Sunday
Jul292007
Where do we go from here? Emergent Power of Black Bloggers
Sunday, July 29, 2007 at 9:52PM The Blogmother
We've seen it before with the CBC-Fox Debates, Shaquanda Cotton, and cases of African American women whose kidnappings and murders have been overlooked ( Stepha Henry) by "mainstream media," Black bloggers are beginning to leverage their online power to obtain off line results.
THIS REALLY IS NOT ABOUT THAT SHOW
THAT SHOW on a certain network will be a mere footnote in history, the real story, overlooked by the "mainstream media" in all of this is that OUR generation is coming into its own as activists. We don't do things the way that our parent's and grandparents did . We shouldn't have to. They sacrificed so that we could have access all of the tools you have seen during this brouhaha over THAT SHOW. You saw us getting our message out to the news media. You saw us go toe to toe with one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and we did it with a cellphone and a desktop computer. That is all.
BLOGGING WHILE BROWN
It is important that we continue to nurture this emerging activism so that our efforts related to THAT SHOW are not just a flash in the pan. That is why Blogging While Brown is so important. Next year is an election year and whatever party you support, bloggers are going to play, perhaps, a much larger role in the electoral process than ever before. Black bloggers MUST be a part of that. Also, this is an opportunity for those who want to start a blog or expand their skills to get access to the technical experience to help them get their point across.
So for the next few weeks I will be working with the team over at Blogging While Brown to get it off the ground. Plans are to have it in Atlanta, GA next summer and have it at the same time as one of the many festivals held in Atlanta every year. So I won't be posting as feverishly as usual. However, posts will still be made because I would like to introduce you to our first Guest Contributor to What About Our Daughters?, Bronze Trinity. You guys have already met her in the comments section and in her inaugural post on Saturday.
WAOD's FIRST GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
Bronze Trinity is a successful blogger in her own right. She is one of the members of the Afrosphere Bloggers Association. She was one of the first people to embrace this blog. In the past few months she has been working tirelessly to develop the online infrastructure to help further the efforts of African American bloggers. She is not a fire breather like moi can be on occasion ( when provoked). She's basically a very nice person who loves Black folk. I will continue to moderate the comments. I occasionally will pop in if something pops up that I can't be quiet about( I'll probably make it 48 hours).
LOOKING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WHO BLOG
I am also looking for other African American women with established blogs. What does that mean? That means you have a body of work already out there preferably several months worth. If you are not there yet, keep blogging and contact me when you are ready. As you all know, blogging over a long period of time takes a unique personal passion. Anybody can start a blog in a fit of fury ( I did.) But it takes an effort to keep plugging away at this month after month, pushing through burnout ( very common), and the boo birds that invariably pop in on occasion.
THIS BLOG is about negative portrayals of African American women in popular culture. I am passionate about a lot of things and even comment on other folks blogs, but THIS blog has a very narrow focus so guest contributions will have to be on topic.
I want to thank everyone who played a role in all of this. I didn't ask to be thrust into all of this, but now that I have been, I think it is important to do what I can to make sure that other people can use this example to SPEAK, ACT and ENGAGE for themselves.
Stop Funding Foolishness!
THIS REALLY IS NOT ABOUT THAT SHOW
THAT SHOW on a certain network will be a mere footnote in history, the real story, overlooked by the "mainstream media" in all of this is that OUR generation is coming into its own as activists. We don't do things the way that our parent's and grandparents did . We shouldn't have to. They sacrificed so that we could have access all of the tools you have seen during this brouhaha over THAT SHOW. You saw us getting our message out to the news media. You saw us go toe to toe with one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and we did it with a cellphone and a desktop computer. That is all.
BLOGGING WHILE BROWN
It is important that we continue to nurture this emerging activism so that our efforts related to THAT SHOW are not just a flash in the pan. That is why Blogging While Brown is so important. Next year is an election year and whatever party you support, bloggers are going to play, perhaps, a much larger role in the electoral process than ever before. Black bloggers MUST be a part of that. Also, this is an opportunity for those who want to start a blog or expand their skills to get access to the technical experience to help them get their point across.
So for the next few weeks I will be working with the team over at Blogging While Brown to get it off the ground. Plans are to have it in Atlanta, GA next summer and have it at the same time as one of the many festivals held in Atlanta every year. So I won't be posting as feverishly as usual. However, posts will still be made because I would like to introduce you to our first Guest Contributor to What About Our Daughters?, Bronze Trinity. You guys have already met her in the comments section and in her inaugural post on Saturday.
