My sister, Lisa of BlackWomenBlowTheTrumpet.blogspot.com left this query today:
“Hello there!
I don’t think that many “new” bloggers know that AfroSpear and AfroSphere are two separate entities.
I am confused now about them after reading your post.
Are there TWO e-groups now? Why are the names so similar?
Feel free to hop over to my blog and send me an email.
Lisa”
Lisa, you inspired me to try to make a beginning on answering those questions right here.
Having been one of the six members who put this AfroSpear idea into orbit – Sylvia, Asa, Field Negro, Aulelia and Kizzie – I must say that I’m as confused as the folks who email here regularly asking us “what’s the difference between the ‘Spear and ‘Sphere”…“what and why is there an ‘AfroSp(here)ear Bloggers Association’ and a ‘AfroSphere Google Group’?!” Etc, etc.
“And, why are these names so similar?!”
Why indeed. And a related question: Does it help or hurt the cause that these names are so similar?
The name “AfroSpear” was inspired by conversations that were going on at a number of blogs regarding segregation in the so-called “blogosphere.” We chose Afro- “Spear” over “Sphere” because a spear is a tool and we proposed to make the AfroSpear a tool that we could use for education, inspiration and creation.
Rather than complaining about how white bloggers didn’t understand us or our interests – something that sadly afflicts many of our web savvy folk – it seemed like a good idea to create an entity that represented and expressed the aspirations of blacks and other people of color. We believed that it could help us move from helpless and hapless victims to empowered actors on our own behalf.
That shift, we knew, begins in the mind and this site, necessarily, focuses on the domepiece, providing information that brings light to our community, through reports, screeds and provocations of all sorts that tell us what’s really going on and force us to confront illusions about ourselves and our condition. And no doubt, we wanted to get the word out about efforts by people of color to fight the power and who were developing a ‘lil bit of their own.
We created an ‘umbrella’ concept which welcomed black bloggers of all stripes to convene here to promote, plan and process. We encouraged the formation of cells/cadres (as opposed to cliques) of black interest groups that would take on community specific issues. We know that there are black anarchists, gay and lesbian rights activists, feminists/womanists/animal rightists or vegans; we wanted that light shown here, for those of us who possess hetero-privilege, male-privilege or class privilege. In effect, we want/ed some spiritual and intellectual gumbo going on here that could fill us up with more and more light. And I’ll be damned if we don’t have some of that goin’ on here.
We believed and understood from our experiences that it is in smaller configurations that work actually gets done. Most mass movements have and always will depend on the actions of a few dedicated, committed laborers and visionaries.
Clearly the ‘Spear and its offshoots are similar because there has been some cross pollination by folks who were involved here and began participating in other groups. Some became excited with the initial concept and demonstrated their zeal by using the same name with a slight twist. Flattering to be sure, but highly confusing. And frightening.
“Where were they taking this and why?” “Is it being borrowed or ‘jacked?” “Is it my ego or are these legitimate concerns?”
I know I looked on with some trepidation as I saw some folks borrow the name but forget the concepts at root of what we were trying to do: bringing us under one banner that acknowledges our differences, commonalities and tensions and seeks to resolve them through passionate, authentic engagement.
“AfroSpear, we have a problem!” Or do we?!
Is it a branding issue, or is it something more, deeper, darker? Those of us who are a part of the AfroSpear and all of its tributaries should think about this confusing state of affairs and how it should be resolved – if it needs resolving. Clarity and greater coalescing might prove fruitful.
Thank you for sharing your historical perspective. I’m never sure why there is confusion.
IMHO –
afrosphere – any Black-owned blog is part of the afrosphere. currently, i’m aware of a little over 1300 such blogs.
AfroSpear – is a group of progressive bloggers as you describe in your post. Currently there are a little over 130 of us under the AfroSpear banner.
peace,
Villager
Freeslave, When I read Asa’s post I was a bit taken aback by the fact that this riff had occured or at least how it occured and the name being used by those that created the splinter did somewhat irritate my conscious. I am and have been clearly aligned with the original AfroSpear and I am squarely claiming this Afrospear, the original Afrospear since I was one of the writers that engaged in the beginning talks concerning the Afrospear concept and agreed with the concepts you outline above.
Yo, E. Appreciate the words. We’re all in this together. Its really all about communication and clarity. And as a good friend of mine used to say – time takes time.
Villager, as a relatively new member of the AfroSpear, I experienced the same confusion. It took me a long time to learn that the Google group was not one whole part with this blog.
