Black Enterprise Media Interviews Wayne Bennett (The Field Negro)

I encourage all 'villagers' to take a moment to check out the insights shared by Wayne Bennett, creator of The Field Negro blog as documented by Black Enterprise Media on YouTube. Field explains how he uses his blog to initiate critical thinking and dialogue within the Black community about a wide range of issues relevant to people of color. He also shares the origin of the blog's name!





This is a nice feature by Black Enterprise Media. I look forward to further video vignettes of Black bloggers around the nation.

I Love Your Blog Award

There are many villagers that quietly join us to enjoy the posts and comments without sharing their village voice. Our blog never seems to get much in the way of COMMENTS in comparison to our daily hits. I appreciate the stealth villagers as much as those that are move 'vocal'.

One of my stealth villagers is Tey, a busy working Filipina mom living in Toronto. Tey publishes 'My Daily Thoughts'. Tey presented us with the 'I Love Your Blog Award':

"... for his informative posts about Black people (just love it)."

I appreciated the love when she gave our blog the award.  In fact, I've shared the award with others in 2007 and 2008.  I figure it was time to share some love again with other blogs that deserve it. The Electronic Village presents the 'I Love Your Blog Award' to five others that we read and enjoy often. They are more than welcome to pass along the award to other blogs which they love to read as well and so on.

1. African American Pundit - Rock is one of the first bloggers that I regularly followed in the afrosphere. His blog comes strong and correct with information about both race and politics.  He was also one of the first to join me in speaking out against the high level of taser-related deaths in America.
2. What About Our Daughters? - Gina is a blogger willing to take her online efforts to a new level.  She is a book author and a movie-maker.  She organizes the annual Blogging While Brown Conference.  At the end of the day this is a blog that I think should be followed by every person of African descent in our nation ... especially Black women!
3. Eccentric Lover - Nailah is a young 'un.  She is a college freshman who shows remarkable clarity on her blog on the trials and tribulations of being a teenager.  She also finds some of the most provocative and unique photos that I've ever seen.
4. The Field Negro - Field won this award from me in 2007.  He is the most consistent Black blogger that I've ever seen.  No guest bloggers.  It's all Field, all the time.  He seems to be able to have a new and powerful blog post each and every evening.  He provides outstanding social and political commentary on all issues that impact on the Black community.  This is my favorite blog of all-times!
5. Booker Rising - I disagree with the perspective shared by Shay on this blog more often than not.  However, I admire this blogger for bringing out the diverse voices of Black opinion makers in both America, African and Europe.  Can anyone tell me if Shay is a man or woman?

Congratulations to all of you and thanks for writing such great blogs. Villagers, who are the blogs and bloggers that YOU love?

Blog Safari #47

Join our rhino guide, Nyabingi, as she takes you through the afrosphere to find some truly creative Black bloggers. We use this semi-regular blog safari to expose you to some Black bloggers that you might otherwise overlook. Visit the links below to enjoy these suggested blog posts!

• At The Bar - Why I'm Sitting the Next One Out
• Field Negro - 'Sweet Home Alabama' is Only for the Documented
  
• Politics 365 - Obama, Smiley, West and the Politics of the Messiah
• Science Careers - Are African Americans Surging in Computer Science? 
• What About Our Daughters - TBS Prepares to Air Birth of a Nation: The Black Women's Edition Weekly

Let us know if you come across any remarkable posts that should be shared in our next Blog Safari!

'E' is for Excellence Award: 10 Excellent Blogs

So many folks are heading to Facebook that the landscape for pure-bloggers is changing. One of the things that I see less nowadays are the informal blogging awards that used to be given out so often. A few years ago I was blessed to receive the 'E For Excellence' Blog Award'.

I would like to re-ignite that particular award. There is only one rule -- after receiving the 'E For Excellence' Blog Award, you must pass it on to 10 more excellent blogs. Here are the ten blogs that I would like to share this award with today:

