Communication from the Democratic National Convention Committee regarding perceived racial inequities in the State Blogger Pool

From DNC's Aaron Myers to members of the Afrospear last week, including Francis L. Holland. He has not published this on any posts on his blog...someone else who received it put it in the comments. Francis has been repeatedly courting the media to write his "Jim Crow" story.

Thanks for writing.

The blog list that you're speaking about is the Convention's initial list of state-focused blogs. These blogs report on politics in their home states. The Convention plans to provide credentials to an additional larger list of blogs by the end of the month (next week). Those additional blogs will also have access to the Convention floor -- contrary to some of what has been said online. Like any other members of the media, bloggers with timed "floor passes" will be able to walk around on the floor and conduct interviews with delegates. Floor passes will be available to all of the "General Pool" bloggers.

In the application process, most minority-focused and issue-based blogs did not apply for "State Blog Corps" credentials. They applied for the "General Pool." When the additional list of blogs is announced in a few days, I think you'll be very pleased with the blogs selected. Our goal is to reach the entire Democratic audience. This next group of blogs will be very representative of the entire Democratic family.

-aaron

Today, Pam Spaulding wrote up a post at "Pam's House Blend" describing the conversation she had with Aaron Myers over the weekend about the DNC's attempts to resolve this issue. At the end, Pam and I had, as she called it, a "pertinent exchange" in the comments. I'll print it here:


COMMENTS:

I don't think this issue is "solvable" for this Convention... (0.00 / 0)
...not in this short of a time, not with space limitations and not in a way that's going to satisfy anyone.
The best the DNC can do is remove any restrictions that may exist with the General Blogger Pool. It sounds like that is what they are working on. It's not perfect, but it's a start and it's also pretty much the extent of what the DNC can do. The rest must be done within the blogosphere.

The only way to fix this is to continue to pursue integrating state-focused blogs with POC voices, to continue de-mystifying blogs for others (I did a lot of that this past weekend at the AK Dem Convention) and encourage more folks of all walks of life to join the blogosphere, especially encouraging minority bloggers. Also, encouraging more folks to approach blogging from the "50-state strategy" is important for maximum impact in state elections.

We also need to pressure our Local, State and Federal representatives to find more and better ways to provide Internet access to EVERYONE, regardless of urban/rural location or economic status.

Through all of this, I've learned that having a discussion on race is extremely difficult and most Progressives (especially white Progressives) completely shy away from it. Some of them have a wicked case of denial of the problem. However, I believe...I know...that a whole lot of folks are afraid that they will be labeled as "racist" just by discussing their thoughts.

I can attest to that one. My POC boss, friends and family were pretty blown away when that label was thrown at me.

I've discovered that it's easy to get riled and it is easy for misunderstandings to occur on all sides. It is also common to have one's words twisted by folks with an agenda and then pushed for their own personal gain. No matter what is true, some folks will see what they want to see, even if they have to alter reality to do it. That applies to folks of all colors.

The DNC can no more effectively and efficiently integrate the 2008 Convention by itself than white America can fix the racial inequalities in the US by itself. Any of this requires constant dialogue, unwavering teamwork and give-and-take on all sides.

Name-calling halts that process in its tracks.

It makes one wonder what folks who can toss those names around so easily and inaccurately at fellow Progressives...fellow Obama suppporters...are really trying to accomplish?

It also makes one wonder who benefits?

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by: CelticDiva @ Mon May 26, 2008 at 23:12:47 PM EDT
[ Reply ]

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no one benefits, in the end (0.00 / 0)
I've taken the slings and arrows from both sides.
I get blasted by some white progressives for pointing out their lack of coverage of Jena 6, then I receive the most rank and horrible emails from some POC (selling out, wanting to hold a brother back) for holding Obama accountable for the McClurkin nonsense. It seems to come with the territory for me. I just wish there were more willing to step into the public line of fire with me to try to bridge these gaps.

I agree with what you've said - the PR damage has been done, and thank you for saying how difficult it is to discuss race for the reasons both of us outlined. Admitting this is how you start to break down barriers -- by acknowledging the damage caused, inadvertently, by politically correct culture that makes it difficult to speak frankly with curiosity about our difference (particularly out of benign ignorance) without having the minority group jump down your throat.

On the other hand there is also a strain of willful ignorance in some about issues of concern to minorities results in "it's their problem to solve" because progressive whites see nothing in it for them -- loathing the thought of being perceived as racist even as they try to speak up. It leads to lack of acknowledgment of the very white privilege they enjoy in their silence, and the vicious circle of poor communication, misunderstanding and lack of inclusion or outreach continues.

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by: pam @ Tue May 27, 2008 at 06:27:10 AM EDT

Please read the related posts on this and Pam's blog and come back to make comments.