Tavis Smiley: Black Bloggers Second Class Citizens

Ironically on the day that we announce the second gathering of Black new media content creators in Chicago next June, Tavis Smiley made an announcement of his own. Y'all Tavis is getting with this century and in his own "special" way acknowledging the growing influence of Black bloggers. Tavis is holding a "contest" to RANDOMLY select the next "Web Star"- His words not mine.

Bloggers, here is your chance to become a Web Star! For the 10th annual State of the Black Union 2009 symposium, hosted and moderated annually by broadcaster Tavis Smiley, we’re offering the opportunity for ONE special blogger [gag] to sit on stage and ask the important questions of panelists in our first and exclusive live Webcast!(We’re very impressed by Web journalists with a vast, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable readership. So let all of your readers know! It can only help your cause.[and Tavis Smiley]) Tavis Smiley

I am confused. Read the contest rules.

Drawing: Sponsor will randomly select the potential Contest winners from all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period, on or around December 5, 2008. The potential winner will be notified by mail, email or phone. The potential winner (parent/legal guardian if winner is a minor in his/her state of residence) will be required to sign and return to Sponsor, within three (3) days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent, an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability & Publicity Release in order to claim his/her prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to sign and return the Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability & Publicity Release within the required time period, potential winner forfeits prize. Potential winner must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Tavis Smiley Blog Competition

You enter, write a frigging essay and then have your readers vote and then they select the winner by random drawing??? SO you promote Tavis' event. Engage your readers and then roll the dice to see if your name gets pulled out of a hat. Um, y'all read the contest rules again and break it down for me.

Imagine yourself hanging out for the weekend and engaging in dialogue with figures such as Dr. Cornel West or Danny Glover or maybe even Nikki Giovanni and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Imagine what that means for your Web site, your blog… your career! Tavis Smiley Blog Contest

Whoever wrote this doesn't understand bloggers.You see Tavis believes that he has the power to make you a web star by giving you the privilege of asking Dick Gregory, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the usual list of suspects from the Civil Rights Industrial Complex and the Black Elite Establishment for Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Black Union. Tavis thinks that what makes us "special" as bloggers is being singled out when what makes us special are our relationships to other people.

Dear Tavis Smiley, I am heartened by your attempt to include Black bloggers as part of you State of the Black Union gathering. You are to be commended for recognizing the growing influence of Black new media content creators and their loyal and passionate audiences.  However, as a blogger, new media evangelist, and organizer of the Blogging While Brown conference, I am deeply disturbed by the nonsensical manner in which you are going about Black blogger inclusion.  I have reviewed the terms and conditions of your "Blog Contest". I will assume that the terms and conditions for participation are based on ignorance and not malice. [Was that too harsh y'all?] I was going to say "ignorance and lack of intellectual curiosity"] We are already web stars! What you don't get about social media is that it's not about page clicks and ratings, its about relationships and unique voices. You don't have to be THE star, but one of many. I find it insulting that after forcing contestants to submit their blog posts and jump through hoops, you are going to "select" your winner randomly. I am offended that you think that it is some kind of privilege for a Black blogger to get to ask the Black Elite Establishment questions. First, Black bloggers question the Black Elite Establishment and the Civil Rights Industrial Complex DAILY. In fact occasionally we show up in person to counter protest the CRIC. Other times we call the CRIC to the carpet and wage open war against them when they do idiotic things against the interests of Black people everywhere. That's nothing new. Second, maybe you wouldn't be asking about the the "STATE" of the Black Union every day if you listened to different people.  Perhaps the panel needs to be made up of bloggers and the members of the BEE and the CRIC need to enter a drawing for the privilege of asking Black bloggers questions. Because, the BEE and the CRIC's answers are typically well past poor. I, addition, the random drawing implies that bloggers are fungible, widgets, interchangeable and it is an insult to the unique vision and intensive labor these new media content creators pour into their blogs to select a "winner" out of a hat like some low rent lottery. Not to mention your random selection risks selecting Boo Boo The Fool or Cousin Pookie to represent us all. I realize that you understand absolutely nothing about new media and even less about social media. Social media is just what it says, SOCIAL. The power of social media is not competition, but collaboration.  The power to reach millions by our connections to others through linking.  Therefore I suggest that you and your staff be the the first folks to register for the Blogging While Brown Conference in Chicago next year.  You need to meet these people whose name you want to pull out of a hat and turn into a "Web Star." The power of new media is that I don't have to be a "star" to have a voice and build a world-wide multimedia platform.  I can be ordinary and make my mark on the world.  I don't have to go through you. Bemused and Annoyed, The What About Our Daughters Outreach Director

How was that folks? Feel free to edit at will. Maybe y'all should read this again, because the contest rules and the entry requirements don't make any dad gum sense. You jump through hoops, have your readers vote and then they make a random selection?? What in the hot holy heck??

Click to read more ...

Did you miss the State of the Black Union? - Nicole Lee From Trans Africa's comments

I hung out out at Professor Kim's participating in the live blog.
Professor Kim has prepared a chart of where the Presidential candidates fall on all of the issues brought up in the covenant. Pretty interesting.
UPDATE
Jack and Jill Politics has up some clips of the State of the Black Union. Nicole Lee was probably the only substantive speaker that I was glad that I watched the afternoon session to hear, Nicole is the Executive Director of Trans Africa I'd love to have her on the podcast.

Here is Stephanie Tubbs response to John Lewis switching his super delegate vote.

Click to read more ...