1. BDPA Education and Technology Foundation Blog - This blog shares information about fundraising, funding sources and BDPA programs. BDPA seeks to advance the careers of African Americans in the information technology industry.
2. Black Web 2.0 - This blog is great about discussing the wealth of exceptional innovation, talent, and ambition of Blacks in the technology and new media industries in an opinionated and authentic voice.
3. Booker Rising -This is a blog for Black conservatives. The sheer volume of quality blog posts blows me away every day.
4. Depraved Mindset - This is a blog for the radical progressives who wish to expose the world to the truth and promote the create a more just society.
5. Field Negro - This blog gets more comments on its daily posts than any other non-entertainment blog in the world. He has great rapport with his blogging community ... and his social commentary is always on point for Black America.
6. For Harriet - This blog works to elevate the voices of Black women online and off.
7. Jack & Jill Politics - This is the most prominent political blog in the afrosphere. JJP prides itself on providing a Black bourgeoisie perspective on U.S. politics.
8. The BrownWatch - This blog provides news for people of color.
9. The Intersection | Madness & Reality - This blog talks about the injustices AfricanAmericans face, politics, and the reverent or irreverent. RiPPa uses his sense of humor and sarcasm to convey his opinion, and whether others agree with him, it isn’t his concern.
10. TNT: Truth ... Not Tasers - This blog tracks all taser-related deaths in North America. I admire the passion and comprehensive nature of the reporting done on this blog.

Congratulations to each of 'em for doing what they do! I hope that all villagers will take a moment to visit these ten Excellent Blogs.

Blog Safari #45

Join our rhino guide, Nyabingi, as she takes you through the afrosphere to find some truly creative Black bloggers. We use this semi-regular blog safari to expose you to some Black bloggers that you might otherwise overlook. Visit the links below to enjoy these suggested blog posts!

• Anna Renee Is Still Talking - Obama, Black America's King Saul?
• Black Agenda Report - We Know Tea Party Repubs Are Scary ... Are Democrats Worth Defending At All?
• Black Web 2.0 - Bridging the Digital Divide in Africa
• Field Negro - Daddy's Home (NOT!)
• Pam's House Blend - Five Reasons Why I Am Happy the Republicans Took Over the House of Representatives

Let us know if you come across any remarkable posts that should be shared in our next Blog Safari!

New AfroSpear Member: SoultrainC

The AfroSpear is going international. Our newest member is Etta Jones. She is the owner of a number of German-language blogs, including 'SoultrainC'. SoultrainC created her blog in August 2009.

In her application for membership Etta wrote that AfroSpear exists to "...connect the community of Black heritage and to strengthen und support each other. To win the ability to work as singles and all together for the utmost acceptance and appreciation of Black people, wherever they live and wherever we are at. For me that comes together with respecting every man and woman and their beliefs - as well as their nature."

When asked how she can support the AfroSpear, Etta wrote that she "...hopes to be able to learn a lot from the community, get close to new ideas and goals and pass it on to my Black readers (and even more to the rest)!"

The AfroSpear requires all blogger-applicants to have an existing member to serve as an advocate and nominator for admission. Black Weblog Award Hall of Famer Field Negro served as the Nominating Member for 'SoultrainC'. He wrote:

"Etta and her team seem like good people, although I am not sure how long they have been blogging. This is a jazz aficionado in Germany and they send me info on the Black and Jazz music scene in that country. If they meet all the other criterias I would surely recommend them."

I encourage all villagers to use the COMMENTS ('Village Voice') link below to share some love with Etta Jones as she begins her adventures with the AfroSpear!

Top 10 Black Blogs (Sep 2009)

Here is our updated Villager's Black Blog Rankings (BBR) for September 2009. This month's BBR is unique. For the first time in two years we have less Black-owned and Black-operated blogs on the list than the previous month. I imagine there many bloggers gave up using blogs to share their thoughts in cyberspace in favor of social networks like Twitter or Facebook.

Villagers, I need your help. If you are a blogger ... please share a post on your blog about your inclusion in this month's BBR. Let them know where you stand now ... and what your goal is for some set time in the future. Secondly, if you see that your score is either not updated ... or not included ... please use the COMMENTS (or 'VILLAGE VOICES') option at the conclusion of this post to let me know. I'll make the correction as quickly as possible.

Please note that any blog that has not been updated in the past 120 days is now shown at the bottom of the list (in alpha order). I encourage those blog owners to ensure that they 'ping' their blog with Technorati in order to be placed back in order with the other blogs. If the blogs are not updated after 180 days ... they will be purged from the BBR. Also, any blog for which I can no longer locate a valid URL (link) will be purged from the BBR

A'ight ... here is what you came for ... the September 2009 Black Blog Rankings (BBR) with 1,747 Black-owned and operated blogs ... down 19 from the last published BBR. We had five blogs changing their ranking in the BBR Top Ten this month. In addition, a sixth blog -- Necole Bitchie (BBR #10) -- returns to the BBR Top Ten for the first time since Janurary 2009.

