Troy

I truly believe the profit-seeking, corporate-controlled, emotion-driven, social media-fueled "news" we consume is the problem. Social media distorts the truth in such a way that we have no clue what our problems are or what the solutions could be; which is why 1/2 the country believes Donald Trump is the answer to ur prayers.

Man, I'm about half way through the report and it is brilliant! It substantiates all of our observations--in fact is if FAR worse than I imaged. Chris, you really should read it. If describes in great detail how Amazon is driving business to use marketplace. Amazon then mines the vendor's sales data for popular products which Amazon's promptly makes themselves--driving the original vendor out of business. If a company refuses to sell their products on Amazon, Amazon will allow knockoffs to be sold by third party vendors. Amazon will also sell products at a loss until competing vendors go out of business or join marketplace--where they will give up both a big chuck of revenue and business. The articles also relates how Amazon changes prices dynamically throughout the day, sometimes raising prices and much as 170 percent. Amazon, often charges more that other sites because people start their search for products on Amazon rather than Google or even the vendor's website! I discovered this myself once; I wanted to buy a coffee filter and was taken aback by the price. I went to the manufacturer's website and learned that Amazon was charging three times the price! I had to double check to make sure I was not seeing things or comparing different products (I wasn't). Amazon pays workers less than other companies for similar work, they exploit part-time worker to avoid providing benefits, and in many states they make billions or dollars without contributing a cent to the tax base. The don't pay their fair share of federal tax because of the loopholes. The only hope is that the government will still break up this monopoly before even more damage is done. Everyone really should read this research report.

We are all guilty of it. Several years ago I posted photos of myself as the world traveler, always doing fun things with interesting people, while selflessly advocating for Black people and literature. While that is is actually part of who I am, it is not a complete picture of myself. In fact, it was even a picture of myself I particularly care for... because "Facebook Troy" never struggled (unless it was for others) or made a bad decision. He wasn't human. Of course, there is Facebook's manipulation which is what actually motives us to contribute. I despise this aspect of Facebook, so I just opted out using Facebook for sharing personal stuff and only use it for sharing links back to AALBC.com. @Cynique, you hit on exactly how Facebook manipulates us: “…as I dutifully "like" what my relatives and friends say, even if I don't agree with or couldn't care less about what they have posted.” I've done exactly the same thing, and all this does is feed the monster that is making Facebook rich at our expense. As we “Like” the things we don't really like, we encourage people to share even more because of the ego boost the get from receiving likes. People feed off of these likes, and we might even feel bad or guilty if we don't click the like buttons ourselves. The only reason I care about any of this is that as people spend more and more time on Facebook the rest of the internet is crumbling around us. News sites are struggling, as fake news goes viral on Facebook. As far as content important to Black people goes, I've already beat that horse to death... Sadly, trying to explain any of this to most people is people is a waste of time...

Yeah, the Echo is a trip and I don't believe for a split second that it is not listening to you when you don't think it is. Who knows maybe our cells phone are transmitting our conversations when we are making a call as well. We already know corporations monitor our physical locations. Why wouldn't they listen in and call it a bug or a hack if they get busted. If they are Amazon, they can just say. "Go fuck yourself; we've Amazon Dammit!" When I found out Facebook monitors what you type--even if you decide to change your mind and never hit the send key, I changed my behavior on the platform.

Merry Christmas.

@Mel Hopkins, I'm a prime member myself right now, so I completely understand the appeal and benefits (ignoring the long term disadvantages). I don't even use it for the movies or music. It is just that I order enough books from them that the free shipping works out in my favor. I guess by this point everyone knows you can easily hack your Amazon Fire to watch any movie even bootlegged movies that are still in the theaters for free. Obviously, Amazon knows this too and no one is doing anything about it. I'm sure sales for this device will go through the roof. Again this is just another way Amazon makes money that no one seems to ever talk about--let alone even challenge Amazon. I just printed out the report (79 pages) and plan to start reading it tonight. I'll comment later.

OK, Cynique, maybe you are right. Perhaps I'm giving the American people too much credit. Maybe the non-racist folks, who would select a president based upon our collective benefit, rather than only their own self-interest, is so small as to be insignificant. As a side note: I always take what I read, people write about themselves, on social media with a grain of salt. People are crafting an image, the very same was a company crafts their brand's image. People, they say things the want people to read--often to elicit praise, compassion, and maybe even envy. In any case, the people we see on Facebook are incomplete, perhaps caricatures of themselves. So when someone says they cut off a white friend, they had no idea was racist, until they voted for Trump. I question the motivation for making the statement, and therefore the statement itself. Did they write that to make themselves look strongly principled? If so, why? Strongly principled people do need to broadcast the information... I would question the depth of their "friendship" with their white friend. Do you mean to tell me they did not have a clue their so called friend was racist until they voted for Trump? Again I look at what people say about themselves online with a grain of salt, and definitely would not use it bolster an argument.

