Hello Family,

I've been out here on the Internet a long time (in cyber years), so i've seen quite a few Black web sites, that had great hopes and intentions ... die.

It's always disheartening to learn of another that is no longer servicing us. We are unique and have specific needs that not every single web site / community can serve. I believe we are better served by those who know and love us, and it's a loss to the entire Black Internet community, when one that is doing that, must close their doors.

What made me post this thread today was the fact that i was surfing the Internet and saw where Black Geeks is no longer online. They use to be at www.blackgeeks.net. It was a networking community site founded by a Sister. While i was a Member, i didn't get too involved on a day to day basis. I had no idea that they were closed down. I know the number of years, heart, and effort she put into that and it's sad that they are no longer out here.

I read this article (http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/275991) by / about her and Black Geeks that was written in 2001. She mentions the challenge of trying to stay true to her dream, while dealing with the every day financial needs of the effort. *sigh* ... i feel her pain.

Will we continually let online communities, services, efforts, built for us, dry up and die? Even with new ones coming behind, trying their hand at filling the void, they too will face the challenges that longetivity and growth bring with them (increased costs to maintain).

I guess reading that article kinda depressed me. I know that Sister's heart was sincere in trying to help our people. I know that she put many long hours, money, and hope into that service. I know it must have broke her heart to see it have to close. She said in the article that they had 25,000 registered Members, that was in 2001! A remarkable feat, yet quite ugly considering they had to close their doors. Where were all these "Members" when they were needed to help? Am i fooling myself to believe that our 5000 Members can keep this site alive, when less than 1% of them are willing to help, yet considerably more than that come and take part every day? Do i need to be preparing myself for when www.destee.com has a 4 sale sign on it? Gosh ...

This thread is to discuss and share the many Black web sites that are no longer in operation. If you know of any, please name them and their web site addresses.

I'll get the list / discussion started with, as already mentioned, www.blackgeeks.net. Also, another great Black site, a really big one, was www.netnoir.com. I'm not sure what happened to them, but their domain is no longer resolving.

It seems the "Black" sites that are doing well, are not "Black" at all. AOL recently purchased BlackVoices from the Chicago Tribune, and while it has always catered to Black folk, it has never been Black owned. The same with BlackPlanet, if no mistake, they are owned by an Asian Company. So these "Black" sites have benefit of White money, and are able to stay alive. More like "Black" face, a way to capture the Black Internet market, without being Black.

But the sites that are Black, struggle to stay alive.

Let me stop.

Please Family, share the Black sites that were Black owned, that are no longer with us, give addresses please. Maybe we crossed paths on one of those sites!

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Money is a huge factor. Someone dangles the carrot and everything you loved about a certain site changes.

I used to LOVE Blackplanet until it changed into a dating site. It became a meat market with irritating sales adds. Netnoir disappeared one day without warning. Swagga.com (which is the site that lead me to Destee) doesn't appear to be updated much lately. Eurweb.com is still around but I'm not sure who runs it and what the focus is anymore. Buppienetwork.com never really quite jumped off..but I see it's still around.

I wonder how to get around the financial strain?? How can those sites stay around and stay black owned and run?

Blackplanet is not black owned it never been black owned..some college

students design the site as a project for a grade or something and it grew

from there and they also built asianave.com and a few more but it have

never been black owned. I have to search for the article and maybe post it

later on in the thread.....

Peace
Angel

Hi Sister CarrieMonet ... you say money is a huge factor, someone dangles a carrot and things change ... which sites are you referring to that went this way? Right off the top, i can't think of too many that fell victim to this. I think it's too easy for the "money danglers" to make a site that looks Black, than to go this way, i don't know though. Please share.

BlackPlanet is not Black owned. Does it matter to us whether the site is Black owned or not? Like BP and BV, it is primarily Black folk that sustain their existence, yet they are not Black owned. Based on this, one could assume that it makes no difference to Black folk, if the site is Black owned ... so long as they look Black, we'll be satisfied. Whatcha think Sister CarrieMonet?

I just visited Swagga.com and my heart broke again. I went to their discussion forum and it seems they've been recently hacked. Ugly N words spread about, ugly comments from the hackers saying stuff like this N site will be down forever or some such foolishness. So sad. My heart goes out to them. I see they've been online since 1997, no small feat. Just the time it takes to stay on top of security issues, and then restoring the services if ever you are violated, hours and hours of work that seem never ending. I don't think people know the effort required to deliver quality services as consistently as possible. I hope that everything gets back up and running for them again soon.

Sister CarrieMonet, i think there are enough of us out here, to keep our sites from feeling great financial strains. The challenge is to get those who frequent the sites encouraged enough to help support it. If we would simply support the communities that we hang out in, there would be no struggle, at least none like is being experienced here. I'm honored Sister CarrieMonet that you are one of those few that take your hope and desire for our people to the next level, to that level where you're willing to reach in your pocket and help. Not all of us are there, and until more of us get there, we'll probably continue to experience the kind of losses that we're seeing now.

Thanks for responding.

:heart:

Destee

February 12, 2001 Time and BlackPlanet.com last week announced a partnership under which Time will provide content to the African-America portal throughout February, which is Black History Month. Time, owned by AOL Time Warner, said the deal is the first "multicultural marketing outreach" partnership intended to raise its profile among minorities. New York-based BlackPlanet.com will offer its members trial subscriptions to Time.

The announcement comes shortly after AOL Time Warner's historic merger and its blizzard of marketing campaigns. The deal also represents Time's latest effort not only to expand its subscriber base to untapped markets, but also to broaden the magazine's multicultural initiatives.


Benjamin Sun
President and CEO
Community Connect Inc. creates and maintains online communities for US ethnic audiences.

Omar Wasow
Executive Director, BlackPlanet.com

Grace Chang
Co-Founder and Creative Director
Ms. Chang oversees all graphic design and content layout for the company's three sites.

Michael Montero
Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer

Mr. Montero is responsible for building the company's proprietary technology and software that powers each of the sites.

Peter Chen
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Product Development
Mr. Chen oversees the company's product development teams to roll out new technology features and services across the three sites

other sites they own are

AsianAvenue.com was launched July 21, 1997

BlackPlanet.com, launched September 1, 1999 has been heralded as the number one online destination for African Americans of all backgrounds. Within its first year,

The vision for an African American online community site came to fruition with the addition of Internet entrepreneur Omar Wasow. The company launched BlackPlanet.com in September, 1999, with Mr. Wasow leading the charge as Executive Director. BlackPlanet.com was built around its own dedicated site team consisting of accomplished marketing professionals, journalists and content producers - all members of the African American community being targeted. Only a few months into its launch, BlackPlanet.com proceeded to take off even faster than AsianAvenue.com. In just eleven weeks after its launch, BlackPlanet.com registered more than 60,000 members and generated over one million daily page views. The site reached one million registered members shortly after its first year of operation.

http://www.communityconnect.com/

MiGente.com, launched October 2, 2000 targets second and third generation Latinos, who either are bilingual or English-dominant.

the link is the company that own them all

Our ppl most of our ppl will support a non own black web site before we do our own which is shown here.