We recognize that not every Black-owned & operated blog is on our current list! Please let me know if you see a blog that should be added to the BBR.

Top Ten Black Blogs for September 2009:

1. Pam Spaulding: Pam's House Blend (Authority: 605 / Rank: 1,505) - [Politics] Pam is a major voice in the LGBT community. She was a presenter at the recently-concluded Netroots Nation convention held in Pittsburgh. Pam's blog continues in the BBR #1 for the 15th month in a row. Pam is a role model for many Black bloggers ... including me!


2. Ahsmi Rawlins: Nah Right (Authority: 532 / Rank: 1,934) - [Entertainment] Ashmi (a.k.a., ESKAY) is the top-ranked gossip or entertainment blog on our list. Vibe.com claims that Nah Right is the 'The Best Rap Blog'. Eskay launched his blog in May 2005 from his home state of New York.


3. The Bossip: Bossip.com (Authority: 387 / Rank: 3,435) - [Entertainment] Moguldom Media Group, which owns Bossip, is run by a powerful sister named Marve Frazier. Ms. Frazier recently launched a new venture called HipHopVenture. Does anyone have a digital photo of Ms. Frazier?


4. Wayne Bennett: The Field Negro (Authority: 278 / Rank: 4,498) - [Social Commentary] This blog moved up a spot since last month. This is the highest ranking for Field Negro since we started these rankings two years ago. Wayne was recently a guest on the Michael Eric Dyson radio show. His blog is hard-hitting in its social commentary ... and the sidebar insights are almost as compelling as the posts. Finally, the success of this blog should be noted by all of us that still use *free* blog templates like Blogger or Wordpress.


5. Renee Martin: Womanist Musings (Authority: 270 / Rank: 6,135) - [Social Commentary] Womanist Musings came to being in April 2008 to speak truth to power. The majority of the topics deal with people that are marginalized ... that society has a tendency to ignore. There is no subject too controversial. Regular features of this blog are Drop It Like Its Hot and Sunday Shame. Hmmm, I hope that we can convince Sis. Renee to add us to her blogroll!


6. Oliver Willis: Oliver Willis (Authority: 261 / Rank: 6,460) - [Politics] Oliver Willis has written about politics, current events and pop culture at his web site since 2000. Profiled in the Boston Globe, Baseline Magazine and cited in The Washington Post he prides himself on being "Like Kryptonite To Stupid". Willis works in the technology department of Media Matters for America.


7. Angel Laws: Concrete Loop (Authority: 252 / Rank: 6,823) - [Entertainment] Angel Laws - Angel, 24, is the creator and editor of the award winning blog Concrete Loop. She is also a part-time photographer who shared blogging tips with the folks at the 2009 Blogging While Brown conference.


8. Natasha Eubanks: Young, Black & Fabulous (Authority: 246 / Rank: 7,057) - [Entertainment] Natasha Eubanks jumped up one spot in this month's BBR. Natasha is the writer, editor and perhaps the most famous African American entertainment/gossip blogger in the world. The YBF is the product of her obsession with all that is Hollywood and celebrity. Learn more about Natasha from this wonderful blogger interview conducted by Thembisa Mshaka.


9. Baratunde Thurston and Cheryl Contee: Jack and Jill Politics (Authority: 235 / Rank: 7,591) - [Politics] Cheryl and Baratunde have grown in visibility as their blog as grown in stature. They were both stars at the 2009 Netroots Nation convention held last month in Pittsburgh. Baratunde interviewed Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett. Cheryl urged journalists, bloggers and activists to "partner with organizations and coalitions, while challenging racism in the media. Use social media, blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Create alliances. Go around the media. Create you own media. Send it out." Meanwhile, Baratunde has been named one of the Top 50 Funny People on Twitter. Does anyone know the backstory on the half-eaten watermelon that serves as their logo?


10. Necole Bitchie: Necole Bitchie (Authority: 171 / Rank: 12,149) - [Entertainment] Necole is one of the few Black bloggers making a career from her blog. NecoleBitchie.com is one of the fastest growing urban celebrity blogs on the Internet. She is also sharing information on YouTube. However, not everyone is a fan. Necole is having the last laugh as her blog is in the BBR Top Ten, while the celebrity hatin' blog is only BBR #739.

