Troy

Pioneer, you know that story about an Aryan invasion of India has been largely discredited as myth or perhaps British propaganda. At any rate there is not evidence that this occurred. There however is ample evidence to show that America's "peculiar institution" was indeed peculiar because enslavement was based upon one's phenotype (one's so called "race"), in perpetuity. This was an American invention. Again while eliminating ignorance, would help you still have to stamp out unbridled greed and evil. The guys running roughshod over the country, and our economy, know what they are doing and how they are hurting people to enrich themselves beyond imagination--They just don't care. And they are too powerful for anyone to do anything about it.

OK I see you are referring to the Seminole Wars. No they never covered that in history class I learned about it later in life, but never dug deep into the details. Worthy of a Ken Burn documentary. That guy andrew jackson was something else huh?

In a word, "Yes." But the "we" is not Black folks but the collective we. Don't ask me how to "we" do it because I'm certain I don't know. Perhaps it is our lot as humanity; to never ever being able to have anything nice with without having to worry about someone else, who is willing to amass an army, and travel the Earth to rape, pillage and plunder all that you hold dear.

Surely it is pretty obvious that America's wealth was generated on the backs of enslaved Africans. But we are mistreated globally, not because of the color of our skin, but because of greed. The color of our skin, as the reason for mistreatment, is a relatively new idea. Evil and greedy people will mistreat others using a variety of reasons to justify their behavior. Religion has tool for this purpose oppressing people for longer than racism has. @Dr. Jazzy, even if we got rid of racism in it's entirely today, we would still be oppressed, because people will still be evil and greedy. In addition to evil and greedy people, we'd also have to deal with ignorant/stupid people. These are the people who are easily manipulated by the evil and greedy folks to believe in the racism, while only marginally benefiting from it. These ignorant ones are the ones who fight and die to support a system that does even benefit them. Like hundreds of thousands of the white people who fought and died in the Civil War for the right to enslave Black folks. The majority of those maimed and killed couldn't even afford to own a slave. So while racism continues to be a serious problem. Our biggest problem is evil, greed, and ignorance. You solve those problems, racism will take care of itself.

Hi Sheryl, thanks again for sharing information about your work here. I have added your books to our website: http://aalbc.it/sheryll It does not look like we will review Tender Kisses. Moving forward we will give stronger consideration to books prior to their publication date. Please follow up again prior to the publication of Places in My Heart. Peace.

OK so I presume it was a battle during the Civil war, but I await your response. It it was a battle during the civil war, I'm sure it has been documented (as you know, not everything can be found on Google).

I saw a trail for Ghost Brother last night. The show looks exceedingly stupid. I guess it will be wildly successful.

No doubt regarding Google. I have to admit I have not been targeted for so long by what appears to be the same entity. I'm not sure it was the same group that hit by edit1st site and that has been spamming AALBC.com, again this has always been an ongoing problem. I did notice that some of the other sites being hit by the same spammers include Bossip, Madamenoir, and Worldstarhiphop. Interestingly, Worldstarhiphop has apparently invested no effort in stopping the spamming. Some of their "articles" have thousands of comments many of the racist kind I've been fighting against. It looks like Worldstarhophip is using all of it to generate traffic. Most days the racism spammer comments outnumber actual comments on my site. But I'm targeting a completely different demographic so Worldstarhiphop tactics would not work for me. But at one point Worldstarhiphop generated the most traffic of any Black site owned or black demographic site.

The one good thing about Google is that they force you to keep your site tight. I'm sure my site is better than it would have been without Google's influence. On the other hand the idea that one company can exert so much influence is troubling, for Google does make mistakes from time to time, and those mistakes cost people money and even their livelihoods. Google has removed the "this site may be hacked message," and my Edit1st.com website and the site is better as a result, so in this instance Google was a benefit. But overall, collectively, I'm not convinced the benefits Google provides outweigh the negatives. I doubt, it was someone close to me that hacked the site. No one other than myself manages my websites. Because WordPress is so popular (something like 70% of websites use their software) it is a target of hackers. If a vulnerability is found millions of websites can be compromised.