This needs to be in the open forum or better yet on the front porch or a sticky thread at the top of each forum. The tragic closings of our black owned sites are further proof of how important Destee.com is, and why it needs to stay around for a long time...I want my 2 year to be posting on this site 16 years from now...let's make that a reality!

i MUCH AGREE HOW SO MANY HAS CLOSED DOORS NOW , THIS MARK
AND MAKE A STATEMENT WHY DESTEE.COM IS INDEED IMPORTANT TO
ALL OUR PEOPLE AND TO KEEP EVERY LIGHT ON AND ALL DOORS OPEN
TO WELCOME EVERYONE , SO NOW WE CLEARLY SEE THE MANY NEEDS
FOR OUR FOLKS TO UNITE IN UNITY AND BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER
I WANT US TO BE AROUND FOR EVER AND MY WORK BE SEEN FOR YEARS
AND YEARS WAY AFTER I'M GONE ON MAYBE .
THIS WAS A DEEP INSIGHT TO HOW MANY OF THE BLACK OWN SITES
FALL BY THE WASTE SIDE WITHOUT FULL SUPPORT, I AGREE WITH PAN

By money (or the carrot) I am simply referring to advertisements from the masses. Advertisements and changes in ownership are what usually changes the sites...no matter who was originally running them. (I'd have to be on my original computer to see my old favorites list...)

An old friend (Mickey) runs www.africawithin.com and I think most of the money used to run the site comes from the art/products sold from the site.

I have no problem supporting sites that I like if it means it stays true to what I liked about it when I first took up membership with them. I just hate to see sites change because they are stressed for money.

Thank you for that post Sister Angel! ^5 Sis

It is discouraging when a Black site has to close its doors be it for what ever reason. I don't venture out to many sites at all. I only search info on the net. I do not want to imagine Destee's ever closing it doors due to financial struggles and lack of support from the many members who share in the fruit of this wonderfully unique site. However, I believe you should always consider that this is a possibility while holding the reigns and riding this baby right on out into the sunset.

I feel ya disheartment Sister and I pray that we never see the day when Destee is no more. I thank you for the opportunity to unite with such positive minds. If it ever boils down to that darkened day, I want you to know that you have created a passion ,understanding, and an undying love for my people. I've learnt that all here in this home you have manisfested from a thought. Your time and effort did not go in vain!!!!!! It ignited something that laid idle in me and I am forever grateful Sis!

I love ya! And as long as I am able, I'll support this site to the end!!!

February 12, 2001 Time and BlackPlanet.com last week announced a partnership under which Time will provide content to the African-America portal throughout February, which is Black History Month. Time, owned by AOL Time Warner, said the deal is the first "multicultural marketing outreach" partnership intended to raise its profile among minorities. <a href="new%20york" onmouseover="window.status='New York'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">New York</a>-based BlackPlanet.com will offer its members trial subscriptions to Time.

The announcement comes shortly after AOL Time Warner's historic merger and its blizzard of marketing campaigns. The deal also represents Time's latest effort not only to expand its subscriber base to untapped markets, but also to broaden the magazine's multicultural initiatives.


Benjamin Sun
President and CEO
Community Connect Inc. creates and maintains online communities for US ethnic audiences.

Omar Wasow
Executive Director, BlackPlanet.com

Grace Chang
Co-Founder and Creative Director
Ms. Chang oversees all <a href="graphic%20design" onmouseover="window.status='graphic design'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">graphic design</a> and content layout for the company's three sites.

Michael Montero
Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer

Mr. Montero is responsible for building the company's proprietary technology and software that powers each of the sites.

Peter Chen
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Product Development
Mr. Chen oversees the company's product development teams to roll out <a href="new%20technology" onmouseover="window.status='new technology'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">new technology</a> features and services across the three sites

other sites they own are

AsianAvenue.com was launched July 21, 1997

BlackPlanet.com, launched September 1, 1999 has been heralded as the number one online destination for African Americans of all backgrounds. Within its first year,

The vision for an African American online community site came to fruition with the addition of Internet entrepreneur Omar Wasow. The company launched BlackPlanet.com in September, 1999, with Mr. Wasow leading the charge as Executive Director. BlackPlanet.com was built around its own dedicated site team consisting of accomplished marketing professionals, journalists and content producers - all members of the African American community being targeted. Only a few months into its launch, BlackPlanet.com proceeded to take off even faster than AsianAvenue.com. In just eleven weeks after its launch, BlackPlanet.com registered more than 60,000 members and generated over one million daily page views. The site reached one million registered members shortly after its first year of operation.

http://www.communityconnect.com/

MiGente.com, launched October 2, 2000 targets second and third generation Latinos, who either are bilingual or English-dominant.

the link is the company that own them all

Our ppl most of our ppl will support a non own black web site before we do our own which is shown here.


Thanks Mzblkangel for posting this very important bit of information. Pan I agree with you here

This needs to be in the open forum or better yet on the front porch or a sticky thread at the top of each forum. The tragic closings of our black owned sites are further proof of how important Destee.com is, and why it needs to stay around for a long time...I want my 2 year to be posting on this site 16 years from now...let's make that a reality!


I agree with you on dis Pan.....

Destee,

I completely agree with your sentiments, good black sites are hard to find, and many don't stay up long.

Sites fail for the following reasons:

Quality of Content:

IMHO, people often put more of their hearts into a site than their minds. Blackgeeks was a good site, but as an I.T. Consultant for 8 years, It was never a value to me. The site often had inaccurate data, or was incapable of providing advanced level information to real geeks. I am not sure where the owner/ops were trying to go with the site, but 'geek' or technical sites are some of the toughest to get going and keep going. Frankliy I find it hard to believe she had 25,000 members. That alone would have made her site one of the biggest in the nation. While I admire her courage in mounting such a site, from a consultant's perspective, the site was not valuable as a tool. And many black IT gurus felt that way. Now, I know that may be painful, but considering her 'competition' are sites like anandtech.com, experts-exchange.com, and so many others, the site was doomed.

Well, enough about blackgeeks, the moral of the story is that you got to make sure your content successfully reaches your target audience. If they don't find it interesting, they won't return, and more importantly, bring new members that actually contribute. The key word here is contribute. Especially in a forum-based or interactive website.

Money.

As site begin to draw crowds and flourish, the supporting infrastructure required to run a site becomes a big issue. It catches up with you sooner than you would like. BlackPlanet, in it's first two years were plagued with scaleability problems, as the servers seemed to buckle under user loads. At some point, you have to consider sources of funding. While Destee.com is the only (large) black forum that charges for some level of membership, every site operator must address funding, as bandwidth becomes the most expensive commodity. Unfortunately it's hard to get users to understand and appreciate the value in a large community in which to collaborate and 'mingle' with. So it's a tough call, and a breathtakingly difficult balancing act.

Many of my white associates run large and successful sites such as HardOCP, and warped2Search, etc...... Why? Because they get alot of financial, and technical support and donations from businesses, peers, and members. I know whites that would help me out at the drop of a dime, and not charge a thing. They just want to be a part of a friends creation. Most blacks that I feel have something valuable to add either don' thave the time, interest, willingness to help. But I'm not mad at 'em, that's just how many of us are. I am sorry to say but, blacks don't donate, boost, or support nearly as much as whites do. And we should. Because a forum by itself is an extremely cost-effective way for us to learn, collaborate, organize, and accomplish 'something'.

These obstacles have kept me from putting up a board for years until now. I knew that without the right elements in place, to start a board that will eventually grow into something large, only to have to let it fail suddenly and abruptly, does a great disservice to the members and what their individual contributions make. So as a board op, I have an obligation.

