Troy

Cynique, sure Paula is loaded, but she is absolutely unsophisticated when it comes to communicatiing in public. Just because someone has generated at lot of money does not make them sophisticated or smart. Paula's interview with the NY Times made that plain.

I actually managed to catch with with Mr. Fraser. Nice gentleman, to time to speak patiently with anyone who approached him.

Hi Our Legaci, Thanks for sharing your video here. Why do you think the dark girls deserve the special attention? Clearly dark boy are impacted, arguably more so. When I was a kid dark kids were teased just as bad as the very skinned kids. I have no recollection of being teased for my complexion (other than being ashy). But I was teased about a wide variety of things being short (I'm 5" 7'), being smart (I wore glasses as a kid and was a better than average student), having a big butt (I have naturally big glutes and tend to be more muscular than most), and so on. I don't expect or think there is a need for a documentary film to address any of these issues. I'm also not trying to say my being teased for being short is better is worse than being teased for being dark skinned. The point is that people are made fun of for a variety of reasons for which they have no control including, height, complexion, sexual orientation or even having a mental handicap. The real issue is that we live in a culture where childhood teasing is the norm and too many adults say stupid things about other people. I absolutely believe the teacher in that school in Syracuse should have stopped those kids from talking to the dark kid they way they did. Maybe it would help discourage the practice. But if those kids in the 'Cuse were anything like the kids I grew up with, I doubt it would make a difference. We did not just tease each other, we made it an actual activity called "snapping". We would sit in a group and just make jokes about each other -- just for kicks. We also fought each other pretty regularly. Today kids shoot each other (but I digress). But at the end of the day raising awareness of things other find hurtful is usually a good thing. Perhaps some people by be moved and consider how their words about skin color could be hurtful to others. However I suspect most will not. Dark skinned people already know the deal and I suspect most others really don't care that much or are too rigid in their opinions to change. Despite helping to spread the words about the film Dark Girls, which you can learn more about here (for free). I have little interesting the seeing the film myself. Also from a critique side your video: It felt long. When I originally checked it out (Amari sent it to me). I did not watch it all the way through. Now that you posted it hear I listened to in it the background while making breakfast this morning. I think a duration about 1/2 the current length would be better. You can look at your Youtube stats and see how long the average view time is to check if my suggestion makes sense.

Pioneer your assessment of the relative friendliness of the south mirrors my own. The NY City I grew up in was very segregated as well. I just did not know white people my age until I got into a specialized high school far from my neighborhood. I doubt very many white kids went to my zoned high school (Earl "The Goat" Manigault who Kareem said was the great BBall player ever actually went there), which many thought of as a prison preparatory. Me and a girlfriend were chased out of a white neighborhood in Brooklyn -- just for walking through. Country music is Black music too. I hear the word Nigger used every single day in my neighborhood. Young people use the word all the time, as did my peers and I at the same age 40 years prior. Fat Joe when asked about the use of "nigger" in rap said when Don King asked Al Shaprton if he knew Fat Joe, while introducing the two, Al Shapton replied (I paraphase), How am I not going know the "realest nigger" in New York city rap! Al has led campaigns against the use of the word. People are often hypocrites which it comes to the use of the word when and how they use it or when and how they perceived it is acceptable to use. I also agree the Paula Dean fiasco is created by the media to generate money. Paula is getting all this grief because she was not sophisticated or bright enough, like to know what not to say in public. Actual people use this language and feel this way. You can't kill people for being dumb, young, or parochial.

Hi Karlicia, do you think there are enough "good" Black men? Do women settle for "toxic" men because that is all the is available?

Itisme -- welcome to the boards. I spend a lot of time in the south -- all of my family is in the south. Paula is representative of low class, less-than-average intelligence, still-not-over-the-civil-war, folks. Fortunately they make up a small percentage of the southern population. Also I don't think Paula she is a bad person with bad intentions. She is just... Paula.

Actually Cynique that helps a lot. I've been online since before the internet was a commercial entity, and have been building websites for the better part of 20 years. My perspective is very unique. It is useful to read how regular people engage the site or the internet in general. Your method of accessing the board is fine it I tried it too. I simply type the URL http://aalbc.com/tc or hit the discussion board on the main site's menu bar. Once I arrive at the forums I hit select "View New Content" on the menu which shows me the new posts I have not read. Most of the people I talk about stuff in original post "get it". When I talk to "regular" people they don't quite understand or care very much. I've been bouncing ideas and arguments off my 21 year old who feels twitter, for example, is a great way to communicate. I think if I can get her to understand why it is not -- indeed the exact opposite I can convince anyone :-)