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HONORABLE MENTION (11-25): Living Life Abundantly, Sandra Rose, Aloha Nico, RaceWire, The Black Snob, Rod 2.0: Beta, The Black Sphere, The Daily Voice, La Shawn Barber's Corner, RealTalkNY Brought to You by Nigel D., Fly, African Path, Black and Missing But Not Forgotten, Soul'd On Music and Crunk & Disorderly.

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This ranking is open to any blogger of African descent who owns/operates a blog. Villager's Black Blog Rankings lean heavily on the Technorati Authority and Rank score for each blog. The Technorati authority and rank numbers are shown in parenthesis. The authority figure includes a number of factors including the number of blogs that are linked to this blogger over the past six months. The rank number indicates how many blogs are between the one listed and The Huffington Post, which is the #1 overall blog in the universe.

There are hyperlinks on the Word version of the Villager's Black Blog Rankings. Leave a COMMENT using the VILLAGE VOICE link below if you want a copy of the Word version. In the meantime, I encourage you to share some link-love with this post so that your blog readers know about us!

Obama Proposes $1.25 Billion for Black Farmers

Field Negro (BBR #9) and others took the Obama administration to the woodshed for reneging on a promise to the impoverished Black farmers. As such, I was glad to see that Obama did the right thing when push came to shove.

President Barack Obama is proposing that the government give $1.25 billion to settle discrimination claims by Black farmers against the Agriculture Department.

The White House said the money would be included in Obama’s 2010 budget request.

Earlier this year, Black farmers and lawmakers criticized Obama for neglecting the need for more money to fund claims under a 10-year-old, class-action lawsuit against the government.

In a statement, Obama said the proposed funds would “close this chapter” in the agency’s history.

"My hope is that the farmers and their families who were denied access to USDA loans and programs will be made whole and will have the chance to rebuild their lives and their businesses," Obama said.

John Boyd (shown in photo shaking Obama's hand), head of the National Black Farmers Association, has called the proposal a "step in the right direction," but said additional funds would be needed.

"We think this is a good step in the negotiating process. We're glad to know this issue is on the president's radar screen and we commend him for taking this step," he said. But "we need to make sure that none of the Black farmers are left out."

Splash Award

The Electronic Village is going to share blogging awards more frequently in the coming weeks. Today, we share the 2009 Splash Award with some deserving blogs. This is an award given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive and inspiring blogs.

The Rules:

• Put the logo on your blog post.
• Nominate up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you.
• Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
• Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
• Remember to link to the person from whom your received your Splash award.

My nine nominess for a Splash Award are:

1. Field Negro - Field still provides the most amusing posts about current events every day.
2. Sojourner's Place - SjP created one of the most alluring blogs in the afrosphere. I love the look, feel and content of her blog.
3. A Political Season - Aaron (does Alaine every post?) provides the most impressive and well-researched political blog posts in the afrosphere. The only problem is that he sees things from the skewed perspective of the Republican Party.
4. Black Women Blow the Trumpet - BWBTT is one of the most bewitching blogs in the afrosphere for Black men. The blog's purpose is to uplift Black women ... which means the posts are often hard on brothers. I can't wait until my daughters were old enough to read and appreciate it!
5. Black Web 2.0 - Angela and Markus have put together a truly impressive team of bloggers to share tips, reviews and video interviews on everything related to the next generation of the Internet.
6. Afro-Netizen - Chris was the first blog to add us to their blogroll when we first got started. I'm impressed that the brother was part of a multi-million dollar buy-out of his company (and blog) last month!
7. daddyBstrong - MacDaddy inspires me this month with his series on Black poets that we should know.
8. What About Our Daughters - Gina inspires with her actions. She created both the Michelle Obama Watch blog and the Blogging While Brown Conference.
9. Regina's Family Seasons - Regina inspires me with her blog posts about hr family. She keeps it real and she serves as a strong matriarch for her peeps.

I hope that villagers will take a moment to visit my nominees for this Splash Award. I also hope that each of my nominees will take a moment to share this Splash Award with other deserving blogs.

Top 50 Best Blogs of 2008 Award

We were surprised and honored to be included on Marenda's list of the Top 50 Best Blogs of 2008. Her blog, Living Life Abundantly, has risen on the Villager's Black Blog Rankings from BBR #96 to BBR #19 over the past year because of the excellent information she provides to her readers.

This is our second year in a row being on Marenda's list. We will do all that we can possibly do to earn her respect again in 2009.