We'll I'll admit I'm unaware of a war (formally declared or otherwise), fought on U.S. soil, in which darn near 100 white U.S. military men were killed for every one Black man. But I'm a product of the America's public education system. I did not cheat and try to look it up. (I'm not even sure how I would craft that search). But if you do share the information I'll make it an Black history month update.

I got the following message from Google last night, but did not see it until this morning. Search Console Hacked content detected on http://edit1st.com/ To: Webmaster of http://edit1st.com/, Google has detected that your site has been hacked by a third party who created malicious content on some of your pages. This critical issue utilizes your site’s reputation to show potential visitors unexpected or harmful content on your site or in search results. It also lowers the quality of results for Google Search users. Therefore, we have applied a manual action to your site that will warn users of hacked content when your site appears in search results. To remove this warning, clean up the hacked content, and file a reconsideration request. After we determine that your site no longer has hacked content, we will remove this manual action. Following are one or more example URLs where we found pages that have been compromised. Review them to gain a better sense of where this hacked content appears. The list is not exhaustive. http://edit1st.com/tethjf__xdyijr The first thing I did was run a Google search that would return my site (Edit1st.com) in the results and I saw the message. "This Site May Be Hacked" Now would you visit a site with this message? I wouldn't either, but so far organic traffic does not seem to have been hurt by the google warning. I guess people are missing or ignoring the warning for now, but it has been less than 24 hours since the warning was posted and Friday is literally the slowest time for website traffic on my websites. At any rate, I just removed the code seems to have been some php code added to one of my directories I have NO idea how that could have happened. The Edit.1st site is a WordPress site, so I added Wordfence plugin, changed my password using wordpress's password generation tool, deactivated plugins I no longer use, a took a few other precautions. Hopefully Google will get rid of this message soon.

Cynique, no one really likes reading a review, from an entity they respect, that is negative. Of course, if they respect the entity the take the critique, not personally, learn what they can from it and move on. I've published many unfavorable reviews of authors books over the years--especially during the Thumper era. Sometimes authors react very negatively, but they are a small minority. Readers however always appreciate an honest review. Now that does not mean the reader will agree with the reviewer. But many readers appreciate a well written honest review written by an informed reader. Of course a favorable review on a respected platform is great for the authors. I still remember the grief Wanda Coleman got for writing an unfavorable review of one of Maya Angelou's books. You would have thought she pimp slapped Michelle Obama given the public's reaction; “In writing that is bad to God-awful, Song is a tell-all that tells nothing in empty phrases and sweeping generalities. Dead metaphors ("sobbing embrace," "my heart fell in my chest") and clumsy similes ("like the sound of buffaloes running into each other at rutting time") are indulged. Twice-told crises (being molested, her son's auto accident) are milked for residual drama. Extravagant statements come without explication, and schmooze substitutes for action… There is too much coulda shoulda woulda. Unfortunately, the Maya Angelou of A Song Flung Up to Heaven seems small and inauthentic, without ideas, wisdom or vision. Something is being flung up to heaven all right, but it isn't a song.” —Wanda Coleman, April 14, 2002   Sara, I first covered Dyson back in 2001, I was unfamiliar with him at the time. It was one of the first audio file I put on the site. His delivery was exactly the same back then, and I found him interesting. A couple of years later I did meet him, and gave him a card. He said, "I've heard of y'all." That was over a decade ago, over that period of time the site has only grown, and there are fewer sites like mine nowadays, but it is possible he forgot. It however is more likely that he does not appreciate why the support of folks like him is crucial to the Black book ecosystem. The video I shot of Michael was during the National Black Writers Conference, one of the things I would like to see happen, during that even is for us to develop strategies that will empower and enrich us.

Oh there is another reason Michael Dyson may not have been supportive of AALBC.com; we've been pretty critical of his work.

