I am attending a conference focusing on “bloggers of color, education and social justice in New Orleans” that ties its news peg to the Jena 6 movement, especially the Sept. 20 protest, that has largely been attributed to blogging and internet organizing.
[below are notes, not my personal opinion…I’ll respond in my own way later on…]
Professor Dedra Johnson, blogger of G Bitch Spot.
Perspectives not taken into account, documentation that can fall through the cracks.
Dr. Eban Walters, blogger of New Orleans — It’s Just Me.
Most productive period of blogging was when he moved back home in late 2006. Happened that there was the first Rising Tide blogger conference, which was the first time everyone had met. Another blogger, NOLA Slate, urged him to blog because there were so few bloggers of color (Dedra being one of the only people). His first post was the first anniversary of Katrina, August 29, 2006, when he just couldn’t take it anymore.
Clifton Harris, blogger of Cliff’s Crib.
“It was a lot easier to write when I thought no one was paying attention. I’m not a writer by trade.” People shouldn’t be over concerned about who your audience is, says Harris, because then you’re doing things to get readers instead of staying true to yourself.
Harris — comment on blogs if you support what they say. Don’t just say the compliment in person…cause then it looks like it’s just one crazy black guy. Fight back against derogatory comments on nola.com! Needs to be a dialogue, conversation that’s TWO-SIDED.
Johnson — Been waiting for the number of bloggers of color in New Orleans to increase, doesn’t know why. Thinks especially important here to have those voices, need to represent the diversity of the culture of this city ONLINE. “I mean, you know there are more opinionated black people than the three of us.” Parts of the conversation were missing, whether talking about which neighborhoods should be rebuilt, public housing, etc.
Harris — Did write about Jena before 9/20. One of the few moments that I felt that technology was used to change a wrong that was done. There was black radio, but the seeds of the story were on blogs. The only regret I have about the whole situation — in a piece I wrote called “My personal apology to Michal Bell” — is that we had enough to follow through to get him out of jail, but not enough to heal his life. Should have had a counselor there with him, or something. If he had been successful in killing himself, the whole Jena movement would feel completely hollow.
Johnson — I was hopeful to get more out of the movement to Jena. Of course, there was a great dialogue that popped up on this issue…misperceptions. It shows us what we can start, not what we can finish, how we can follow through. I did find it disappointing that there was this great swell of interest and support that kind of faded.
Walters — I didn’t blog about Jena. I think about that period, I remember being surprised that this Jena story popped out of nowhere. I was upset that Nagin went up there, get some photo ops instead of handle business back home.
Moderator: What’s the next civil rights issue or important issue in New Orleans?
Johnson — Still feel housing is important. Education. I hope I make an impact by documenting, bearing witness to what’s happening.
Walters — Healthcare, mental healthcare in particular and crime. Link between crime and education. [tries to rock the boat a little, but worried about career?] I’ll write a letter to people, like Governor Jindal or David Vitter. Or some jerk editor from the New York Post about how New Orleans should be written off. And I’ll post that letter and tell people to use what they want from it to make their own letter.
Harris — If we’re fighting for new schools, hospitals, etc, then you can’t trash the schools or start a turf war as soon as you come back to the city. Job training.
Need to say: This is what we need to do once we get it. [set expectations] Fight for justice and equity that we deserve and then hold each other accountable. Don’t know how to separate the two, so I do both at the same time.
[end of the first panel…battery cut out before Q &A…]
The Education of a Bookshop Clerk 