BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
As Obama Becomes Nominee, An Example of the Continued Struggle Will Be Transpiring Literally Beneath His Podium
August 28th, 2008
I reported yesterday that Black bloggers on the ground at the convention confirmed the scarcity of Black representation in the DNC Blogger Pool just as we predicted would be the case.
One of those predictive post where I discussed this issue in early June was entitled “While Obama Is At the Convention Podium, There Will Be Almost No Blacks On The Floor To Document History”.
- Toronto Star writer Andrew Chung, in an article yesterday, discussing how well bloggers are being treated by the conventions, states:
The organizers committed to vastly expand the blogger pool at the convention. There is even an ultramodern Blogger Lounge adjacent to the convention floor.
At the Democratic National Convention four years ago in Boston there were four bloggers. This year in Denver there are over 200. The golden age of blogging appears to be upon us as the profile bloggers have been given at this convention has lent a sense of legitimacy and credibility heretofore unknown to blogs.
Chungs number of over 200 bloggers differs from the official number of blogs selected to receive credentials which is 124; and the number for which I based all my percentages off of to come up with numbers at other times. The 200+ undoubtably refers to the total number of individuals representing the 124 credentialed blogs, as each blog was able to have more than one representative.
For instance, Rock of AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.com had his blog choosen by the DNC; but he choose to bring along Adrianne from BlackWomenInEurope.com as one of his corresponds. Adrianne’s blog is not one of the selected credentialed blogs in the 124; but Adrianne as an individual would be counted in the 200.
Bloggers L.N. Rock, Jill Tubman, and Adrianne George
Another example is Jack and Jill Politics, which has two operaters Jill Tubman and Jack Turner. For purposes of counting credentialed blogs Jack and Jill Politics is counted once; but if your counting individuals; then there’s obviously 2 of them.
We know of 9 Black operated blogs that were credentialed, and counting every individual blogger they brought with them or who came as part of the camp of a white operated blog I know of 12 actual individual Black bloggers.
12 or so out of more than 200? In a party where we’re 23 percent. Where about 90% of our population consistently votes democrat every 4 years? This is acceptable; getting scuttle butted to 6% representation and opportunity for our community?
While blogging is being given a new level of “legitimacy and credibility”; Black bloggers where not given an equal opportunity to have their collective “profile” raised. Blacks at the DNC have been shut out of this opportunity by 75% of their representation in the party (6% participation though being a quarter of the party).
That’s a hell of thanks from the Democrats…one hell of a thank you!
You would think with all the close elections in many states, and with Blacks having large populations in many of the most important swing states; yet 1/3rd of us still not being registered; they’d have some sense as a party of the need for outreach for their own advancement.
But as is normal in America, race much more often than not reigns supreme when determining access to opportunity.
This is just one example, of which many others are more life affecting; of why I’ve long understood that Obama’s nomination (nor would his election to the presidency be) is not the fulfillment of “The Dream”. The Dream was equality for all; and until the systematic way in which American institutions and those in power go about disregarding those who are not of their perspective or from their social group, ceases to be pervasive; The Dream has definitely not been fulfilled.
I already know the simpletons argument will be in response that “don’t you see that a Black man is one step away from the presidency”, despite the point I’ve just made…and my pre-rebuttal is that pointing out an exceptionality to the norm, does not make the norm of racial injustice, or systematic racial disregard neither nonexistent nor okay.
You could always point to a few wealthy free Black men during slavery; that didn’t make slavery not racist, not wrong, not oppressive for the vast majority of Blacks, nor fundamentally unfair to Black people as a whole.
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posted in Politics, Racial Injustice | | | View blog reactions | Print This Post
Related Posts:
- BlackPerspective.net In Black Enterprise Magazine (Dem Convention Discrimination)
- Letter to The DNCC About Access To The Convention Floor
- Fight For Equal Access at Democratic Convention Continues
- Regarding The Now Breaking News About Black Bloggers At The Democratic Convention
- BlackPerspective.net In The Washington Post
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
I created this site to give new voice to socio-political issues that are in need of thoughtful consideration and redress.
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