'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.

Race-Baiting Comments by Lamar Alexander (R-TN) During Healthcare Debate

Perhaps I am too sensitive. However, 50 years of living in America has taught me to hear the race-baiting dog whistles from old white guys. I heard Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) on one of the Sunday talk shows call Medicaid a 'medical ghetto'.

It turns out that Alexander used this term a number of times on the Senate floor during the healthcare debate.





Cheryl Contee (Jack and Jill Politics) wrote,

"The right (and some on the left) would have you think that Medicaid was created so lazy shiftless black people could eat bonbons, watermelon & fried chicken while having their free x-rays, abusing the tax dollars of hardworking white people. Like Lamar Alexander who has repeatedly called Medicaid a “Medical Ghetto” on the Senate floor."

I encourage all villagers to read Cheryl's full blog post.

Why do old white guys in politics always devolve to race-baiting when they are losing the argument?

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!

Blog Safari #34

I encourage all villagers to join us on our current blog safari? Our rhino-guide (she still needs a name!) wants to take you through the cyber-jungle to see some talented bloggers and creative blog posts. Enjoy the flow!!

• Afrospear - To Kill a Mockingbird: The Eric Frimpong Story


• Black Web 2.0 - Blogging While Brown Wrap-Up


• Booker Rising - PHOTOS: Obamas in Ghana


• Jack & Jill Politics - The NAACP Doesn't Care About Black People


• The Jose Vilson - On the Reason You May Only Get One Black Male Teacher Ever in Your Life (If At All)

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

'E' for Excellence Award

We are honored to receive the 'E' For Excellence award from Maryannville. Maryannville is a popular blog created by Mary Ann. Mary Ann traveled from border-to-border and coast-to-coast before settling in a town with zip code 'E-I-E-I-O'. I met Mary Ann during the Blogging-To-Fame contest two years ago. She is a powerhouse blogger. As such, it meant alot when she shared this award with us.

The rules state that after receiving the Excellent Blog Award, you must pass it on to 10 more excellent bloggers. Here are the ten bloggers that I would like to share this award with today:

• Michael Lang (Black Digerati)
• Ajuan Mance (Black on Campus)
• Kyra Hicks (Black Threads)
• Angela Benton & Markus Robinson (Black Web 2.0)
• Khepera (Electronic Drum)
• Tanisha Mathis (Essential Presence)
• Baratunde Thurston & Cheryl Contee (Jack & Jill Politics)
• Keith Owens (The 'D' Spot)
• Janet Shan (The Hinterland Gazette)
• Grata (The Village)

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

Day of Blogging for Justice: Standing Up Against the Police Pre-Trial Electrocution

Villagers, have you noticed the continued taser murders of Black children, men and women by police officers around the nation?

The UN's Committee Against Torture has declared that taser use can constitute a form of torture, while USA: Amnesty International has an ongoing concern about the use of tasers. In the view of the AfroSpear, the issue of Black people being tortured with tasers rivals the current political discussions about the Bush torture memos and torture in the United States.

The AfroSpear is calling on all bloggers to join us in a Day of Blogging for Justice: Standing Up Against the Police Pre-Trial Electrocution on Friday, April 24, 2009.

The rules are simple:

1. Share a post on your blog focused on your concerns about the tasering of Blacks folks.
2. Send an email to AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit@gmail.com so that we may document everyone's participation.

I hope that we can count on the blogging community to step up and support this blogging campaign. Here are some examples of what bloggers have been reporting on the police pre-trial electrocution:

• Afro-Netizen - Taser Death of Black man by White cop near Jean ...


• Black Voices - 21st Century Whips


• Diane Dimond - The 50-Thousand Volt Solution


• Electronic Village - Police Taser 16-Year Old Robert Mitchell to Death


• Electronic Village - Taser Policy Defined by 'Use of Force Continuum'


• Jack and Jill Politics - A Day of Blogging for Justice - Against Extra-Judicial ...


• Mondoglobo - Lousiana Police Electrocute Handcuffed Man in Grocery Store


• Pam's House Blend - NC: More Freestyle Law Enforcement Death-by-Taser


• Problem Chylde - Tasing as Deadly Force


• Race Wire - Black Teenager Killed by Cop’s Taser


• Tasered While Black - Black Man Pepper Sprayed, Batoned, Tased ...


• Tasered While Black - Police Taser and Kill Black Man and Laugh About It


• Tasered While Black - Black Man Tased and Beaten in Peoria, IL.


• The Super Spade - Tasered While Black


• Ultraviolet Underground - Electrocuted While Black

I hope that bloggers will participate and I hope that blog readers will read, comment and support our Day of Blogging for Justice: Standing Up Against the Police Pre-Trial Electrocution on Friday, April 24, 2009.

Blog Safari #22

Our Rhino-Guide invites you to join him & Kimba on travels thru cyberspace to check out some powerful cultural, personal and political posts in this week's 'Blog Safari'.

Enjoy the flow from these talented bloggers!

• A Political Season - 'The Search for a Decent Obama Impersonator Is Over'


• Black Threads - 'Liberia: A Visit Through Books'


• Jack and Jill Politics - 'NPR Cancels Only Black-Issues Program, News & Notes'


• What About Our Daughters - 'Michelle Obama Named 'American of the Year''


• Womanist Musings - 'Saving The World One Savage At A Time: Porn To The Rescue'

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

Blog Safari #13

Every week or so I like to take you for long walks outside of our Electronic Village. We call it our 'Blog Safari'. I hope you enjoy these blog post referrals:

• BlogHer - Anyone Remember Uncanny 2005 TV show “Commander in Chief” - Did It Predict Palin?


• Blog of Hilarity - The 11 Best Film Moments of Samuel L. Jackson Yelling


• Jack and Jill Politics - Chris Rock Tells the Truth


• The Harkness Report - The Nasty Politics of Racial Resentment


• What About Our Daughters - Reginald Whatshisname Forced Out at BET

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

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Presidency

President Bush will seek to comfort victims of his presidency as they try to make sense of the destruction he has caused.

Blog Safari #4

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:

• BDPA Detroit TAC - Obama is Linked In


• Black Political Thought - Washington Post Journalist Says Barack Obama More White than Black


• Jack & Jill Politics - Is America Addicted to Bigotry and Racism


• What About Our Daughters - Dunbar Village: One Year Later

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