Troy

Man Pioneer you seemed to have internalized ever racial stereotype invented by our oppressor. Even your reasoning is inconsistent You implied that the dominant alpha males was usually the wealthiest with the most choice in women, as if that was not longer the case. But the individuals you presented both had women throwing themselves at these brothers and both were quite wealthy. You speak about Black men as if we are gorillas.

@Pioneer1, @Cynique , is right man. The fact that rap music is riddled with Nigga this and nigga that, should be proof enough. You do know that the vast majority of rap is purchased by white boys, right? Also, I hear the word "nigger" uttered every time I hit the street. If I get on public transportation is not unusual at all for young men say it in front of white people. I even hear young white people say it. When I taught young folks they used the word so liberally I started to think something was wrong with me asking them not to use it. One kid used "my Ninja" instead. Which seemed kinda silly... The days of the unspoken rule of not using the word in front of white people is over, surely you see that? If not go to a rap concert, and listen to all the white people sing the word lead by a Black man. Times have changed buddy.

I don't know what else to say @Pioneer1 Matter has energy. It is not energy. I'll let someone else try to explain it. It took me 2 seconds to find this article written by a physicist, Matter and Energy: A False Dichotomy. It is written in lay terms you may find it interesting. This may then help you understand thoughts.

Well, I saw the movie and enjoyed it. It was good film but not great film. I thought the comic relief character diminished the film overall it was just a bit too over the top. The acting was really good.

Pioneer, again the formula describes how much energy "has," it is not what matter "is." Two bananas = $1, that does not mean bananas "are" dollars. Get it? I did not say thoughts are energy either. Thoughts require energy to be generated and sensed by the brain, but again that is not what they are. Wind powers a sailboat, but a sailboat is not wind. Right?

I'm going to see it tonight... I need a diversion.

If the basketball player said this (i missed the whole controversy), he is not lying, but being straight up. What is the problem, being truthful?

Mari Evans passed away on March 10, 2017. I met her once about 19 years ago. She was legendary then. New reports way Evan was 93 when she passed. However I've been told by other she hit 95 in 2014, which would make her 97 now.

@Delano thanks for the reminder, What does Maya need to share with you.

It looks like Jordan Peele is a very talented dude. This will probably be the next film I see.

I'll probably get cranking on the survey for the 21st century very soon. Here is a collage of the 50 Favorite African-American Authors of the 20th Century

Hi @bsrealtalk, you did not include an image so I added a mocked up version of your book cover. I'm not sure if a hardcover is available but if one ever is you may be able to use the image below. You also did not include a website. Please add it when you get a chance. Thanks for sharing.