WAOD's FIRST GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
Bronze Trinity is a successful blogger in her own right. She is one of the members of the Afrosphere Bloggers Association. She was one of the first people to embrace this blog. In the past few months she has been working tirelessly to develop the online infrastructure to help further the efforts of African American bloggers. She is not a fire breather like moi can be on occasion ( when provoked). She's basically a very nice person who loves Black folk. I will continue to moderate the comments. I occasionally will pop in if something pops up that I can't be quiet about( I'll probably make it 48 hours).
LOOKING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WHO BLOG
I am also looking for other African American women with established blogs. What does that mean? That means you have a body of work already out there preferably several months worth. If you are not there yet, keep blogging and contact me when you are ready. As you all know, blogging over a long period of time takes a unique personal passion. Anybody can start a blog in a fit of fury ( I did.) But it takes an effort to keep plugging away at this month after month, pushing through burnout ( very common), and the boo birds that invariably pop in on occasion.
THIS BLOG is about negative portrayals of African American women in popular culture. I am passionate about a lot of things and even comment on other folks blogs, but THIS blog has a very narrow focus so guest contributions will have to be on topic.
I want to thank everyone who played a role in all of this. I didn't ask to be thrust into all of this, but now that I have been, I think it is important to do what I can to make sure that other people can use this example to SPEAK, ACT and ENGAGE for themselves.
Stop Funding Foolishness!
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Reader Comments (10)
Gina, I admire the work you are doing here and support you fully.
That said, permit me one piece of unsolicited advice. Enough with the "I didn't ask to be thrust into all of this..." You've said that enough, both on your blog and your radio show.
You are good at blogging, raising hell about things that matter, speaking out against injustice, making noise -- and getting result. This is who you are. Your talents have been waiting for the right cause, and they've found each other.
So, stop with the Butterfly McQueen, "I don't know nothing 'bout birthin' no babie." Get out there, and keep doing what you are doing. Make your contribution!!
Wow thanks for the great shout out Gina! I'm glad to help with this cause. Hey I have to ask people visiting here a question (I will probably do a post on this later). Do you have a site for the purpose of combatting negative images of Black women? Do you have an internet based activism group for the purpose of combatting negative images of Black women? If you do then please send us links to your websites. We would like to hear about what you are doing. If anyone visiting here knows of such sites please send us links to those sites.
I think what WAOD critics will see is that there are other groups doing other things to improve the image and lives of Black women. Do you really think that this is the only website and group in the world dedicated to this cause? Some of you must because you are insisting that the blog focus on other things. Seriously, look at whats already out there before you demand that someone become the saviour and fighter of all things for all people. There are already other groups out there who are doing the exact things you are expecting this blog to do. So tell us who those groups are and what they are doing instead of criticizing what is going on here.
hahahahaha "Butterfly McQueen" hahahah Okay I will try to stop. I am having to undo 9 years of behavior. Bear with me. I am finally accepting all this.
Looking for African American women who blog.....here is a voice with something to say.
http://allydsworkinprogress.blogspot.com/
Jet magazine gave you a shoutout this week. Keep doing what you are doing, you have the haters running scared.
I'm down 11 pounds.
Awesome on the Weightloss Fortitude. I have lost 30 since we started. Granted 15 of that was do to not eating while fighting with BET. What did Jet say about us?
Dang Gina, Jet Magazine! I wonder who else published something on this. They must have. It happened so fast maybe we will have to wait a month for the magazines to come out!
I am going to try to remember to go hunt down a copy. Y;all if yall see the blog mentioned somewhere and you can clip the article, I would appreciate it. One day when I look back, I want to be able to read them.
Gina,
It was last week's (not this week's, sorry) Jet with TD Jakes on the cover. You were mentioned on the last page where there was an article on "Hot Ghetto Mess".
Since Jet is owned by the Johnson family, I am surprised any negative publicity about HGM made it into the magazine.
I just want to congratulate you on a GREAT blog, with a purpose that should have been addressed a long time ago. You asked for Black women bloggers; I would like to give you the URL for mine:
http://givealotlosealot.blogspot.com/. It is a blog about my weight loss journey, and about staying healthy in general. Please visit and feel free to leave comments. I try to post at least once a week (more if I had my own computer). Thanks in advance, and blessings to you for your efforts.