Troy

I’m so satisfied and excited, that I wanted to share my experience with others hoping that they would take advantage of WordPress and establish a web presence of their own. One of the questions I’m most frequently asked by when I speak to groups about the world wide web is, “I don’t have a big budget and I’m not super tech savvy, how do I create my own website?” Today my answer would be, “WordPress is a very good way to get started”. Read Part 1 of Article and Part 2

breathebooks can you describe the support for the HBCU's? As far as inspiring youth. Are you serious? Have you been in a classroom lately. Have you been on the streets of any inner city neighborhood? Look at the Black voter turn out tomorrow evening and you tell me what that inspiration has done. You are right, how could I forget Valerie. But not a single Brother -- why can't it be 5 brothers? More significantly lets look at Barack's lily white (virtually) cabinet cabinet This "pales" in comparison to even Dubya who had Roderick Paige, Alphonso Jackson, Colin Powell, and Condoleeza Rice I supported and predicted a win by Barack, on this very board, even before he announced he was running. All I'm saying now is that the same level of support I saw for him two years ago, in the Black community, is virtually gone. And as far as white folks are concerned you can forget about it. So if Barack gives a few dollars of tax payer's money to a few struggling HBCU's and if he has inspired some Black youth -- that is just great. Because at the end of the day, Black folks have not caught this much sh-t since before 1865. So when people see Wall Street being given damn near a trillion dollars to save their butts and now folks are talking about eliminating the home mortgage deduction to pay for huge deficits. You can understand why Black folks are just a little be uninspired by Mr. Obama lately... …and Chris that is just part of the reason the Dems have f'ed up.

breathebooks! How ya doing! Thanks for stepping out of the shadows! While "lurkers" are good for business (by generating traffic), the board is nothing without posts. I hope you continue to contribute.

Chris I just think people are frustrated and are willing to listen to anyone that will promise them that they will make things better than they are now... There is really nothing that Black folks can point to that Barack has done to benefit us directly. We see Wall Street getting almost a trillion dollar in aid while working stiffs are losing their homes. Imagine virtually everyone knows several people who have lost their homes -- it is an epidemic. We all know even more people who have been out of work for a year or more. What does health care reform mean to us right now? Folks are now speculating that the home mortgage deduction will need to be elimiated to pay for health care reform --- sheesh! Maybe we should stop sending shit to Mars and worry about what is happening on this planet. It is not like Barack is even hooking the Brothers up on his own staff Mona Supthen I think is the only Black person. I say this not to complain, but to point out that Barack is even at risk holding onto his strongest supporters -- Black folks. No, black folks are not about to go out and vote Republican in mass, but if things continue they way they are or (God forbid) get worse, Black folks just will not vote at all and he needs all the votes he can get from us.

Well Thumpers Corner and the rest of the AALBC.com’s discussion boards can't survive without people to contribute to the conversation. It seems the additional features did not help increase participation a lick. At first I thought the Facebook and other social media platforms syphoned off some of our long term contributors. But I did some research and here is what I found: Thumper stopped reading lambd went completed the final surgery for gender reassigmnet is now actually awoman Carey is now blogging fill time for the Huffington Post ABM ran off with his 18 year Swedish Au Pair after being rejected by... kola_boof, who is now back on her meds and has fully reintegrated her numerous personalities. She lives in suburban Maryland, pledged Delta, drives a 5 series Beamer and is engaged to a Baptist minister. Ferociouskitty got tamed by... ntfs_encryption, and are both living in a commune, off the grid, somewhere in southern Alabama. mzuri is looking for sock puppets elsewhere on the Internet yvettep is a in Cuba writing a revolutionary manifesto schakspir now posts on Black Planet where he is the relationship expert doberman23 is now helping Sarah Palin garner the Black vote serenasailor brownbeauty123 urban_scribe moonsigns Hey anyone care to continue or update the the list with more up to date information

