Contact the ABW

To contact me directly, please use this form:

Now instead of having to leave a comment on this post, it will send the email directly to me.

30 Responses

  1. Desiree (Blackrican), on February 19, 2007 at 12:46 pm said:

    Hi ABW,

    I’m happy to have run across your blog; I think it’s honest, down-to-earth, and truly something I would suggest to others to read.

    I wanted to know two things:

    1)Have you traced your family’s history back via DNA test (like GeneTree.com) or has it been traced via oral history?

    2) Do you have a fotki (fotki.com), which documents your hair?

    I am currently in the ‘research’ phase of my life right now (wait…I was always into research, so scratch that), and am trying to track down my family’s history. I am even going to take a DNA test to see where exactly my people are from, and what percentage I am of everything.

    I also have a fotki which is documenting my hair; I am transitioning from relaxed to natural. And just like you, I did not know my hair had any type of curl or coils to it! I was pleasantly surprized! However, my ends are still relaxed so I haven’t seen the ‘full effect’ of my hair.

    Well, it would be great to hear back from you. You can either email me, or leave me a note in my guestbook on fotki (privately if needed).

    Desiree a.k.a Blackrican :-)

  2. Phil, on February 20, 2007 at 3:24 pm said:

    ABW, speaking of Black Churches lately you might be interested in checking out “Seeking Salvation,” a film about the history of the Black Church in Canada – http://www.seekingsalvation.ca – can be downloaded/ordered on DVD. Is on Black Family Channel this month as well if you get that channel……

    Pax,

    P

  3. adiaha, on February 21, 2007 at 12:21 am said:

    Hi. Thank you for your reply. I am saddened that I came off to you as angry, it was not my intention. Please accept my apology. I am not angry about your blog or the way in which you choose to express yourself. I am just over it. I reacted to your moniker. We Black women have every right to be angry, that is very true. But that anger is not getting us to far. The anger, which stems from fear, is leaving us unhealthy and we are dying of a multitude of issues. Heart disease, obesity, and HIV/AIDS are just a few at the top of the list in my experience.

    I really would prefer (and this is my selfish desire) to see a moniker that reflected instantly your pride in being black, rather than the anger caused by your skin color. For me anger is simply fear and fear separates and makes distinct with a negative connotation.

    In my perspective we, members of the African diaspora, are not separate or distinct in a negative way. We are the same as every other human being on the planet. At the end of the day (famous Irish colloquialism, as a hats off to your Irish heritage, which is shared by my daughter) we all want similar things. Health, prosperity, safety, and the opportunity to live our lives as freely as one can within the confines of civilization. It is my observation, that we Black folks, sometimes have a hard time viewing ourselves this way. As good, beautiful, intelligent, innovative, successful humans. It is also my observation that the images that we are in so many ways trying to slough, are embraced and we “try to make it our own.” In my opinion it doesn’t work to well. Either we are those stereotypes or we are not.

    I do want to say that I appreciate you. Your writing style is great and despite your moniker you do make me laugh. Many of the thing you write about are spot on and you have a very humorous presentation. Oh!, and here is my contribution to the world. I am a widow who is single handedly raising an interracial child to see beyond the hype about race. I intend that see understand that no matter what race she is she has the right to be.

    Peace, Health & Prosperity,
    adiaha

  4. Holly, on February 21, 2007 at 6:38 pm said:

    Dear ABW,

    I linked over from a friends site and enjoyed your recent posts. Curious: do you have any posts or thoughts on post-Katrina New Orleans?

    Holly

  5. I am not Star Jones, on February 24, 2007 at 1:51 pm said:

    I would like to add you to my blogroll. Is that okay?

  6. Sheletta, on February 26, 2007 at 12:22 pm said:

    After reading your blog, I was so impressed that I started my own at sheletta.com. I linked your site on my website; if you’d like to recepricate, that would be appreciated. I’m a new mom and a comedian… and I also provide daily gossip and black history facts and that kind of jazz… So come on over sometimes and see what it’s all about!

    Happy blogging…

  7. Letta, on February 26, 2007 at 12:23 pm said:

    After reading your blog, I was so impressed that I started my own at sheletta.com. I linked your site on my website; if you’d like to recepricate, that would be appreciated. I’m a new mom and a comedian… and I also provide daily gossip and black history facts and that kind of jazz… So come on over sometimes and see what it’s all about!

  8. BlackLady of the Future, on February 26, 2007 at 4:55 pm said:

    Love you sis!
    You are such a breath of fresh air.
    When u coming to the UK?

