Troy

Del rape was part of the culture. The question really is; would I rather get raped and stay in the big house or work the fields AND get raped?

Oprah has a new selection coming out February 6th. Booksellers are not allowed to sell, loan, or display the book before the pub date. Right now they won't even say what the title of the book is or who the author is. All I have is the ISBN13: 9781616208776. If I knew the author was Black I might consider adding it to my database. Google say the publisher is Workman Publishing; which technically one could derive from the ISBN. I can't believe this is that serious. It is just a book... On another front Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House hit the selves earlier than expected. I had no intention of adding the book to the site, but my aunt wanted to buy it from me, so I told her not to worry about it I'd send to her as a courtesy. So I go to the distributor's website and the book is on back order (i.e. I can place an order now, but God knows when they will ship ity). On top of that my discount is 40% so the book will cost me $18 which does not include the cost of shipping the book to my aunt. So I check Amazon, Amazon has plenty. They'll get it to my aunt for 50% off in less than 24 hours! I'm sure Amazon strong armed (negotiated) a higher discount, but still they are surely selling the book ast a loss how of a discount can they be getting they'd need to get 70%-705% at least to break even if they are going to to sell the retail the book for 50% off. While checking my hyperlink I see the price is now 40% off. It was 50% this morning. Even at 40% I may as well order by inventory from Amazon and use them as my distributor... If they would ship book without their log on the box I would consider it. But I'm boycotting Amazon, so auntie will have to wait ;-)

You might be right Cynique -- especially if folks like me refuse to even be a part of the travesty our electoral process has become. Del I don't know what that means. From your perspective do you think people (or I) would be better off, in general, where you are compared to a major urban center here in the U.S. Are there any other Afro-Americans where you are?

Oh for some reason I thought you felt Tommy and Sally were in love with each other. I seem to remember mansplaining that "love" was unlikely given the master/slave relationship. More like I'd rather lay up under TJ rather than work those fields....

America "jumped the shark" with the election of 45. The media have made the presidential campaign another reality television series. I'm sure ANYONE who runs against Trump will win -- even Oprah. But just the idea of bring her up as a candidate is the same thing they did with 45 -- giving him all the coverage and ignoring legitimate candidates. The media got rich and we got 45. But if the 2020 election is between to celebrities 45 v Oprah; I absolutely will NOT VOTE. I don't wanna hear any noise about who died so that I have the privilege to vote. They did not die so that my choice would be between an semi-literature scam artist and billionaire talk show host. Hey @Delano, what are the rents like down under?

Do you think Sally could have passed for white and avoided being enslaved. I know you don't agree with my take on Jefferson abuse of Sally @Cynique, based upon a previous exchange. I really don't care how the descendants of this enslaved woman feels about her mistreatment. This does not change that fact the she was Tommy's property and he could do anything he wanted to do with her -- whether she liked it or not.

Thanks! I plan to attend this event. I always miss the antiquarian fair in NY City. I have added this event to our calendar: https://aalbc.com/events/index.php?st=Florida#Florida+Antiquarian+Book+Fair

I'm in the final throes of redesigning this website. The last major task is changing the look and feel of the website. You may have noticed that about 18 months ago I changed the design of the site, introducing the orange background and optimizing the site for mobile. But feedback from my students and others have given me reason to make additional modifications--including a major overhaul of the homepage and major section main pages, books, authors, reviews, etc. At any rate, I've been playing around with different color schemes and designs. I've changed my Blog to reflect an option I'm considering. Please visit my Blog and let me know what you think of the revisions. Post your replies here or email me at troy@aalbc.com Thanks, Troy

I don't know what Hemming skin tone was but I believe she appeared to be "Black." Speaking of Jefferson, what he did to Hemming makes 45's pussy grabbing seem completely innocuous.

Hi @Ted Hassani Walker, Sr., thnaks for joining and please feel free to contribute ideas to advance the #readingblack movement.

No. It is hard to have this discussion because you're mixing up race, with phenotype, and culture. Dark skinned people were enslaved. If someone's skin color was light enough they would not have been enslaved in the American system. Although white people have been enslaved only America's "peculiar institution" made permanent bondage based solely upon skin color. Light skinned "Black People" could also escape the imposition of jim crow laws. History tells us that many so called "Black" people got away with this--it was called passing....but you know these things. Indeed it was during skin color based slavery when racists promulgated false theories about race, and the associated levels of racial superiority. Those racist theories has been dispensed with by educated people. The only ones holding onto them are ignorant and/or racists. Why do you hold onto these old racist ideas? It is the 21st century man we are all human, members of the same race. Some have dark skin, some have light skin, and some are even homosexual (that last bit did not come out of left field but is part of another conversation). None of these differences make any one superior or inferior to anyone else. These old ideas only hold us back.

