Thoughtful Blogger Award

AJ, over at Over Analyze It shared this award with the Electronic Village last year. She said that we "...have made it a point to respond to comments posted on their blogs and are tolerant of those with dissenting positions (most of the time... lol). I think they all rock!"

It’s called the Thoughtful Blogger Award, and it was originally created by Christy (Writer’s Reviews). The award is for those

"who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping other bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others."

It is in that spirit that I share The Thoughtful Blogger Award with:

1. African American Political Pundit - First, this ol' school brother has been a powerful voice for Black people during this long election cycle. However, this award is given to him for his leadership within The AfroSpear. Many of us appreciate his willingness to step up in our time of need.
2. Mrs. Grapevine - This sister did a very thoughtful thing when she co-founded a weekly meme called Ol' School Friday. That meme has brought together an inter-generational crew of bloggers to share some wonderful memories of music with each other and our blog readers.
3. Springer's Journal - Christina is a colleague from The AfroSpear. However, this award is being given to her for her simple mantra, ' Click. Give. Feel Good.' She saw an idea and used her imagination to take it to the next level. My hope is that many villagers will join her cause and participate with Black Bloggers for Education initiative.
4. Urban Scientist - This blogger is dedicated to getting more people of color engaged in issues of science and technology. Urban created a meme to identify Hispanic scientists and pointed out a project that allows us to donate funds to poverty-stricken classrooms around the country ... eventually, this led to creation of Black Bloggers for Education initiative.

I hope that these brothers and sisters accept this award in the spirit of Umoja with which they are given.

Premio Brillante Award

Lady Deborah (My Brown Eyed View) presented our blog with the 2008 Premio Brillante Weblog Award. She wrote, "This blog keeps me inspired and focused on the important matters of the day. Villager is actively working within the blogosphere and in real time to bring about change."

My mom would call me "brilliant" when I was a young villager. I guess all parents pump up their children with such praise. Anyhow, the word "brilliant" retains a special place in my heart. As such, I'm very proud to earn this blogger award!


The rules for the 2008 Premio Brillante Award are simple enough:

• Add the logo of the award to your blog
• Link to the blogger who awarded it to you
• Give it to at least 7 other blogs
• Link to those blogs
• Leave a comment for your nominees on their blogs

There are a number of remarkable blogs out in the world. Here are seven blogs that are not widely known. They bring it hard and strong on a regular basis. I hope you take a moment to visit each of these award winners.

1. BlackCynic America - This young brotha is laugh-out-loud funny and insightful in his comments on the presidential election, Beijing Olympics and the entertainment world. Methinks he will be a new member of The AfroSpear in the very near future.


2. Black On Campus - I love blogs that have a unique niche. One such blog is run by Dr. Ajuan Mance. She is an associate professor of English and Mills College in Oakland, CA and the creator of Twilight and Reason: Higher Education and the African American Experience. For her, literature, history, and higher education are passions bordering, at times, on obsessions. I encourage all villagers to take a moment to enjoy the uplifting and educational posts on this blog.


3. Black Threads - I was inspired by the story of Michelle Obama and her older brother. As such, I want all villagers to visit this blog owned & operated by my younger sister. She is an internationally-recognized expert on African American quilts and quilters. She is an inspiration for me and others in our family.


4. Mrs. Grapevine - I have never met this sister. I'm not a big fan of gossip blogs. However, it is clear that Mrs. Grapevine has musical taste and a soul that is very similiar to my own. As such, I find myself enjoying her blog posts and her comments. I encourage all villagers to check out her self-titled blog!


5. The Black Tech Report - This blog provides a daily dose of technology. The stated mission for this blog is to be a voice where there has not been one. To bring real information to individuals, and businesses where there has not been great information. To encourage, empower, and advise people on past, present, and the future of technology.


6. The 'D' Spot - The “D” Spot is all about Detroit as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of two Detroiters - husband and wife - who have experienced their city in very different ways. I have been following Keith's insights on a city that I called home for 8 years. Detroit is going through challenging times. I invite all villagers to look at it from an insider's perspective. It helps that Keith's writing style is outstanding!


7. The Happy Go Lucky Bachelor - I don't have one of those widgets that tracks the villagers who leave the most comments. If I did than Mike would be at the top of the list. Mike has been very supportive of my blog. In return, I share this blog award with him for the creative nature of his eclectic blog. His blog requires you to use critical thinking skills and to have a very big sense of humor!

What do you think about our seven choices for this Premio Brillante Award?

Arte y Pico Award

A Slant Truth, Hagar's Daughters and Regina's Family Seasons presented 'The Arte y Pico Award' to the Electronic Village. It humbles me to know that this blog is seen in such a positive light by such powerful sisters as Regina and Hagar's Daughters!
Regina noted that our blog "...is definitely doing great things in and for the community."

Hagar's Daughter wrote, "Villager blends the seriousness of the day with inspirational stories, political cartoons, and musical interludes on Old School Friday."

We will do our best on the Electronic Village to continue uplifting the African American community with our blog commentary over the coming weeks and months.

Rules of the Arte y Pico Award:

• You have to pick 5 blogs that deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language
• Each awardee has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
• Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
• Each award winner should provide a link to the Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

Here are five (5) blogs that I think show Creativity, Fabulous Design, Interesting Material or Contribute to the blogging community:

1. Black Women Vote - Let me warn you! This blog is not for the faint of heart. SheCodes comes hard and she comes correct in her strategic approach to Sister power. Her weekly podcasts and her ability to play chess while most of us are playing checkers is something that is quite remarkable. Her blog should be on the RSS-feed for any female villager!
2. Blogging While Brown Conference - This blog is contributing in a major way to the blogging community. Visit this blog created by Gina McCauley to learn more about the first international conference for bloggers of color. I will be there! I hope you can make it on July 25-27, 2008 in Atlanta, GA.
3. MartyBLOGS - Martin Lindsey is the creator of this blog. Marty is one of the first bloggers that I met when I came into the afrosphere. I have watched him evolve his blog over the past year so that it reflects his 'actionist' world view. He summarizes his blogging style as follows: "Handle business, take care of things, then move on."
4. Now That's What I'm Talking About - Theo Johnson operates this blog. Theo is another blogger that I met when I first entered the blogging game. Not only does he have an interesting blog, Theo is also a regular podcaster. It is for those reasons that I encourage villagers to check out this creative blog and blogger!
5. Roots of Humanity - This is a blog that strives to uplift the quantity and quality of information flowing to the blogging community about human rights abuses around the world, especially in Darfur and Tibet. Danielle Vyas, Eddie Griffin and Purple Zoe provide the creative energy behind this blog..

I encourage all villagers to check out these creative blogs. Let me know what you think about my five selections. What say u?