    You have some good writing talent girl and I would love to see some of your fiction.
    You go girl!
    Without a doubt we need you in this country. I hope that you can be influential on some youth .
    Bless :)

  9. BlackLady of the Future, on February 26, 2007 at 4:56 pm said:

    Love you sis!
    You are such a breath of fresh air.
    When u coming to the UK?

    You have some good writing talent girl and I would love to see some of your fiction.
    You go girl!
    Without a doubt we need you in this country. I hope that you can be influential on some youth .
    Bless :)
    Ps. Sending again as email address should read .co.uk

  10. Holly Bemiss, on March 6, 2007 at 5:03 pm said:

    I thought you might be interested in this new book by Jabari Asim, cultural critic and deputy editor of the Washington Post Book World.

    Everyone talks about the N Word as a controversial term, but surprisingly few people have looked deeply into why it arouses such strong reactions. In his forthcoming book THE N WORD: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t, and Why (Houghton Mifflin, April – I can send you a free copy if you’d like) cultural critic Jabari Asim untangles the twisted history, and future, of racism through this one word. He says:

    Who can say it?
    Artists: writers, comedians, and musicians, especially those who use the N word with an awareness of the term’s historical baggage. Satirists such as Mark Twain and Dave Chappelle have used the N word to reflect and ridicule America’s tortured history of race relations and to expose powerlessness and anti-black sentiment

    Journalists: Reporting that Officer Fuhrman used “a racial epithet” really doesn’t tell the story as completely as “Fuhrman referred to blacks as ‘niggers’ forty-one times during the recorded conversation.” Censoring the word harms the public’s right to know.

    Historians: Writing that blacks lived in marginalized communities such as Nigger Hill and Niggertown, and were confined to “nigger pews” in church, more effectively relates the hardships that African Americans were forced to endure than merely writing, “Blacks lived in segregated communities and went to segregated churches.”

    Who shouldn’t?
    White people in casual conversations, either with blacks or among themselves: Because the N word can’t escape its racist history, even casual use is still racial abuse. This is true even when the “er” in “nigger” is replaced with an “a” – and white kids are addressing each other.

    Black people in casual conversations, among themselves or with anybody else: “Nigger”-slinging among African Americans is tantamount to bowing down before centuries of entrenched, systematic racism. Using the N word is the furthest thing from “keeping it real.” It is the most inauthentic designation a black person can use regarding another black person. Even in a friendly setting, the exchange of insults masquerading as endearments is little more than a failure of the imagination. And it’s so much easier just to say “brother,” “sister,” or “friend.”

    No one in the public square: While courteous behavior cannot be legislated, we have a moral obligation to encourage it. Politicians and public servants who have uttered it not only showed reprehensible judgment but also betrayed the public trust.

    And why.
    The N word has never been a value-neutral term: Historically, it has always been an insult. Despite the attempts of those who want to transform the word from an insult to a term of empowerment, it hasn’t lost much of its sting. Outside hip-hop’s boundaries, it remains an underground word. Those who persist in using America’s most toxic word outside the acceptable contexts described above are willfully perpetuating the worst impulses of our nation.

    About the author: JABARI ASIM is deputy editor of the Washington Post Book World. He also writes a weekly syndicated column on popular culture. His writing has appeared in Essence, Salon, the Los Angeles Times, the Village Voice, and elsewhere. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five children.

    If you need more information, please do let me know.

    Thanks, friend.
    Holly

  11. Adar Ayira, on March 8, 2007 at 5:45 pm said:

    ABW:

    I am an African American woman new to blogging, a poet, a facilitator/trainer/educator on the issue of racism/white supremacy and internalized oppression. Just — and I mean JUST (smile) — began blogging to widen the forum for information regarding racism/white supremacy and its effects. Before then, have been doing that with a private circle who wanted more information on those topics.

    Is there a blogging community of color that deals with same/similar issues? Not diversity or multiculturalism (well, read the blog, there are only 2 entries thus far, but they’re clear re how I approach the topic)but the straight up reality of racism/white supremacist philosophy in amerikkka?

    I appreciate your help and I enjoyed reading your blog (smile).

    In Peace,

    Adar

  12. Adar Ayira, on March 8, 2007 at 5:46 pm said:

    Forgot to leave the blog site:

    ayira-bloggingamerikkka.blogspot.com

  13. richard, on March 13, 2007 at 12:27 pm said:

    hey abw, check out this abm site.

  14. Amanda - edited by ABW, on March 22, 2007 at 2:45 pm said:

    There used to be a long, rambling thing here about Duke Lacrosse players that had no point except “white people are being accused and it’s so sad!” Until someone steps forward to tell me why the hell this stuff was posted/emailed, I’m keeping it deleted.

  16. madashell, on March 28, 2007 at 11:07 pm said:

    I wonder if you’ve seen the controversy about Shaquanda Cotton and what your opinion is on that case. The details as well as my contact information are on my blog.

