I was recently interviewed by the LATimes about the rise of the black blogosphere. It was a long and thoroughgoing affair which left me very satisfied. It may turn out to be a bit too comprehensive for the editors at that august publication, but I don't really sweat that. True archaeologists will appreciate Cobb for what it is. Lengthy. Comprehensive. Verbose. Dense. Egomaniacal and all that.
One of my points was that the blogosphere allows for ownership. Blackfolks can say things in spaces they own and control and sustain discussions that simply could not be maintained in public spaces they could not control.
As a veteran of online writing - going on what, 15 years now, I've invented various personnae to handle the different projects of my writing interest. I think it doesn't stretch credibility to suggest that I have been ahead of the curve wrt black authors. At every step in my evolution, online as well as personally, I have been on the cutting edge of what is widely understood to be black culture. I happen to believe a significant minority of African American will be following in my footsteps, and I get emails to that effect periodically. I've always enjoyed being one of many blackfolks during my forays into integrated environments because it gave me the opportunity to be me, instead of the only black, representing as it were. Now it's second nature in person, I don't need other blackfolks to support me. But online I still feel the need to represent. And accordingly when certain subjects have reached critical mass, I feel comfortable enough to step away from a political and generational imperative knowing a certain important perspective is getting air.
One of the things I have neglected to say enough times is that the emergence of Aaron Magruder's Boondocks helped in my decision to abandon the Boohabian project. I felt quite liberated by his voice - I knew that a certain flavor was going to be out there and I didn't have to do so much heavy lifting any longer. Thanks Aaron.
Today there is Racism Review. This appears to be the thing that I have been trying to see get organized for many years. I think in time it should complement and surpass my related static sites.
- The Boohabian Slamdance
- Boohab's Factotum
- The Race Man's Home Companion
- Cyberspace My Black Ass
- Black Hell (aka Dead Nigger Storage)
I wish them all the success and notoriety that they are due and I sincerely hope that they will do a good job. I might even pitch in from time to time. What are the chances that I will go back to doing that old stuff? Slim. Remember I'm not Boohab.
But I do have one big fat hairy question, which is whether or not P6, Michael Fisher and the Afrospear coalition will ever make common cause with John Rosenberg at Discriminations. I still don't see him on the blogroll.
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