One of the biggest problems we face culturally is that we have essentially lost our ability to critically critique ourselves. One of the things I hear over and over again from books reviewers is that, "If I'm too harsh on an author, they'll get mad and I'll lose access." or, "If I can't write a favorable review I won't bother writing one at all?" Far worse is the reviewer who writes favorable reviews simply to get on an author's good side or who write a positive review to as a way to promote the book--all unbeknownst to readers. It is very difficult for a reviewer to write a review, of book written by a Black writer, and be paid for their effort. As a result, far fewer reviews are written, and the quality of what is written is weakened. Any decent reviews that do get published are usually published on blogs few people read or rendered undiscoverable on social media. In the world of books it is crucial that we critically critique our literature and literary nonfiction. This came to mind as I was thinking about the apparent lack of support shown on Michael Eric Dyson's website for indie Black book platforms (Websites, booksellers, magazines, etc). Then it occurred to me that Michael may not be very supportive of an AALBC.com because we've been pretty critical of his work; “As a critic who has reviewed several of his books, I have been so underwhelmed by the earlier work of Dyson that I had, quite frankly, long since dismissed him as an intellectual lightweight more given to a superficial sensationalism than to anything of substance. How else might one respond to his building a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. around a false FBI allegation that the slain civil rights leader was gay? Or, by contrast, his uncritical veneration of Tupac Shakur despite the late rapper's felonious, misogynistic, profane, violent and self-destructive ways? In fact, I found one opus so awful, that I put in unreturned calls to Dyson's colleagues to ask why they had praised it in blurbs on the back cover, because it was readily apparent that they couldn't possibly have bothered to read it.” —Kam Williams, January 2006 “Dyson correctly points out that the current situation faced by African Americans is a "complex nexus of poor education, and limited life options leading to self-destructive choices made out of desperation." But he offers no suggestions for improvement, only repeating the importance of loving one another and being compassionate. These are necessary components, but only part of what is needed. Many readers will conclude that "Michael Eric Dyson Has Lost His Mind", for 288 pages of one-note, convolutions of Cosby's remarks wears real thin, real quick.” —Paige Turner, January 2006 It would not be unreasonable to assume that Michael would choose not to support an AALBC.com. As I said in the other post I do not share Michael's work to get anything from him. I share his work because he is a prominent voice in the Black community, but one that also must be critiqued. This does not just go for authors. We see a Donald Trump go around exaggerating, lying, saying anything he wants, while never being seriously challenged by journalists in a meaningful way, treating him as if he deserves to be considered as a serious candidate. We also know the major media conglomerates do not want to risk losing access to Trump and the huge windfall in revenue he has created for them. Sooner or later we will have to figure this out. Otherwise we will just be lied to in our nonfiction and told our fiction is great when it is really is not.

Obviously, Chris you get no arguement from me on the power of people working together and doing things in an organized fashion in their own self-interest. The problem is that we rarely do this. Rather we do what what is in some corporation's best interest or what is in our own individual best interest. Corporations are great at helping people do what is the individual's best interest, often at the expense of everyone else. If that makes sense. To your point about Michael Eric Dyson, Omar Tyree, and Bernice McFadden participating on this site in a conversation. If course if that happened people would come here to participate or read and AALBC.com would grow stronger as a result. I'd be able to help many authors more easily with the additional revenue, and readers would be better served, and I'd also be able to pay more writers. It would be a win for all. But the likelihood of that happening is small, because individuals can enrich themselves more through their own efforts or through a corporation. But I wrote the likelihood is not, but not non existent. First, I would not lump Bernice and Omar in the same category as Michael. @CDBurns check out something Bernice did that you would DEFINITELY appreciate: If you visit Bernice's website, you will see that she is using AALBC.com affiliate codes for her Amazon links! If you go to Omar's site you see he has a list of Black owned bookstores. He continues to support Black owned business on his website long after other authors have stopped doing this. In stark contrast, if you visit Dyson's website he does not link to another Black site (bookseller, reviewer, articles), or even mention one. But his own platform is weak given his resources; he latest book is not even mentioned. Image if Dyson directed readers to a Black bookseller, image if he linked to a Black book reviewers sites (I've published reviews of his work). Of course I could go on and on about prominent Black folks who make no effort to support their own, but I'm sure it is just a matter of ignorance rather than a lack of desire, so i try to help these folks understand why it matters. Now if you visit my Michael Eric Dyson Page, you'll find it is actually more complete than his own website, and I'm just getting started. If someone supported my work to the extent that I support Michael's, there would usually be some form of reciprocation, acknowledgement, or gratitude. But this is nothing to complain about, for it is not unusual. While I'm not motivated by Michael's reciprocation, I know it would help. One day this type of thing may change. For now I get by with the support I do get; for therein lies the hope, not ust for AALBC.com but for all of us.

