Color Divide - Democratic National Convention and black bloggers

by AAPPundit, Wed May 21, 2008 at 12:27:40 AM EST

Karen Brooks of The Dallas Morning News is reporting on the problems involving the selection of Democratic National Convention bloggers. Check out the link to her article below. Ms. Brooks provides a great overview on the issues involving the Democratic Party and how they are treating black bloggers. I know Native Americans and the Angry Indian must be wondering why Native Americans seem to be excluded by the DNC as well.

http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com/20 08/05/color-divide-democratic-national.h tml

Racial make-up of Democratic convention bloggers criticized
By Karen Brooks, The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN -- Democrats consider affirmative action a cornerstone of their national agenda, but some minority bloggers say the party isn't practicing what it preaches.

Last week, the national Democratic Party announced that 55 online writers had been chosen for the "State Blogger Corps," to cover the convention in Denver in September.

But some members of the self-titled "afrosphere" -- blogs written or published by African Americans -- are angry that the "State Blogger Corps" appears to be mostly white, particularly since the party appears poise to nominate a black candidate, Barack Obama, for president.

"OK, folks, black bloggers to the back of the bus," read the headline on the African American Political Pundit blog.

Party leaders said the factors in determining state bloggers were readership, Internet ratings and focus on local and state politics, not race. The Texas representative, the Burnt Orange Report, has several writers, including at least one Hispanic contributor.

A second round of blog credentials will be announced before the end of the month, party leaders said, and minority bloggers will be purposely included in that selection.

It's unclear exactly how many of the state bloggers are white and how many are minorities because the bloggers weren't required to identify their race when they applied.

But the blogs don't appear to be self-identified as written or owned by African Americans, as opposed to blogs like the African American Political Pundit or attorney Francis L. Holland's numerous blogs, which feature his picture.

http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com/20 08/05/color-divide-democratic-national.h tml




Tags: Black Bloggers, afrospear, Francis L. Holland, AAPP (all tags)

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Permalink :: 30 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Color Divide - Democratic National Convention (1.50 / 2)

more race card playing against white people. this really sickens me already.


"there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America"-William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second President of the United States
by DiamondJay on Wed May 21, 2008 at 12:29:28 AM EST

Re: Color Divide - Democratic National Convention (none / 0)

Against white people?

What?

How can having a large majority of white bloggers at our DNC be an issue "against white people?"

That makes no sense, what.so.ever.


by NCDemAmy on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:33:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I think DJ's point was (2.00 / 1)

that is sickens him/her that we are going to have quotas for black bloggers because BHO is half-black.  Isn't this the kind of shit we're supposed to be getting away from?  I thought BHO was all about being "post-racial".  What's next, making sure the Washington press corps has the 'appropriate' racial mix for being able to cover BHO if he is president?  Come the hell on.  It's ridiculous.  AND COMPLETELY counterproductive.  This is exactly the kind of shit that really starts to irk people.


Unity Ticket: The best damn way to kick John McCain's Ass in November!
by aurelius on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:42:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

post racial, what a joke (none / 0)

you hit the nail on the head. I think the time period in our country for quotas is over. Its really just divisive nowadays and completely non-necessary. The same goes for affirmative action.


"there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America"-William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second President of the United States
by DiamondJay on Wed May 21, 2008 at 02:02:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: post racial, what a joke (2.00 / 1)

As you so ably demonstrate, none of us are living in a post racial society, so yes, expecting the black candidate (and only the black candidate) to be post racial is, indeed, a joke. Not a very good joke, and in bad taste, but a joke nonetheless.


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 04:00:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A distressing issue, absolutely. (none / 0)

But it was just diaried here about 20 minutes ago.


Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Wed May 21, 2008 at 12:44:04 AM EST

Re: A distressing issue, absolutely. (none / 0)

Where? The front page post about the state blogger program was about some of the better state poliblogs being overlooked in favor of random poliblogs that hadn't offended anyone, not ignoring black polibloggers.


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:10:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A distressing issue, absolutely. (none / 0)

I'm not sure which front page post you're talking about. I was referring to Manic Lawyer's diary.


Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:15:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A distressing issue, absolutely. (none / 0)

I somehow missed it completely. I actually went and looked specifically for it before I posted that, and then after I posted it I checked the list again and saw it. Sorry!

This front page post was what I was referring to.


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:02:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So, is Howard Dean's DNC racist now? (none / 0)

I don't think so.  What is an African American blogger anyway- an honest question: is it someone who is AA who happens to blog or is it someone who blogs on AA issues?  If its the later, then are a great, great many bloggers AA bloggers?


by linc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 12:53:52 AM EST

Re: So, is Howard Dean's DNC racist now? (none / 0)

You really didn't say that did you? Yes, there are some great AA blogs out there such as Too Sense and Jack and Jill politics which blogs about local and national politics as they pertain to black issues. they should most definitely be given credentials at the convention as many people like myself read these blogs on a daily basis. I highly recommend Too Sense.


by sweet potato pie on Wed May 21, 2008 at 12:58:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I didn't say I didn't know who they were (2.00 / 1)

it was philosophical- as in, behind a key board, how  are we supposed to know and should we want to?  For me, one of the greatest things about blogging and bloggers is that we are not, generally, drawn differently by color or sex, but rather opinion and thought... that's all I meant.