Despite being picture here with Juan, I don't know the man. Just on a vibe level he seemed like a decent dude. Juan does not need anyone to come to his defense. NPR canned him. He is now making millions with Fox. As far as what he said, I’m sure he expressed the sentiments of the majority of the country. I don’t agree with what he said. But I live in New York City and I’m surrounded by all kinds of folks. Honestly I’m surprised Juan would feel that way himself. It is not like he is some backwater hick – he is more sophisticated than that. And the man is not stupid. So I have to believe the statement was made deliberately – perhaps to position himself for a high paying position on Fox. He would not be the first person to say something outlandish to generate money for himself. You need look no farther than vulgar comedians, rap artists, politicians, reality TV show contestants or even celebrities looking to garner some attention. I listen to NPR produced shows on WNYC, a listener supported radio station here in NYC. I tune in daily sometimes for hours at a clip, as I work each day. Some of the programing is produced by the station itself, some of it is sourced from Public Radio International (which has BBC, Tavis Smiley, and more). Actually, I’m not really clear on who produces all the programs on my public radio station, they mix it all together into one seamless broadcast. I do know NPR does “The America Life” with Ira Glass I listen to that on the radio and on long drives via Itunes podcast. I just googled NPR and see they also produce “Fresh Air” and “Wait Wait Don't Tell Me” a couple of other programs I like. And of course I recall listening to Juan Williams on many occasions. NPR also produces car talk with is a silly program that I sometimes listen to but tune away from mostly. I usually find myself on the right on most political issues but very little about the supposed ultra-liberal bias of NPR bothers me. They have intelligent programs and they cover the subject matter in an interesting way. One of the articles you linked above mentioned that NPR has a lily white audience. That may be true, but I have to believe Fox has similarly high percent of white folks tuning in too. I bet if they compared relative intelligence of both audiences NPR would win in a landslide. I don't watch Fox. I listen to WNYC/NPR because the so called Black radio stations play garbage all day. In the morning I can listen to some knucklehead do a crank phone call or listen to Steve Harvey try to advise some woman about her train wreck of a relationship or I can learn something or relevance on NPR. I have to give Michael Baisden some credit in the afternoon for doing something positive but they I get tired of the same old songs and corny jokes after a while. Of course I appreciate that it is impossible for a Black station (any station for that matter) to broadcast serious subjects in an intelligent way, to be commercially viable. I get my serious black programs by listening to the local college radio station WHCR and on Sunday morning the (Power or the Kiss station) has an interesting talk show. Increasingly there is interesting stuff going on Blog Talk radio and other internet stations that you can listen to via podcasts. At the end of the day I’m not worried about Juan. Maybe after he stacks some serious paper at Fox he’ll use his talent to do some meaningful important work for Black folks…

yeah it was an interesting article I linked to in the last enewsletter -- thanks Chris!

Hey Cynique I, as usual, found your musings interesting. Off hand, I can't think of anyone that plays Bridge. It makes me think of Leave it to Beaver or one of the other 50's sitcoms where the Mom's sat around playing Bridge when they were not in the kitchen or cleaning. I used to play Spades and Whist for hours. But even those games don't seem to be played very much by people my age or younger. The last time I played Whist was at a family reunion in Raleigh, NC this past July. Me an a similarly competitive cousin spanked a couple of other cousins who had been running the table all afternoon and talking much shit. Made for a great win! Folks in Philly play Pinochle -- I play that game so infrequently I have to relearn it each time I play, plus you need a funky deck that only seems to be available in the south (anything south of Newark NJ to me). The only card game that I play regularly is poker, and I enjoy that much more than any other card game when money, alcohol and friends are involved (or in a proper casino sans the friends). I can play for 6 hours straight without even thinking about it. I played on-line but I find it boring as the personal interactions make all the difference to me. Sorry to hear about the breakup of your Bridge crew. If I lived near by I would, take 5 minutes to earn the game, find a partner, come by and spank you on the regular!

