over the sale of Black books Check out this letter to Amazon's Audible on The Tattered Cover Bookstore (a great store BTW) in Denver: Dear Audible, I feel torn writing this, because we’ve had so many good times. We’ve been through so much together. I really mean that. Remember that road trip to Minneapolis, where we drove through the night, and you helped keep me awake? And those early mornings at the gym on the elliptical with the sounds of my favorite authors and stories? I will always cherish those times. I want you to know that.

@Pioneer1 This is article is right up your alley. “White liberals, on the other hand, are far more dangerous because of their well-organized public relations campaigns. Liberals, via President Barack Obama and his wife, have effectively convinced around 60% of black America that homosexual culture is the most righteous way to live. White liberals will love you and hire you if you practice and defend said culture, particularly because homo-white male are obsessed with black penises, while homo white women need black women for decoration.”

Whoa! No bet on either one. @Kalexander2 "...for any reason..." is a nonstarter; as Del suggested 45 is a coronary waiting to happen. @Delano If he gets impeached before the end of the 1st term, the second bet is off. True, you have a point... unfortunately. Ditto.

Please tell me how these ladies have influenced you? I can tell you they do not influence me it the least bit. Oprah perhaps has some influence, but that is because of her impact on the book word that I must react to. Again celebrity, and wealth do not equal class. You wouldn't know anyone in the upper class -- they are media whores like the kardasians they have dare I say it, too much class for that. Yes student who were being formally educated understood the benefits of of a formal education AND wing to down and dirty in the struggle. As usual when I give you example to counter your narrative you change the criteria (so now they have to have actually graduated so SNCC Students and Garvey don't count... Please this is not "higher mathematics." The is no math that a carpenter needs that a 8th grader count not master. Of course man -- who suggested this?! Most of the adjuncts I know have Phds. I work there to supplement my income running AALBC -- the unexpected and added benefit is that it made me a better developer and is one reason AALBC still exists. Again another illustration why formal education is important The real issue in not solely what they pay adjuncts the problem is the financial resources allocated to the City's university system. Would you believe we received a memo saying that we run out of paper -- paper for Christ's sake!

Hey @Delano does logic and reason "Trump" astrology 😉 Hey @Kalexander2 I used to feel the same way you do and while there are screwed up folks in America, the majority of us are decent people. I truly believe America will overcome all the madness. I'd be willing to wager 45 finishes his term and would go double or nothing on the reelection 🙂

Hi @Valjeanne Jeffers tanks for sharing information about your audio book. I just added it to AALBC and have also included a clip. You have a nice voice. Where did you do the recording? How did you get you audiobook onto Libro? Where did you up load it? If I get enough sales I'll going to create an audiobook bestsellers list if make AALBC your default store on Libro I'll be able to track the sales I refused to upload Amazon's Audible titles on my site -- indeed I'm consider dropping all my Amazon links -- but that is another story.

@Delano @Kalexander2, Trump is looking pretty good to finish his term. In fact, his reelection is looking increasingly plausible. So much for the "Astrological Prediction the end of Trump's Presidency" huh? Looks like the only thing stopping 45 is term limits -- maybe.

We are function of our environment. The brainwashing is very hard to over come. Most of us are unaware of it and too stressed out to deal with it even if we are aware of our brainwashing. People still defend tobacco companies, Facebook, and 45.

I consider this class "upper middle class." Don't confuse wealth with class. You mentioned some very wealthy, but they are not upper class. Lebron collects a paycheck and beholden to the one who writes his check. Even Obama is not upper class. Now if all of his great-grandchildren are independently wealth from birth then we can discuss those people being upper class. Obama is just a ex-president... Jay-Z and Oprah provide our entertainment exclude them from your definition of upper class. Marcus Garvey attended college. Malcolm was extremely well read as well as being mentally gifted. There are always exceptions. Dude the VAST majority of Black people were working class or poor and did not graduate from college (this is still true today), of course these were his largest (numerically) supporters. I think you are just making up stuff here. I guess you never heard of organizations like SNCC. Do you know where the people who participated in the freedom rides or sat in at lunch counters came from? How about all the attorneys who fought the Gov't to pass civil right legislation...? Besides using your logic for education why does anyone have to go to high school? Everything you need to learn to be a plumber or carpenter can be learned in grade school.

One way to tell if a politician is doing anything to help Black folks is that there life is in serious jeopardy of being assassinated. No one has been in jeopardy of assassination in over 50 years. I doubt any dem that gets elected is in any danger... @harry brown, are you referring to this site?

This is the mist extensive coverage I've read. I also suspect it is the most thoughtful and measured assessment -- save the oarting dig about "best supporting actor." 😀 If a white woman did a "Jessie Smollett" best belive they would have arounded up some random negros and procecuted them. Am I lying?

There virtually no Black "upper class" people so few in fact it is not even wierh talking about Man Pioneer you could nit be more wrong. Educated people are the ones most likely to have the information to not just know the about corruption but to also understand the way and how. Liberal arts folk who study histort can out things in a historical contect. The uneducated masses are just angry, and because they are uninformed they fall fir hucksters like our current POTUS. Are you aware of any of the college protests that have taken place? In the last 60 years? On college campuses across the country? MLK had a Phd, do you devalue his education? Do you think he would have been as effective with just a high school diploma. Even closer to home, you appreciate what i do here. It would not have happened without my education, and there is no apprenticeship in the world that could have preoared me for it.

Sure that is another possibility which also can't be proven. Maybe it is not that "the watchers" arent allowed to intervene, perhaps they can't. I've been in bad situations where the resolution, implausibly, worked out in my favor. So much so I felt like it could not be sheer coincidence. I thought of the influencer as a guardian angel, which sounds a bit like your watcher.

@Pioneer1 yeah I can see that my first post was "attacked" by a few people. I thought it was funny. Often when people react in a rude are harsh way it is more about them than you. Besides, "sticks and stones..." brother. The perceived hostility is lightweight compared to growing up on the 'hood 🙂

...and there are plumbers, electricans, and web based booksellers who need to supplement their incomes too -- especially those who live in the nation's largest cities. @Pioneer1 education is not simply about learning the skills for a profession or trade. It is about becoming a well arounded individual with a base of knowledge and experiences to help navigate an increasingly challeging world. Liberal arts which you and so many short sighted people eschew and disparage is why our nation is full of zenophobic, culturally illiterate, social media manipulated, Trump voting, dullards. Even the compulsive drive toward STEM is why people are less likely to sit down for an hour or two and read a book to expand their minds and get a perspective different than the one in their head. Oh by the way MOST students never learn calculus -- even in college and you don't need it to be and an accountant.

@Chevdove that was both an interesting and sad story. @Pioneer1's explanation is one of several alternatives to the one you chose and because there are alternative explainations it is not "proof" of any of them including the existence of God. When I hear stories like this that are attributed to God I wonder wouldn't it have easier for your family if God simply prevented your husband from being sacked on the first place? Typically the response is God works in mysterious ways, or the experience taught a lesson, or any other story to justify the belief. @Cynique yeah i wonder what happened to ole Chris.

It was still good. Maybe it was my PC?

You did not ask me, but I gather Smollet really did make up the story. If this is true, he should not have gotten off. But it is not unusual for celebrities to be treated with kid gloves.

You can't. That is why, despite what you've asserted in your example, it is not proof. It the information can't be shared it is not proof. What makes this any different than saying you don't believe in God? Are you hedging, afraid you'd end up in hell?