I have not read the entire report yet. But I did not want to wait to read it before sharing it. Anyone who has been reading these forums, for more than five minutes, knows how I feel about how these massive corporations exert their power and how terribly Black businesses, in particular, are adversely impacted as a result. I'm surprised to read that 1/2 of all households have a prime membership--that is a staggering figure. Most businesses have to give customers and incentive to return, but Amazon has turned that into a revenue stream. Amazon may be a greedy monopolist, but they are so brilliant, one can't help but admire their gangsta! Preventing Amazon from dominating the market, and gaining a collective long term benefit is simple; all we have to do is stop using them. But that is not likely to happen until Amazon has extracted as much wealth out of the economy as possible. They won't stop until they have all the wealth and right now there is nothing in their way.

“Today, half of all U.S. households are subscribed to the membership program Amazon Prime, half of all online shopping searches start directly on Amazon, and Amazon captures nearly one in every two dollars that Americans spend online. Amazon sells more books, toys, and by next year, apparel and consumer electronics than any retailer online or off, and is investing heavily in its grocery business. Its market power now rivals or exceeds that of Walmart, and it stands only to grow: Within five years, one-fifth of the U.S.’s $3.6 trillion retail market will have shifted online, and Amazon is on track to capture two-thirds of that share.” —Institute for Local Self-Reliance You can download the entire report here.

OK speaking only about white voters; how would you classify a white 2012 Obama voter, who voted for Trump? Did they just turn into a racist, or are they just stupid? Again, I'm quite willing to concede that some very stupid and racist people (both Black and white) supported Trump; I do not think Trump's success can be explained away so simply. It is believing that simple explanation which is what shocked so many people... If you seriously believe only stupid people and racists voted for Trump, then you believe that accurately describes 1/2 the country's population. Rather, I think we are simply a population uneducated and ill-informed people--but not stupid people. Today Trump appointed another ex-Goldman Sachs billionaire to run Treasury... here we go!

There is some discussion that the electors may not actually vote for Trump. I've been listening to NPR, so I'm not sure if this is just hopefully liberal echo chamber stuff or something that is actually likely to happen... I don't think the masses will turn on Trump. While I've been playing down the racist element of his support, but they are not insignificant. Rather than turn on Trump they will be convinced that the problems were caused by the Blacks, the Mexicans, the Muslims... The masses will be pitted against each other; this is the way it always goes in America. While we fight amongst ourselves, Trump and his boys will get fatter.

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Cynique I know a Black man, who voted for Trump. He chose Trump because of Trump's promise to lower taxes. Of course, this brother was not unique, because 8% of Black people who voted chose Trump. So unless there is 4th category of racist the Trump-supporters-are-all-racist narrative does not wash. As far as giving Trump a chance, that point is moot because the man won what else can be done? I'm stockpiling weapon and building a bomb shelter.

Donald is conservative, in so far as it is profitable. It is fascinating that the same person can appeal to both racists and evangelicals. Then again, given the history of this country that makes perfect sense... @mzmina, glad to read your ideas here, I think more readers will have the opportunity to enjoy your thoughts here too. I too supported Bernie and reluctantly voted for Hillary, but I'm not convinced that all Trump supporters are racist. In fact, I'd say that most are not. Many people who voted for Obama in the last election voted for Trump this time. I think it is easy for us to assume all Trump supporters are racist, but all this does is prevent us from understanding why he was elected. Also, a significant number of Black leaders supported Hillary over Obama--virtually the entire NY State democratic party supported Hillary in the primary including Rep. Charlie Rangel, and former NY City Major David Dinkens. Of course, they all got on board with Obama due to the overwhelming support of the masses. While all racists almost certainly voted for Trump, that does not make all Trump supporters racists. I think our country's biggest problem is our failure to educate our population. As a people, we are dumb, unread, parochial, tribal, ill-informed, self-absorbed, and easily led. Shoot we should even be allowed to vote... What Trump's election illustrates is not racism but stupidity. Stupidity in the media, our electoral process, and our population.

