Troy

Hi Chiya, I followed the link and honestly the content on the facebook page looks spammy. By that I mean I start getting never when I read copy like, "$3,859.19/day" or "Automatic $500 a Day from FREE Traffic!" Now I have to admit it is executed quite well in fact the way you linked to Youtube with the "videos?sub_confirmation=1" on the URL is a slick way to boost subscribers, a technique I may use :-) The other issue is that there is no content on the facebook page you have to click shortened URL to actually see what you are selling. The shortened URL hides the domain of the destination website which makes me doubly nervous.

Hi Philip, Leonce is a friend of the site and I often recommend his books. We reviewed both Bourbon Street and I Dreamt I Was in Heaven - The Rampage of the Rufus Buck Gang. Regarding donating to your cause. I did not donate because for a couple of reasons. One reason was described quite well by Chris. I also took the time to look at your campaign, your website and social media. The other reason is that I have limited resources and can't financially many projects of people I know and whose projects I believe in. This is not to say that your project is unworthy of support in my eyes. It also does not mean that I don't and can't support you in non-financial ways. Also don't take Chris' advise lightly or discount my offer--both are just as valuable as a financial contribution, if you chose to take advantage of them. Running a magazine like Black Issues Book Review is just plain hard and does not generate a lot of money. That is why it has not been replaced. Finally, BIBR was not the only game in town. There are other magazines reviewing Black books. One that I happen to support financially is Mosaic Literary Magazine. The Magazine is run by a not-for profit organization called the Literary Freedom Project which is run by Ron Kavanaugh. This magazine was in print before BIBR and is still being printed today. I suggest you read the masthead of BIBR and contact the people that used to run the magazine and write for it. Virtually all of them are still in the industry and may be easily found online. If you wanted to do something really interesting you could write about BIBR and why it folded. It would also given you some additional insight into what it takes to run a publication like.

A Backpack Journalist's View of Teaching for Change's Busboys and Poets Bookstore If you have never been to Busboys (several locations in the DC Metro area), it is well worth checking out.

Dude take your time we are not going anywhere and I've been in the dark about good new music so long another week or month or two will make little difference. (for Cynique)

Hey Philip, critical reviews of Black books are sorely needed. The loss of Black Issues Book Review was a big deal in my book. If you read anything I've written over the last few years you know that I consider the loss of BIBR just one of a great number of losses adversely impacting the Black book ecosystem. Keep us posted on your progress. Once you start publishing I would be glad to share information about your publication. What have you read lately that you really like? In fact if you post your your opinion, in a paragraph or two, about a recently published or soon to be released book. I'd be glad to share it in my eNewsletter and use that as an opportunity to mention your kick starter campaign.

Hey Chris if you get a sec answer Cynique question, "Are there examples of hip hop music other than rap, - renditions that will be distinguisable from R&B?" It is an interesting question. I know terms like R&B don't mean very much as they are purely marketing terms, but I would be hard pressed to describe some form of music that did not include rapping as hip-hop. Conversely I would image any form of music that did not including rapping could very easily be called something else. Looking forward to your list Chris. The last thing I brought was Gregory Porter and that was some time ago so I'm looking forward to hearing some good contemporary music. Kalamu ya Salaam and his son used to do an interesting Blog called Breath of Life. Each week they would write about new music, old music and a cover: http://www.kalamu.com/bol/ it was discontinued over a year ago Cynique, I would have never guessed that is why you used emoticons so liberally. While I know people have perceived you as hostile in the past, that is more a reflection of them than you. I would rather you risk being taken seriously than too lightly. Seriousness should not be confused with hostility either I guess I grew up online during an era when "hostility" was more frequently dished out. People were less likely to mince words. Today people would find that offensive.

Funny Chris I just requested a Playlist on another conversation. I'm sure Cynique, myself and many others will appreciate the list.

Chris you should cobble together some music recommendations (actually you recommended enough to go with already) that I could publish in the website--maybe I can even pay you something or barter in return. I of course would doll it up with buy links album covers etc, etc.

Chris if you or I were in charge of what was played on the radio GP would be played.