We got some Bernie flyers in the mail; addressed to my 24 year old daughter. Nothing for me or my wife, i guess it is assumed we're voting for Hillary. It will be really interesting to see Bernie beat Hillary in the New York primary. I'm sure he'll murder her in the debate

This is a story first reported by the New York Daily News. The story allegation was made in a self published book that came out over a year and a half ago. The book was republished with the correct spelling of the word "Fantasy's." The book was self-published.

"...doom and gloom..." sure that is the reality, but nihilism--no, not at all. Trying to make the world, or at least our part of it a better place is what gives life meaning. And if one did not believe things could get better there would be no reason to waste one's time trying. So I can point out and complain about how the terrible conditions are in our chocolate cities, and at the same time try to do something about it. The problems we have are profound. Again, I assert, doing the right things is not enough. We have a very loooong history doing the right things. We have to look at why, despite doing the right things, we are collectively doing so poorly in 2016. We can do everything right up to getting a Brother into the white house, and it makes no difference. We have to recognize the institutional structures constantly put in our path that thwarts our efforts, then and only then, can we make some progress. This is why cities like Memphis are doing so poorly. I was making a point, not suggesting that you (Chris) were trying to convince people to move there I could have used any other chocolate city to make the same point, Detroit, Newark, St Louis, DC, etc... The solutions will not come easy for we have to do the right thing and make significant changes in how things work in this country. Doing the right thing is easy--mostr people do that anyway, changing the system is hard ...very hard.

@Sara, pray tell, what are you hoping to achieve with the incessant name calling and foul rants with Cynique? Pioneer now that is differently one way to obtain coverage from another Black website, for AALBC.com--a full on brawl during the group shot that is sure to work

Yeah Guest Maker of Pics you've been busy. I have not shared all of your creations, but it was not due to your lack of creativity. Judging by the IP address you used to make this post, some Romanian based server that is on more Blacklists than I can count, I suspect you may indeed be the "artist." But I'm sure you are U.S. based; most likely in the south (that is usually where my spammers are based). I suspect you are a young, white male, who is unemployed or under-employed, bored. Probably smarter than those around him, with few outlets to express your abilities, probably no one nearby who would appreciate them anyway. Whatever the case, you are wasting your time dogging me. Your talents could be put to more productive use. Not that you'd take advise from someone like me...

Well I would be honored if Sara, Cynique attended the party I'm co-hosting in Chicago on May 11th, out 10th annual Black Pack Party. If that got Pioneer out that is even better. The details are still being worked out and updates will be posted here.

Yeah Paul is rumored to be gay. Who knows or for that matter cares. I actually do think Paul is funny, but I guess it is a matter of taste. He wrote for Richard Pryor.

