Black Internet Leaders And Innovators

[Jim Neusom]

Greetings Family,
(Contact Information At Bottom Of Page)

It's your friendly neighborhood "Digital Drummer" again (smile)

Online social communities have been around for about 30 years. In that time hundreds (if not thousands) of listserves, newsgroups, and websites, have come and gone. Life on the Internet is kind of like dog years...Every year online is equivalent to six years in real life.

That being the case, I believe in giving people their recognition while they're still walking amongst us. There are many prestigious website Awards sites, like The Webby Awards, and PC World's - Best of the Web. But when you review them how many Black's do you see???

Well we as a Black community, have been active and involved in the Net since it's beginning. Below is a list of Black online leaders and innovators. This list was created based on entrepreneurial success, longevity, and popularity. If I missed someone, send me an email and I'll follow-up in a later article.

There is not enough space to outline the contributions of all the list participants. Their name and/or company should be instantly recognizable, but if not, I encourage each of you to do a Google search and find out about living Black history for yourself...

Remember, We Must Share The Knowledge (Network)...To Share The Dollars!!!

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Anita Brown - Black Geeks
No mention of Blacks on the Internet can start with out giving credit to one of the most inspirational and dynamic Blacks ever on the Net...Anita Brown

Ms. Brown (the BlackGeek/Miss DC) credits and awards are too numerous to mention. She was universally recognized as a leader in bridging the Digital Divide. Starting in 1996, she founded Black Geeks Online (25,000 strong) to promote computer literacy and educate others about the power of information technology.

She was instrumental in designing managing the help desk for NetNoir in the beginning of AOL. She personalized this AOL service by translating confusing terms into people-speak. A social networker and blogger long before anyone heard of those terms.

Sadly, Ms. Brown passed away on Sept. 8 2006. She was an Icon, mentor, and friend, to many who made this list.

Icon's

Barry Cooper - BlackVoices.com
E. David Ellington - NetNoir.com
Emmit McHenry - Network Solutions
Philip Emeagwali - Internet technology pioneer
Yvette Moyo - MOBE/RealMenCook.com
Henry Louis Gates Jr. - Africana.com

Entrepreneurs

Bryan Franklin - 1iMall.com
Donna Byrd - BlackAmericaWeb/TheRoot.com
Earl G. Graves - Black Enterprise.com
George C. Fraser - FraserNet.com
Gwen Richardson - CushCity.com
Omar Wasow - BlackPlanet.com
Quincy Jones - vibe.com
Robert Johnson - BET.com
Robert Rucker - BlackWebPortal.com
William Murrell - BlackSoftware.com

Technologist

Hassan Miah - Xing Technology
Jaymes Hines - Hines Media Group
Ken Lipscomb - ZapMedia/FourSpots.com
Malcolm CasSelle - NetNoir.com
Russell de Pina - n2active
Tim Cobb - MediaMetrics

Digital Drummers

Delores Chamberlin - AfriCreations.com
Don Rojas - TheBlackWorldToday.com
Isaac Black - BlackExcel.com
Ken Smikle - TargetMarketNews.com
Lee Bailey - EURweb.com
Lee Green - BlackBusinessSpace.com
Roger Madison - iZania.com
Susan L. Taylor - Essence.com
Tom Joyner - BlackAmericaWeb.com
Wayne Hicks - BDPA.org

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Jim Neusom ([e-mail])
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[Brent Mason]

That's very informative Jim. Checked out Freshfaces2u. I'm assuming it is a modeling site? Anyway best to you friend.

Brent
Author
Portentum: Africa Reborn

[Stafford Battle]

Check your sources real carefully. Philip Emeagwali may not be the man that he claims to be. He has many critics that propose that PE is more promoter than innovator. Chioma K. Ezeilo, M.Sc. wrote in an article called, Self-Promotion and Self-Authentication: the Abuse of Cyber pseudo-A... that "I simply hate to see unsuspecting people being taken for a ride. I generally do not like to tear people apart, but there are times when the record simply must be set straight, otherwise we run the risk of contaminating history with fairy tales."

On the other hand, you missed a true giant of the Internet: Art McGee. According to The Online Policy Group (OPG) a nonprofit organization, "In 2000, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Marketing Opportunities in Business and Entertainment (MOBE) for his pioneering work as an 'Influencer & Innovator of the Internet and Technology.' In 2001, he was named an international 'New Media Hero' by the Independent Media Institute (AlterNet).He is currently in the planning stage for a book and film project that will explore African and African-descendent people's relation to and engagement with technology from an historical, contemporary, and futuristic perspective."

Also, there was BPON (Black Pioneers On the Net), Eric Williams (Info Bro), Melanet (The Jordan brothers) and many others who were involved in the Internet BEFORE the popular emergence of the World Wide Web.

Just want to help you get the facts straight. You should contact Dr. Rey O. Harris (BAS member) for more information. We were all friends of Miss DC and want to help further her legacy.

Stafford L. Battle
Founding Geek

[Jim Neusom]

Thanks for the heads-up my brother....

As you know I will be doing a follow up....smile