After exchanging a couple of emails with Kam regarding his review he hipped me some information about our minister friend; briefly described in the quote above. Again one of my biggest problems was that the minister actually did not help anyone. Indeed he probably hurt the young man in the long run. The minister apparently has no problem elevating himself by taking money from people who can’t even meet their monthly bills. While CNN made this evident they couched it as "compassion" leading many viewers to believe that it was indeed that compassion he was providing – rather than snake oil.

Hey DT it is pretty cool how you posted this video across the net getting a realtively large number of viewers in a short period of time at no apparent cost. I need to start doing even more myself. If you are serious about publishing the works of others I would recommendat that you get free of the free hosting from Go Daddy -- That just screams "my business is unprofessional or is to cheap or unsophisicated enought to my $5 permonth of web hosting". As far as get others to support you business the appeal has to be more in your product and services rather than one of supporting entrepreneurs.

Mel all jokes aside you gave more information about home ownership than CNN managed to cobble together in 90 minutes. Black folks ain't the only ones slaves. But how can anyone desire freedom, before they discover they are enslaved? More commentary on about CNN's program on Facebook

Despite Kam's 4 star rating I did not think I would find very much appealing about CNN's latest special on "Black America". I freely admit I went into the program not expecting very much and CNN delivered in spades (pardon the terrible pun). Any viewer expecting to learn anything about debt: how and why people get into it, why they stay in debt or how one might get out of it would be sorely disappointed. The program was really a very shallow and painfully drawn out expose of a married couple about to lose their home, a 58 year old guy unable to find employment and an impoverished teenager trying to get into and raise money for college. The married couple apparently had not paid their mortgage in 26 months. The family was shown driving BMW SUV, the home was nicely furnished; everyone seemed to be well groomed with nice clothing – all the visual trappings of success. However no one asked the simple question – why did you not make a single mortgage payment for the last two years?! The husband sold cars and the wife sold real estate, but the economic downturn greatly reduced their incomes. However that does not explain why two healthy individuals did not try to find some other form of income. Or why the question was not even asked. It was not until the bank say they were going to sell the house at auction did the wife contemplate the prospect of finding a job. The 58 year old was laid off after an apparent restructuring at the company he was employed with for the last 25 years. He said he’d filled out over 300 job applications and still was unable to find work. He was shown crying in his kitchen while praying about getting a job. He did a lot of praying. But it was also clear he was not going about his job search very well either. He failed to tell even the people closest to him that he was seeking employment. Finding a job is more about networking than filling out applications online. This brother was not challenged about his technique to find a job, his work experience or qualifications. Understanding these things would go a long way to understanding his predicament. Finally there was a teenager trying to get into college. Much of this segment focused on the young man’s efforts participating in contest to win a $2,000 scholarship. It seemed to me with the hotel and transportation costs (who knows who paid for these expenses), even if the kid won first place the prize money would not cover their cost of participation. At any rate, the kid was rejected from the school he wanted to go to, but at the last minute his minister called the school and the school reversed their decision. So now the young man has taken on a $16,000 loan for his first year at a school that would be an academic challenge for him to complete his degree (based upon C grades and the initial rejection). In all the cases in the “Black Church” took credit for and was held up as a source of strength and support for each of these families in dire financial straits. The program showed a lot of praying and preaching but not many lessons on how we get in debt or how we can get out of it. In some way the church was held up as an important Black institution but in more important way the church was shown as completely ineffective. Michelle Singletary, one of the few who made a meaningful contribution on the subject, explained why it was a mistake for the teenager to take on so much debt to attend college. She also described some of his options. While his minster was shown to contradict himself by admitting that he pulled strings to get the kid into school, then saying that he told the kid to get a job – knowing full well that was not the point Michelle was making. The 58 year old and his wife continued to contribute significant portions of their income to the Church each month through tithes. They mentioned that they were $2,000 short each month paying billed but still continued to pay the church – before anything else. The ultra rich minsters defended the practice, of course, by saying that you don’t bring yourself up by tearing down the church. At the end of the day I’m not sure what CNN’s intent was with the program. What they did do however was illustrate anecdotally how ineffective the Black Church was, despite the financial support, in helping the three cases highlighted. CNN also missed an opportunity to help explain Black wealth discrepancies when compared to white America. Folks complain that Black people need to get past the impact of slavery be response for our financial woes today. All Black people know that the legacy of slavery continued well after 1865. CNN did briefly touch on how the legacy of slavery and racism excluded Black from homeownership and how the greatly prevented out ability to catch up on the accumulation of wealth – despite some gain in wages. Overall I’d give the program 1 star for the simple fact is they more than anything else help spark a conversation that might actually led to some positive actions. At least I hope so.