Now on a personal not, I loved BlackPlanet when it wasn't a dating site. It was a chat/forum/news site, and was a lot of fun. But once the dating part became the foundation, I lost interest. And to make things worse the quality of the forums are simply pathetic. BlackPlanet was at one time black owned, then was sold to some asians. Once I find out that we don't own a site, I will NOT support it. Talk about grand misrepresentation. And the sad part is blacks continue to pour into that site. Oh well, their choice.

I think we need a hundred more forums/websites. The more sites like Destee, the more of a powerful and positive impact it will have on the lives of our people as it becomes commonplace in every family to be part of an online community other than whos dating who. It's a powerful way to educate and cure persistent ills like illiteracy and self-imposed poverty.

Didn't mean to be so verbose.

With the popularity of AsianAvenue.com, Community Connect Inc. was ready to expand its roster of online communities, choosing to target other US ethnic audiences. The African American community, a group recognized for its tremendous purchasing power and its exploding online presence was a logical next step for the company.

The vision for an African American online community site came to fruition with the addition of Internet entrepreneur Omar Wasow. The company launched BlackPlanet.com in September, 1999, with Mr. Wasow leading the charge as Executive Director. BlackPlanet.com was built around its own dedicated site team consisting of accomplished marketing professionals, journalists and content producers - all members of the African American community being targeted.

http://www.communityconnect.com/

This is my first stop as I check in and see this great information. I haven't checked yet, but I agree also with Bro. Pan, this needs to be out in the open for everyone who comes here to see because it affects us all.

No truer words have been typed:

Sister CarrieMonet, i think there are enough of us out here, to keep our sites from feeling great financial strains. The challenge is to get those who frequent the sites encouraged enough to help support it. If we would simply support the communities that we hang out in, there would be no struggle, at least none like is being experienced here. I'm honored Sister CarrieMonet that you are one of those few that take your hope and desire for our people to the next level, to that level where you're willing to reach in your pocket and help. Not all of us are there, and until more of us get there, we'll probably continue to experience the kind of losses that we're seeing now.

Thank you Sisters Destee and Black Angel for giving us the real scoop and Mz Angel I agree with you too. It seems as though many of our people don't really care who owns the site as long as they can get in and do their thing. I, for one, care very much where I spend most of my time and money. Reading this may not make much of a difference to most of our members and as much as I'd like to see the majority contribute their financial support, I'd be thankful if we got just half to find it in their hearts and right mind to back up what most of them preach whenever they come here.

Peace and love,
Queenie :spinstar:

The thing that scares me the most is what are our people looking for? Websites like Black Planet & Black Voices are little more than dating/gossip sites. Neither offers anything in social commentary, news, or attempts to improve the social-economic standing of the Black community. Yet these are the type of sites which attracts Blacks by the thousands, while sites like Destee.com, struggle for membership...it is somewhat disheartening.

we have many blacks that cross into the net for fun not seeking growth
or the morals of a site while a community as this one offers a learning
and teaching place for growth so many of these sites go down because
of lack support from the many members which are blacks , we haven't been
able to give them a full out look of what it means and why it's good to give
a financial backing or support this one of the deep struggles of blacks
many will need to fine the place in heart and the worth of a site to back it
and continue to support it , I agree with NNQueen i really care where my
money and time is shared at and what the place offer me to rise and grow
advance to the next level , while these site fall faster and faster from funding
and other reasons, we all know that new and mindful additions and out reach
activities to learn and teach will draw attention to mindful folkz and even
share in a place for fun will allow growth at the same time funding has become
the core the center to keep the rise of the site afloat , it's sad that many of our
ventures to bring our people together fails without financial support it's a task
and long journey to keep it up

SO WHY NOT BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER AND KEEP WHAT WE HAVE IN TACT
SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND THE LEARNING BENEFITS OF DESTEE.COM HELP
TEACH AND SHOW UNITY AS BLACKS TO HOLD OUR OWN IN ONE COMMON PLACE
TO OPEN UP MANY AVENUE TO PROVIDE VALUE AND INFORMATION OF OUR
CULTURE AND HISTORY AND A SOLUTION FOR A BETTER FUTURE , HERE AT
DESTEE.COM WHERE YOU FINE MANY TOPICS AND GUIDE LINES AND RESPECT
WE AS THE PEOPLE SHOULD SUPPORT MORE AND MAKE A DIFFERENT IN OUR
ONLINE ENVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND HELP EACH OTHER , SO WE DON'T BE
A FALLING STAR LIKE MANY OF THESE SITES .
VERY INTRESTING INFORMATION SHARED HERE ..

I think one of the issues with Black people contributing financially to a site is that they're worried where their money is going. I guess some of us are so used to being swindled, that when something legitimate comes up, we hesitate, thinking that it is just another scheme.

I have been to a few sites that seem to make most of their money by selling things like T-shirts, books, CDs, etc. etc. while keeping everything free for their members.

The sad reality seems that no matter how good a site is, when it dies, there seem to be plenty of imitations posed to take its place.

Panafrica wrote: Websites like Black Planet & Black Voices are little more than dating/gossip sites. Neither offers anything in social commentary, news, or attempts to improve the social-economic standing of the Black community.

That's just it Pan, when I joined Blackplanet in the beginning the site was not about dating, but more about interacting with black people from all around. I exchanged poetry, got to know that there were people going through similar situations all over the nation who were just like me, and made a lot of friends. THEN when the focus became dating, I simply unjoined. I was a member in blackvoices for a minute but that was only for chat - which was cool then too because it was not a hookup thing. The draw to both site was simply to interact with BLACK PEOPLE.

I guess I myself am looking to discuss issues on a forum that is not geared toward dating. Destee so far is one of the few such sites left.

This also say why Destee.com is so unique and this one of the
differents this site pose, and should be supported for all the
many great learning topics and discussion that we can partake in
as black people even come up with some form of solution to problems
we face daily .
These other sites lost focus to me just my way of seeing it but some
had other deeper issues or lack of funding or backing support, whatever
the case they tumbled and crash this what we work hard to keep from happening
here and stay above water Destee.com offers a wide range of activies and
topics many great discussions a place to vent and venture, a sharing place
to common daily problems as black people we have avenue to teach others as
well to learn that spill into our every day lives , it's so sad how we lose focus
on the real matter and reason for the exsistance of a site and allow crap to
mentally control the fate of our online stay !

Websites can be institutions;
whether they grow and last
depends on their foundations.
A weak foundation cannot support
a heavyweight community.
A white foundation cannot support
a Black institution.
If we ask the right questions
we can learn the lessons
of those who went before.

oldsoul so true so true, this one of the most solid well built foundation
made of great love and sweet harmony powerful black mindz and a
outter vision into future greatness , warmth and security it's built on
wisdomize and knowledgeable mindz to open avenues a foundation like
this should be supported and time folkz understand the worth of this
place we subside in as home DESTEE.COM a community of higher growth
rooms still open for more teachers and every time one bond here the
foundation get stronger but the uncore is it need backing too and we as
people are the perfect bodies or arm to keep it as one of the top TEN black
sites if not number one surely we aim to get this feat but it tells how so
many sites die a fast death from the none support , sure many feel hey i can
go here and there but also one knows there's no place like here at DESTEE.COM
so true we have to know the right steps and listen and learn and have an answer
this will keep up alive and lights on but black supporters will give us growing
power and a very solid foundation for blacks to institutionalize in .

we hear more and more how these sites falling with a great number of members

a wild (quote)
when u jump from home to home seeking a resting place to sleep & eat free
surely lay a moocher and nothing will divine from the fruit but a worm but
when you drive with deep compassion and concern and open with knowledge
allows the wisdom to bring forth a fruitful table then they so eat shall support
an offering to return ......

you so true and on point OldSoul.....