All of us involved with the production of content online is familiar with the refrain "Content is King". The general idea behind the phase is that if you generate a lot of unique content you will generate a lot of traffic, links back to you site from other sites and high ranking in search results. The key is really the last bit about ranking high in search results. Well funded websites today are discovered by spending a lot of money on advertising and promotion. Smaller independent websites (the vast majority of websites) are dependent upon ranking high on search engine results -- specifically Google search engine results, because they are far and way the most popular search engine. Indeed "google" is now a verb meaning; to search online. However, at an accelerating rate, it is becoming clear that in reality, "Google is King". Even Google says quite loudly that content is king when it comes to their search results. My experience and the data I've collected suggests otherwise; Here are a couple of many anecdotes to illustrate why your support is needed: Not too long ago I paid a writer for an article he'd written for publication on The Huffington Post's website. The writers was unhappy. He felt his article would lose it's impact because the Huffington Post was taking too long to publish it. On top of that, he was not being paid for that article or any of the articles he wrote for the Huffington Post. Knowing I could publish the article in a few minutes, I paid the the writer $25 and published his article on AALBC.com. I wanted to test a theory. My article was indexed by Google in less than 24 hours. About a week later The Huffing Post published the article. Immediately, after Huffington Post's publication of the article they started beating beating AALBC.com in search results. This is not surprising a giant corporate site beats a much smaller independent site on the same content. However, the real problem is that scores of other sites which aggregate content, by automatically copying excerpts of content from the Huffington Post and other sites, producing no original content, began beating me in Google searches as well! The only purpose those sites serve is to generate advertising revenue through the use of excerpts from other websites. Social Media or Rather Google's Bias Toward Social Media has exacerbated the problem. My own social media (FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google+) OFTEN beats AALBC.com on searches for my original content! If I post a LINK on FaceBook to an article on AALBC.com, then later run a query on the article's title my FaceBook page can come us first! It is hard to rationalize how a page with just a link and can beat a page with the entire article. Click this link which runs a Google search on Troy Johnson Now Troy Johnson is a very common name and I'm doing great to have several results appear on the 1st page of results. On my tests my LinkedIn in profile and my Facebook page beat my site which has, deliberately, much more up-to-date and comprehensive information. The problem with sending people to Facebook to hit a link that leads back to AALBC.com where the content is, is that Facebook is very "sticky", once people get there they tend to stay there. Someone looking for Troy Johnson or an article I've published will likely get stuck on Facebook and never make it to AALBC.com. Sometimes I find myself reading something on Facebook completely side tracked from my original task. I've been running Google searches since Google was invented and they are no longer getting it right, particularly when it comes to indie sites (save Wikipedia - arguably a commercial entity). On one hand I'm disappointed because for many years Google represented what was great about the net. Google facilitated a level playing field between content providers based upon QUALITY of CONTENT. Today they are more reflective of a greedy corporation bent on exploiting the net for monetary gain. The things I mention here impact the entire internet experience for all of us. The impact of what I've mentioned here is far WORSE than even the digital divide problem. Sure, it is bad to have an environment where accessing the Internet is difficult for so many, but it is far more tragic when independent expression is completely shut out. There are certainly solutions to this problem. Perhaps the biggest challenge is recognizing there is a problem. This is not just about Black books. Journalism is impacted, the ability for a writer to earn a living is greatly diminished, the quality and depth of what is published on-line and the ability to tell our stories from our perspective is in serious jeopardy. There was absolutely ways to correct this problem, but it will take a concerted effort from a critical mass of people. But the first step is helping people and content providers (the ones remaining) recognize there is a problem.

The Africans Who Wrote the Bible by Nana Banchie Darkwah

Hey y'all please test a Google search for me by running a simple query. Just clicking this link: Then let me know two things: (1) Which site comes up first? (2) What # does AALBC.com come appear? (#1, #2, etc.) Don't go past the first page (top 10 results), just let me know if you did not find it in the first page of results. I really do appreciate your help. This is a query to find a film review I published recently. It is crafted in an way that really should return my AALBC.com first. I run queries like this all day long, and have been for years. A Google search is normally the fastest way to find content on my website; I almost never use my site's navigation menu. But something changed recently and I'm just trying to collect to support my theory -- thanks.