I also understand confusion from media and outside groups. The names are virtually identical, and I have to stop and read slloooowwwly to see which one is being discussed.
Imagine the confusion that invites from the general population and White who aren’t good with Black names anyway. LOL
I’m just glad this is being discussed. It is a branding issue, and I always silently prayed that a solution would come.
I also think if the names stay the same, continuing to “educate” everybody about the different is a losing battle. The names/brands must be clearly distinct.
Oh Lord, I type too fast:
Corrections -
*White = Whites
*different = difference
The constant conflation of the terms Afrospear and Afrosphere from day one by those who know better (even to the point that “Afrosphere/Afrospear” is a commonly used term of conflation by some of these people still, as if the two words are synonyms); along with having never provided a strong, agreed upon and consistently promoted definition of Afrosphere from the outset, is why there is such confusion.
I’ve tried to address this issue with some folks; but ultimately it went no where; so as with many words in the English language, Afrosphere will mean whatever the user wants it to mean.
Further, you say the Afrospear name was “borrowed”; which is a very surprising notion to me after being an Afrospear member for a year this month. It is my understanding that the 6 Original Afrospear members at this site agreed to have a seperate Afrospear google group for general membership, while this site was for some inner circle. How the name was “borrowed” for the google group, when all 6 original Afrospear members at this think take are also members of the google group, I don’t understand. [well except for maybe Aulelia , because I don't even know who that is; but even with 5 out of 6, the point remains the same.]
Yobachi,
When we formed this site we chose the name AfroSpear after debating the merits of spear/sphere. Initially, we had envisioned this site being a destination for all African Diasporic bloggers to convene, debate, plan and hatch ideas. We encouraged bloggers to create cells/cadres of like souls, but asked them to be/stay connected to this site so we could really form this thing well, dig into some issues and foment change.
That didn’t happen; what did happen was that people started creating “AfoSphere/Spear” franchises. It was everything AfroSpear/Sphere, AS blogger associations, PR firms, chicken wing outlets. Soon, there will be a AS telethon featuring Jerry Lewis. No, it wasn’t quite that bad, but it was close.
And we at AfroSpear had no control, no ability to reign all of that stuff in. That was a major shortcoming: having a plan for the torrent of interest and excitement that was generated by this idea.
I was never involved in the Google Group, though I nominally joined it. I was never involved in discussions regarding its creation, though its clear now that I should have been. If I had been, I would have put in a word in terms of distinguishing it by name and deed from this group. And making sure that the confusion that now reigns would be diminished.
As you may understand, it was a hard enough task putting the original site together and keeping it going; to then be a part of forming another entity…?!
The key issue is not who said what when. Its whether or not we are going to try to create more clarity or not. I think we should begin having some constructive conversations – somewhere in the blogosphere – about this stuff with an eye to solving it. We need to understand what happened, why things happened and how to fix it – if its fixable.
It could be a fix as simple as a name change.
At this point, it doesn’t feel like this site and the Googlegroup have much if any connection. That’s bad for us and bad for the struggle. This could be resolved if both groups want it. So, Yobachi, what do you propose we do about it?
Thanks for your response TheFreeSlave,
I came into the this thing last year believing that the Afrospear was just the Afrospear and this think tank was the public blog, and the google group was the internal dialogue spot. After some time it became clear that they are only tangentially connected.
Either a stronger unification or a name change on one end would make the most sense. Either being willing to change their name doesn’t seem likely as many in the Afrospear have spent the last year with exactness and determination branding it, and to walk away from it after all that work is not going to be appealing. And I’m sure you all at the think tank wouldn’t think very kindly of the notion of walking away from the name you originated.
Greater unification would be the best, but for reasons I don’t want to give voice to in public, will likely be a difficult trail to negotiate.
I’m going to rite something about this in the next couple days. I have one ideal in particular that I think would be helpful.
I’m not sure which group i joined…it had forums where u can commune, sign up volunteer work etc (not the group that personally invites you-the other one).
I had trouble gaining access, after I signed up…and the assistance I received (none) left an undesirable taste on my palate. it caused so much confusion, I gave up being a part of -sphere/spear, that I chose instead to travel around blackosphere in order to learn.
Bria, sounds like you’re talking about the Afrosphere Bloggers Association. That institution is independent of and not a part of the Afrospear. Though the orginators came out of the Afrospear, and the person over the physical maintenance of the form right now is a Spear member.
Bria, you are most welcome here and I will add you to our blogroll.