Interestingly I'm one of those folks you consider themselves the opposite of the conspiracy theorist. I'm only complaining about what is actually happening. I guess the only room for a conspiracy might be the cause of what is happening--and I've always been open to ideas on the subject. I'm not disputing your personal experience with the web Cynique, in fact, I share many of your experiences and opinions. But obviously, as an internet entrepreneur, my experience is different than yours. I also collect a lot of data about what I discuss, so yeah, on some aspects of this subject I actually do know more than most. But access to more data and experiences does not always translate into understanding, but it usually translates into understanding more than someone with less experience and access to information. Still I appreciate there is a lot I simply don't understand or know. I don't disagree with anything your wrote--how can I they are your opinions about your experiences. But one thing I think many people are missing relative to the increasing control of the internet by a handful of corporations is the reduction of diversity in what we see online. I know that the lack of diversity online is a non-issue to most. We are fat, dumb and happy with the way things are going. If you think about broadcast radio and what consolidation has done in that environment. You'll realize that if you want to listen to black music your only real options are whatever KISS or Power stations you have in your market. Even if you have both stations it does not matter much as they play the same 20 or 30 songs anyway. Again, I know there are many people who love KISS FM and are perfectly happy with Facebook being their only internet experience. What I find most tragic is that the internet really was poised to improve on the lack of diversity in mainstream media. But now that corporations control the internet those opportunities have evaporated. All of us are less rich as a result; both culturally and financially. So what is the cost of this? What is the cost of no Black owned bookstores? What is the cost of no Black owned websites, radio stations, TV stations or newspapers? It is not a hypothetical question.

That was an informatve post Chris -- thanks. I was not familiar with Jose James. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGkxBiJ8TCw Another sister Mel that has posted here from time to time introduced me to Gregory Ports about a year ago. I really liked his song Real Good Hands. I found this on Youtube. It is an album that I was not previously familiar with -- I guess it is new. I'm listening to it as I write this. The first cut sounds good, I'll probably buy the album (even through I could easily download the whole thing from Youtube). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_3FPTgdkuY

There was another Brother, Nah'Sun, who used to post here every so often, though he said he was more of a lurker. He also new a lot about hip-hop. It would have been interesting to read an exchange between the two of you on the subject. Nah'Sun also spoke about all the good rappers out there. One he mentioned when I asked for an example was someone named Liquid Lux (sp?). Are you aware of this artist?

Oh, then we are in complete agreement because corporations absolutely own the infrastructure. Today we sit by helpless spectators as they fight over controlling it. Internet access should be treated as a utility. In much the same way e get free TV broadcasts. In fact, if we have free Internet access we would not need to worry about providing radio, TV access to telephone access the way we do today. Even municipalities who want to provide "free" high speed internet access to their citizens are often prevented from doing so because of convoluted laws designed to benefit corporations. Google is trying to give free high speed internet access to some communities but we all know this will be used to mine our communications for profit... Yeah, it pretty much is a wrap.

Chris you raise an important point. I never really noticed the poetry in Harry Posts. One day another posters (Chris Hayden), pointed out the poetry. I then went back and got it. On a couple of occasions I actually went back an re-wrote Harry's poetry in a more conventional format so that others my get it too. I don't have time to do that any more, but what he writes can be easily missed or dismissed because of the all caps...

"We discard facts like broken rubbers" --Yeohzer, The Gift I was not previously familiar with Jean Grae, but I see Lil' Kim on "Black" sites all the time.

LOL! Cynique I use Goolge from time to time myself. I just stopped using the verb "google" and now refer to the activity as an internet search, I don't use Google as often as the search results are not as good as they used to be. I asked Del to share his link specifically because I wanted to see specifically what prompted his question. Cynique would you post a link to the Youtube video that so interested you

Del, unbeknownst to most, the fact is that corporations ALREADY OWN the internet. Only an internet entrepreneur would actually have the experience to know and understand this, so I understand why the vast majority of people simply don't get it. Further, there are people interested in starting businesses online or simply just trying to establish an internet presence, but don't understand why people are not visiting their websites. Much of what I write is directed to those individuals and businesses. I don't expect individuals to understand, though I still communicate to individuals just the same. Sometimes the more thoughtful individuals will appreciate what I'm trying to communicate and modify their behavior in a way that is beneficial to Black owned businesses. I encounter enough of these folks which makes the effort worth my while Increasingly, for many entitles their ONLY internet presence is their Facebook Page. Of course, I think this is a grave error, but I completely understand why business are starting to do it. Businesses, especially small ones, are simply going to the entities that owns the internet. Sure I understand if you find Facebook useful. I find it useful too. But we need to be very, very clear about something; Facebook is not "free" or even "relatively free." As a MBA you know nothing is free. Indeed I would argue, and have been arguing, that the cost is very high to all of us. But again there are also people who don't care about these costs that have resulted in us not owning many platforms, TV Stations, Radio Stations, Newspapers, Magazines and alarmingly websites. Those that we do own often mimic what corporate entities produce or are struggling to survive. There was a time when AOL, effectively, owned the internet. One could not easily establish an internet presence without them. Once we were free of AOL the internet because a great place. Today we are reverting back to an AOL like existence. Chris what you describe on BING is not surprising. Search feeds social media and I'm sure it is not being done for "free." Cynique, I hear you. I just prefer to engage people on their websites or here. It would be like Chris, who sells sneakers for a living, buying his sneakers from the Foot Locker and telling all his potential customers to buy their sneakers from the Foot Locker too. All the while, the Foot Locker never compensates Chris for the referrals and does everything in their power, with the help of search, to ensure no one ever buys sneakers from Chris' store. Meanwhile all Chris' customers come into his store and tell him how great the Foot Locker is. Some even lament the fact that there aren't any Black owned sneaker stores like the Foot Locker...

