Troy

Cynique, I was going to just drop you recollections in my blog but then I decided to post a part of my family history for Black History Month: http://aalbc.it/troyfam Your post was the impetus -- thanks again Cynique.

Kola, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we can disagree on whether Oprah is "beautiful", but you ascribe her beauty to all of those African traits; that she is clearly trying to eschew: Her hair has been straighted, it appears she had a nose job her complextion looks lighter in the photograph. What do you think sbout that?

Wow is right Kola -- Cynique I'm about to cry too -- seriously, that was profound. That was one of your better ones Carey. Crying and laughing -- a great exchange. This is what facebook is messing so far -- the communication is too fleeting. For exmaple the exchange above would be meaningless to the causal observer or even a so called "friend". It is only after reading Cynique and Kola for a while would one even "get it". And it is worth "getting it".

Stay strong Brother! Yeah I agree with you on this one. But if it means anything to you my opinions have been impactsed numerous based upon stuff I've read here including my view on Obama.

LOL I'm waiting to see the complete list too, which promises to be a veritiable cornicopia of put downs. Honestly, I'd rather trade barbs with Cynique -- you want a real tongue lashing try getting into the ring with a Kola Boof

Carey, I guess I just have to accept that you view one's critique of some else as hatin' on that person or being very negative. I believe critique is a positive action. As far as having an impact on Obama polices by discussing him here; come on! What does that have to do with anything? Of course there is no direct impact. Why do you think people who criticize Obama are trying to inflate their own egos? That is a tremendous leap. Do you ever criticize anything or anyone? When you do, is your goal to inflate your own ego? Carey we are just talking here and exchanging ideas. I participate to have fun and to have my ideas challenged. If I'm am presented with new information or a different way to view things, it forces me reconsider my own position. Sometimes my views are bolstered, sometimes they are changed. In any event it forces me to think. For example, I was harsh on folks who did support Obama out the gate. In hindsight, that was short sighted. I now believe ANY man running for an important role such as president should be vetted and not selected because he can give powerful speeches, has Brown skin or for any other reason that has nothing to do with the position. Palin was on the republican ticket for the similiarly shallow reasons. This is what our country is all about. We percieve it as crazy, but clearly other thiught it was agreat idea -- have you ever considered why? Of course the real power does not sit with the figure head in the oval office. I just mention this because at the end of the day unless something revolutionary changes in the whole structure of this country I don't really see it mattering too much who is in the white house. The powers mandates that Wall Street is bailed out. If Bush did it it would be wealthy interests protecting their own. If Obama does it is it making a tough call, to save a nation and cleaning up after Bush’s mess. Obama escalates in Afghanistan and fails to close Guantanamo Bay we hear crickets from Black folks. It Bush did it he’d be a war monger who hates poor and brown people. So you keep sucking on the blue pill Carey.

Carey I read what you wrote twice. I don’t really understand how any of this supports an argument to justify Obama winning a Noble Peace Prize. Since this would not be the first conversation that has run completely off the rails I'll follow your lead. I agree that many people blindly followed Kilpatrick and Barry -- perhaps for the same reasons people blindly support Obama: they see a Black man, one of their own, in a position of power and they are living their dream through him. It really does not matter what an “Obama” does their faith will never be shaken. There are examples of this throughout all of recorded history. It is nothing new, it is human nature. Realizing this, I completely understand the reaction that you and others will have to anything I have to negative to say about Obama. It is like challenging someone's believes in Jesus Christ is God -- that is a more than pointless exercise in futility. Since Obama is not God (though some might disagree), and just the president, I think it is worth pointing out problems. When I "blindly" supported Obama for president. I called those who disagreed "self-hating Negros". Though some were, of course many, if not most, were not. However, I really wanted Obama to win, a playing the race card seemed appropriate -- especially since I could not point to anything remarkable that Barack had actually DONE prior to taking the oath of office. Of course I appreciate Obama, due to no "fault" of his own, has virtually nothing in common with the experience of most Black people in this country. I thought it would be a great thing for the country to have a Black family in the white house running (sort of) things. At this point, now that Barack is in office, I want a president that is actually going to do something positive for this country. Talking to other world leaders is expected of all presidents – particularly the one in charge of the most powerful nation; but surely does not warrant a Noble Peace Prize. If we don’t hold Obama’s feet to the fire, like we would any other president; I guarantee you the country and especially, Black folks, will be FAR worse off after Obama’s term is complete than we are now. I for one do not want to see that.

