- Cafe Utne
- The Cafe attracts a wide variety of individuals to debate the subject of race.
Although volume is down from its peak, there are many discussions which can be browsed.
Utne contains the only debate online I have seen where the 'Blacks vs Jews' debate was
settled amicably with kudos all around. Physically, the interface is superb and response
time is very good. There is a solid core of reliable individuals who have been discussing
the issues for years.
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- Gravity
- Gravity is an extraordinary site hosted by the ineffable Cuda Brown. Its many
posts are sophisticated, well-informed and culturally flavorful. The interface is crisp,
although the server is slow. But there are gems of conversation here, including probably
the most brilliant analyses of Afrocentrism, African Arts, and Black Nationalism to be
found anywhere on the web. Gravity is definitely the class joint. There are rarely any
personality conflicts here at all. Although the volume is low, Gravity is the undisputed
champion of diverse topics related to race and culture.
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- Salon's Table Talk
- For sheer massiveness, Salon cannot be beat. Its editors have created a
conference called The Race Project which has generated an enormous amount of debate.
Currently there are 75 different threads covering everything from Geronimo Pratt to Black
Atheletes to Schindler's List to Whiteness Studies. For sheer diversity of topics alone it
would deserve a prize, but in addition, Salon has attracted all of the gadflies on the
subjects including some more famous folk like Sherman Alexie and David Horowitz.
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- The Gate
- The Gate is the up and comer in this category. Having initiated 'About
Race' in collaboration with the SF Examiner, the Gate has attracted a great deal of
attention from a wide variety of posters. Debates get hot and heavy and filtering is not
uncommon, but volume is consistent, and commentary is often quite insightful. In a
cyberspace coup Host Howard Bowler recently facilitated a debate between a panel of online
regulars and Ward Connerly on the subject of Affirmative Action. Although it has only
three threads related to race, they remain interesting.
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- soc.culture.african.american.moderated
- Due to the diligent efforts of moderators L.A. Jeter and Art Johnson, the great
and august usenet discussion forum s.c.a.a. has been rescued from total devolution.The
quality of discussion in the new group is outstanding, passionate and approachable.
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