More reactions from the black blogosphere

“Cobb” is less than enthused about this new venture. For him, it’s a little too late for Gates etc to jump on the internet bandwagon.

“Way back in those days a number of us on the cutting edge of black cultural production were greatly enthused about such projects, the most significant of which was the Norton Anthology of African American Literature. But while we were, it seemed, in accord with the value of authoritative historical information and its salutary effect on the mass of blackfolks, we were not in accord with regard to the prospects for online. It doesn’t take much of a stretch for you to presume that I was very frustrated with the attitude of black academics with regard to their dismissal of online and their insistence on the impermeability of the so-called ‘digital divide’. So please forgive me if I now consider the introduction of Gates’ new website ‘The Root’ with something less than a standing ovation.”

A comment on Cobb’s blog thinks that he is being narrow-minded and overly critical. “Mr Gates is an academic, a brilliant academic by all measure,” it says. “It’s alright to be smart and successful. It’s alright to know the path to the same. What you’re thinking of as black culture is American. It’s black people in America and that knowledge is not limited to black academics.”

Bitterness on Cobb’s part perhaps? Or frustration? It’s hard to tell.

http://cobb.typepad.com/cobb/2008/01/the-root.html

“Bookish Black Girl” thinks that The Root is a welcome addition to the web.

“I haven’t done too much browsing through the site yet but already a few things caught my eye. It seems like they are making an attempt to get away from the monolithic black views and there are some good editorials and opposing view points on the election and candidates.”

http://bookishblackgirl.blogspot.com/

Some nice contentious stuff from “An Anxious Black Woman.”

“Has Obama ushered in a new trend in Intelligent Black People?” she asks. She refers to a post by Mark Anthony Neal called “Wanted! Smart Negroes!” which “weighs in on the latest trend of smart, educated, and articulate black folks who are suddenly appearing as talking heads.”

She quotes Neal is saying, “the site features a virtual cavalcade (literally) of smart Negroes. We can thank our man Barack for this.”

The best comment is from “Fal,” who writes “I am not impressed with The Root.

I know I probably should be . . . but I think it is heavily saturated with HBO’s hand and I think the blog pieces are matter of fact essays. I think they can have more depth. Also, I think it is interesting to have all these black intellectuals in one space pontificating about things (i just don’t get a good vibe from the site). Furthermore, what about other people of color academics and/or activist who study race, sexuality, gender, state violence, etc. shouldn’t they be included on this blog. I also think it is very Pro-Obama which in itself is not a bad thing, but I think as a news space it should equally question Obama and all other candidates that purport (through certain black intellectuals who work for their campaign) to represent the interest of marginalized groups.

Not only is it elitist, exclusionary (the people Skip likes or agrees with him), anti-everything except race, it age specific no youth voices or younger black people voices under 30.”

http://diaryofananxiousblackwoman.blogspot.com/2008/01/wanted-smart-negroes.html