Please share the Del.

Hey Chris I trend to agree with your assessment completely. I resonates because it mirrors my personal experiences and observations. Given our different backgrounds I believe this lends a bit of credence to your assessment. "...in the black community violence as art, creates more violence." The question is why? I suspect it is partially because those images dominate the popular culture. If you would have told me the most popular and commercially successful rapper to emerge from Public Enemy would be the drug-abusing clown Flavor Flav I would have said you were crazy. I clearly remember the emergence of Gansta Rap. It really became acceptable, no manly, to think of women as bitches and hoes. The more you could "get" the better a man you were. The "Pimp" and "Thug" archetype were what brothers aspired to as rap artists like Snoop Dogg and Eazy -E rose to prominence. As you implied the ladies all started to want a least a little thuggishness in their men. Today some of the most popular music is what is actually played in strip clubs. If is perfectly acceptable to use the "N-word" in popular music today why? I was listening to the Rap Station on Sirrius the other day and EVERY single song used the N-word?! In previous generations we had love songs. We have conscious music groups like EWF, Stevie Wonder were popular. Today who do we celebrate and give awards to? We have music awards and we can't be sure if our most popular artists are going to start fighting each other or do something bizarre on the stage. Of course there is good music but if take effort to find and few support it, so it is rarely commercially viable. I watched the season opener of Games last night. Not much happened as they are setting the stage for subsequent episodes. There are so many threads and characters it is an effort just to figure out what is going on. I don't remember the cannibals are they new?

I'm not sure why the link did not work. try this one: http://www.sciencefriday.com/audio/scifriaudio.xml Then select the show on violence. Essentially, you summed up the opinion of one of the guests I forget whcih one, it may have been Steven Pinker. At any rate, the idea goes counter to the prevailing beliefs among psychologists today.

I never understood why lyrics like this are not more popular in popular rap--at least among Black folks. One of the poets (OhSoCoy) messaged me on Facebook with the link. Oh how I wish I could have help people just post this stuff here I would have more time and the site would be richer.

