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December 05, 2004
Blogging and White Privilege
In response to my own post about the homogeneity of many of the blogs and blog topics I found in my endless surfing on Blog Explosion, I have actually been thinking seriously about this topic, and it has become more than clear that the same issues we face in our greater American culture are reflected in this world of blogging.
Blogging is about putting yourself out there. About creating a space to speak freely about issues that are of interest to you, political views, your daily life, whatever. It has "exploded" because it is an easy way to make your voice heard, and to feel like you have something to say (because we all have something to say, don't we?)
But who is doing this? Who are the people who are using their "right" to talk about whatever they want? It is mostly middle class. It is mostly white. Of the thousands of blogs listed in blog explosion, from what I can tell, only about 30 (if that) are written by African Americans. Even of all of the blogs I have read (and searched for) in general, I have only stumbled upon a handful that are written by African-Americans, and even less by Latino/a communities.
So, I bet there are going to be a bunch of people thinking, "OK, no.," or, "Why is this even important?"
But it is.
It is important because we need to think about who we are hearing from, who is given the space to express themselves, and how that can be absent even when the "right" to do so appears to be there. In this world and community (virtual and not), whose perspective are we getting and what are we missing?
If you are potentially thinking that this doesn't have to do with race so much as it has to do with people having the money for computers and other such expenses, although I am sure economic status plays a role in access to technology and in opportunities to prioritize how one spends his/her time, there is a greater cultural divide going on here. One whose roots are historical, and are pervasive.
I am just going to say it. White people are raised with a sense of entitlement about speaking up, speaking your mind, having an opinion and the right to have it be heard. This is what I would expect for all Americans, but countless people are not granted such a right all the time.
Whether it's being endlessly passed over in classes or in school because of unconscious biases (as an example), not being appropriately represented in media, singled out to represent their entire culture in a group of people, minority groups in America, regardless of legal or political rights, have been socialized to not truly use their voice, even if it is just to talk about the happenings of their every day, their political opinions or anything else that comes to mind.
And yeah, I am white. Yes, I have the privilege about which I speak. But somebody needs to put this out there, because it is a problem, and most certainly not just online.
And we all deserve more than that.
Posted by missfitsandstarts at December 5, 2004 11:35 PM
Comments
Wow. You know, that simple fact had passed me right by. I never even noticed, because I never even looked.
That article has stopped me dead for a moment. You're dead right. I can't think of a black blogger that I've found in the last month.
As for blogs being about boring things. I agree. But I guess this is what we call "life"! Is Blog watching the new Daytime TV, I wonder?
Anyway. I Love the writing and the blog. You've got a good mix of entertain/inform here. I've added you to my favourites so I can check back soon.
I'm off to look for black bloggers now. Weird.
Posted by: David Steele at December 6, 2004 04:09 AM
Black blogging: It's not about colour, it's about being empowered, which comes from many other things.. class, money, age, health, and education to name an easy five more. White disempowered illiterate poor don't blog much either.
Plus, race is not just about African Americans. it's about people of colour from any and everywhere - the blogosphere is not American, it's international. so there's another assumption you have made...
yours multiculturally,
Deek Deekster.
Posted by: deek deekster at December 6, 2004 06:12 AM
hi deek,
no assumptions here. i am just talking very specifically about race issues and the U.S., and how they need to be considered as their own issue, in addition to the other things you speak of.
just a heads up.
miss fitsandstarts
Posted by: miss fitsandstarts at December 6, 2004 06:27 AM
First off, let me say that you're right, I can't think of any prominent black bloggers. However, considering that so amny bloggers neglect to show their picture on their blog it's hard to judge. This week alone I have seen the blogs of at least 5 differnt coloured people for definate. However 5 out of hundreds is not a lot.
I must say however, that there could be another, bias in play in the blogging world, and it is one that I am increasingly becomming aware of as an Irish man living in Denmark. Blogs are becomming US centric, or to clarify, it appears that the media and bloggers believe that all blogs originate from the US or only talk about US related stuff. Maybe it's just me, but I'll flag the flag for us europeans!! LOL
Anyway, I agree with you! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Paul OFlaherty at December 6, 2004 07:10 AM
Well, as far as "prominent" black bloggers, Jason at Negro Please has made a name for himself. And Aaron at Uppity Negro had quite a following up until his untimely death. Less well known is Donyell.
And there are plenty of others, I'm sure. But that doesn't invalidate what you've written here. It's true, blogging is mostly a white middle-clas American pursuit, despite the global ubiqity of the Web. Indeed, the entire Internet is mostly American-skewed, at the present time. Right now, this doesn't register with most American webheads. However, if the projections about the increasing Chinese participation on the Web over the next five years come true, I'll be amused to see how formerly cultural irrelativists react....
Posted by: CT at December 6, 2004 08:14 AM
Hmmm, seems hyperlinks aren't allowed here, so here's the links to those bloggers mentioned above:
http://blog.donyell.net/
http://www.negroplease.com/
http://www.uppity-negro.com/
Posted by: CT at December 6, 2004 08:16 AM
I don't think it even necessarily has to be about race... but just about any bias from any majority population. For example, there are a few homeless bloggers out there, but generally bloggers are more affluent... affluent enough, anyway, to be on the right side of the digital divide.