Executive Producer: Dante J. James Phone: 919-475-9879 Email: Dante@BlackPearlMW.com Website: www. BlackPearlMW.com Address: 1914 Burroughs Drive, Dayton, OH 45406 Black Pearl Media Works, New Film Projects Press Release March 15, 2017 Black Pearl Media Works produces artistic, entertaining, profitable media that explores humanity through the lens of black cultures worldwide. Emmy award winning independent filmmaker, Dante James is pleased to announce the formation of Black Pearl Media Works, LLC (BPMW). The multi-media production company has received partial financing for two projects; a feature length documentary, God of The Oppressed and a series of dramatic short films, In Our Own Words. “It has taken many years to marshal my own resources and cultivate a relationship with an investor who understands the importance of resources from black financiers,” James said in discussing the challenges facing black filmmakers. “We believe this approach will shield projects grounded in our history and culture from the ‘filters’ that often come with resources from entities outside of our community, James said. For many years, I made films for PBS, however as a black man, independent filmmaker and activist coupled with the challenges black people face I’m committed to making the strongest, and most creative statements possible in my films. For me that was not possible with PBS. I’m not criticizing PBS or rejecting resources from outside our community but artistic and editorial control is a prerequisite. My new projects are representative of my desire to explore humanity through the lens of the black experience ‘unfiltered’ by the dominant culture.” In Our Own Words, presents a creative chronicle of the African American experience through short stories by iconic and lesser-known black writers, some of whom could not get past the publishing ‘filters’ they encountered. The concept for the series is grounded in self-definition paired with concerns regarding the degrading, shallow images of African Americans, that are too prevalent in corporate controlled media. Unfortunately, many of these images are created by black people. “Now with new means of distribution, liberated black filmmakers have opportunities to redefine the images of black people. Too often the view of black life is demeaning and perverted to the point that it has become the perception of who we are and that perception is literally and figuratively destroying us. More accurate definitions of who we are can be found in our literature,” James said. Black writers have defined their own world, moving beyond the traditional definitions often imposed on them. The short stories of In Our Own Words will be selected by outstanding African American literature scholars, Maryemma Graham, Ph.D. and Joycelyn Moody, Ph.D. The first film of the series, THE DOLL, based on a short story by Charles W. Chesnutt was completed several years ago. It was awarded best dramatic short at the Hollywood Black Film Festival. Through the stories of Nat Turner, Bishop Henry McNeil Turner, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Rev. Traci Blackmon and others, God of the Oppressed will explore Black Liberation and Womanist Theology. Stories, characters and gospel music will celebrate and frame a perspective of God within the context of an oppressed people. Prof. James Cone, author of the book, God of the Oppressed, will serve as chief academic advisor. Cone argues for a theology constructed from the experiences of black people who understand God’s role in liberating those crying for the pain to end. He challenges theologians to abandon the white system defining the meaning of God. Cone’s work challenges black men and women to listen to the voices of black people to construct a theology framed from their experiences. Rev. Carl Kenney, a black liberation theology minister will be a co-producer. Kenney said. "Let my people go, is the age-old cry of black people holding to the claim that God loves the oppressed. Black theology isn't passive it fights for freedom while refuting claims of inferiority.” God of the Oppressed is an extension of Dante James’ work as the executive producer of THIS FAR BY FAITH, the final series from Blackside Films. Both projects will begin pre-production immediately, however BPMW is seeking additional investors/partners with those who recognize the domestic and international profit potential of these projects, appreciate black culture and literature and are concerned about the shallow interpretations of black experiences. Media inquiries and interested investors should call Dante at 919-475-9879 or email him at dante@blackpearlmw.com. Job applicants can apply a www.blackpearlmw.com. In closing, James stated, “these projects will require producers, directors, actors, screenwriters and other production personnel. Hopefully, they will be a vehicle to put our people to work telling stories that explore our experiences from our point of view. I also see this work and this new company as a connection to my friend and mentor the late Henry Hampton.”

Pioneer creation and evolutions are mutally exclusive, but based upon your response I gather you believe in evolution. There are people who believe man was created in his current form a few thousand years ago. Of course this is what we believe, for we have no way of knowing. We are trusting the people who tell us these things. Also why are you belaboring the point on thoughts being matter? The brain is matter. The energy produced by the brain's activity, which includes our thoughts are not.

The key is that they do not get the press. Phyllis you are a writer (can you email me your bio), have you ever considered writing a story about one of the churches you are talking about. I would be happy to share it. If you have already published one share a link I'll share that too. I don't mean to put undue pressure on you, but I agree with you. I also know mainstream media are going to focus on the dysfunctional aspects of the Black Church. If anyone is going to do it, it will have to be us. Harry mentioned a good book and I have added it to the website. The more we support what is good the better we will become.

Yesterday I went to see Raoul Peck's film Academy Award nominated film I Am Not Your Negro which was based on Remember This House, an unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin. The documentary was very well done. Baldwin's work was to focus on his friends Malcolm X, Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King, Jr. “By the time each died, their positions had become virtually the same position. It can be said, indeed, that Martin picked up Malcolm’s burden, articulated the vision which Malcolm had begun to see, and for which he paid with his life. And that Malcolm was one of the people Martin saw on the mountaintop.” Baldwin's words and people like these men are sorely needed today. I believe there are people with the potential of Malcolm, Martin and Medgar among us today, but Black institutions are so fractured that these Brothers simply do have the platforms to emerge our of obscurity. If they do have a platform capable of reaching the masses it is owned by white folks more interested in revenue than uplifting Black people. This renders any impact of the magnitude of a Malcolm, Martin or Medgar impossible. It has been almost half a century since the American people have seen Black leaders and activists of any significance. Today they do not have to be gunned down they are just bought out.

