What is this BlackMag Blog about? Well, just like BlackMag the cutting edge cultural focus news magazine, BlackMag Blog will focus on commenting, discussing and reviewing news and features of cultural, educational, historical, political and social interest to people of African descent and the wider world.

By African we mean people of dark complexion with roots particularly in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and other parts of the world where the Diaspora has migrated to including Europe, America, etc.

Like Peter Tosh once said: “Don’t care where you come from as long as you’re a BlackMan, you’re an African…”

Our comments will also be of interest to non-Africans, especially those who interface with Africans in a professional, social, personal or other capacity and want to know more how to improve their understanding and relationships with Africans.

1. Is a website that exists primarily to give voice to the inner workings of the Black experience, to cover, uncover and comment on news, views and issues affecting the African Diaspora and to focus on educating all races about the present, historical and future accomplishments, goals and desires of our nation.
2. Is not about hating any colour, race, class or creed.
3. Is not about selling consumer products to people that either deteriorate their life expectancy or degrade their quality of life.
4. Is unapologetic and fearless in its opinions.
5. Will always try not to publish anything illegal or libellous but will occasionally sail pretty close to the wind in order to test public opinion.
6. Is not an instrument of any political party, especially those which put people of African descent last on the socio-economic scale.
7. Is not a vehicle for gay (or homophobic!) propaganda.
8. Does not advocate nor support the killing of innocent people.
9. Accepts membership, sponsorship and support from anyone who accepts our Terms & Conditions.
10. Is run by an organisation that is striving to become an internationally recognised charity.

Still wondering what BlackMag is about? Here’s a revised manifesto!

BlackMag is primarily concerned with reporting, writing, re-writing, syndicating, commissioning, presenting and analysing news, views and issues. We also provide forums and discussion based outlets to solicit feedback and interact with our users (on and offline) about any other issues in the consciousness channel!

From our bases at www.blackmag.org and www.blackmag.org, we cover and uncover all aspects of news from a Black perspective. Sometimes we accomplish this with an edgy grittiness, but we always do so as professionally and accurately as our news sources can deliver.

We are familiar with reporting the truth, as seen from a Black perspective. It is good for us to channel our readers to question beliefs, ideas and systems that position one as inferior to others on grounds of race, colour, sex, gender, creed, religion or any other classification. This is the reason why…

Black people are often seen, in various sections of the mainstream media, as lightweight, caricatures of fun, sex objects, criminals, aliens or even sub-humans who cannot be trusted.

Similarly, Black businesses often face discrimination, distrust and suspicion from the same mainstream quarters, banks, institutions and organisations, particularly if they concentrate on presenting the positive aspects of Black cultural lifestyle. This is also true if they are viewed as “too radical” or “not commercial enough”.

We often hear the phrase “Black don’t sell” coming out of non-Black advertising, government or corporate executives mouths. We do not believe this!

However some Black organisations have started to believe this and now operate in a cautious, apologetic way, not wanting to rock boats, or upset applecarts, in order to get commercial support from mainstream businesses. Thus, these types of organisations (where they exist) are seen as clothes horses on which commercial enterprises hang their consumerist wares. This is just the polite way to express this attitude!

Rest assured BlackMag is not such an organisation.

Where we see applecarts that need overturning or boats that need rocking we will gladly upend the lot! Be aware we are law abiding, God-worshipping, hard-working citizens, deserved of great admiration and respect.

The colour of a person’s skin should not be the determining factor as to whether such respect should be given. Thus, we are here to counter and oppose such “injustices” where they occur, show or is presented.

I bet you were wondering what happened to us during October, Black History Month (BHM) weren’t you? Well, Here’s our explanation…

The simple yet truthful bottom-line is that we took a break during October! Never mind it was the busiest month as far as Black History is concerned in the UK.

But far from being idle our time was taken up with some exciting new developments we’re currently involved in and hope to unleash in the very near future.

However, be assured that we’ve not been asleep and have kept a log of all the developments that has happened during October. We’ll be giving you our take (or angle) on these items, so don’t worry!

These include the BBC’s surreptitous fly on the while documentary that unearthed Ku Klux Klan styled racism in the police force and others. Just watch this space!

If you can’t wait that long why not Join the Black Movement and be one of the first to know when these new stuff is ready?

Still coming to grips with this site? Still wondering what we’re about and how see things? This should further clear your mind…

Black is the intelligent end of black culture, lifestyle, history, politics and education.

We strive to cover the kinds of topics and issues direct and in a manner others seem unreluctant to tackle. Some might say we’re inaccessible, but it depends on whether being “accessible” means you have to compromise on being truthful. If being inaccessible and telling it like it is, or covering the kind of stories that illuminate lies is wrong then we don’t want to ever be right!

From our postings in newsgroups and other places, we’ve seen how our message and editorial viewpoint has made lots of people nervous. They accuse us of being racist and of supporting the kind of subjects and topics the more traditional mainstream cover in a mish mash way. We don’t mind. We are cool with being the lone voice, or one of the lone voices who fear to tread where the more established never reach.

We’re not afraid, for being established does not mean Black people’s rights to equality, freedom and justice is automatically respected. On the contrary. Very often it means that those very same rights will be consistently overlooked because established media tend to only reflect the political and commercial viewpoints of the ruling classes, who often exploit the poor class.

This is how we know we’re on the right track.

In the end you the reader, surfer, casual viewer and consumer of Black will decide. Ultimately your support for our policies, services and purchase of our products will be the determining factor to our continued existence.

