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Posted on 10/15/06 @ 10:33 pm
Well, I figured I'd use this time to take a little much-needed blog break and see if I could get some input on my last post. And this is pretty much what I'm hearing:
Now trust me, I hear all of this loud and clear. I just need to know how to take the next step. As far as I know there was at one point and time some Black blogger associations, but they had poor execution and even worse follow-through. I've thought of ways to take the Black Weblog Awards and form it into something like that, but I need to hear from y'all ways to do that. What should it include? What should it do? Should there be stringent membership requirements? There are content networks out there that do it big like 9rules and b5, why can't there be one for Black bloggers exclusively? I also hear that bloggers that write on personal issues want more love, and I can totally agree with that. The blogosphere creates a huge opportunity for us to tell stories of our joy, pain, sorrow and laughter…and there is a proliferation of pop culture noise clogging the airwaves. How can personal bloggers really put themselves out there? Should they put themselves out there, or is it up to everyone else to "find" them? I know that some folks have issues with privacy online and I can definitely understand. Is there a way to walk the line of sharing your story without putting too much of yourself out there? Personally, I think Black bloggers should really be moving into podcasting and videocasting (especially personal bloggers); I have the feeling that by the time we catch onto it, the next wave of blogging will be here and we'll be left behind. Naturally, the want to do this has to lay with the individual, and the more we stay and wait for someone else to do it, the longer it will take to get done. Enough with the waiting…let's do this together! Filed under: Q&A Comments:
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Name's Karsh. 27. Country-born, city-raised, 
YOU should do a videocast…lead the wave. i would personally enjoy watching you online (you know when i'm supposed to be working)
Said by kristen — 10/15/2006 @ 10:37 pm
i definitely think there should be more voice given to personal blogs. my comment comes late from your last post/request but i would like to connect with more black (black gay) bloggers who are sharing more than just the run of the mill fluff. there's so many different ways we tell our stories and it'd be great to have a network or a more unified platform to weave all those stories together.
i agree that privacy can be an issue (how much of ourselves should we put out there?), time and committment constraints should also be considered. at this point i don't have too much by way of suggestions or solutions but i'm raising my hand to say i'm here and support the future effort.
Said by Byrion — 10/16/2006 @ 10:01 am
There is no single, magic bullet.
Forms of associations aren't too difficult to develop and, in fact, already exist to some extent. The problem is few people outside of these ad hoc web cliques are aware of them. That makes it hard for interested people to find them.
A large-scale, black social network would be a solid step in the right direction. Those take a lot of work to develop and cultivate. However, they would spark a sense of coummnity and afford the opportunity to group blogs by subject matter (if they wanted to be grouped) so people could find like-minded expressions of blackness.
Programming knowlege is critical for us to create the types of digital avenues needed to build membership and attract advertising (annoying, but necessary). We have some great resources in Negrophile, Code Z, culturekitchen and Brave Soul Collective. Those sites embody the spirit of what a black digital community could offer the web. We just have to improve the levels of interaction and awareness as we move forward.
But you asked for a Next Step…
I think it's important to gauge the level of interest and dedication to the cause. I believe a focused discussion on what is needed and who can provide those services is paramount before attempting to develop a square wheel. We could also discuss how to add more interactivity to our existing communities. This could be an online chatroom deal or, preferable, in person.
Said by j. brotherlove — 10/17/2006 @ 9:27 am
First, check six24 http://www.six24.com (black programmer - a site that could definitely be used as a social network platform)
Second, talk to Chris Rabb http://www.afro-netizen.com/ and Liza Sabater http://culturekitchen.com/ from what I hear, they are already thinking about forming some sort of organization or conference for bloggers of color.
Other next steps, if personal bloggers want more love, personal bloggers have to go out and make more friends. Celebrity / gossip blogs are viral. Personal blogs — not so much so. If the personal blogger wants to be noticed he/she has to make it so. Back in the days, there used to be blog rings and people could ring up with blogs of similar types. Not sure these kind exist.
Also, personal bloggers perhaps need a conference where they can learn more about SEO — if they are actually looking for readership.
But on this organization and conference tip — most of the younger bloggers I have talked to of the African American and Latino Nations — really don't give a damn about an organization or a conference.
Said by Lynne d Johnson — 10/20/2006 @ 5:15 pm