Drapetomiania was racism, not the practice of science. Bloodletting was obviously not backed by observation and experiment. If anything science stopped the practice. Man will twist anything including spirituality, religion, and science for self-benefit. This does not make spirituality, religion, and science bad--at makes the people who exploit these bad. This distinction is important. Of course, science's body of knowledge changes as new information comes along to prove previous knowledge wrong; as in the case of Einstien correcting Newton's calculation of motion near massive bodies. This is the way that knowledge advances. Also, science is not about "balance" or "common sense." For example, current knowledge about the quantum world defies common sense and is completely counterintuitive. because particles on the subatomic scale simply do not behave the same way large objects do on the macro scale. I'm still surprised that what I was taught about the structure of atoms was a century behind the then current knowledge. But then our education system, I've learned, has little to do with actually "educating" people....

Pioneer the premise of your questions are flawed in that somethings are not either/or and more complex and nuanced than your questions suggest. But I'll answer them: -Do you believe climate change is natural OR man-made? Both, but there is substantial evidence that the man-man contribution is causing more changes than would be occurring otherwise--to our detriment. -Do you believe a gay lifestyle is environmental OR are they born that way? Both are contributing factors, but human sexuality is very complex. -Do you believe in evolution OR creation? Evolution. @Pioneer1 can you answer the same questions? Also, I believe you about your response the missing/edited response.

Del I guess it is a matter of how good the effect is. In fact, a good illusion can be a desirable experience. Here we go! Pioneer, why you gotta go off the deep end again? Not one has suggested that we go through life being suspicion of everyday situations. Is that called paranoid schizophrenia? All I'm saying is that science can dramatically conflict with our senses and everything we have previously been taught or experienced. A stubborn reliance on only senses to the wonders of the universe. Similarly, a stubborn reliance on what science can prove can have the same effect.

LOL! I ain't saying you are removing posts but I clearly remember your response and my reaction to it. Sure hallucination is a possible explanation... but If I had time I would check the server log ;-)

@harry brown is this the book you are referring to?

I read the abstracts of the sources papers in Nature and I simply don't understand it--the science is way over my head. "Observation of discrete time-crystalline order in a disordered dipolar many-body system" "Observation of a discrete time crystal" What is the significance of what you've shared here?

OK @Delano , if you want to continue using the quantum world (photons with no rest mass) to advance your argument against a point I made about the macro world (the planet Mercury), have at it. I made my point and you've ignored it. I've explained why your point is completely different and it has fallen on deaf ears. .. maybe it is because you are an alpha male :-) I hear what you saying @Cynique. But the differences between Newton's and Einstien's calculations in our everyday existence are indeed small enough to be ignored. This is different than the race argument I'm making. To advance a position that there are multiple races when all the current science tells us there is only one is simply does not make sense, there is not an issue of degree. Now of course, the social aspects of difference "races" are real. I just wish the language was not so sloppy over this issue. Out sloppy language explains our beliefs and behavior. @Pioneer1, I recall you responding to my question about climate change. In fact I reacted to your response here. However. I do not see your response now. Are far as perception being reality and seeing is believing. Here is my argument against believing everything you see.

There is an old saying believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. I've also understand that eyewitness testimony is often flawed. This is the reason I don't rely on my own observation to understand the nature of reality. I while don't ignore my observations, or those of others, I know it is our condition as Sapiens to be limited in our perception of reality. The image chessboard below helps make my point. Most people will look at the square labeled A and square labeled B not see them as being identical in color. Many, even after being told that science has proven that these squares are they same color, many people will stubbornly hold onto the fiction that the squares are different colors--simply because that is the way they perceive it. Sometimes we have to look at things a different way to perceive them correctly. You can print out the page, cut out squares A & B and place them side by side. But I find most people are unwilling to make this shift in thinking or take the extra to discover an answer that conflicts with their worldview. This too is part of the human condition. Understanding why we perceive these squares as differently is a step in the direction of self-discovery. I've shared images like this on this forum before, but in a different context.

Del the article did not say the difference was "minuscule," Here is what is did say (emphasis added): It wasn't too long after Newton published his laws of motion that people noticed something was off about them. To be specific, they were off by the orbit of an entire planet. And they remained off until Einstein, and general relativity, explained why Mercury moves the way it does. Taking your pilot statement seriously, airline pilots can travel using Newton's equations without any fear of missing the landing strip. Indeed, Newton's equations are adequate for virtually all circumstances we are, personally, likely to encounter. Perhaps, that is the point you are making and maybe I was being too technical. However, if we ever have occasion to travel close to a massive object, like the Sun, then Newton's equations would be inadequate. But this has little do with spirituality. I also doubt Newton's or Einstein's law will matter much in the astral realm