LOL yeah there is a lot to work with...maybe something with "Staff" From what I've been hearing in passing. If does not look like there is enough of a potential change to make a difference the outcome of the election. But there is something seriously wrong with our system; when more than two million people can vote for a candidate and that candidate can still lose...

No Herr Trump does not have to do anything else. The conditions for the violence we see were created long before he was born...

Me too. I also don't like being, or seeing, people being manipulated in ways that do not serve them. With the Small business Tuesday, Cyber Monday, Black Friday, whatever it is all just an excuse to get people to spend money they don't have, or which could go to better use, for things they don't need just to boost the profits of some corporation. Now, of course, I like getting together with family and friends over the holidays (because they get the time off), but I don't need some stupid, fiction, myth as an excuse to do it. But hey if folks get excited about your birthday, what harm is it to enjoy the love they give, if it makes them happy?

... or the Andrew Dice Clay but where he asks some married dude in the audience if his wife gave good head when they first met. The response is always a sheepish, "yeah," to which the the Diceman quickly retorts, "How do you think she got that way--oooh!" So while we made certainly agree on the double standard applied to men versus women with regards to public perceptions regarding sexual promiscuity, we diverge on the belief that only men have a desire to be sexually promiscuous. I think is should be obvious that women are not all that different in the sex desire for sex with different partners--certainly not as different as you suggest. Again, who would be available for all these men to copulate with? I think your assumptions that women have a desire for less sexual activity with fewer partners is more a reflection of your internalization of the double standard we all grew up with rather what is actually true.

Cool. I like the blog roll on your website. Thanks for the links! I added your blog to our site as well: http://aalbc.com/blogs/blog-name.php?name=Catachreses You know Whit, I have the books of almost 2,800 authors on this website; if I could have half of them do what you have already done, AALBC.com would be a beast :-) Readers and authors would all benefit from an even stronger platform. Thanks for the support! Peace!

Enter Your Debut Fiction, Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry By Dec. 5th The Hurston/Wright Foundation is accepting submissions for the 2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Awardsin debut fiction, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Submission Deadline: December 5, 2016 The Legacy Award, the premier award to Black authors from the community of their peers, celebrates the creativity and vitality of Black writers. Click Here for Information on Submission Guidelines. To See the 2016 Legacy Award Honorees, Visit www.hurstonwright.org Hurston/Wright Foundation | 202.248.5051| Email | Website About the Hurston/Wright Foundation: The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation was founded in 1990 in Washington, D.C., and is dedicated to discovering, mentoring and honoring Black writers. Through workshops for adult writers and teens, master classes and readings, the organization preserves the voices of Black writers in the world literary canon, serves as a community for writers, and continues a tradition of literary excellence in storytelling established by its namesakes. The Hurston/Wright Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more at www.hurstonwright.org.

Whit. you are a good man. Here is a link to can use that will provide the same level of support but will also take readers directly to your book's page: http://aalbc.it/whitbook Both links also have the benefit of counting toward our bestsellers list. If does not look like we will be publishing any non-commissioned book reviews until after the end of the, but your book is definitely on our radar and will be considered. Do you have a website?

The winning titles were announced October 23rd.

The winning books!

Pioneer, I'm sure you'd agree that the sexual appetites of people, of both sexes, lie on a spectrum; from a desire for complete abstinence on one end to catch-get-enough or the other. I simply don't know what the relative distribution of men and women across the races are on this spectrum. But I'm certain you can find Black men on the abstinence side of the spectrum. I'd agree with Cynique that there is a double standard; a man can boast about multiple partners and be envied and revered, while a woman would be scorned or pitied. Image how that gymnast Gabby Douglass would be treated if she went around bragging about how she banged all the dudes on the men's basketball team. She can't even have a hair out of place for Christ's sake. I suspect women are just as promiscuous as men--it just isn't culturally accepted for to them to admit it. Besides, all these guys are not screwing the same woman over and over. It takes two to Tango Bruh. Anecdotally, I see much more evidence that white folks are far more promiscuous that Black folks who generally profess a far more conservative sensibility. The media seems to reinforce the perception that white folks start having sex at a younger age and have more partner than Back folks. White folks led the sexual revolution; invented viagra, swingers clubs, the porn industry, tinder, NAMBLA, and on... What is the first thing a European imperialist does when he invades a country? Before he steals a thing, he rapes the women. Nah man, I'd have a hard time believing Black men are more promiscuous than anyone else, Brothers just feel the need to brag about it more. Sadly too many of us derive our self-worth from the number of sexual partners we have and take too little responsibility for the consequences of so many partners; including the transmission of STD's and children no one wants to rear.