I guess Cynique, while you were merely poking fun. You were inadvertently exposing a truth that, seemingly most people are ignoring: Rome is burining and we are getting fat watching reality TV and suckling at Oprahs bosom. Social Security will be fully funded as long as you need it. I'll be greeting shoppers at WalMart or checking IDs at a strip club. The people you came up with that earned only HS diplomas were better educated that the morons running around now with college degrees. But hey, I'll probably be gone before it really hits that fan -- at least I hope so.

I wonder if it ever occurred to the geniuses at CNN that Black debt is not a "bigger problem than racism" but a direct consequence of racism. Why doesn't CNN focus on the underlying cause of this problem rather than focusing on a symptym. Actually I know why CNN is fundamentally racist themselves. But I'll probably watch it and be sickened like I was by with the Black in America segments I watched.

Almighty Debt TV-Review by Kam Williams Soledad O’Brien’s latest CNN special report in her Black in America series is certainly her most practical yet in that it addresses the timely question of how to manage your money during these trying financial times. The show is apt to be of salient interest to African-American communities all across the country, given how they’re beset by skyrocketing rates of unemployment and home foreclosures. At the center of this installment is Reverend Buster Soaries who sets the tone at the outset by making the incendiary comment that “Debt is a bigger problem than racism” for black folks today. The New Jersey-based minister is no stranger to controversy, having run interference for President Bush in the wake of the heavily-disputed 2000 Presidential Election by serving as the first Chairman of the Administration’s newly-established Election Assistance Commission. Here, Reverend Soaries positions himself as a “revolutionary pastor” by finding scriptural passages to make an analogy between debt and slavery as he preaches in the pulpit at his church in New Jersey. Given how many ministers tend to worry more about Heaven than material concerns, it is rather refreshing to see a member of his profession offering answers aimed at to alleviating the pain his congregation is suffering in a Hell on Earth. To break out of economic bondage, it is suggested that black folks need to free themselves from a “culture of debt” by transforming themselves from conspicuous consumers to sage investors. As far as the familiar mindset of relying just on faith in Jesus alone for financial salvation, it is duly noted that such “optimism needs to be rooted in reality.” Soaries’ thesis is supported by Dr. Julianne Malveaux who states that “African-Americans have a spending problem.” Thought-provoking ideas from a Republican cleric as dedicated to leading his flock to the black as to the Promised Land. Excellent (4 stars) Unrated Running time: 120 minutes Studio: CNN To see a trailer for Almighty Debt, visit: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/09/23/inam.trailer.almighty.debt.cnn Or: Almighty Debt premieres on CNN on Thursday, October 21st at 9 PM ET/PT Additional Airings: Friday, October 22, 2010 12:00am – 2:00am 3:00am – 5:00am Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:00pm – 10:00pm 11:00pm – 1:00am Sunday, October 24, 2010 2:00am – 4:00am 8:00pm – 10:00pm 11:00pm – 1:00am Monday, October 25, 2010 2:00am – 3:00am

Well Cynique, you are witnessing a culture in decline. We already know the next generation will be less healthy, less educated and less wealthy. We are really making a mess of things. I just posted a review of the film Waiting for Superman which talks about the crisis in American education. It is quite astonishing that in 2010 we are trying to figure out how to educate our children. The "quality" of television reflects the sensibilities of your typical viewer. Television created for the masses will only get worse over time. Reading and writing for pleasure are lost arts. Even something you all take for granted, like posting on this board (relating ideas using the written word), is probably something that the average person could not do.