Medgar Evers College The City of New York OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS 1150 CARROLL STREET ~ BROOKLYN, NY 11225 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamilah Fraser jfraser1@mec.cuny.edu (718) 270-6911 April 8, 2014 MEC RELEASE C-SPAN Book TV to Broadcast the Twelfth National Black Writers Conference Brooklyn – Last month, the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College (MEC) presented the Twelfth National Black Writers Conference (NBWC), in which Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott was among this year’s honorees. Thanks to C-SPAN Book TV, a selection of panels from the Conference will be aired Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13. This is a great opportunity for people who missed this year’s conference, as well as for those who attended and want to recapture moments, to hear and view some of the dynamic, thought-provoking panel discussions featured at the event, which was held on the campus of Medgar Evers College, Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30, 2014. C-SPAN Book TV Schedule (please check local listings and set your DVRs) Saturday, April 12th12:00pm and rebroadcast at 12:00am (midnight, April 13th) Race, Power, and Politics Shifting Identities in Africa and the African Diaspora Sunday, April 13th 2:00pm and rebroadcast at 2:00am (morning, April 14th) Saving Ourselves, Saving Our Communities Reconstructing the Historical Narrative The State of Publishing [AALBC.com's Founder, Troy Johnson participated on this panel] The Twelfth National Black Writers Conference featured a variety of literary figures that truly represented the theme of the Conference, “Reconstructing the Master Narrative.” Cheryl Wills, NY1 News anchor and an author in her own right, was Mistress of Ceremonies for the Tribute and Awards program in which best-selling author Walter Mosley; poet and writer Quincy Troupe; author Maryse Condé; and Margaret T. Burroughs, cofounder of the Du Sable Museum of African American History, in Chicago, were also honored for their outstanding contributions to African-American literature and culture. Derek Walcott is the second Nobel Prize-winning author for literature to be recognized by and attend the National Black Writers Conference. “The awarding of the W.E.B. Du Bois Award to Derek Walcott at the Twelfth National Black Writers Conference reflects our praise and tribute to a man whose literary voice has impacted all parts of the African Diaspora,” said Dr. Brenda Greene, executive director at the Center for Black Literature. “Derek Walcott, from his place as a St. Lucian poet, playwright, and painter, writes of the world, of love, of the legacy of colonialism in his country, of the complexity of identity and of the search for self in language layered with images and metaphors that capture our unspoken desires, our questions, our rages, our paradoxes and our conflicts.” Among the highlights of the 2014 NBWC was the preconference event “Audre Lorde: A Burst of Light” that featured keynote speaker Angela Davis. Before an audience of more than 500 people, Davis spoke of the relevance of the works of Lorde, who was an influential poet, writer, activist, and feminist. She also applauded the work of Esther Cooper Jackson, who received a tribute for her work with Freedomways, an influential journal that was published from 1961 to 1985 and acted as a political, cultural, and moral compass for social activists, attracting contributions from a wide array of socially conscious scholars, writers, and artists, as well as from prominent civil rights and African liberation leaders. Other highlights of the 2014 Conference include engaging discussions on topics such as “Race, Power, and Politics,” which examined the interrelationships between race, power, and politics in the works of Black writers; “Reconstructing the Historical Narrative,” in which panelists discussed the ways they have reconstructed the master narrative through their creative works, and “The State of Publishing: A 2014 Odyssey,” a panel of publishing professionals who discussed some of the trends and challenges in today’s publishing industry. Author Gillian Royes, who presented on the panel “Shifting Identities in Africa and the African Diaspora,” said of the Conference: “It was productive, enlightening and inspirational.” As with most of the NBWCs, which have been a tradition at Medgar Evers College since 1986, there were several components to the Conference for attendees to take in. This year, the Conference presented a Poetry Café at the Brooklyn Public Library, with poets Jessica Care Moore, Tony Medina, and Ed Mabrey; a film series coordinated by African Voices /Reel Sisters that featured Gordon Parks’s 1984 film “Solomon Northups Odyssey”; and the John Oliver Killens Reading Series that presented a host of authors who read from their recently released titles. There were also instructional talkshops led by published authors and publishing professionals. The Center for Black Literature also celebrated a milestone: at the 2014 Conference: its Tenth Anniversary. Poets Quincy Troupe, Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, Tyehimba Jess, Staceyann Chin, T. Rasul Murray and Hermina Marcellin along with singer Kendra Ross performed and read as part of the festivities, which was hosted by MK Lewis. https://www.flickr.com/photos/meccunyphotos/sets/72157643362587355/

LOL! Damn Chris I guess you knew I'd be like a salivating pit bull in the corner here when Del threw me a piece of raw meat. Alas I know people love Facebook and like an abused spouse I know there is always an excuse to explain the behavior of the abuser... Del in theory, no based upon what Google actually says, helping users kind the most relevant content is what search engine try to accomplish. So content should reign king, not "popularity." But you are right, popularity as dictated by who has the most money and resources is why facebook wins--even with erroneous content. But is is not a simple binary love 'em or leave 'em issue, these thing rarely are. For personal purposes I've left Facebook, but I'm still working on trying to exploit them for business purposes--even though I know I can never really do that on my own.

Ok, Ok I'll lighten up :-) Sure a hallmark of good writing is that the characters stick with you--because you care about them. HBO as been pretty good at that you even care about the bad characters. Like Tony Soprano, started out to be a complex character who grew on you--became liable even despite his heinous behavior. Funny as I was commenting on HBO propensity for violence http://aalbc.com/tc/index.php?/topic/2616-hbos-propensity-toward-violence-is-good-for-us/. In which one of the guests said this fake violence we see on TV and in video games is actually a god thing as it satisfies a primitive blood lust that was previously satisfied with actually violence.

During I questioned whether all of the over the top violence had a negative effect on our psyches. I tend to believe if does but there are school of thought that suggests that it is good for us. The idea is pretty interesting and considering the apparent alternative--actual violence I'd have to pick the stuff HBO serves up. SciFri: The Origins of Violence (listen to broadcast) Thursday, April 03, 2014 2:00 PM An anthropologist, a psychologist, and a crime writer ask: Are humans hard-wired for violence?