Say what you will Carey will express his opinions and will not run away from a fight. Carey, as an aside, I never laughed at you. It is the use of words that I enjoy. For example I might disagree with something Chris Hayden has written and his barb might even be directed at me -- but that still does not stop me from laughing. In this case, it was actually Xeon's reaction to Cynique that had me rollin'. Plus I just had this visual of Cyiqnue stomping your testicles then setting you on fire ala Angela Basset in Waiting to Exhale. Man I all for you. You can string togther more than two sentences. The interactions on facebook for example can't get nearly as involved, so I need this place. And as I've said a gazillion times this place is worthless without people who contribute. They just need skin thicker than tissue paper, a sense of humor, an opinion, a little technical expertise, and a slighly higher than average reading comprehension and writing skill.

Xeon -- Word! I'm still laughing out loud for real. Yeah, Cyinque, at first glance, might come across, as the archetype of the "Angry Black woman" -- Like the lovely sister from this year's superbowl commerial. Maybe some air support from Chrishayden is needed for Carey.

We are fortunate to have your writing for us Cynique. You make (and the others too) make it worth dealing with all the crap that I have to deal with administrating this site. Thank you. Thank all of you posters for making part of the world wide web interesting Cynique I would like to make your post a "Guest Post" of sorts on my Blog. I'll dress the thing up with photos and maybe some video clips from youtube, etc. i hope you don;t mind. i think more people should read this.. It is intersting my grand father was born in 1880. His father, Freeman Foster, was born in 1850. I assume given the year he was born and his name that he was formerly enslaved (there is not written or oral record). If he was enslaved I'm the great grandson of an enslaved person too. It is a horrible legacy so close, but too hard to fathom. My mother and her sibling are very likely the grandchildren of slaves that they never knew. Many people of their age never had any knowledge of ancestors before their own parents. Sad. If my folks shared stories the way you do I would know a lot about I our my family history. Today, you have to beg folks to show up to family reunions. Children never visit their parents and throw them into nrusing homes as soon as they can. But I can listen to your history, Griot.

Carey I know Satan is wearing an overcoat right now 'cause I agree with Cynique and Kola -- both of their observation are FAR more plausible explainations for giving Obama a Noble Prize than what you and Xeon have put forth. I'm not sure I understand why you are bringing "Hate" into the conversation. No one hates Obama we all want him to succeed. I've supported Obama since before day one and continue to do so. You Carey, like many people you confuse criticism with hate. In fact people who critique the president are probably better supporters because they are interested in him doing better -- as opposed blind or apathetic support. Xeon, your research is great. However your interpretation is lacking. Or rather, it still fails to address my main point. After 12 days in Office Obama had not ACCOMPLISHED anything -- certainly not enough to warrant a Noble Peace Prize. I do not consider making phone calls, having a few meetings, and ordering shit that never happened, accomplishing anything. It is like awarding Carey a Nobel Prize for literature because he talked about writing a great novel. Do you see the distinction?

Hey Carey what going on man? Good to red you again. I thought I make a pretty clear comparsion with people who actually had a life time of significant accomplisments versus Obama who has been on the job for a millisec. Now Obama is not the first President to get the Prize, but seriously what had he actually accomplished? It is all well a good to create a "new climate", but that has not proven to really benefit anyone. Maybe I'm tired of hearing talk, when it is hitting the fan.

Xeon, Obama was in office for like 5 minutes and had not actually DONE anything but give anything to deserve that king of recognition. Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, Ghandi, MLK, Ralph Bunche,... OBAMA -- I don't think so. At least not yet. I don't even think Obama himself would disagree. If you can't draw a connection between gitmo and and escalting war in afghanistan, and a "Peace Prize; then we can't really even begin to have a conversation. "...new climate in international politics and cooperation." Please. Come back to me when you have some tangible results that can be directly attributed to Obama's actions. Better yet get back to me which the lower and middle class Negroes in THIS country have something to cheer about.

Kola I did not notice the photos post until you provided the link. You have some nice shots with a wide variety of people -- pretty cool. Xeon, Bigfuck and his pals basically trashed the discussion board last weekend with a boat load of very racist posts. If I were still using the software I was using before the upgrade, I would have had to shut the discussion boards down completely. The effects were extensive, but realtively easy to clean up. Some people where hit with a ton of drect email message that I'm not sure I can clean out as I don't have access to direct messages between posters. At least one frequent poster here bailed as a result.

Nice photo Kola. I have met the Brother you asked about I don't recall his name I'll get back to you. Yeah I know Abiola she is cool lives in my neigborhood. Yeah Manie was my man. His memorial service was this past Saturday a lot of peole came out. Derrick Bell came out -- Large!

