I always had an idea, a vision really, to create a diasporic-wide think tank type blog. I envisioned that it would focus on discussing issues, exchanging ideas and creating strategies, with the objective of developing concrete and viable solutions to tackle the concerns relating to those of us of African descent worldwide.
I shared this vision over at thefreeslave blog page and I was overwhelmed by how enthusiastically it was received. It is not necessarily an original idea on my part and others have previously either engaged in similar discussions or have created such a venue. However it garnered much discussion, offers of assistance and words of encouragement.
I would like to acknowledge two brothers who have taken hold of the vision and ran with it. Francis L. Holland and Exodus Mentality have been engaged in the type of discussions that I had hoped would be initiated through the vision of AfroSpear. These brothers are an inspiration. Below I linked 2 recent discussions from their pages, which are an example of the think tank based discussions that I hope to be engaged in through AfroSpear, once we get the site launched.
“Can the AfroSpear Help Reduce Urban Violence?”
“Open Thread: What’s number 1”
Humbly,
Asabagna
April 4, 2007 at 8:18 pm
[…] visions a great Influence fot the AfroSpear and writes: I always had an idea, a vision really, to create a diasporic-wide think tank type blog. […]
April 8, 2007 at 5:22 am
I like the effort that you all have put into this.
I actually thought of something similar, about 6 months ago, but never acted on it. My idea was a little broader… “An African American Bloggers Association”, Or “Black Bloggers Association”. Or something not branded with race at all… But more along the lines of a Progressive or Independent collective of some sort, with people who share the same overall vision.
This would be something esp. for those (White, Black, Red, Green) who have been locked out of the larger segments of the blogosphere because their sites were too small (lower traffic), they were not big names like Kos, or because the bloggers themselves were not wealthy, famous, were not CNN or FOX TV pundits, were not authors, or because they were not graduates of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, etc. I got a lot of that when I started out. That is what led me to create my own blog.
I still have that vision (a broader organization). But until I get to the point where I feel like manifesting that vision, I will support any movement that I think is something positive and is heading in the right direction.
Let me know if you need me to guest write on a particular subject… You all should know where to find me. Although I can’t guarantee that I will always have the time to contribute full steam… But give me a weeks notice and I should be able to finish a blog post/essay within that time.
I have an interest in foreign affairs, National Security, Domestic Politics, and issues within the African American “community”. Approx. 20% of my blog postings have to do with race issues. But I like to go beyond that.
My advice for this movement would be not to get too caught up in symbols, titles… Blackosphere vs. Afrospear, etc. Concentrate on content. I would say that you should not pick a title/mission, etc that constrains you…. that draws too small of a box for you. Don’t create a box for yourselves. We want folks to take heed to our opinions on matters outside of just race. So when you think about titles… I would aim for something broad enough that you can take with you into any context or any environment. Something like “Booker Rising” for example, lets the reader know that this is probably an African American related blog….but beyond that, there are no constraints… no barriers. It is broad enough for any context.
I made sure that I didn’t have a blog title that was too constraining. Folks don’t realize that my blog is written by an African American until they have looked around for a while. There is nothing wrong with being Afro-centric…. but there is a danger of being so Afro-centric that the message gets lost. (which defeats the purpose in the end).
I don’t want to scare off a reader before they have a chance to look around and hear/read what I have to say. I WANT white folks to see what the hell i’m writing about. I WANT Daily Kos or the Moderate Voice, or WAPO etc to pick up one of my blog entries. The more exposure the merrier…because it stirs up the pot that much more….which is what this thing is all about.
Remember….your audience is not just us (we are the choir anyway). Your real audience should be the whole blogoshere….white folks included. You won’t be able to stir the hornets nest with just the crew…you have to go beyond this space…. therefore…the package or the messenger becomes a little more important.
One day, one of you may get a call from CNN, the BBC, CBS, Radio, or a Podcaster wanting an interview…. or to be a part of a panel discussion, etc…. either way, you have to be ready! You probably won’t know when that call or e-mail will come. But in order to get to that point…image will have to be important.
I was invited to some BBC sponsored online event about 6 months ago… (live blogging, question and answer thing with Vladamir Putin as the key guest I believe). Scared the hell out of me… because I did not expect it. I was not able to participate because I had obligations to my job when the event was to take place. The BBC news rep who sent me the invitation said that she noticed my blog because of its content, its quality and one of my posts had to do with what they were talking about at the event (which I can’t recall at the moment). It had to do with some foreign policy issue. But the point is, our presence and stature on the blogosphere is growing. “We have arrived” as they say…. or we definitely ARE in the process of arriving… not 100% sure that we are completely there just yet.
I can tell you one thing… I have scrolled through the net quite a bit and have not seen this kind of effort going on anywhere else… not with this kind of unity and interest.
But think big… think broad enough that you allow yourself flexibility to discuss issues outside of race… without selling out on what you believe in. So somewhere you have to find that balance.
Later
The Angry Independent
St. Louis, MO
April 9, 2007 at 4:34 pm
One more thing that I thought about…after writing the above message.
You may want to contact the NABJ to see if they have (or if they are willing to create) a bloggers division within their organization….so that Black bloggers could be recognized and supported.
I’m not sure if they recognize black bloggers or not… if not, encourage them to do so, either by getting them to offer membership to their current system, or by having them create a bloggers wing.
Then ask them if they would be willing to help guide you in terms of mentoring, helping you establish standards, helping you with connections, sponsoring your efforts, etc. I just think it could be beneficial to be a part of a larger professional organization…because the support could be invaluable. They could offer useful resources. A world of opportunity could open up.
I would say, sit down and discuss amongst yourselves…who will be your spokesperson (so you don’t have 2 or 3 members sending different letters to the NABJ). Get with one another and agree on what should be in your letter, etc…and have one person send it. I could write a sample letter…but I have a migraine right now, lol. If you want I could come back to that…but I think you guys could handle that.
We know the white organizations (including the white bloggers) don’t want us…. that’s how this discussion got started. But there is no excuse for the Black professional organizations. They should be supporting what we do. But since this is so new…perhaps they have not been asked yet… So this could be an opportunity for you.
Meanwhile…. i’m still thinking about a bloggers association… I’m settling on “Progressive Bloggers Association” or something similar as a name. That title would be more inclusive…. (I would want to have bloggers of all races, backgrounds, etc although it could be majority African American). The vision could be more Afro-centric in nature.
I need to sit down and write a mission, a structure, objective, standards for membership, bylaws….etc.
Or maybe you guys could build on that…by sitting down & writing these ideas out. I’m just putting the general idea out there. This “Progressive Bloggers Association…or Think Tank” could be the wider umbrella organization that could set the standard. WE would run it like we want…. no one telling us how to do our thing.
Hoping that you all will take it and run with it.
Later
The Angry Independent
May 7, 2007 at 7:59 am
I truly appreciate The Angry Independent’s solidarity ideas for Diasporan bloggers, which is why I’m also baffled as to why he would diminish the effects by shying away from naming said organization with a “black sounding” name. I think the blogosphere is rife with Progressive blog rings. I think it’s time to expand and fortify the afrosphere.