National Review Online raises the subject of black bloggers today, a topic of potentially great importance to the evolution of American political opinion—writing. Only recently did we discover one of the most prominent black bloggers, La Shawn Barber, who has very kindly linked to a number of American Thinker articles. Her independence of thought and self—evident sense of mission immediately made her a favorite.

Along with the Jewish community, the black community has suffered under a stifling culture of imposed orthodoxy on left wing politics. Those who have dared deviate have been denounced as 'inauthentic' (blacks) or 'self—hating' (Jews), and been denied access to the major organs of influence. Yet both communities share a long cultural tradition of intense internal verbal disputation, largely confined to private (intra—community) forums. The oral tradition of internal argument is perhaps part of being a self—conscious minority. But until the blogosphere it remained private.

The virtue of the web and blogs is that these arguments can now become accessible to all of us. This tends to shatter the myth of ethnic uniformity. Nothing could be better for both communities. Diversity of thought is a strength.

It is a tired truism that the web changes everything. But I suspect that in the case of political opinion, the truism is correct. As more and more people join—in on making the web their primary source of information —— an inevitability, as far as I can see —— old established political monoliths will crumble.

I am adding a raft of black bloggers to my bookmarks, and hope our readers do so as well.

Posted by Thomas  8 12 04