Yobachi, why don’t we try to have some sort of email exchange to bat around these issues and bring other folks into the fold. Or, perhaps have a dialogue about this on the Google group site?
ok…I guess my pc decided to catch a ‘tude as my previous comment did not show up…
@Yobachi-hey stranger, long time no talk! pray all is well with u and urs!! Yes it was Afrosphere…sigh
@thefree-thanks for the welcome welcome-I appreciate it so much. I would love to be added to your blogroll, i just don’t think I’d ‘fit’…i’m a mish-mash of posts…and i wouldn’t be considered black progressive.
however, the love is much appreciated anyway
Bria
p.s. if there’s a way u can include me in the community-i’m all for it.
Thank u,
bria
Bria: Its too late…you’re IN!!
Hello Family -
Like Bria, I was thoroughly confused. I’m a newbie blogger too and was looking to connect with a lot of the progressive and professional black bloggers out there. Once I connected with AfroSpear I was instantly welcomed in with “open arms” (Thanks again for the early love!).
After a few weeks and as I visited different sites, I noticed an “AfroSphere Blogroll” that seemed to have the same names from the “AfroSpear Blogroll” except mine. I, too, assumed that this was the same organization/group because they were just TOO similar not to be (coming from a newbie perspective and as an outsider looking in – clueless about the history).
I even saw shout outs to newbie bloggers on some sites and their names included on the “AfroSphere” blogroll, yet my name never appeared (and still doesn’t). I even saw some of these newbies nominated for awards (due to the love and exposure early in the game). Can you blame me for wanting some of this too? I may be a newbie, but I think my blog is on point and fills a void (if I may toot my own horn).
After searching F-O-R-E-V-E-R, I located a Google group. I was thinking, “Perhaps this is how I can be included in the greater community blogroll that seems to be everywhere in the black blogoshpere AND thus, be included in the larger discussion.” Like Bria again, once I made contact, there was still confusion. I just recently learned I’m on the six month wait list. No worries, this sista WILL be around in 6 mo. However, it did leave me feeling isolated and on my own – ONCE AGAIN!! As a result, I’m making connections on my own through my random travels in the blogosphere. As such, I feel like I’m missing out on great sites and others are missing out on mine (leaving us to discover each other months and perhaps years from now when we could meet up today).
Just my two cents –
The Sauda Voice
Well Sauda Voice, whether you like it or not you HAVE been added to our blogroll. You are a member of the AfroSpear now, as long as you like. And we apologize for the confusion that we’ve caused you and many others. Hopefully in the near future, we will have ironed out most of these problems.
This destination has come to be thought of as the “AS Think Tank.” This is where big ideas are discussed, issues debated, calls to action are made, alarm bells are wrung.
Please feel free – you, Bria, EVERY BODY – to contribute here, either by posting or commenting.
All black bloggers who want to belong and participate here are WELCOME!!
Hey thefreeslave -
I was primarily commenting about the “AfroSphere” and the confusion I experienced from not knowing the two (AfroSpear/AfroSphere) were different entities, especially during my first blogging days and weeks. I kept seeing this mass blogroll everywhere, but my site was never on it despite having asked for inclusion many weeks before and seeing my name when I visited the “AfroSpear” site. At the time, I was operating under the mistaken belief that the two entities were one in the same.
As I said in the first sentences of my post:
“Once I connected with AfroSpear I was instantly welcomed in with “open arms” (Thanks again for the early love!).”
Thus, not being included in the “AfroSpear” family was not what I was speaking of or referring to. AfroSpear was GREAT from day one! I was moreso speaking of the mass confusion that I felt when I sought inclusion in the “AfroSphere” blogroll. Again, thinking they were one in the same, I didn’t quite understand why it was so hard getting included (and even finding information about how to get included).
I’m all good now and have moved on. For the sake of future newbie bloggers and others, I agree with those who said that a clear distinction should be made. Also, perhaps there should be a centralized information portal where people can come and get answers to the most common questions about the two entities.
Thanks all,
The Sauda Voice
Sauda Voice, thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully in the coming months we can convene some kind of meeting where we can discuss these sorts of issues and resolve them. Thanks for your patience.
Free,
Thank you sooo much for the love you’ve bestowed up on Sauda and myself. it was totally expected, and I’m pleasantly surprised.
Thank you once again, for showing us what black love is all about
love ur sis,
Bria
Like others here, I would love to participate on the AfroSphere blogroll that appears on this site (and was confused when I joined the Google group and didn’t realize the difference in the two).
I am so pleased to see both ends of this discussion willing to collaborate on a solution.