April 18th, 2007
E Activism, Black Bloggers
Chris Baggott is a businessman you should check out. We were in Vegas together recently and his awareness of business opportunity is keen. He is one of the leading authorities on Email marketing and has an award winning blog. Chris hipped me to the black blogger activism study done by Ivy League Brown University.
This study points out black bloggers are more active in social issues and political involvement. Many ask for readers to contact their political leaders. It is noteworthy, blackbloggers do not feel discriminated against by other members of the blogosphere. The nitch for activism appears to fill a void in the mainstream media regarding some serious issues.
We have recent examples that exhib this activism is having an influence. Shaquanda Cotton is a child, who in George Bush’s Texas was sentenced to 7 years in prision for a violation that should have been punished by a school suspension. Don Imus is a celebrated and now humuliated racist shock jock. The activism by black bloggers made a diffenence and cause good debate on these social issues.
Thers is a strong movement,among some elite black bloggers to come down on black rappers and trying to bring some good out of the Imus debacle. This activism is misguided and is viewed as an attempt to get back in the good graces of white folk by bringing down a force in the black community. An eye for an eye, embarrass the white racist, whom many if not most white people felt did nothing wrong, be sure to find some black people to go after.
April 5, 2007
Contact: Deborah Baum
(401) 863-2476
E-Activism: Analysis of Black Bloggers in the Blogosphere
In the first scholarly research examining the role of black bloggers, Brown University’s Antoinette Pole found that bloggers of color are using this burgeoning medium to encourage political participation and activism. She also found that black bloggers do not feel discriminated against or excluded by other bloggers. Her findings appear in the International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society.
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In the first scholarly research examining the role of black bloggers in the blogosphere, Brown University researcher Antoinette Pole assessed how bloggers of color use their medium for purposes related to politics. She found that black bloggers are, in fact, mobilizing readers to engage in political participation. Additionally, Pole found that black bloggers do not feel discriminated against or excluded by other bloggers. These findings appear in the International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society.
Among the top political blogs, Pole says blogging has primarily been undertaken by white men, coined by Chris Nolan as the “Big Boys Club.” She says blacks comprise approximately less than 1 percent of political bloggers.
“Though they are less numerous, examining the role of minorities in the blogosphere is important if blogs are being used to engage in political discourse and discussion, and more importantly, political action that has real-world implications,” Pole said. “Who has influence in the blogosphere and how bloggers are using this new medium to undertake political action merits study.”
Based on in-depth interviews with 20 black bloggers conducted in November 2005, Pole’s study found that 85 percent of respondents use their blogs to engage in political advocacy and to raise money for charitable causes. A majority of the bloggers said they encouraged their readers to vote or to register to vote; 40 percent of the bloggers asked their readers to contact elected officials; 35 percent suggested that their readers sign a petition or attend a rally, protest, or march. Several of the bloggers mentioned using their blogs to endorse candidates for office. Compared to other research examining blogging and political participation, black bloggers appear to be engaged in these online advocacy efforts and philanthropic endeavors to a greater degree than their white counterparts, according to the paper.
“I assumed these bloggers were writing about politics and policy issues, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the authors mobilize their readers and use blogs as a conduit for political participation,” said Pole.
When black bloggers were asked whether they felt discriminated against or left out by other bloggers, a majority of respondents said they do not. “While black bloggers face challenges such as not being linked by more popular bloggers or not receiving as much traffic as other bloggers, they perceive the blogosphere as inclusive.”
Pole also found that black political bloggers do not necessarily blog about issues that are unique to minorities, though at times, they emphasize how issues affect blacks in particular. Respondents commonly reported writing about a variety of topics including race and ethnicity, party politics, and campaigns and elections.
“Findings from this research suggest the blogosphere can be an avenue for greater political participation on the part of blacks and other minorities, given the relatively low threshold to entry and what appear to be low levels of discrimination,” Pole concludes.
This paper is part of Pole’s forthcoming book titled Blogging the Political: Politics and Participation in a Networked Society, which examines the impact of political blogging on politics and participation.