Based on my research, in terms of membership Destee.com is the number 1 black forum today!

Much Props! I know it hasn't been easy!


deb0

:welldone:

thankz deb0 i know DESTEE.COM is up in the top of the class
this give us more reasons to support it and keep what we have
as the top site...............those was some very kind words to hear.

This website has always been #1 in my book...hopefully we'll be able to keep it around...but that will only happen if members contribute!

so true brutha PanAfrica !
we are #1 and one of the best black sites in the net world
and surely we aim to keep it live and growing but we do need
everyone help and support and sho our power as people .

i've been around the block a couple of times....
and this is certain...no black forum can compare to destee.com...
everything will come to light in time...no doubt....

one love
khasm

so true Khasm .......
so we ask that everyone support the cause and hard effort
become a PREMIUM MEMBER at DESTEE.COM and keep what
we have alive so we don't be added to the long list of black sites .

Hi Destee,

Yes, it is disheartening.



I have been running a Black site since 1999. And recently, money was a major problem. I have recently began to make a fair internet income. I hope to buy a popular site that is no longer working, and bring it back up.

Being in the business, money can be an issue. Many sites need a full time webmaster in order to make an income. So, if you can only do it part time, it hurts. You can't give the attention needed to the Net, if you have to worry about your day job.

kelvin




Hello Family,

I've been out here on the Internet a long time (in cyber years), so i've seen quite a few Black web sites, that had great hopes and intentions ... die.

It's always disheartening to learn of another that is no longer servicing us. We are unique and have specific needs that not every single web site / community can serve. I believe we are better served by those who know and love us, and it's a loss to the entire Black Internet community, when one that is doing that, must close their doors.

What made me post this thread today was the fact that i was surfing the Internet and saw where Black Geeks is no longer online. They use to be at www.blackgeeks.net. It was a networking community site founded by a Sister. While i was a Member, i didn't get too involved on a day to day basis. I had no idea that they were closed down. I know the number of years, heart, and effort she put into that and it's sad that they are no longer out here.

I read this article (http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/275991) by / about her and Black Geeks that was written in 2001. She mentions the challenge of trying to stay true to her dream, while dealing with the every day financial needs of the effort. *sigh* ... i feel her pain.

Will we continually let online communities, services, efforts, built for us, dry up and die? Even with new ones coming behind, trying their hand at filling the void, they too will face the challenges that longetivity and growth bring with them (increased costs to maintain).

I guess reading that article kinda depressed me. I know that Sister's heart was sincere in trying to help our people. I know that she put many long hours, money, and hope into that service. I know it must have broke her heart to see it have to close. She said in the article that they had 25,000 registered Members, that was in 2001! A remarkable feat, yet quite ugly considering they had to close their doors. Where were all these "Members" when they were needed to help? Am i fooling myself to believe that our 5000 Members can keep this site alive, when less than 1% of them are willing to help, yet considerably more than that come and take part every day? Do i need to be preparing myself for when www.destee.com has a 4 sale sign on it? Gosh ...

This thread is to discuss and share the many Black web sites that are no longer in operation. If you know of any, please name them and their web site addresses.

I'll get the list / discussion started with, as already mentioned, www.blackgeeks.net. Also, another great Black site, a really big one, was www.netnoir.com. I'm not sure what happened to them, but their domain is no longer resolving.

It seems the "Black" sites that are doing well, are not "Black" at all. AOL recently purchased BlackVoices from the Chicago Tribune, and while it has always catered to Black folk, it has never been Black owned. The same with BlackPlanet, if no mistake, they are owned by an Asian Company. So these "Black" sites have benefit of White money, and are able to stay alive. More like "Black" face, a way to capture the Black Internet market, without being Black.

But the sites that are Black, struggle to stay alive.

Let me stop.

Please Family, share the Black sites that were Black owned, that are no longer with us, give addresses please. Maybe we crossed paths on one of those sites!

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Hello Family,

I've been out here on the Internet a long time (in cyber years), so i've seen quite a few Black web sites, that had great hopes and intentions ... die.

It's always disheartening to learn of another that is no longer servicing us. We are unique and have specific needs that not every single web site / community can serve. I believe we are better served by those who know and love us, and it's a loss to the entire Black Internet community, when one that is doing that, must close their doors.

What made me post this thread today was the fact that i was surfing the Internet and saw where Black Geeks is no longer online. They use to be at www.blackgeeks.net. It was a networking community site founded by a Sister. While i was a Member, i didn't get too involved on a day to day basis. I had no idea that they were closed down. I know the number of years, heart, and effort she put into that and it's sad that they are no longer out here.

I read this article (http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/275991) by / about her and Black Geeks that was written in 2001. She mentions the challenge of trying to stay true to her dream, while dealing with the every day financial needs of the effort. *sigh* ... i feel her pain.

Will we continually let online communities, services, efforts, built for us, dry up and die? Even with new ones coming behind, trying their hand at filling the void, they too will face the challenges that longetivity and growth bring with them (increased costs to maintain).

I guess reading that article kinda depressed me. I know that Sister's heart was sincere in trying to help our people. I know that she put many long hours, money, and hope into that service. I know it must have broke her heart to see it have to close. She said in the article that they had 25,000 registered Members, that was in 2001! A remarkable feat, yet quite ugly considering they had to close their doors. Where were all these "Members" when they were needed to help? Am i fooling myself to believe that our 5000 Members can keep this site alive, when less than 1% of them are willing to help, yet considerably more than that come and take part every day? Do i need to be preparing myself for when www.destee.com has a 4 sale sign on it? Gosh ...

This thread is to discuss and share the many Black web sites that are no longer in operation. If you know of any, please name them and their web site addresses.

I'll get the list / discussion started with, as already mentioned, www.blackgeeks.net. Also, another great Black site, a really big one, was www.netnoir.com. I'm not sure what happened to them, but their domain is no longer resolving.

It seems the "Black" sites that are doing well, are not "Black" at all. AOL recently purchased BlackVoices from the Chicago Tribune, and while it has always catered to Black folk, it has never been Black owned. The same with BlackPlanet, if no mistake, they are owned by an Asian Company. So these "Black" sites have benefit of White money, and are able to stay alive. More like "Black" face, a way to capture the Black Internet market, without being Black.

But the sites that are Black, struggle to stay alive.

Let me stop.

Please Family, share the Black sites that were Black owned, that are no longer with us, give addresses please. Maybe we crossed paths on one of those sites!

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Thanks to intuition, talking about how much money she got-how can I send a small contribution via snail mail? Can't use the card or using pay-pal-do you have a PO box? If I do contribute-the amount will be VERY small,but enough for a cup of coffee. Do not want premium status. Just helping out a business owner in a small way.

