BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Fight For Equal Access at Democratic Convention Continues
June 16th, 2008
The Dallas Morning News did another story about the discriminatory selection of the two blogger pools at the Democratic National Convention. It’s a good article.
I wrote a letter to the author Thursday about what the Convention representative Damon Jones said; and to inform her about a particular fact of information that was inaccurate.
Tonight I sent a press relase to many other media contacts based on Mr. Jones comment, which can be seen below (minus contact info); but it does not contain the point of inaccuracy that I also wrote the Dallas Morning News writer about, Karen Brooks. That will come first, then the press release:
Ms. Brooks perceived that “as a result” of our initial protest that “the convention credentialed four times as many bloggers this time as they did four years ago, he said.”
Yes there are four times more bloggers this year than four years ago; but not because they expanded the pool to respond to Black bloggers concerns that the Black community has been discriminated against. It was always going to be a much large pool this time around than 4 years ago. The DNC said so in their initial press release in 2007 about the much expanded bloggers poll.
All they’ve done is millymouthed the type of subterfuge that Mr. Jones does in your article, and persisted with having a convention floor with only 3% Black operated Blogs, and an overall blogger pool of 7% Black blogs in a party where Blacks are THE most loyal constituent by far, and vote nationally for the Democratic party consistently at a clip of 85 to 91%.
BlackPerpsective.net
For Immediate Release, 6/15/06
In the ongoing issue surrounding the racially discriminatory selection of the blogging pools for the Democratic National Convention, where only 7% of the entire bloggers pool is Black; and the floor pool, with it’s elevated privileges, is only 3% Black and 2% Hispanic; Convention spokesman Damon Jones has sought to diminish the notion of inclusion and equal access by trying to marginalize those who speak up against this stark disparity via diminishing their motivation for protest.
In a recent Dallas Morning News article we find Mr. Jones summing up the protest against discrimination as “it wasn’t surprising that some people were disappointed at not being credentialed, as “it is a hot ticket” and “everyone wants to be at the convention. It’s historic.”
The obvious insinuation being made not only makes me furious, but is disturbing in its dismissal of racial discrimination concerns in a party that purports itself to be the “big tent” party of inclusion.
Let’s be clear on some facts. One of the most vocal Black bloggers protesting the blogging pool discrimination is Francis Holland who is an American currently living in South America; and who has no plans or desire to go to convention. Next in line behind him, and the first to come out strongly on this issue is the African American Political Pundit, who WAS credentialed, yet still maintains his principled position that the discrimination and denial of equal access along racial lines is not acceptable.
So the ‘personally jealousy’ theory goes out the window just from a simple prima-facie cursory glance look at the facts.
“This issue is not about personal gain, and this is not about individuals; it’s not even about bloggers. It’s about Black people being respected, being included, and having equal access.” – As I’ve noted elsewhere.
We are protesting not for specific individual bloggers to receive credentialing; our issue is equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal access; which Damon Jones and others at the DNCC refuse to address. Instead they spew subterfuge such as this to distract from the issue – to distract from the fact that they created two separate pools of bloggers, one with elevated access and privileges and then proceeded to make that elevated pool almost all-white; and the overall pool of bloggers still extremely disproportionately White.
In a party whose electorate is at least 20% Black, why does the DNCC think its okay to have a 90% White-operated overall blogging pool, and a 94% White-operated convention floor pool?
Is this the Democratic Party’s reward to it’s Black constituency for being THE most loyal constituent, by far, and voting nationally for the Democratic party consistently at a clip of 85 to 91%.
The DNCC must take down the “Whites Only” sign from the blogger door to the convention floor!
“While Obama Is At the Convention Podium, There Will Be Almost No Blacks On The Floor To Document History” (www.blackperspective.net/index.php/while-obama-is-at-the-convention-podium-there-will-be-almost-no-blacks-on-the-floor-to-document-history/)
Francis L. Holland Blog - francislholland.blogspot.com/
African American Political Pundit - aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com/
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This press release is solely the voice of BlackPerspective.net and its publisher, and no other.
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Related Posts:
- Letter to The DNCC About Access To The Convention Floor
- Jim Crow Democratic Convention
- Scarce Black Representation In DNCC Blogger Pool…
- BlackPerspective.net In Black Enterprise Magazine (Dem Convention Discrimination)
- Regarding The Now Breaking News About Black Bloggers At The Democratic Convention
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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.
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