Chris listen to Pioneer and get a passport. Last month I was invited to speak in Jamaica, with just three weeks notice without a passport I would have missed that opportunity and the great experiences that came from it. Traveling abroad really changes one's perspective about this country, the people our policies and our culture. Sure there are many great things about this country (I've been to every major city in the country, every state in the union, and many of the world's major cities), but the American experience means more when you have something to compare it to. I still assert that you are indeed remarkable Chris. Most people do not behave the way you do. The biggest difference between your way of looking at things and mine is that you rely more heavily on personal experience. While personal experiences provide a framework for viewing the world it is a biased reflection of the world. You cite examples from your own experience as if others are as remarkable as you and have both the ability and desire to do the same things you have. Naturaly, personal experiences color my world view too, but I seem to weight data more heavily. Sure, one can spin or cherry pick data to tell stories. I use data to support or disprove my beliefs. For example, while you say, based upon your personal experience, that there are great, caring teachers. Keep in mind I'm an educator too. I teach both at one of the better schools in the City University of New York, Baruch College. I also teach adults trying to get their High School Equivalency. I've also taught young people as well. Besides that i have two Masters degrees and have been married to a teacher for 25 years. So I know there are great teachers out there. I also know, based upon my experience, that great teachers are often constrained by inept administrators. I also know there are piss poor teachers too. You were apparently fortunate enough not to encounter these poor teachers. But I assure you, despite your, experience they exist. Again I also look at the data. What are the outcomes? How does America perform against other countries? We know, against other industrialized nations, the US performs poorly. For the most economically disadvantaged youth (ofen us) the situation is even worse. Why? While you have convinced Pioneer to move to Memphis I'm not so sure; the education outcomes as reported by the state show that in most subjects, more than half the students are not proficient. As mentioned Memphis ranks near the top of violent crime and murder, and leads the nation in poverty. Memphis also has one of the nation's highest Black populations. Interestingly, if you look at the cities with the highest Black populations you will find a high correlation between; low educational achievement, high poverty rates poverty, and high levels of crime. But racism has nothing to do with this right? (that is a question for you) If you are smart enough and have the time you can homeschool your children and if you have the money you can send them to private school. Of course if you are rich and smart the U.S. provides the best education in the world--even if you are Black. But if you are of average intelligence, poor, and Black your options are pretty bleak. So while you are and I may be exceptions Chris we are by no stretch of the imagination the rule. But I'll take it a step further. If you are poor and Black you can do all of the right things and still end up in jail, poor, or both. I assert this is a direct result of racism. Have you read about how Nixon targeted Black people in his war on drugs. Do you know how many generations of Black people nixon destroyed?

Hi @Sheryl, is this your first novel?

Chris I hear you but let's take the crux of your last statement “I say it's the small and continuous push by people like you (with AALBC), and Pioneer(With New Flint) and Cynique (with her long form letters that critique society, but create questions to be discussed) are all that we can do.” I agree this is all important but unless any of it gets a white cosign it means nothing, or very little, to our people--outside of the most conscious of our group. These efforts eventually "...dry up like a raisin in the sun..." “It's the teacher that wakes up in the morning and says one thing that may stop a kid from gunning down another kid today.” The reality is teachers like this are rare. Most teachers are not like this. They (like many cops) are afraid of, and despises, the gun wielding kid. The teachers mostly like to treat a kid with love are increasingly pushed out the system by corporations that have no interest in our children other than the revenue they can generate. Experienced teacher are pushed out; replaced by a revolving door of inexperienced teachers.. “It's the parent who goes to work at McDonald's and hates it, but keeps doing it because it shows her kids a work ethic.” Man, you know, as well as I, any kid seeing their parent slaving away at McDonald in exchange for the obviously sorry lifestyle that income provides, would see their parent as a sucker, and would do virtually anything else to avoid that fate including engage in criminal activity. In my mind people can do all of the things you've outlined and still not succeed. Indeed, the outcomes of millions of people (of all colors) speaks for itself. The majority of people in the country are struggling. I used to quote a stat that the majority of American's don't have passports--In my mind it was an indictment on our provincialism, but then I learned that people can't afford pay for a passport--let alone go out the country. The census bureau reports that the media income for U.S. households is less than $54K down from the the year before (2013). That means that half of American household made less than $54K that is alarming! The average household size is more than 2.5 people. Your are not flying your family to Paris for a two week vacation on 54K a year--even the French pavilion at Disney would be a stretch... Black folks have a lot of challenges, racism is one and corporate greed is another. Of the two I think corporate dominance of our media, political process, government, schools, health care, is more pressing. The race issue will fix itself if we get rid of corporate dominance of our culture. Racism is profitable.