We'd like to beat the drums for other AfroSpear bloggers that made her list this year: Eddie Griffin (BASG) (BBR #178), Field Negro (BBR #9), From My Brown Eyed View (BBR #241), Raw Dawg Buffalo (BBR #16), Science Education & Society (BBR #457), and Vanessa Unplugged (BBR #311).

Blog Safari #3

Here are some interesting blog posts that we came across while hunting outside of our village recently. I hope you enjoy the knowledge dropped by these enlightened blogs:

• Field Negro - The Negro Review Board (NRB)
• Modern Musings - Don't Let Them Get Away With It
• Raw Dawg Buffalo - Blinded by the Obamification of America
• The Marvalus View - Instructions for Life

Let us know if you come across any remarkable posts that should be shared in our next Blog Safari!

Growing Influence of Black Bloggers

Did you see my AfroSpear colleagues Eddie Griffin and Field Negro interview in Chicago Tribune article on 'Black Bloggers'?

Also, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote article, 'Black Bloggers Fight to Make Voices Heard' that included insights from Gina McCauley and yours truly.

The reality is that the AfroSpear is being tapped more and more by the mainstream media as documented on the AfroSpear in the News blog.

What are your thoughts on the evolution of Black folks in the blogosphere? What say u?

Hillary Clinton's Former Pastor Defends Jeremiah Wright

Hillary Clinton simply couldn't leave well enough alone. She didn't get engaged in the flap over Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial sermon snippets for over a week ... until she needed to change the subject from her big lie on her Bosnia sniper experience. "You know, we don't have a choice when it comes to our relatives. We have a choice when it comes to our pastors and the churches we attend," she said.

That was a political mistake. She forever lost respect and future support from a wide range of folks. Field Negro's heart was broken. Keith Boykin, former member of the Clinton White House feels that Hillary owes an apology to Obama.

Perhaps the most compelling repudiation comes from Hillary's former pastor, Dean Snyder. Rev. Snyder chastised Hillary and others for demonizing Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Rev. Snyder shared the following statement on his church website:

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The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream. To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear.
Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize. This is a critical time in America's history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another's truth.

Dean J. Snyder, Senior Minister
Foundry United Methodist Church
March 19, 2008

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I guess we know why Dean Snyder is Hillary's former pastor! Do you agree that Hillary Clinton should concede the nomination now? If not now, when do you think it should happen?

Field Negro Asked a Good Question...

Field won his bet. I never heard of Asia Adams until I read about her in his blog. Truth to tell, I learned about Megan Williams and Dunbar Village via bloggers in The AfroSpear network.

Field gave us a pass on our ignorance about Asia Adams when he wrote:

"Because when she was murdered three years ago in her Germantown home, it didn't make national headlines, and there wasn't a cadre of bloggers focusing on her brutal and tragic death and calling for the equal and proper treatment of Black women. No marches, no wall to wall commentary, and no moral outrage from all the usual suspects."

Field wondered out loud "what it is that makes a story news worthy? Why are some stories worth our outrage and our righteous indignation, and some like Asia Adams....well, we never even hear about?"

In my view, there are three things that we can do now. First, we need to keep one another informed through drumbeats, email listservs or blogs. We can not depend on the mainstream media (MSM) to have the interests of the African American community at heart. We must look out for our own interests by keeping one another informed. We must take advantage of this technology to maintain and increase the flow of information and dialogue.

Second, it is my view that we need to control our own family first. Each of us must ensure that we are spending appropriate time, talent and energy in raising OUR OWN CHILDREN. If you father a child ... you need to step up and be a man .... you need to be involved in raising that child so that they can grow into a productive member of our village (society). Perhaps if each of us simply took responsibility for our child then we would have less young people like Asia or the Haitian mother in Dunbar Village being victimized.

Finally, I accept that there are killers among us that will take another life ... stone-cold, no-remorse killers. However, there are an equal number of young men that will kill tonight who wandered into the killing zone by taking path of least resistance (gangs, drugs, etc). These young people will be forever changed in their soul because of the life that they took. I wonder if there isn't an answer beyond lock 'em up when it comes to rehabilitating these accidental killers?

Field, the marching and blog-writing won't change the mindset that causes a killer to take the life of another human being. Perhaps we can change their mindset before they get in that killing zone? Perhaps we can bring down the number of killings in Philadelphia, Cincinnati and elsewhere. One brother (or sister) at a time.