Chris, I've read a couple of Thomas Sowell's books and many of his articles, and I've never read anything suggesting that he has any interest in representing Black people. In any case, I see your feelings regarding Sowell are irrational; and it is therefore pointless to try to have a meaningful exchange on the subject, so I'll leave you to your opinion.

Chris, what point(s) in Tom's article do you take issue with? If one assumed a fair and just criminal justice system I see nothing wrong with Tom's arguement. While the data shows that the system is indeed stacked against us, that is a different conversation.

The Warth of Other Suns - Reviewed by Cynique

Chris you are right but I'l do Cynique one better an post in the book reviews section! Make me wanna read the BAB!

Chrishayden, maybe you are right> The movie's title is so silly sounding, were if not for Kam's review I'd have little inclination to see it. It will be showing at my local theater, but I'll probably wait for the netflix release. It would be nice to hear what other folks you have seen the film think.

"Why did you address this question to Cynique? Chris, if you must know it's 'cause the rest of y'all kneegrows don't know what the hail y'all takin' 'bout. Seriously, I knew if Cynique responded it would be a well thought out and crafted response, which is what I was looking for, so I was really interested in reading what she had to say. I also new she was old enough to be able to speak about the period from personal experience. Besides I knew if anyone else had something to say they would not hesitate to supply a response. I did not mean to preclude anyone else from responding. That was definitely not my intent.

Xeon, I hear you. But regarding vaccinations, you really can't ignore the fact that the US experimented on Black folks throughout our history. You have the administration of bogus treatment of Syphilis allowing Black to go untreated -- just to see what would happen. Can you blame folks for being a little skittish -- especially today when some scientists are running around saying Autism is being caused by vaccinations containing Mercury. And since you brought it up; Xeon have you ever shopped in a poor neighborhood? It is not all that easy to get good food -- fresh produce, meats and other things necessary for proper nutrition. One incident comes to mind. After visiting the Stax Museum (home of Issac Hayes, the Barkays, Rufus Thmoas, etc) in Memphis, TN a couple of years ago. My family and I went into a super market across the street. We went into the "supermarket" in a predominately black neighborhood to buy some bottled water. We could not find any! They had a big lottery kiosk near the checkout line. The had a whole section of gallon sized "juices" in every conceivable color -- we were like my God what it this?! I went into the meat section (now I'm curious), there was not "real" meats neck bones, chicken wings and feet, boxed sausage and hamburger -- nothing look fresh, no fish, steaks, veal, poultry. I travelled the entire country whenever I visit a city I go into the 'hood. The story is the same though not usually as extreme as the one I just mentioned. To get good food one would have to travel out the community and pay much more -- it is really not that easy -- especially if your are 3, 4 generations deep into poor eating habits, and everyone around you is doing the same thing -- you just don't know any better. People wonder why poor Black women are generally obese -- this is part of the reason.

Once again a fascinating perspective Cynique. During some genealogical research I'm performing. I discovered one of my aunts died of pertussis as a child. I had no idea what that was and had to look it up to learn it was whopping cough. I read more about it and learned it name came from the sound made by those afflicted. My close friend's grandmother was sent to a sanatorium for years after contracting tuberculosis. When her husband was sent overseas to fight in WWII their children (my friend’s mother and siblings) were forced to go to an orphanage -- can you image? I guess my generation's knowledge of such diseases being limited to label on a vaccine is truly a blessing. Coincidentally, there was a program on NPR yesterday which talked about the dangers of mercury use in vaccinations. The speaker argued that Autism which apparently was not chronicled in any medical journals before the 1930's now effects 1 in 100 children -- this is hard for me to believe, but I can certainly understand why folks without the perspective Cynique just related would refuse to take any vaccinations.