Bookfan I re-read Kola's post in it's entirety and now see how you could draw that conclusion. I was simply reacting to Kola's statement that it might not be White racists that were responsible. I did not even recall her mentioning you. I know my comments were not based upon you that is why I could respond with certainty about what I meant earlier today. In any case, if it means anything, I do not have to check the IP addresses because I'd already banned the all of the ones belonging to the problemantic posters. As I was banning them I noticed several of the ID's came from a single address, but there were several used. It clearly was a concerted, planned and deliberate attack. It would be interesting to know who was responsible and what their motivation was, but I really don't care that much.

Bookfan, I've always liked your post and contributions. If you can some how manage to take something I wrote and figure out a way to misconstrue view it as a personal attack then maybe you should leave -- because the only alternative would be for me stop posting here. Why would you misquote me like that when it is so easy to see what I actually wrote?

The relationship and situation is complex and I dont know enough about it to have an opinion. But I've also heard what Kola mentions as well. It is a subject worth learning more about (at least for me).

Kola I did not say that the culprits were white racists. I called them spammers, I called the spam racist and it was. But at the end of the day if it were racist skins heads, Kola Boof or Troy and Thumper haters it does not really matter to me -- I would have reacted the same way. But you might be right, I just don't know and I'm not about to expend the energy to find out for sure. Peace Troy

OK I'm fine with Senegal -- I'm sure it would be a much better representation of a Black Mecca than Harlem. The western influence is indeed strong in Nigeria, but they are an actual Black nation. Harlem as a Black Mecca is largely in folks minds. Sure there are pleny of Black folks in Harlem doing great things today and the legacy of Harlem can not be denied, but the Black Mecca, in 2011, is a stretch.

Cynique I restored some topics that should not have been deleted.

During all of discussion surrounding the Huffingtin Post being purchased by AOL it was mentioned that of the 6,000 bloggers writing for the Huffington post -- none of them are being paid. WTF?! Will any of those writers who clearly contributed to the success of the Huffington Post see any return ($) on their labor will they get any of the $130MM+? The answer is of course is "no" and that is a travesty. Actually that is exploitation. Chris, this is really not a matter of giving away the occasional freebie, writers are writing everything for free, for a by line. I know, for example, that I pay a book reviewer more than many sources that pay reviewers. I know magazines that pay reviewers less than $50 for a review. I've even heard a couple of stories of publishers that even want the reviewed book to be returned by the reviewer! Publishers would pay for really good writers. The REAL problem is that the public no longer knows the difference between really good writers and bad ones. The public is also unable to distinquish between opinion and news. Indeed, publishers serve up opinion as news and the public does not seem to care... Take 6,000 unpaid Bloggers, get the public to think of it as journalism, and sell the whole package for 130 million. Only in America Kiddies.

Chris it was OFF THE FREAKING CHAIN. I regret I did not save a few messages. Actually I could undelete some amd repost them, as as racist as some of them were a couple were funny (assick as that might make me sound). Others most people would find extremely offense. The wild thing was that it was just so much of it, replciated throughout the discussion board. Sorry you missed it.

Chris is it that simple regarding Winnie or are you leaving a few things out?

Cynique I thank you again for alerting me to the spam. Spam is not really a strong enough word. It was a deliberate, premeditated and methodical attempt to destroy this discussion board. Spam is the automated stuff pushing Viagra; annoying but relative innocuous. What we witnessed Friday evening was malicious. I admit Cynique I used a sledge hammer rather than a scalpel to eliminate the posts, and acknowledge that there was some collateral damage. I'm sorry about that. I also recognize that I probably did not catch everything. SO IF ANYONE SEES A SPAMMER, PLEASE SEND ME THE ACCOUNT NAME. Interestingly, after your email Cynique, I received another email from a regular poster who asked me to delete all of their messages and remove their account. Because it was a frequent poster i was a little surprised. The person made no mention of what took place on the discussion board. After I visited the discussion boards, assessed the damage, and took corrective action it occurred to me the spam may have been the reason the person wanted me to remove all trace of their participation. I told the person I can easily remove all of their posts (by that time I had plenty of practice), but if they wanted me to do so because of the "spammers" they were simply giving the "spammers" exactly what they wanted. I suggested that they reconsider. By that time I'd gotten rid of the crap that I saw. The person admitted that was the spam was prompting them to leave and they reaffirmed their request erase all their posts. The person claimed that they received hundreds of racist emails on the discussion board. I thought about countering that I doubt they actually received “hundreds” of the racists emails -- but even if they did, that could not compare to the hundreds of topics, posts, events, and messages I had to contend with. I erased that person. I admit I was disappointed by their decision because it gave the spammers an easy win. I also have to admit that the person did not even care enough to tell me about the spam in the first place?!! In the course of human events this whole thing was a non-event. However it did help me better appreciate, this Black history month, the Brothers and Sisters who actually made real sacrifices and deal with real racism so that we can have the liberties we enjoy today. For that I thank the “spammers”.