Thanks to intuition, talking about how much money she got-how can I send a small contribution via snail mail? Can't use the card or using pay-pal-do you have a PO box? If I do contribute-the amount will be VERY small,but enough for a cup of coffee. Do not want premium status. Just helping out a business owner in a small way.

Thank you Brother Yaphet Al-Wynn. Every little bit helps and i'm honored that you'd be willing to send any amount. You can send it to the following address:

Destee
P. O. Box 180512
Mobile, AL 36618

Be sure to include your forum name, so that i know it is from you.

Again, Thank You.

:heart:

Destee

I'm responding the the introductory post. I remember meeting you via a customer care call when you had a site hosted with affinity hosting, back in 1997 and I would imagine that you've been a captain of cyberspace since before then. To have existed this long in various incarnated forms is an accomplishment in and of itself. I'm not saying that you don't have to worry about ever having to close your doors,... what I am saying is that you've been around long enough to know how to navigate cyberspace well enough to survive. You have a good business sense, which is crucial to keeping any functioning web site open, and if I haven't told you, I'm impressed with you as a programmer and manager. Today, if a site wants to exist in cyberspace any length of time, the owners/managers have to have a viable business plan, and that may mean taking classes at a local junior college, or pairing up with a mentor that is business minded. Not that sites that services our needs have to be ones with the ultimate agenda of making money, but biblically speaking "money answers all things"

I hope to have a site someday. So it is important for me to know what works and what doesn' work as it relates to site maintanence, and just keeping a site open period. Having a working business and investing strategy is crucial. After all, you can't pay the bills with good intentions.

My sister,
I FEEEEEL your pain. I have been involved with the Internet from the time when there were only geeks and Ph.Ds. This phenomenal medium has helped change the world ... for Black folks too. We have an opportunity leapfrog many of the hurdles that were in our way - technically, socially, and economically - if we use this tool to collaborate more effectively. This community is the very best example I have seen. I too struggle to maintain my own community. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we became "neighborhoods" in the Virtual Black Community and help one another survive ... and thrive!!!

We can do it.

Amandla!


Hello Family,

I've been out here on the Internet a long time (in cyber years), so i've seen quite a few Black web sites, that had great hopes and intentions ... die.

It's always disheartening to learn of another that is no longer servicing us. We are unique and have specific needs that not every single web site / community can serve. I believe we are better served by those who know and love us, and it's a loss to the entire Black Internet community, when one that is doing that, must close their doors.

What made me post this thread today was the fact that i was surfing the Internet and saw where Black Geeks is no longer online. They use to be at www.blackgeeks.net. It was a networking community site founded by a Sister. While i was a Member, i didn't get too involved on a day to day basis. I had no idea that they were closed down. I know the number of years, heart, and effort she put into that and it's sad that they are no longer out here.

I read this article (http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/275991) by / about her and Black Geeks that was written in 2001. She mentions the challenge of trying to stay true to her dream, while dealing with the every day financial needs of the effort. *sigh* ... i feel her pain.

Will we continually let online communities, services, efforts, built for us, dry up and die? Even with new ones coming behind, trying their hand at filling the void, they too will face the challenges that longetivity and growth bring with them (increased costs to maintain).

I guess reading that article kinda depressed me. I know that Sister's heart was sincere in trying to help our people. I know that she put many long hours, money, and hope into that service. I know it must have broke her heart to see it have to close. She said in the article that they had 25,000 registered Members, that was in 2001! A remarkable feat, yet quite ugly considering they had to close their doors. Where were all these "Members" when they were needed to help? Am i fooling myself to believe that our 5000 Members can keep this site alive, when less than 1% of them are willing to help, yet considerably more than that come and take part every day? Do i need to be preparing myself for when www.destee.com has a 4 sale sign on it? Gosh ...

This thread is to discuss and share the many Black web sites that are no longer in operation. If you know of any, please name them and their web site addresses.

I'll get the list / discussion started with, as already mentioned, www.blackgeeks.net. Also, another great Black site, a really big one, was www.netnoir.com. I'm not sure what happened to them, but their domain is no longer resolving.

It seems the "Black" sites that are doing well, are not "Black" at all. AOL recently purchased BlackVoices from the Chicago Tribune, and while it has always catered to Black folk, it has never been Black owned. The same with BlackPlanet, if no mistake, they are owned by an Asian Company. So these "Black" sites have benefit of White money, and are able to stay alive. More like "Black" face, a way to capture the Black Internet market, without being Black.

But the sites that are Black, struggle to stay alive.

Let me stop.

Please Family, share the Black sites that were Black owned, that are no longer with us, give addresses please. Maybe we crossed paths on one of those sites!

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

My sister,
I FEEEEEL your pain. I have been involved with the Internet from the time when there were only geeks and Ph.Ds. This phenomenal medium has helped change the world ... for Black folks too. We have an opportunity leapfrog many of the hurdles that were in our way - technically, socially, and economically - if we use this tool to collaborate more effectively. This community is the very best example I have seen. I too struggle to maintain my own community. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we became "neighborhoods" in the Virtual Black Community and help one another survive ... and thrive!!!

We can do it.

Amandla!

Indeed Thuso, welcome to Destee.com...and thank you for becoming a premium member!

Peace and Blessings Family,

Last night i was searching, and so saddened to find that The Doe Network (http://doenetwork.com), is no longer resolving. :(

This site was started by a Sister, Ty Webbin, and she had lots of great features available to writers, business owners, and web site owners. I remember using her banner promotion services. It was a really cute and fun feature of her site. She even registered here on Destee, making us welcome to all that she offered.

I want to say her site was older than destee.com, though we may have started right about the same time.

I know she would not have let her site go, if it could be avoided. It was a labor of love, from her heart, just like this site is.

Family ... it comes down to us supporting our own. If we want quality web sites, catering to us, we have to help them live.

It makes no sense to wait until they're gone, and talk about missing them. It's too late then. I've not seen any site come back from an Internet death, with the same vitality it left with. Many have tried, but the site never really recovers it seems.

Please ... help keep destee alive, for the same things that happened to these sites, can happen to us.

:heart:

Destee

good-evening Destee,


i'm also sad not to see the sister online anymore, but nothing stays the same... i guess she could no longer afford to keep such a great resource afloat... still it lets one know how times are changing, as black owned websites are far and few these days... in all i say continue to keep this great community thriving...:book:

have a nice night...

sincerely,
c.t.adams-///

Well this thread really moved me.

I dont know why its taken me so long as I have been here for a while but after reading this I registered as a Premium Member and encourage anyone who hasnt done so to follow suit; lest we be another website mourning the closure of Destee.

I'm responding the the introductory post. I remember meeting you via a customer care call when you had a site hosted with affinity hosting, back in 1997 and I would imagine that you've been a captain of cyberspace since before then. To have existed this long in various incarnated forms is an accomplishment in and of itself. I'm not saying that you don't have to worry about ever having to close your doors,... what I am saying is that you've been around long enough to know how to navigate cyberspace well enough to survive. You have a good business sense, which is crucial to keeping any functioning web site open, and if I haven't told you, I'm impressed with you as a programmer and manager. Today, if a site wants to exist in cyberspace any length of time, the owners/managers have to have a viable business plan, and that may mean taking classes at a local junior college, or pairing up with a mentor that is business minded. Not that sites that services our needs have to be ones with the ultimate agenda of making money, but biblically speaking "money answers all things"

I hope to have a site someday. So it is important for me to know what works and what doesn' work as it relates to site maintanence, and just keeping a site open period. Having a working business and investing strategy is crucial. After all, you can't pay the bills with good intentions.