Read the First Issue Vol. 1 April 2013 In April 2013 C&B Distribution published its first issue of Writers' World Newspaper. This publication is a resource for self-published and established authors to exchange opinions on literature. Readers will be provided with unique and motivational articles, ideas and resources to further enhance their lives. This paper will be distributed every three months to different venues such as "April is Book Month in Queens" & The Harlem Book Fair, The Queens Book & Health Fair Events, various libraries, high schools, colleges, banks, book stores, supermarkets, restaurants, news stands, and grocery stores. C&B Distribution will distribute 750 - 1000 printed copies to reach the population of Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Jamaica, some areas of Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan. More Areas to come! Click here to learn how to subscribe and advertise

I spoke with the filmmaker recently and the cool thing about this video is that it was unscripted and the two people (Aki and Lee) are friends and have know each other for years.

Virtual Blog Tour new ebook INSIGNIFICANT OTHERS with bestselling authors Pynk and Carol Taylor We’re organizing a virtual blog tour for the new ebook INSIGNIFICANT OTHERS a collaboration of bestselling authors Pynk and Carol Taylor. This dynamic storytelling duo are joining forces to combine their vibrant voices and fervent fan bases in a series of erotic novellas. Tour dates are July 8th - 12th. If you would like to be part of this tour, please email us atmarketing@insatiablepress.com by June 14th 2013 and make note of the following guidelines: Pynk and Carol Taylor are willing to do Q&As and guest blogs posts. Guest blog requests are on a first-come, first serve basis. You will receive 2 copies of the ebook, one for yourself to read and review, and another to give away on your blog When you have the contest and the review posted, send us the link. Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners—please email their name and email tomarketing@insatiablepress.com We ask that you post reviews on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, as well as your blog page. You may also post them on Books-A-Million and Goodreads. If you have a Facebook or Twitter page, please post about the book there as well. When tweeting, use hashtag, #insignificant as much as possible. About the novellas in INSIGNIFICANT OTHERS Erotic City: Miami--It’s 2012 and what happened in 2008 at the controversial Erotic City swingers club in Atlanta is a distant memory. Now, with a second club located in Miami, Milan Kennedy and her heavyweight boxer husband, Lavender Lewis, have moved to Miami to raise his son. Lavender’s loony baby’s mama is serving time in prison for the attempted murder of Milan. For now all seems quiet, that is until Milan and Lavender are served child custody papers, and also, a test of fidelity arises just as the couple plans to add to their family, and expand their thriving business. Milan questions the very meaning of the lifestyle itself, and doubts the purpose of her own career as a swinger’s club owner, providing significant others a playground for fornication. Big Booty Trudy, Tamiko Kennedy, Jarod Hamilton, and Nancy Clark Kennedy all return, and a couple of freaky additions are added to the mix. The newest location, Erotic City: Miami, is a huge success, but at what cost? Will the wife-swapping lifestyle change Milan and Lavender forever, or will they survive the very temptations that their own sex business brings? The Ex Chronicles: Plan B--Funny, erotic, sexy, and insightful, The Ex Chronicles: Plan B reveals the darker side of desire, when four women must overcome their lust or be trapped by it. Bourgie Hope, the editorial director of Shades magazine, fell in love with Derrick, a single dad from the projects, while at her wits end caring for her sick mother and handling her own high-powered career. Derrick proposed to Hope and she was ecstatic. But she’s now wondering if it's too much too soon, especially when she meets the sexy and seductive Max. Precious, a Shades editor, left her fiancé Darius after finding him in bed with another woman. She’s now back with him; hoping that this time he really will change. Bella, the overindulged wild child of rich parents, burned out, not only drugs and alcohol but also on her enabling ex Julius, and went into rehab. Now her parents are threatening to cut her off if she doesn’t get a job, something she’s never had to do. Half-Jamaican, half-British Zenobia sacrificed a successful modeling career for her ex Malcolm, but his constant cheating made it impossible for her to stay with him. Now she’s with David, but Malcolm wants her back. As we follow these best friends from New York, to London, and Amsterdam, they must cope with not only their careers and their past, but also their cheating exes and the love they still have for them. They each need a Plan B. Although the blog tour is focused on ebooks, please let us know if you'd like to be added as a reviewer for our audiobooks in the future. Take care, Roy Huck Insatiable Press www.insatiablepress.com

More on Miz Paula:

Interesting you should phrase it that way Cynique I was talking to someone about this situation and they were perfectly happy about Paula's predicament referring to it as payback. They did not give a crap about the specifics of the situation -- indeed neither of us knew the specifics. In fact I STILL do not know specifically what Paula said and when she said it to get her into so much trouble.