@Pioneer1, you speak as if the major media and Universities don't have Black people in them. My God man, did you even read the article? If you did, you clearly did not understand it. The American government is not promoting homosexuality; they are promoting civil rights for Gay people. There is a big difference. Do you did read that it was the Obama administration that led the effort? Is he part of this conspiracy of yours too? One statement from the article made my earlier point "Same-sex relations remain illegal in most nations, the legacy of colonial laws that had been largely forgotten until the West’s push to repeal them in recent years." In any event, instead of asking me (us) why these things are happening why don't you just tell us. But then you'd have to explain why there is so much support for white homosexuals--or is that just to throw us off the track of the real agenda--whatever that might be. Please enlighten us.

{Why am I even having this conversation?} @Pioneer1, genetically there is only one race. It is dumb to talk about humans in this context. That is why I gave up. This is also why I wrote "Black" is cultural; because there is no genetic basis for it. But if I'll accept the term "Afro-American" for people who confirm to "Black culture" in the United States. I use "African American" myself hence the name of the website--which address culture, not the color of someone skin.

You mean someone like me @Pioneer1? What are you talking about? What community are you talking about and who outside of it is trying to promote homosexulaity? Has someone from France come to your door and try to turn you out? Please be more specific.

I said, "I give" Pioneer. You win. There is too much that you don't know or are willing to accept for me to convince you otherwise. The science, which is crystal clear on this issue, is irrelevant you. The questions you asked are based on how people look. I just gave you an opposite example of a white person who is culturally Black and accepted as such by the community. You've ignored my example, because it conflicts with your argument. You don't see how my example actually demonstrates the flaws in your argument. Again you win. The prize...well I guess that would be ignorance of the science, a racist world view, and misinformation. Congratulations.

@Pioneer1 I was unaware of the beef between Tariq Nasheed and Umar Johnson. I did a quick search on Youtube and found the video below. I did not probe more deeply because that kind of stuff does not really interest me. I always had questions about Umar's school -- especially after he blew the original dates. His views on homosexuality are extreme for someone in his field. I've long since loss interest in the "beefs." The one With Corner West and Ta-Nehisi Coates is not interesting to me, but I was aware it. Ta-Nehisi's response was classy and appropriate for a Brother at that level. I'm familiar with Tariq Nasheed's books and the popular Hidden Colors films. I have to say I'm disappointed in Tariq's response here; it is very low class. I thought he was a conscious Brother...I perceive him completely differently now.

Well nothing is perfect Del, not even science.

That is why I usually refer to it as Xmas -- that is a perfect way to describe it if you ask me.

A @Delano what brought about your change in opinion? @Pioneer1, sorry I missed your question. But I give. I'm convinced there is nothing I can show you or tell you to convince you of the fallacy of any genetic basis for "race." Now I know people like to use the term "race" to describe the way people look, but even that is a slippery slope and I rather simple describe people rather than pinning a racial label on them -- especially if don't know how they define themselves. I met a Jewish woman once. I was roommates with one of her sons. Now this woman was a straight up European Jew but in the content I met her in she was just a lighten skinned Black woman. She had a Black accent, she was culturally Black, she had Black children, and she lived with Black people -- she was Black as far as I was concerned. The lady is dead now, but a popular book, The Color of Water was written about her. Blackness is about culture not genetics.

LOL @Pioneer1 who know I got your back when we agree (even when we don't). As I said before, I completely understand your perspective -- many of them I previously shared. LIttle of what you see in Africa today reflects traditional culture, which is what you asked about. Modern African (in the cities) are perhaps more influenced by western traditions and religions than Black Americans. The was the most striking thing I noticed in the three countries I visited. It can be 90 degrees and 90% humidity and brothers are wearing three piece suits to the office. Virtually all the professional women have their hair straightened, or have it covered with a wig or head wrap. Skin lightening cream is widely available and visible in drug stores. So if they have even harsher views on homosexuality today, that is not surprising. Bt again this has nothing to do with traditional cultures. I'm not gay but I also understand some people are born that way. Still others may chose to "swing" in that direction. In a free culture this has to be allowed. As long as it does not involved children, forcing the behavior on others, or infringes on others rights, why should I care? I think people tend to overshare on the sexual predilictions more than necessary anyway. All of your conspiracy theories ignore that fact the there are a lots of white people who are gay too. Is there a conspiracy against them too, or are they just collateral damage? Again, your racial bias blinds you to the fact that homosexuality is human condition one's so called "race" is irrelevant.

We are happy to see a great deal of coverage of the Black-Owned Bookstore list! Kolumn Magazine gave the list an excellent treatment recently. Kolumn #readingblack

We are encouraging all supporters of #readingblack to use the #readingblack hashtag whenever you comment about Black books — especially on social media. This will help raise awareness of the effort. #readingblack Tweets

ewell Parker Rhodes is giving away 10 copies of Ghost Boys before its April 17 release date. Enter before March 2nd for a chance to win! #readingblack