Boohabian Q&A |
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Perhaps the supreme irony of black American existence
is how broadly black people debate the question of cultural identity among themselves
while getting branded as a cultural monolith by those who would deny us the complexity and
complexion of a community, let alone a nation. If Afro Americans have never settled for
the racist reductions imposed upon them -- from chattel slaves to cinematic stereotype to
sociological myth -- it's because the black collective conscious not only knew better but
also knew more than enough ethnic diversity to subsume those fictions. |
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| Edited by M.D.C.Bowen last updated July 11, 1998 |
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Boo Who? - Who or what is a Boohab?
The Man Behind the Boohabian Curtain - How old are you? What is your educational background?
Why Race?- Did you get into it with the goal of using the internet to further racial progress, or did that come later? or does your perspective as a black man in the us and your socio-political views mean that all of your activities are engaged in with that as an ultimate goal?
Black Ambition - What, in your opinion, would be the best way to use cyberspace to further your ultimate goals?
Crossover - Why do you bother with such a forum as this, mostly white, upper/middle class, not particularly racist, pretty much clueless when it comes to looking at the world from your vantage point? What keeps you patient with us?
Culture Clash - I notice dramatic cultural differences among different communities, cliques, and tribes on the Internet. But for the most part, these cultural differences don't seem to be highly correlated with race. Do you see the issue as one of a clash among races or as a clash of cultures?
Ugly Net-Racists - Is the internet typical of RL? I think not. It's the higher socio-economic group that has computers - and only a *minority* of Blacks belong to that group. Add to that, the fact that people can be invisible so their ugliness can surface without any threat to their security. Therefore, it would seem that net-racists would have the chance to perform as the evil little toads that they are. Do you find this to be true, Boohab?
In Defense of Racists - Do you think that the worst racists on the 'net would be as blatant in real life?
On the Fly Tip - What makes boohab so damn fresh?
Virtual Race Men - What is the level of sophistication on the issues of race and racism as confronts the USA today?
Virtual vs RL Do you see a difference in the online levels of this sophistication vs. "real life"?
TCP/IB - Could you tell us how race travels over networks?
- The Circle of Life - Do find that internet discussions on race follow a fairly predictable pattern or do you you typically get surprising and insightful dialogue?
Minority Participation - Describe what measures you would take to get more minorities on the internet, such as 1) providing more government assistance to purchase computers 2) asking computer companies to provide discounts for those living in depressed economic areas 3) funding for inner-city schools to get on the "information superhighway", etc. (the above are examples, not criteria).
The Talented Tenth - I've been wanting to ask you about your references to DuBois' ideas concerning the "Talented Tenth." Do you subscribe to that view, and if so, how would you define the "Talented Tenth," and do you think the net has any function for these people? I also wonder if you think the net could be a vehicle for promoting the 13 solutions you listed in your site. My main question, though, is what had you hoped the net would do for race issues and how and why has it failed thus far in your view.
Harmonic Racial Convergence - Will the internet become a place where all races will converge as one?
The Kwanzaa Story -
Boohabian Heroes -