Brother Garlicsalt ... i want to respond to this, even though you posted it long ago. Oh my gosh, i remember you recognizing me from Affinity! Oh My Gosh! That was like the most surprising thing that happened to me back then. I was under the impression that the Internet was somewhat anonymous, and being the rather private person that i am, this worked well for me. Then out of nowhere this Brother says, hey, are you the same Destee?!! ... i was like ... uhhhhh ... why ... :look: ... (thinking my bill collectors had tracked me down on the net!) ... :lol: ... i was really taken aback! It was rather awkward moment for me, but very nice too. It gave me to know how small this Internet really is ... :)

By the way, i'm still with Affinity, have never left them in all these years. I'm dedicated like that, especially when i've been able to develop such a great working relationship with them. I left their shared hosting environment in 2001, and we went to Skynetweb when they purchased them, providing us our dedicated servers. It's a bit more expensive than other places, but i love the quality service, support and consideration they give us. The kinds of things that money (our little money) just can't buy.

I appreciate your encouragement, and the fact that you are still here with us, after all these years. I agree that a great business plan and such are needed to help a site / business succeed, but so too are supporting Members. I want to encourage you Brother Garlicsalt to Become a Premium Member and help the community live. It would mean the world to me, to have your financial support. Helping to keep destee alive, will be good for your site / business, when you get it up, because you'll have a great and thriving community in which to promote your endeavor. It's a win win for all of us!

I Love You Brother ... thanks for the memories ... :grouphug:

:heart:

Destee

My sister,
I FEEEEEL your pain. I have been involved with the Internet from the time when there were only geeks and Ph.Ds. This phenomenal medium has helped change the world ... for Black folks too. We have an opportunity leapfrog many of the hurdles that were in our way - technically, socially, and economically - if we use this tool to collaborate more effectively. This community is the very best example I have seen. I too struggle to maintain my own community. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we became "neighborhoods" in the Virtual Black Community and help one another survive ... and thrive!!!

We can do it.

Amandla!

Brother Thuso ... i appreciate your support as well. Even though i'm just responding to this (you posted this in 2005), you joined us and immediately helped by Becoming a Premium Member. Thank You. I want to encourage the Family to visit your web site, www.izania.com, and help keep it alive as well!

Thank You Brother!

:heart:

Destee

good-evening Destee,


i'm also sad not to see the sister online anymore, but nothing stays the same... i guess she could no longer afford to keep such a great resource afloat... still it lets one know how times are changing, as black owned websites are far and few these days... in all i say continue to keep this great community thriving...:book:

have a nice night...

sincerely,
c.t.adams-///

Brother MrAfrica ... you are so right, there are so few black owned web sites servicing us these days. Nothing like the number of white sites out here. It's as though Black People don't really need their own. I don't know. If i think about it too intensely, i'll get depressed. So let me look at a different angle, and talk about how great it is that you are still on the Internet, providing a place for Sisters and Brothers to come and share and commune together. That is positive! Family, let's support our Brother MrAfrica, who has supported us in the past with Premium Membership, and i do thank you Brother! :)

Much Love and Peace!

:heart:

Destee

Indeed Thuso, welcome to Destee.com...and thank you for becoming a premium member!

Brother Pan ... i miss you ... hoping and believing that all is well with you and yours.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Well this thread really moved me.

I dont know why its taken me so long as I have been here for a while but after reading this I registered as a Premium Member and encourage anyone who hasnt done so to follow suit; lest we be another website mourning the closure of Destee.

Brother King Tubbs ... thank you so very much !!! :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:

It really does my heart good when a Member of the community, outside of the USA, helps us! I mean, it's like EXTRA evidence, that the Creator and our Ancestors are with us. I remember our first (http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37150) INTERNATIONAL Premium Member, Sister LibertyLady aka AuroraFlower. It moved my heart so, just as your help does. You have entered a very select group of Members here at destee, putting you in the greatest of company. Thank You!

I work really hard not to let us die, but i can't do it alone. I'm truly honored by your show of support and love for this community ... Thank You Thank You Thank You!

As i've continued to respond to this thread, other sites have come to my mind, that i wanna share.

The Black World Today ... www.tbwt.org ... now this site had to have been one of the first Black owned web sites on the net, that catered solely to us. I remember when i first got out here, even before i bought destee.com, TBWT was already here and thriving. After i bought destee, and began to develop her, their site was like a gauge for me. I could always visit them, and look and see what i wanted us to be. They had great, well-known columnists, from the beginning. They had forums, resources, everything. I remember they were probably one of the first sites that made voice video chat available to us. This was back in the very early days of voice video on the net. I always looked up to them, and considered them a leader on the net. Great Great Site. They even offered email services, everything, all at no cost to the user. Then one day, i went to their site and there was a black page there saying they were closing and giving everyone a few days to re-arrange their email services, for they would all be shut down. It was so sad. I was like, what?!! How can this site, that seems to have everything for us, so many Members, so much activity, so much organization ... please ... let me talk about the organization for a moment. That's what really stood out to me. I didn't know these people personally, but i knew it was just me at destee, running the show if you will ... but they looked like they had paid employees, and structure, and all the things i wanted for destee. It hurt my heart to see that black page there (brings tears to my eyes right now). That was some years ago, and since that time i think they've tried to come back, but as i said earlier ... coming back isn't easy ... and a site never regains their true vitality after such a devastating blow. Their original domain, tbwt.com, is some online casino stuff, tbwt.net is something else, and it appears that www.tbwt.org is only a shell of their former self. The work i do here at destee, gives me to know that what they did there was much greater, and yet, they died.

Everything Black ... www.everythingblack.com ... was another great and thriving online community that catered solely to us. They had wonderful discussion forums, that were more active than destee even, back then. I remember wishing that our forums would be as active as theirs. They too were pioneers in this arena, and i looked up to them as well. Hoping one day that we could be as loved as they were. But no matter this, they too had to go offline for some period of time, only to return and find that they couldn't pick right up where they left off, that the momentum had died. It seems to be par for the course, a lesson all web site owners can learn ... if you have to leave, it almost makes no sense to return, for you will lose ground that you can't ever recover.

It's almost as though, if you are depending on (catering to) Black People to support your online endeavor, you're in trouble out of the gate. These sites i've mentioned above, were pioneers on the Internet. They virtually paved the way for destee and other like communities. Yet they were not able to survive. They did not receive the support needed to remain alive.

Family ... we can turn this around. We can support the places we frequent. It costs money to be on the net, to have these types of places for us. It's not free. Like all those sites already mentioned in this thread, much work, heart, love, dedication, and money goes into maintaining us. It can't be done by one or a few, when thousands take part.

I would like to encourage each and every one, to take that giant leap from visiting and sharing, to visiting, sharing, and financially helping. It's the only way we'll be able to maintain anything of our own.