Villagers, read Field's blog post on Asia Adams ... do you have an answer to his question?

AfroSpear Blogger Field Negro In The News

I was in Los Angeles for the past week visiting with my family. I woke up the other morning and opened the paper to see one of my favorite bloggers in the Los Angeles Times! Click here to see the full article on the Field Negro.

Field (which is how I think of him) disclosed his true identity for the reporter. We now know that the brother is Wayne Bennett, a lawyer in Philadelphia PA. His blog gets over 1,200 hits each day. I admit that I check out the brother's blog each and every day. His posts are on point and usually give me a reason to smile.

Villagers have heard about Field in the past. I've nominated him in the past for a Blogging Star Award and a Thinking Blogger Award. He won the 2007 Black Weblog Award as the 'Best Political Blog' in the universe.

All of this recognition is well-deserved. The brother simply comes correct each and every time ... whether it is with his Coonies Award or his hard stance against the frat boy!

I am proud to be a colleague of Field through The AfroSpear. Field Negro currently stands at #23 on the growing list of Black Blogs that we are tracking each month. If he keeps getting this type of national pub ... he should be riding to #1 with a bullet.

Villagers, what are your thoughts on Field Negro (in particular) or The AfroSpear (in general)?

5 More Blogs That Make Me Think

It hasn't been a full three months yet since my first blog post. It is wonderful to have an outlet such as this to share insights and thoughts on the issues of the day. My hope is that the Electronic Village becomes a daily destination for others in cyberspace interested in talking about Black culture, family, information technology, science fiction, small business development or any number of other topics. I ask that you imagine yourself sitting in the shade under our baobob tree ... enjoying libations and good company of other villagers ... sharing your comments, insights and thoughts.

We are pleased that our imagery appeals to a growing number of visiting villagers. One of the first people to visit with us was Jim Walton (Black in Business). Jim named the Electronic Village as one of the five blogs that make him think. Not Fearing Change did the same thing last month. It is humbling that both of these experienced bloggers feel we deserve The Thinking Blogger Award. My responsibility is to return the favor. I must abide by the rules of this award and name five blogs that make me think.

The first 5 blogs that make me think are still going strong.

Here are 5 more:

1. African American ~Black~ Opinion - This is actually a repeat from last time. However, I am even more intriqued by the direction that Bro. Rock is taking his blog. He is providing a portal for other bloggers in the Afrosphere to make their voices heard. This blog is one that I read daily. You may want to check 'em out regularly as well.
2. the field negro - I absolutely love the House Negro of the Day and Movie of the Day features that field announces every day. He recently shared his thoughts on 'patio negros' that caused some introspection on my part. I'm probably a 'patio negro' at this stage of my life. Come correct to the field negro ... or don't come at all. However, if your self-esteem is high, then I recommend the field negro blog to anyone interested in candor about race relations issues in our country.
3. Fort Wayne African American Independent Woman - credo is the creative genius behind this blog focused on local, regional, and national politics, race relations, community affairs, economic development for small businesses. She is generous in her comments here on the Electronic Village. She was the first to introduce me to the concept of the Afro-Spear. Her blog consistently gives me reasons to sit back and ponder the state of things.
4. The 'D' Spot - Keith is one of the best writers that I've seen in the blogosphere. He uses words to paint a picture. He takes the time to look at issues from a variety of perspectives in a humorous manner. The 'D' Spot focuses on issues related to Detroit, however, anyone that lives in any big city in America will find posts on this blog that resonate with them.
5. Paula Mooney - Paula has a self-titled blog that moves from topic to topic. Quite a few of her posts are about entertainment issues. However, I come back to her blog most of the time to pick up tips on how to monetize my blog. She has been very candid about the money she's earned from blogging. I find her tips easier to understand than many of the other power bloggers out there. Anyhow, I do recommend Paula's blog for any of us newbie bloggers that think we want to get some nickels and dimes back from our online efforts.

These are five more blogs that make me think. Obviously, there are dozens of other blogs and bloggers out there that we enjoy here in da Village. Many of the ones that we enjoy are included in our Afrosphere, Cool and Nubian blogrolls over in the left-hand navigation bar. However, the rules of this meme limit me to handing out the award to only five blogs. It is now the responsibility of these five villagers to write a post with links to 5 blogs that make them think.

Have you visited any of the five blogs listed above? Do you have any comments on them that you would like to share?