Why does obtuse sounds like a personal attack? It is a fairly innocuous word much less harsh than the words throw around by the like about by Roy Hibbert and Paula Dean. I just looked up the word; Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand. Difficult to understand. I was using the 2nd, definition with regard to your response to my question. I was NOT calling YOU obtuse. I was characterizing your statement as such. That is easy to see based upon what I wrote. Looking at it another way; can you see way someone would be confused by the response you gave to my question? I don't know about decorum in the context of this place, but my tone is pretty consistent. Admittedly I show Cynique some difference cause I usually agree with her and she is my elder, but when I disagree with her I tell her without having to sugar coat it. Now that I think about it I do recall referring to Cynique as a self loathing negro because she would not blindly support Obama simply because he was Black. I remember this ONLY because I thought about it before hitting the enter key. Because THAT could be reasonably be construed as a personal attack. But Cynique and I go way back now I knew she would not storm off the boards in a huff. Needless to say Cynique explained her position, and in hindsight, I see that I was wrong for blindingly supporting Obama (or anyone) simply because of the color of their skin. If you are really interested in the exchange of, and debating, ideas we really we have to assume it is the ideas we are attacking -- not the person.

Del I've been writing on these boards for 15 years. More than a decade of conversation are archived here. You'd have to look VERY hard to find an instance of me attacking, personally, another individual here. Now being accused of attacking someone is not the same thing as attacking someone. I found the sentence with the word "obtuse" to try to figure out why you thought I was attacking you as a person (one that I like) rather than your ideas or actions. I wrote: "Del when your answer is too obtuse to be understood by an educated person, it does not provoke discussion it is just confusing." I stand by the statement because I asked you a question and I not only did not understand your response I was left more confused. Sure I could have softened the statement, perhaps been less blunt. But I did not get the impression I needed to do that with you. I apologize if you took my statement personally it was meant to obtain clarity not hurt your feelings. Thanks for mentioning it. I did not appreciate that I was coming across that way to you.

I'd actually never seen Paula Dean prior to seeing these videos. I had no idea what she looked like and I have never seen her cooking show. My reaction to her use of the N-word was that people are over reacting. It just seems inconsistent to hold Paula to a higher standard regarding the use of the N-word in her private life than we hold a comedian or rapper who uses the word in front of thousands. I don't use the N-word or any profanity much today but as a teen and young adult I used the n-word all the time. Is was part of the way me and I peer spoke. However after seeing this video I can see how and why she would the n-word. Paul is clearly unsophisticated when it comes to speaking to the public. I don't suspect she is not very bright either. She apparently does not have a publicist who knows very much either. This interview with the times is very telling. Ever after viewing it I don't believe Paula is a bad person, just not the sharpest knife in the drawer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOOtHsYeEqg Here is a video Paula published a couple of days ago, "After spending all day soul searching and trying to figure out how to deal with what I did, I recorded a video trying to do the right thing. In the end, I felt that I needed to just be myself, say I am sorry and beg for forgiveness. What I said was wrong and hurtful. I know that and will do everything that I can do make it right. I am not about hate, and I will devote myself to showing my family, friends and fans how to live a life helping others, lifting us all up, and spreading love." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkwbyNKC9Kg I think the ratings driven media feeding frenzy has exacerbated the problem. I doubt many of us could meet the standard Paula was expected to make -- but none of use are losing our livelihoods and careers over it.

DT why won't you just share the press release here -- it would just save folks a step. As you can imagine you lose people with each additional hop.

I hear you. Are all the titles listed anywhere? if so please post a link.

As with all things, good and bad, there is a spectrum a range Good <-------------------------------------------------------------------> Bad Where killing Hitler would be on the "good" side, and raping and killing a infant would be considered "bad". Drive-by's, capital punishment, and all the rest would be placed somewhere along the spectrum. At the end of the day, however we want to justify it, killing another person is just wrong. Whether it is aborting a fetus prematurely, euthanasia, executing a mass murder -- whatever -- it is wrong. I think a major problem with our culture is that we have justified killing for so many reasons, so much so, that we can easily justify doing it. Murder is rampant is ghettos because we do not respect life -- even our own. It is built into the culture...

Cynique do you think a person who is truly and I mean truly does not think murder is wrong AND actually carries them out would be considered sane? If so, lets exclude the socio-paths or psychotic people. Now if we consider war, killing someone (a likely socio-path) in self-defense. I too believe this is wrong but not so wrong I don't think it should be done. I certainly don;t believe we should defende ourselves with no regard for collateral damage -- the way the 911 bombers were or the US is with Drones or with Nukes. Dropping a 2nd nuke the way the US did in WW II is completely wrong. We can argue about the 1st nuke but dropping the 2nd nuke is just beyond monstrous. I'm sure the 1st one sent the so called "message". We live in a country where the leadership is unable or unwilling to make the right moral/ethical judgements. They know what is right and wrong, they just do not care. Or rather they care more about power and money than people I doubt the nuts in charge today would have ended slavery.