I Love You All! :grouphug:

Thank you Brother King Tubbs ... our INTERNATIONAL Premium Member! :toast:

:heart:

Destee

good-morning destee,


i hear what u are saying loud and clear... could you remove my link please?

in all i shall once again become a premium member before the month is up...


sincerely,
c.t.adams-///:em2300:

good-morning destee,


i hear what u are saying loud and clear... could you remove my link please?

in all i shall once again become a premium member before the month is up...


sincerely,
c.t.adams-///:em2300:

Brother MrAfrica ... i've removed your link, as you requested. Bless your sweet heart. Thank you for being willing to help. It's an especially heartwarming experience, to have the help of fellow web site owners. Thank You.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

Peace and Blessings Family,

If you are frequenting Black Owned Web Sites, you should help financially support them too.

With talk of the National Black Out Day, and supporting our own, this would be a great time to turn your words into action. We frequent these sites, communing with each other, talking about the condition we live in, and the challenges we face, while the majority won't help the site stay alive.

Don't let any more Black Web Sites die due to lack of financial support ... please.

:heart:

Destee

Peace and Blessings Family,

If you are frequenting Black Owned Web Sites, you should help financially support them too.

With talk of the National Black Out Day, and supporting our own, this would be a great time to turn your words into action. We frequent these sites, communing with each other, talking about the condition we live in, and the challenges we face, while the majority won't help the site stay alive.

Don't let any more Black Web Sites die due to lack of financial support ... please.

:heart:

Destee

You are absolutely right sister. I just became a premium member. I can't add an avatar yet though.

You are absolutely right sister. I just became a premium member. I can't add an avatar yet though.

aaaaaawwwww Sister FaithSoulSistah ... Thank You Sooooo Much !!! :love:

It is really hard. If i weren't doing it, hadn't been doing it for so many years, i could say something different maybe ... but whew ... it's just not easy catering to our own people, and staying alive at the same time! This is a major area that we need to work on, supporting our own. If i hadn't witnessed myself, all these years, i might wanna cuss someone out, if they said some of the things i think on occasion, or have been told to me over the years. It's just hard.

We wonder why a Sister or Brother ultimately ends up catering to white folk, or working for them, or doing something that makes it appear as though they have "sold out" ... when all the time ... they were holding out as long as they could, ignoring the hunger in their own bellies, denying themselves, in hopes that our people would respond positively and lovingly in kind.

We want to fuss at the Sisters or Brothers like Oprah, or anyone in the media, that appears to be catering to white people, yet we won't even help the ones that we know are out here working for us. It's just got to stop. We've got to do better. We've got to give our children an incentive to work for us collectively. They have to know that they will be able to eat, and have a roof over their head, if they dedicate their life, to their own people. These are basic necessities, yet we will walk right by them ... encouraging them to continue, thanking them for a job well done, and never reaching in our pocket to help keep a light on, or deliver a page, or pay a bill, or do anything. Ohhh, but we'll talk about it all day and night. We'll talk about what needs to be done, but don't dare ask for help ... or you'll be marked with a scarlet letter.

It's just terrible. We've got to do better, and we can do better. If everyone does just a little bit, it can go such a long way.

Thank you Sister for being one of those willing to help financially. It means the world to me. Only God knows the sacrifice this has been, to keep alive, and i worry every single day, that this may be our last day. It's a krazee existence. I question my own sanity, making the choices i do.

We've got to make the talk, action. There's just no two ways about it.

Thank You Thank You Thank You Sister ... i am honored! :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

You should be able to add an avatar, do everything! If not, let me know.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

aaaaaawwwww Sister FaithSoulSistah ... Thank You Sooooo Much !!! :love:

It is really hard. If i weren't doing it, hadn't been doing it for so many years, i could say something different maybe ... but whew ... it's just not easy catering to our own people, and staying alive at the same time! This is a major area that we need to work on, supporting our own. If i hadn't witnessed myself, all these years, i might wanna cuss someone out, if they said some of the things i think on occasion, or have been told to me over the years. It's just hard.

We wonder why a Sister or Brother ultimately ends up catering to white folk, or working for them, or doing something that makes it appear as though they have "sold out" ... when all the time ... they were holding out as long as they could, ignoring the hunger in their own bellies, denying themselves, in hopes that our people would respond positively and lovingly in kind.

We want to fuss at the Sisters or Brothers like Oprah, or anyone in the media, that appears to be catering to white people, yet we won't even help the ones that we know are out here working for us. It's just got to stop. We've got to do better. We've got to give our children an incentive to work for us collectively. They have to know that they will be able to eat, and have a roof over their head, if they dedicate their life, to their own people. These are basic necessities, yet we will walk right by them ... encouraging them to continue, thanking them for a job well done, and never reaching in our pocket to help keep a light on, or deliver a page, or pay a bill, or do anything. Ohhh, but we'll talk about it all day and night. We'll talk about what needs to be done, but don't dare ask for help ... or you'll be marked with a scarlet letter.

It's just terrible. We've got to do better, and we can do better. If everyone does just a little bit, it can go such a long way.

Thank you Sister for being one of those willing to help financially. It means the world to me. Only God knows the sacrifice this has been, to keep alive, and i worry every single day, that this may be our last day. It's a krazee existence. I question my own sanity, making the choices i do.

We've got to make the talk, action. There's just no two ways about it.

Thank You Thank You Thank You Sister ... i am honored! :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

You should be able to add an avatar, do everything! If not, let me know.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

You're welcome Destee. I'm sure it is a struggle sister. We have been conditioned to support everyone except our own. Whereas other groups think of themselves first, we do the opposite it seems. We have to plant seeds where we can because we won't make true progress if we don't start thinking and acting differently.

DESTEE JUST AS I HAVE STATED SENCE MY 1ST DAY HERE



I GAT YOUR BACK .......JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN WHAT WHERE AND HOW:SuN017:

www.netnoir.com works.

You're welcome Destee. I'm sure it is a struggle sister. We have been conditioned to support everyone except our own. Whereas other groups think of themselves first, we do the opposite it seems. We have to plant seeds where we can because we won't make true progress if we don't start thinking and acting differently.

Yes Sister FaithSoulSistah ... if everyone would just do a little, there's enough of us to make that little be a lot, but so many do nothing but talk, or complain about those that are doing, discouraging folk from helping, that would help ... because of their negative energy and disposition ... i've seen it all ... and i've been reluctant to speak on it because it is so negative ... but gosh ... at some point, we just gotta look at the cold hard facts, and let the chips fall where they may. It aint like the chips not gonna fall anyway.

I've really not spoke to this topic as extensively as i could, and i'm still not doing that. Anything mentioned in this thread, is just a glimpse of what i've seen, up close and personal. I remember years ago, visiting a Brother's site where he talked about Black Folk not doing, not helping, and it seemed so negative. While i agreed with what he said, i felt his approach was lacking. It gave me to know that if we are even gonna speak on this, it has to be done in the best of manners, not in a way that perpetuates the madness, puts folk off, makes them feel even more defensive and protective of the blessing they could be. It's such a balancing act, dealing with our own people. We have the challenge of being forthright and truthful, while knowing that you are dealing with "conditioned" folk who oftentimes are already looking for the worst in you, completely oblivious to the best of you, that's right out on the table, for everyone to see. It's krazee.

We do each other so bad, in so many different ways.

Yes, we have been conditioned to do this to each other, stifling our own growth.

I'm encouraged though Sister, in the midst of the challenge, to have Sisters and Brothers like you. It gives me to know that there is hope, and that it may be possible for us to live, prosper, and grow. Thank You!

