September 19th, 2007
Black Bloggers Are A Force!
This is a business blog and many of the issues that are social issues are relevant because of the negative impact on our youth. My friends at Young Black Professionals were among the first to bring attention to the Shaquanda Cotton and many black bloggers including my man, Rev Jim Legington insured prayer was held asking for God’s help. Since then, I have joined a coalition of black bloggers Afro Spear that is ensuring that rights of black citizens have a watch dog and a loud voice. I have had to good fortune to meet some inspiring and successful black bloggers, successful in life and success as an internet voice, many whom commitment to black causes is only out done by their eloquence of voice and passion for what is right.
There are many leaders of the Afro Spear and I will only highlight 5 today but it is important for us all to know what we are capable of. I see the communication that these guys put into AfroSpear in terms of emails. They do this, plus blog often, win awards, rank high and in some cases have families and day jobs. The 5 I am giving thanks today for their leadership are; Esq. Holland, blackperspective, Bronze Trinity, Black women in Europe and my man Villager. Their work and commitment has been awe-inspiring.
I was checking out my black suit for tomorrow’s “dress in black protest”, for the Jena 6. There are bus loads of people going to Jena, Louisiana to exhibit support for the black children being abused by terrorists using the judicial system as their weapons. Felony charges have been dropped and this protest has had an impact. This momentum started via blogs, not Operation Push, or Rev. Sharpton, or the white owned news media. The Jena 6 protest marks the arrival of the black blogging community as a major force in America. Think about it, how often have we as black people been able to truly make a difference. Sure there have been moments but now we have the technology to build communities of similar thinkers on principle and unite to make things happen.
This is not just my thoughts, Mr. Howard Witt, senior correspondent, for the Chicago Tribune, had this headline today; “ BLOGGERS INSPIRE NEW CIVIL RIGHTS WAVE, Jena 6 protest nurtured on Web. This is a major newspaper giving credit to black blogs for the interest nationwide of the Jena 6.Tomorrow, stand tall, be proud, and dress in black to support the Jena 6. Keep Hope Alive.
September 19th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Fantastic article and thanks for the shout out
I really do think that this is the beginning of a new civil rights and activism movement among Black people. I read on someone’s blog that many Black blogger think that the internet will save us…I really think it might!
September 19th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
BT, thanks for the visit, It must be very rewarding to see the good you have helped to inpact.
September 19th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
JD, I have to agree with you on this one. This was a movement started by bloggers and I’m sure there will be many more to come.
September 19th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I have written a few times about this a couple of times, It is amazing really what real people can do despite the media. There the Tribune gave bloggers credit. I think more than anything it is not the people who think they are news bloggers but groups of fed up people who will continue to keep an eye on what is really happening in this country.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I’m really honored to be included on your list, and I’m really glad that you’ve joined the AfroSpear!
As Eddie G. Griffin says, even as we implement the enormous march tomorrow and solidarity protests like yours across the country, we have to be looking forward several steps, like in a chess game, to our next activities.
I like to share with you and your readers a way that we can make Christmas productive and constructive for the Black community in a way that we’ve never done before: Afrospear Freedom Technology Christmas. Now that we’ve seen how important computers and blogs and technology in general are to winning our freedom, let’s give the gift of freedom technology this Christmas. Instead of giving and receiving yet another pair of plaid socks and alabaster candle sticks, lets give our children computers for blogging, Photoshop and CorelDraw for making March posters, and graphics, webcams for conferencing in preparation for protest rallies, and even 7 megapixel cellphone cameras for documenting police brutality and posting the videos to the Internet via e-mail. In short, let’s make this freedom technology Christmas.
You don’t need money to participate in this. For example, I’ve been able to find friends who shared their Photoshop and CorelDraw programs with me, and then my two daughters and I have figured out together how to use these programs, without spending any money on PC courses. If it weren’t for prioritizing this acivity with my daughter, she couldn’t have taught me how to make that photograph of myself and my wife with the placard in our arms, digitally mastered with photoshop.
I never imagined I could so such a thing, but just scrounging up the program for my daughter and her desire to learn means that we are well on our way to an AfroSpear Freedom Technology Christmas, getting and using technology for ourselves and our families in the struggle for Black self-determination.
So, when you buy Christmas presents this year, ask your self if what you are buying is going to increase communication and organization between Black people, augment our power and connect us electronically to the Promised Land.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:49 am
JD, I appreciate very much your insights on the AfroSpear and your kind words about Electronic Village. I’ll join you today in the black suit and black shirt. I don’t have those cowboy boots though (smile)
peace, Villager
September 20th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Theo, thanks for the visit
September 20th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Cooper, you are special and talented.You are a great supporter of social justice, thanks for commenting
September 20th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Esq, great advice, thanks for sharing.I was late to the world of technology but it has made the world smaller and better
September 20th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Villager, I did not wear the boots, it is a little warm today and I picked a black sport coat, black shirt, black pants black loafers, black car, black interior, black socks. It is great to be a part of this
September 20th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Hey there JD,
What a Blessed Day In the protest of injustice,
that has raised it ugly head in the Jena 6 case.
Grateful to see so many Black People able to
journey and be at the rally in Jena, Louisiana.
I’m wearing Black in support and even though we
were not able to travel just yet, God still
answers prayer. From the heart comes the issues
of life. God is Good, Keep Hope Alive.
Did You witness the grace of God working in prayer
to bring Support and Compassion for everyone this
day in the journey of faith? Black Bloggers in
America You are making a difference, just continue
to focus on the heart, here is the center of the
healing of a our true One Nation under God.
God Bless America a true daughter of Zion.
Peace and blessing in Jesus Christ.
September 21st, 2007 at 6:41 am
Great post.
September 21st, 2007 at 9:37 am
Jim, this is indeed a great day for bloggers in the black blog nation to be recognized. The afrospear has been instrumental in a great deal of movements that may have never been heard of in a different time.
This is definitely our new means of communication when it comes to injustice.
And I know it’s late but congrats on the award. Haven’t had time to be on the web as much lately but I am getting back into the groove of things
Take Care
September 21st, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Rev Jim, A proud day for black America
September 21st, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Edagowa, thanks for the visit and kind comment
September 21st, 2007 at 1:56 pm
LDW, it is always good to see you visit. my time is pressed as well, but this week I hope to be active in visiting black blogs, I am sure there is a lot to say. Thanks for the congratulations
September 21st, 2007 at 11:16 pm
“The Jena 6 protest marks the arrival of the black blogging community as a major force in America.”
True that, and isn’t it great!
Thanks for love again JD. I’m honored to be mentioned with those other leaders, they have given me great insight and inspired me as well. It was at Electronic Village that I first learned of the Jena 6 myself and was able to become a part of this movement to inform the world.
Great post, I think I’ll be referencing it next week.
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 am
Yobachi,it is a proud moment for all of black America to come together for a cause.There were no arrest or no trouble and football legend OJ was maved to the back pages. Keep Hope Alive. Thanks for the kind words.
September 23rd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
That’s RIGHT! 2008 is going to be even bigger. This is it folks! I hope everybody is planning on coming to Blogging While Brown so we can take this thing to the next level.
September 24th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Blogging while brown, tell us more,the next level will happen we need to know what it is so when we arrive we know it.Thanks Gem2001 for the shout out.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:38 am
Thanks so much for including me as one of the leaders! Hugs from Sweden.