My personal favortie 'black blogger'- jasmynecannick, mostly because she called Obama OUT on the McClurkin thing, big time, regardless of her support for him (although I think it was tacit at the time).
by linc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:57:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I didn't say I didn't know who they were (none / 0)

I had no problem for him being called out about that as I too am an Obama supporter. I would like to point out that he has gone to black churches and spoken about homophobia and has at times received glares but has not cared because we cannot expect folks to treat us with respect and not treat others the same way. I applauded him for that because I know in the AA community homophobia is unfortunately a problem.


by sweet potato pie on Wed May 21, 2008 at 02:24:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So, is Howard Dean's DNC racist now? (none / 0)

But the blogs don't appear to be self-identified as written or owned by African Americans

That is pretty clearly the criteria being used, not African American focused blogs, but black bloggers.

So, is Howard Dean's DNC racist now?

So an objectionable and racially discriminatory outcome is is a-okay unless we find that the head of the organization is a Klansman?


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:06:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: black bloggers (none / 0)

I think it remains a dream of some of us, and a nightmare of others (such as the fine fellow who was the first to comment on this thread).

If you think that it has ever been the actual practice in this country or this party, I think you know nothing of the history of this country.


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:08:31 AM EST

Re: Color Divide - Democratic National Convention (none / 0)

Isn't this more of a blogging problem than a selection problem?


Matthew25Network.com
by cardboard 1 on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:30:02 AM EST

Re: Color Divide - Democratic National Convention (none / 0)

It's a selection problem that derives from a blogging problem and that helps to maintain and affirm the blogging problem (and the linking problem). In a field that has clear problems with discrimination, affirmative action (at the very least, at the level of design and outreach) is obviously still necessary.


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:05:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

We should have bloggers (none / 0)

in exact proportion to each populations percentage of the American electorate because that is THE ONLY way to ensure that there is good blogging going on at the Democratic National Convention.  As we are all aware, skin color determines ones ability to be a good blogger.  snark


Unity Ticket: The best damn way to kick John McCain's Ass in November!
by aurelius on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:31:17 AM EST

Re: We should have bloggers (none / 0)

Obviously that doesn't make sense.  But if the blogger corp ends up with only 1 African American out of 55 blogs it will seem a little wierd, no?


by shalca on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:47:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It' my understanding (2.00 / 1)

that they were not checking into people's ethnicity/gender when picking bloggers--they were just trying to pick good/prolific bloggers.  If indeed it ended up being only 1 AA out of 55, then yes, it would be a good idea to get a few more AA bloggers for the convention--I have no problem with that--seems like a fine idea.


Unity Ticket: The best damn way to kick John McCain's Ass in November!
by aurelius on Wed May 21, 2008 at 01:52:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

how bout them brown peeps? (2.00 / 2)

how many hispanic bloggers were picked? huh?




we outnumber blacks, and this is the first minority president....why isn't there more on the list?

-----+++++silence+++++-----


by alyssa chaos on Wed May 21, 2008 at 02:00:58 AM EST

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (2.00 / 1)

And how many female bloggers? Women make up well over half of registered Democrats.


by LakersFan on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:05:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (2.00 / 1)

The list is out there. If you actually care about the issue, rather than just employing the "but what about the.." distraction and silencing tactic, go out there and look it up. If it turns out they suck on gender too, please post about it.

Now, where's my bingo sheet?


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:08:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (none / 0)

Pretty sad in an election in which Hispanic voters are agreed to be a critical group to satisfy for a Democratic victory if they did as crappy of a job of  getting Hispanic bloggers as they did of getting black bloggers!

I am struggling to figure out if this was intended as trolling, or if you were serious (it seems like a serious complaint, but the other response to you read like fellow troll). Did you actually check the number of Hispanic bloggers accredited, or are you just guessing?


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:12:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (none / 0)

no its a legitimate complaint, Hispanics are under-represented in every part of the political process, so I assume that the number is/will be small.

The voting power there is enormous, and for some to just write it off is dangerous.


by alyssa chaos on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:21:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (none / 0)

Cool, complete agreement from me then.


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:48:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (none / 0)

cant find a link to check the accredited bloggers. you think you could point me in the right direction?


by alyssa chaos on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:28:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: how bout them brown peeps? (none / 0)

Happy to help! The main page post on the state bloggers kerfuffle had a link to Open Left which had a link to Pam's House Blend, which had a link to the official list on the Dem Convention site.

I don't recognize any of them except Burnt Orange Report and BlueOregon (I'm in Oregn, I'm not sure why I recognize Burnt Orange Report). The focus of the program was on state level election poliblogs, which is something you have to be really hard core to follow outside your own state (more hard core than me, anyway).


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:56:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Color Divide (none / 0)

oohhhh
including at least one Hispanic contributor





should hispanics feel honored??
by alyssa chaos on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:30:12 AM EST

Re: Color Divide (none / 0)

That's only under-representation by a factor of 6 or so (well, 12 if that includes the alternates), so definitely an honor. :\


by letterc on Wed May 21, 2008 at 03:58:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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