French blog reactions to “The Root.”

In a post from a blog entitled “Big Picture- Croquis d’Amerique,” on the website for Le Monde, Corine Lesnes writes about “Le Slate des Blacks.” She mentions Henry Louis Gates, summarizes the first issue and writes that Gates expects “The Root” to lose money initially, but that they hope it will eventually prove successful, like “Slate.”

Reactions vary. This is from “Julien.”

“Why can’t black people read Slate? Doesn’t it address them? I’ve had enough with products targeted to race, colour or ethnicity. If an analysis in Slate is well-argued and interesting, it should be able to be read by everybody, no?”

Julien also notes that The Root declares that “Obama has eagerly embraced the notion of his racial transcendence.” He finds it odd that this phrase can be read on a site specifically targeted to black readers.

Corine replies to Julien’s comment. “I understand your point of view,” she writes. “but there are displays of differences, of sensibilities and of pressure groups throughout society. On reading “black” sites, one perceives that there are many subjects and perspectives that can’t be found elsewhere (as for example in “green” sites).”

ie specialist sites deal with specialist subjects in more detail than might be found elsewhere.

Most people commenting on this post refer to Obama. Greg Shenaut writes that a victory for either Obama or Clinton would be a coup against misogyny and racism. Many seem to think that the launch of The Root is timely, as America begins to embrace the idea of a black president.

http://clesnes.blog.lemonde.fr/2008/01/29/le-slate-des-blacks/