Editors: Brown University has a fiber link television studio available for domestic and international live and taped interviews, and maintains an ISDN line for radio interviews. For more information, call (401) 863-2476.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:10 am
I’m glad you are here, Jim, and sharing your ideas with the rest of the world. They’re important for us to hear…and to think how they impact our lives, too. Thanks.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Electronic Village, Paula Mooney, African-American Opinion and my Francis L. Holland Blog are among the rapidly growing number of Black blogs participating in the Afrosphere, a new movement to use the Black blogosphere as a forum for building and sharing Black self-determination.
We deconstruct the difficulties Blacks face in America and the diaspora and we develop and implement strategies for dealing with those difficulties. We interlink our blogs, share information and think together about what to do and how to do it. It’s about the power of unity.
Please consider participating in Movement.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Thank you Robyn, I will do a post on you and Ellen soon. I love both sites
April 19th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Esq Holland, I am linked to the other sites and Particpate in the manner you describe. This is a business blog, but I comment on social issues and political issues as well.I think my veiws may be similar to yours. I have added you to my blog roll and hope you do the same for me. The sites you mentioned are favorite of mine and I know of many more around the world that are part of the movement.My goal is to share 30 years of business experience and things that may help others find success. I have discovered that some whites have interest in this subject matter so often times I broaden my message. read my Don Imus post or my one on the murder of Saddam. You may decide my views are too radical to be a part of your movement. Thank you for the invitation
April 20th, 2007 at 12:10 am
This is very interesting.
I agree with this whole going after rappers thing is so off track.
I have found that in many cases that in the feminist blogesphere there is some alienation of women of color from their white counterparts - in their own words I think often feel we “do not have a clue” ( which I fear is more true than not ) and I have always felt it justified.
Not being business savvy, or in any way leaning in that direction, I know nothing of the state of the world in regard to business.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
we’ve talked about it.
let’s do something.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Cooper, it is nice to have found one person with similar views on this topic.Thank you for your comment
April 20th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Fredric, it is always nice to hear from you. I am not sure what we have talked about. Help me understand!
April 20th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
i was just paraphrasing that imus issue has been discussed and bounced back and forth between your blog, my blog, and other blogs.
it’s been discussed in private circles and in open circles.
i guess i was proposing an idea via my blog how to take the next step in issues. discussion is good, but it goes hand-in-hand with a little grassroots change.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Sir Jim,
What an insightful, informative post.
Thank you for being there and doing what you do to help educate the rest of us.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:06 am
Fredric, I agree with your outlook, the next phase in the black blog activism, is to go after black rappers.This is the wrong focus. Perhaps helping to elect a brother for President would be something worthy. The voices are not monolithic but there may be some things we can unite on. Your blog is at the forefront of critical thinking. Any ideas?
April 21st, 2007 at 9:08 am
Manchild, this information is of interest and was given to me by Chris Baggott. Check out his blog, he owns a software company and Like Doug Karr is one of my mentors at blogging.Thanks for stopping by
April 21st, 2007 at 12:49 pm
JD - Interesting information about Black bloggers. I’m new to the blogosphere having created my Electronic Village in mid-January. I tend to post on things that interest me, however, there is usually an angle related to African Americans in most of my posts.
Anyhow, I appreciate the power of your insights. I hope that I can visit Black in Business more often in the future!
peace, Villager
April 21st, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Thanks for being here. I’m glad you made this post. I have a different take on new media. I believe more people would get involved if they take these tools on the internet and make them their own. The internet is growing and with that growth are different types of ways to use these tools as there are different people. What works for one group, for example in the blogosphere or networking sites, may not work for another. There are so many wonderful, beautiful and useful websites online all of which caters to a specific audience. But in the end it’s your own market which will tell you what it wants by showing you some love. I never have believed in participating in popularity contests. I just share what I have; and it has served me well in life.
April 21st, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Villager, your blog is one the my favorities. Often times i try to touch on topics that are business related and many people may like. Being black I also discuss black issues. You have survived the corporate world but your support is nice. I have come to find there is so much quality blogs, it is haed to get around to all. Thanks for the times you do stop by. I encourage my readers to visit you.
April 25th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Willie, thanks for your visit and insights. If all of us bloggers try to agree on everything, we become boring.I hope you will continue to have your voice heard.
May 8th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Great post. In recent years, I have noticed that advocacy has found a place on the internet. There are now a lot of websites that offer Internet advocacy tools and services. The Internet has great potential for promoting a cause or campaign against racism.