Posted by: srah at December 6, 2004 09:00 AM
Interesting post. I'll have to think about what you said a bit more. I did stumble across a webring devoted to black bloggers today:
http://retrosoul.com/blackblogz/
and one for homeless/formerly homeless
http://nahnn.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Jim at December 6, 2004 11:27 AM
excellent point. just for a heads up, oliver willis is a pretty prominent black political blogger.
the issues of feeling a sense of being entitled to speak one's mind and being encouraged to do so is also an issue regarding women and blogs. for example, political blogs definitely skew male-dominated.
Posted by: alex at December 6, 2004 01:38 PM
Asian blogs - more than you'll ever need to read..
http://www.ricebowljournals.com
:p
Posted by: suki at December 6, 2004 05:01 PM
I also think a more diverse blogosphere is needed.
I suspect that one of the reasons more minority views aren't present here is because blogging is, at bottom, a writers pursuit. People who aren't comfortable expressing themselves in writing aren't likely to be drawn to it. Educational opportunity and socioeconomic status play a huge role in who does and doesn't write well and confidently. These factors inhibit minority Americans disproportionately.
Posted by: Scott D. Feldstein at December 6, 2004 08:01 PM
well. i must say you got my attention...i think i will come back and see how this thread progresses
interesting, thought provoking piece - i have blogmarked you.
Posted by: backspin at December 6, 2004 10:15 PM
LOVE the list of things that most blogs are about :) i think dooce-envy is rampant...i'll be back to read more :)
Posted by: Lemon at December 6, 2004 10:23 PM
Interesting post, but what exactly are you proposing here? It seems that your argument is:
1) White people have more resources and are socialized to speak their minds.
2) Many minorities can't or don't
but you do not draw any conclusions here. I read the entire post waiting for you to suggest that poor people be given "free" (stolen from others) computers, or that a federal program be established to provide a platform to the "Voiceless."
It would be interesting to learn what you are advocating here.
Posted by: Morpheus at December 6, 2004 11:49 PM
Hi. Nice blog. Funny I should run into this post (via Blog Explosion) because I am a black blogger.
I've only been a member of Blog Explosion for less than a week, but I have yet to run into a blog by another black person. But I think it has more to do with the digital divide than anything else. For a lot of my family, for example, having an e-mail address is considered a huge deal.
African-Americans have a rich history of using writing to speak their minds (see slave narratives, autobiograhies/autobiographical novels, etc) but the low percentage of African-Americans with computers means that that history hasn't transitioned very well to the web.
So, thank you for highlighting this discrepency. If anything, I hope it makes people seek out existing blogs by African-Americans and other races. I learned a bit myself, from the links posted by others in this thread. In the meantime, you've earned repeat visits from me.
Posted by: Sterling Fisher at December 7, 2004 02:16 AM
I'm white. Back when we were completely dirt poor (economical fluke from hell) and I'm talking 2000-2002, I used to go to the local library and log on. I blogged from there. Digital divide or no. I see no difference between me being poor and white to someone being poor and black...I utilized what was available to me.
I'm not sure why anyone, regardless of race, couldn't do the same.
Perhaps it's not so much a matter of race, of being entitled to speak as it is about interests and priorities?
Posted by: ASB at December 7, 2004 04:39 AM
To the writer above that spoke about Blogging being a writers pursuit; Black men and women are writting all over the internet on various forms and messageboards. The lack of Black men and women blogging is not so much about many of us not being writers and able to express ourselves as it is about us wanting to congregate with one another and those with like minds. Black forums and messageboards provides that outlet. Blogging is many things, it is a place for people to rant, talk about themselves or speak on political and socioeconomic issues. I set up my Blog back in 2002 but never really used it until this year and I consider myself on the cutting edge of technology. I would definetly like to see more Black progressive Bloggers, there are far too many Black bloggers that do not represent the Black perspective thus their over representation in the Blogsphere is not representative of us in general. I believe as more Black men and women become familiar with Blogging our perspective being so under represented will change. Until then, it is up to those of us that do Blog to get the word.
Faheem
Black Introspection
Posted by: Faheem at December 7, 2004 10:42 AM
I have to say that, sadly, I agree with you. Although, hapily for me, my links page is filled to the brim with a plethora of all types of people. But then, I've had about 8 years online to find them. LoL. But the agreement part I was speaking of happened to me more or less last year. My children are biracial, but I have always lived in diverse areas and never had any issues and never saw THEM have any particular issues relating to race. But when we were in a DV shelter and put into an area that was almost completely white, my son was singled out as "the black kid," "trouble," and was even subject to a racist teacher who gave him D's in a subject where he was in the top 98% on ALL his formal testing, giving him 0's on material when he had been ABSENT and therefore not able to do the work yet not being allowed to make it up. He was also called the 'n' word by his peers in school. As a result of this ONE year subjected to this, my formerly outspoken and opinionated son is now painfully shy and has trouble speaking out to anyone in public. It totally opened my eyes to a new and different perspective in life that I despise. I work every day to help him get back what he lost, but I feel as he grows older it will just be a losing battle in this society. *sigh* Dang...sorry, I should probably blog about this in my own blog. Ha! Thanks for the venting space. :)
Posted by: Tricia at December 7, 2004 08:33 PM
