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i was pleasantly surprised to see two other people had joined this group other than myself and, partner in crime in all things internet and race related, roricka.
welcome!
this group was created to provide a space for bloggers of color to share experiences, ideas and insight as we navigate a culture and community that doesn't necessarily represent people of color.
if any of you get a minute, please introduce yourself, why you joined this group, why you started blogging and how that's changed from why you continue to do so, if it has at all.
for me, i had friends who blogged and i thought it would be interesting/fun/a good distraction from homework. in the deep dark depths of my mind, i also secretly thought i was a brilliant writer (wah wah) and by posting on the internet, everyone in the whole wide world would recognize it as well. and that is what we call a narcissist. :)
3 years later, my blog is still tinged with ego and self-importance, but i've also learned that it is an excellent outlet in raising awareness on issues that we may avoid because it's "not polite". by no means am i 'topical' blogger in that all i blog about is one specific thing, but moreo a blogger who talks about everything i think is important, regardless of whether someone likes it or not.
good luck fellow bloggers of color! i'll be bookmarking!
i know we exist in this world of blogging, us people of color. that's how i initially started blogging: i stumbled upon a group of amazing people of color who ran personal websites with all kinds of goodies on them like music and poetry and photography. they also had really intelligent, insightful journals and i thought that was a great idea.
since i started blogging in 2002 and the term blog has now entered into a more mainstream lexicon, a lot of those same people who inspired me have retired their sites or moved on to bigger online ventures. i stuck around with my no html skill-having self in my low maintenance blogger blog. i relish in being lo-key but will always be outspoken.
i'm excited that many new amazing people of color have come into this space. where are you? the blog world is a microcosm of the real world in that there are majorities and minorities. i never started my blog as a networking, social justice tool but i recognize that just being in this space online is, in some ways, fairly revolutionary. i often write candidly about race and sexuality and gender and all of the issues that affect my daily life.
i don't have any theme or topic other than me; it's my journal. for a while i was writing all the time. big ol' long entries, too. like novellas or something. now i update less frequently as i am currently mashing my brain up with thick, theoretical books and then pureeing the remains with obscene amounts of academic writing. grad school is a blast.
esther and i talk about what it is to be people of color blogging (and, you know, living our lives) frequently. i appreciate this very much. what is it like for you? do you seek out community online? or, do you just do your own thing? what prompted you to do nablopomo? what's your sign? do you enjoy a cool ocean breeze? are you comfortable with endless streams of questions?
i hope you share. i look forward to reading all your blogs as frequently as i can! you should check mine out, too. i can't promise anything more than unfolding insanity, though.
3 years later, my blog is still tinged with ego and self-importance, but i've also learned that it is an excellent outlet in raising awareness on issues that we may avoid because it's "not polite".
Me too...I started blogging about 7 years ago, when it was just "making a webpage". I kept people updated on me and mine. Then I had a kid. Hoo-boy, that changed a lot. On top of that, I had already created a website on my dream house. I had all kinds of stuff on there. As I got a lot more politically active, I decided I needed a space to put all my thoughts. I've tried to keep a journal, but handwriting is a PITA at times, especially since I'm on the computer most of the time. When I got pregnant with my second, I decided to start yet another blog (I actually have and somewhat maintain 7 blogs). This latest blog is like a culmination of all my blogs. I talk politics, parenting, mommyhood, black issues, LA and CA issues, environment, music, movies, books, video games and pop culture. Basically, anything that pops into my head, gets blogged about.
I've been an active blogger for almost two years. I started blogging because It's fun, because I love to write, and because I am as egomaniacal as the next person who believe everyone will just think I AM SO SMART because of all of the pithy things that I have to say.
Has it changed me? Sure it has... prior to starting my blog, I never went around with a notebook in my pocket, recording thoughts to blog about.
so i joined the group not really having any specific expectations of what i would get out of it, but i did think to myself that i don't really blog specifically about issues i encounter as a person of color. as a gay man, i do write a lot about my experiences that are gay-related. so i thought that maybe i would be able to explore what other people of color are writing about and see what i might get out of it and what i might be able to share.
anyway, i do manage six blogs, one of which has kind of losts its purpose, well, not that it really had one in the first place, but now i might approach it with a different voice now. being a person of color does inform how i deal with certain things in my life even though i try not to let it influence how i see things. but that would be naive of me, now wouldn't it? i guess i should let myself say what i want as a person of color and be okay with it.
