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Fredric is a web developer based in Chicago who hopes to one day start a foundation to support young, Black males in programming and computer science.

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Great Black Blogs: rsspect.org

January 13th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

RsspectAlthough it has been up since last May, I wanted to re-introduce a cool little ybpguide project over at rsspect.org. It’s nothing too fancy, but it does provide a neat one-stop shop for some great black blogs populated over the interweb. I just added quite a few more blogs and I wanted to highlight them here. Click the ‘read’ link below to see all of latest feeds from these blogs (and many others) in person.

Some Old

  • Marquis Weblog - highlights the journey and advice of a Stanford MBA grad interested currently working as a consultant
  • Electronic Village - a very positive, community blog that highlights a lot of topics
  • Jack and Jill Politics - great political commentary on today’s issues
  • Cobb - a straightforward, often conservative reflection of interesting topics
  • Black Prof - unique perspectives from Black professors

Some New


Last, but not least, is a blog that I received an email about not too long ago called Rachel’s Tavern. It’s actually written by a sociology professor focusing on African-American studies…who is white. I’ve frequented Rachel’s Tavern quite a few times and enjoy her perspective on a lot of issues. While I understand that on the surface a ‘white’ blog probably doesn’t qualify as a ‘black blog’, I pose this question:

If someone’s voice contributes to the education, empowerment, and introspection of the Black community even though they are not Black, should they not be included?

[read: rsspect.org]

There Are 6 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Demetrius Pinder on 13 January 2008:

    how about linking the blogs you are mentioning. it easier on your readers….

  2. Comment by Fredric on 13 January 2008:

    i was trying to get our readers to actually take a look at rsspect.org, but i guess i hate it when other sites don’t link to the site they reference directly.

    updated.

    :-)

  3. Comment by The Urban Scientist on 13 January 2008:

    Thanks for re-posting about rsspect.

    Regarding your question: If someone’s voice contributes to the education, empowerment, and introspection of the Black community even though they are not Black, should they not be included?

    Absolutely not. African, Africana, and Black Studies and Sociology are legitimate areas of study. Anyone can study it, anyone can offer insight and share.

  4. Comment by Angela on 14 January 2008:

    Thanks for the include Fredric,it is appreciated! ;)

    @ Urban Scientist: I totally agree a sites inclusion should solely be reflective of the content they provide and/or the issues they address not the color of their skin. That said someone non-black should most definitely be included if the content/information they have is relevant to the ethnic group and especially if it can benefit that group.

  5. Comment by Villager on 26 January 2008:

    The Electronic Village celebrated our first anniversary on Jan 13. Hard to beleive that we are already considered “old” here in cyberspace (smile).

    I personally do *not* think that white-owned and operated blogs should be included in lists of Black blogs. That is a decision that I had to consider in putting together the Villager’s Black Blog Rankings.

    Anyhow, I think that the rsspect.org initiative is outstanding. I will remind my blog readers about it as well.

    peace, Villager

  6. Comment by Yobachi on 26 January 2008:

    So white people can provide Black Empowerment? I think the premise of your question is a false premise when it suggest that this is so.

    In his book 21st Century Africa: A Paradigm Shift, Dr. Wosene Yefru enlightens us that paradigm = epistemology(thought process) + canon(sources recognized as credible information). If either our epistemology or canon are externally derived, rather than internally; we have a false paradigm.

    Self-determination requires that a people speak for themselves. Anybody can do any examinations that they want; but they can never speak for us.

    Further, from a factual standpoint, the tag line of the site says “cross-syndication of Black Blogs”. If it is really a multicultural syndicate of blogs examining Black Studies and issues or what not, then your tag line is just inaccurate, and dare I say even misleading.

    If it’s supposed to be a page cataloging Black Blogs, then that’s what it should be. If not, then you need a prominent disclaimour on there or just a change in the tag line to reflect what the website really is.

    http://www.BlackPerspective.net

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