We hope you and history will vindicate us even if corporate and political interests do not…

Continuous examination of your motives, relevance and importance in life (business, personal, social and otherwise) is important, primarily to check that one is reaching or surpassing goals. Here, we take the cultural thermometer to our presence and evaluate the state of things as they are…

As we trod the information super duper highway we are and will be constantly redefining ourselves as to who we are and where we stand in the struggle.

Life is not always all black and white. Stylistically, we choose to tell it in black and white because it helps us to focus on things and not get bogged down with other issues which in the past have tended to obscure the need for equality, respect, justice, peace, harmony and freedom.

This is particularly true after we’ve demystified historical events and observe certain untruths, misconceptions and established cultural practices. We don’t pretend to represent a balanced view as our purpose is to celebrate the joys of being of African descent, without apology or excuses and regard for commercial considerations.

We find that these tend to cloud the issue of reality many make when trying to establish the claim that “we’re all born equal” or “we’re all the same under the skin”. These are lofty, worthwhile and wishful ideals but in practice Africans (and other people) are dispossessed by forces within and without that contrive and conspire to keep us “in our place” or subservient to another race or ideology which regards itself as “superior”.

On the whole the African Diaspora does not instigate the ideology of Black Supremacy: we usually react to the effects and efforts of other groups that seek to downpress (oppress) us. This is historical fact and not a pigment of my imagination!

Increasingly, we find there are many people who are ignorant of historical facts. Some find the whole issue depressing and prefer not to remember what has gone on before and ignore the Black Holocaust, wishing it never happened or try to marginalise it by saying stuff like “that’s all in the past and is not relevant today…” We disagree.

There are many examples to illustrate the fact that while there are groups who wish to impose a controlling influence over another group racism will always be an issue. Until “the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes” there will be racism and several thousand years of history cannot be wiped away with libertarian wishful hoping. Alternatively neither can radical “let’s kill whitey” Black fundamentalism. It is therefore incumbent upon all fair minded people to keep the relevant issues alive.

We have other previously downtrodden and persecuted groups like the Jews as shining examples of how to proceed. They use whatever means necessary to ensure we never forget the Jewish Holocaust. Many films keep their agenda alive. But since many Jews command top executive positions in Hollywood and are generally seen to be more united as a vociferous community, the task is substantially easier. We’re not jealous: maybe a little envious but definitely always admiring! We want some of that too!

Until that day we will be forever vigilant. Watch with us! You’ll need a bullet proof vest and patience. Lots of it because the race is not for the swift but for those who can endure. Long haul here we come!

Curious about who we are? Here’s a Black brief…

Asking us that immortal question: “What is BlackMag about?” is like asking us “What is the Meaning of Life?” To answer that we have to look at a couple historical misconceptions.

First, there is hardly anything positive written, associated or connoted in mainstream media, dictionary or otherwise about the word “Black”. So, we’re here to be an antidote to black negativity.

There are now numerous black publications and media that vie for mainstream acceptance at the expense of losing their souls. Not only do we want to keep our souls intact, but our mind and body also!

Thus, we publish, write, comment and speak straight on all matters concerning the African diaspora. We don’t pretend to take an “objective view” on events because there is a severe lack of truly Black-friendly media. We report the truth as far as we see it but from a Black perspective. This is our view so if you disagree Give Us A Piece of Your Mind or Sign Our GuestBook.

While striving for mainstream acceptance lots of other black, ethnic, minority, alternative [insert your favourite non-offensive term here] media comes across as conciliatory and spineless. We recognise other races and faces but with a name like Black our eyes don’t see things through rose tinted glasses! We see things from just one point of view: the Black one…

Still have questions?

This is a really “interesting” time for a website focussing strictly on Black issues. From Colin Powell’s rejection at the recently concluded Earth Summit in South Africa to George W. Bush’s virtual declaration of war on Iraq to the failure of the so-called “War On Terrorism” in Afghanistan. Amidst this background, enter Black…

Just setting out the stall of BlackMag web magazine so that no one will misunderstand its purpose!

BlackMag is a proactive call to awaken, inform and appraise our nation. If we don’t celebrate and elevate our own, who is going to do it for us?

BlackMag is a sounding board and mirror of Black life, dreams and aspirations, alive and kicking today in the 21st century.

BlackMag focuses on news, views, features and issues affecting the diaspora.

BlackMag covers lifestyle, politics, music, entertainment, arts, culture — the main forces through which we usually communicate our mood, message, meaning, attitude, rage, hopes, dreams and aspirations.

BlackMag is not about hating whites, pinks, yellows or blues. We respect all colours of the rainbow. But right now the spotlight is on Black!

What Can You Expect In Black? We’ll tell you what we got to tell you intelligently, truthfully, directly and unapologetically. We still stand up for causes and campaigns that need and deserve our support.We will oppose any others that deserve to be cramped and paralysed before they spread…We may offend the nervous but then the truth is a sharp blade that cuts through social, political or cultural lies, deceit and mischief. The impartial, brave and others who can tolerate alternative viewpoints, we will be a valuable ally and resource…We know who we are and where we stand in the struggle. We reserve the right to comment critically on anything we see happening that should be highlighted.

We believe in order and justice. Harmony is key so we strive for unity, peace, love and happiness. Essentially, we are people, a culture, colour, movement, race, life-force, alive, dynamic, beautiful, God-loving, multi-talented and charismatic.

We are one nation under a groove. We want to strengthen that groove. Come celebrate with us: say it loud: “We’re Black and we’re proud!”