  17. madashell, on March 28, 2007 at 11:08 pm said:

    Sorry, it didn’t list the blog: http://madashell.wordpress.com

    Thanks

  18. thefreeslave, on April 2, 2007 at 3:04 pm said:

    Angry Black Woman,

    I wanted to ask you if you’d be interested in a progressive blog space/think tank – 3 black women/3 black men in the diaspora – US talking about our issues, strategizing, visioning the future?

    There are posts on my page and also Asabagna’s website (linked on my site). Please let me know what you think.

  19. malena, on April 9, 2007 at 10:15 am said:

    hi ABW,
    this is Malena, co-editor of RaceWire.org, the blog of ColorLines magazine. I’m writing to pitch a story I think you’d be interested in writing for RaceWire.
    Hope to hear from you!

  20. Kimi, on April 9, 2007 at 3:32 pm said:

    Hey ABW, I discovered your blog, it seems great and I’ll probably be visiting daily. Do you know of any African American Pop Culture blogs that deal with issues of race, identity and representation?

  21. Anne Pierson, on April 15, 2007 at 10:09 pm said:

    Dear ABW:

    I have just opened a blog site, which has not yet been released to the public, but which centers on challenges faced by all women – and encourages a daily rant about any subject that concerns women.

    In upcoming months, press releases will be blasted to the media, and women writers with a presence at this site will always have the opportunity to promote their own blogs and rants, thus making the site a very powerful women’s venue – no holds barred.

    Although I am an angry white woman, I love the strength of the blogs you write, and I also love the comments I see here. I welcome you, and your fellow bloggers to join us. We have a minority women section already established, and welcome you to participate – as women in general, and African American women as well.

    What a fantastic blog. Thanks for having yet another great place for women to have their say on a set of issues unique to them.

    Anne Pierson
    RantingWomen.com

  22. Jennifer, on April 28, 2007 at 12:14 pm said:

    Thank you for your honesty with your blog. Needed 100%.

    Just know you have support from me – a true sister who is exhausted trying to preach our history, etc.

    Sometimes I just want a white pass somedays so I can be a real b in public and not get arrested!

    =)

  23. Ampersand, on May 1, 2007 at 1:03 pm said:

    ABW,

    If you get a chance, please drop me an email — it’s barry (at) amptoons (dot) com. There’s something I’d like to ask you. Thanks!

  24. commiesmurf, on May 2, 2007 at 6:44 pm said:

    ABW,

    Here is the link. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5285318743379859237

    This is outstanding television. There is nothing like this on tv anymore. I dont think I’ve ever heard anyone say “institutionalized racism” on tv. Then again I was only 14 when this aired.

    Dr. Muhammad’s analysis of institutionalized racism seems sound. Particularly the 39:00th minute. The woman in the audience who speaks to the legacy white people inherit is also right on. But then you have the blanket anti-jewish and anti-gay remarks. Its an afrocentric critique of white supremacy expressed coupled with religious fundamentalism. White supremacy includes a long list of unprovoked invasions and occupations (like Dr. M refers to about South Africa) so of course subjected people should never view the institutions that follow domination as legitimate.

    The privileged…well we got options…that’s why we’re privileged

  25. Content Black Woman, on May 2, 2007 at 7:08 pm said:

    Hey ABW:

    I’m digging your blog. I will link you to mine. Keep the conversation going. More of us need to be doing this.

    Peace

  26. exelizabeth, on May 3, 2007 at 4:56 pm said:

    I just came across your blog via Alas, A Blog (which I came across via BloggingFeminism, which I came across via Bitch PhD, which I came across via… I can’t remember… maybe HorsesAss or Effin’ Unsound). I’ve really been enjoying reading. I’m interested in the post about SF, and I’m wondering who the author is? I would be interesting in reading her work.

    I’ve always found SF/Fantasy generally uninteresting, but the thought of SF written by a woman of color is actually titillating and I would love to check it out.

  27. Sharron, on May 4, 2007 at 2:03 am said:

    I’m a student at UCLA. For me, it’s hard to awaken this “anger” in the limited amount of black females (or community, in general) here. I would like to discuss several of your philosophies in more detail. I like a lot of what I read, and I want to know more. Thank you for your time.

    -Sharron

  28. mario, on May 4, 2007 at 2:57 pm said:

    Hi, wanted to alert you to John Ridley’s latest –

    He writes about being the ONLY black person at the Republican debate last night. Have a look:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/yesterday-i-was-black-guy_b_47652.html

    best,
    Mario

    mario ruiz
    huffingtonpost.com
    p 917-864-5370

Comments are closed.