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

DESTEE JUST AS I HAVE STATED SENCE MY 1ST DAY HERE



I GAT YOUR BACK .......JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN WHAT WHERE AND HOW:SuN017:

Brother LilPea ... you're the best !!! Thank You So Much !!! :love:

Yes, from the moment you joined us, you've been nothing but a blessing, in every way possible ... Thank You!

Just imagine ... if we had like 500 Brother LilPeas ... we'd place them strategically around the world, and there would be peace, love, sustenance, and growth for all ... :love:

Thank You Brother LilPea ... for everything!

:heart:

Destee

www.netnoir.com works.

Brother Edward Williams ... you're the best ... :love: ... Thanks for renewing your Premium Membership ... yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ... :toast: ... Thank You Thank You Thank You !!! :toast:

For the record, i saw where you said you have no friends in another thread, and i was finna post there, but i believe it was focused on Brothers, so i didn't wanna get all in the way ... but i surely be think'n ... we are friends ... even no matter what you say about it ... :)

In regard to NetNoir ... now i don't know their whole inside story, but i know a little bit about them, from the outside looking in ... and when i first posted this thread in 2004, that site was down. Back in the day, hmmmm ... like '96, '97, '98 ... NetNoir was the premier Black meeting place on the net. Again, this is all from the outside looking in, but they were owned by Black People. They were bigger and before BlackVoices. I believe BV came after them (though BV was never Black owned). I don't know the folk who originally started and owned NetNoir but they started on AOL, if no mistake. This was back in the day when AOL was the Internet. Folk useta think that if you got on AOL, you were on the Internet. It took some time before folk began actually leaving AOL's servers, and venturing out on the net. So those businesses that started within AOL, and i believe NetNoir and BlackVoices both did this, eventually got a site on the net. In the beginning, neither of them had their own domain / web site / etc., but was solely housed on AOL. NetNoir did this (got their own domain) before BlackVoices did, if no mistake. They each had the support and backing of AOL, which was impressive and helped launch their effort above the rest, but again, NetNoir was Black owned, and stood out as a leader in this industry, as it related to catering to Black Folk.

I'm not sure what happened in all of that. Maybe they fell out with AOL, and AOL took their massive backing away from them, rendering them just another Black web site, though they still had all the clout they had amassed up thru that point. Recognizing this, i guess they sold while the selling was good, as that is what they did. I don't know who bought it, if they were Black or not, but soon after that, the site / domain went dead. They were no longer featured on AOL, as their adopted child (so to speak), and BV was picked up as their new Black baby. Matter of fact, all of the old NetNoir chat rooms on AOL were renamed to "Ebony This" and "Ebony That." They totally shut NetNoir down, on AOL. Then, all of the energies that had been directed toward NetNoir, BV got, and thus, BV is still around (even on AOL). They never went down, offline, like NetNoir did. BV was able to sustain itself, because they had white money, the Chicago Tribune, AOL, and other white folk's money, all in and responsible for that ... BlackFace on the Internet. I guess the powers that be, determined it is easier to deal with white folk in blackface, than Black Folk, period (except as consumers of course).

The Black owned NetNoir died, and has since come back to life, but again, only a shell of their former selves. If they had not had all of the transitioning that took place, they'd be much bigger than BV is now. They were first (i believe), though their starting times may be real close. My memory seems to want to give them the lead though. But no matter, they lost that lead, and are now trying to provide a presence for Black Folk on the net, and again ... i don't even know if they are still Black owned. The domain has probably changed hands a few times, since it's creation. Matter of fact, a friend of mine was thinking of buying their domain name at one point, as it was up for sale to the general public, during some of these transitioning years.

Don't hold me to any of this, as this is just a Sister's view, from the outside looking in. I could be wrong.

As i mentioned in another post in this thread ... these really big sites, with really big budgets, support, backing, structure, expertise, everything ... and they died ... while we have continued to live ... even if we are on life support ... amazes me.

What is that old saying ... qualified to do anything, with nothing ... is that how it goes?

That's how i feel most of the time.

Thank You Brother Edward Williams ... my friend ... for helping keep the community alive.

:heart:

Destee

Brother OldSoul ... thanks for sharing this thread, Will We Ever Learn? (http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52415), discussing the close of BlakeRadio.com (http://blakeradio.com).

Gosh, it's so very difficult for a Black Site to have our people's best interest at heart and mind, and remain alive. It's just not easy to do. We talk the talk, of loving our selves and each other so much, but when it comes to reaching in our pockets to help, everything gets quiet ... and we experience great losses such as this, BlakeRadio.com (http://blakeradio.com). Our people require us to beg them for help, and they still don't respond in a collective manner, just a few here or there willing to help. It's very demeaning to one's own self and being, always having to beg for help, until the owner realizes they must do what all others are doing, looking out for self. It's very sad and i don't know when or if we'll ever collectively learn that every single one of us must reach in our pockets, must put our money where are mouths are ... or every single Black endeavor out here for us, will be dead ... including destee.com.

Thanks again for sharing.

Much Love and Peace.

:heart:

Destee

good-evening Destee,


so sad to hear BlakeRadio shall be shutting down, as the masses just don't realize how much it truly cost to maintain a given website... there is webhosting, and setting aside time to work literally...

Netnoir ~ back online, but shall never be the same... back in the day it truly was one of the BIG 3, which is no more...

Note: seems like we as blacks only want to visit those HIP HOP, and yes freaking GOSSIP CELEB sites like concreteloop, sandrarose, medaitakeout, hotghettomess, etc...

kind of surprised sites like that average about 100,000 or so unique visitors per month... ( some can even boast 250,000 plus per month... )

can't forget about all the MYSPACE addicts...

in summary we only have SELF TO BLAME, as i just laugh when people ask why there isn't any truly black oriented uplifting sites around... believe me we don't support those type of sites...

enough, so stay strong QUEEN DESTEE...

sincerely,
c.t.adams-///

good-evening Destee,


so sad to hear BlakeRadio shall be shutting down, as the masses just don't realize how much it truly cost to maintain a given website... there is webhosting, and setting aside time to work literally...

Netnoir ~ back online, but shall never be the same... back in the day it truly was one of the BIG 3, which is no more...

Note: seems like we as blacks only want to visit those HIP HOP, and yes freaking GOSSIP CELEB sites like concreteloop, sandrarose, medaitakeout, hotghettomess, etc...

kind of surprised sites like that average about 100,000 or so unique visitors per month... ( some can even boast 250,000 plus per month... )

can't forget about all the MYSPACE addicts...

in summary we only have SELF TO BLAME, as i just laugh when people ask why there isn't any truly black oriented uplifting sites around... believe me we don't support those type of sites...

enough, so stay strong QUEEN DESTEE...

sincerely,
c.t.adams-///

There are plenty of Black oriented sites around. I know because I belong to them and try to give some support to each one. There is competition between some of these sites and also an element of animosity exists between some of the site owners. As much as some folks complain about myspace.com some of these same people have myspace accounts. Some of the people who come here and trash Black Voices go to BV and trash someone else.

If I was to post links of some of these sites they would not even accessable.

I know people who have come here and linked their sites and some of those people did not even keep their sites updated.

I have several websites that cost no more than $10 a month to maintain. But multiply than by 4 or 5 and it become very expensive to maintain if I dont have subscribers or contributors. Yeh, its unfortunate that there is a lack of support. Same holds ture for overall lack of support for black business. If some of the blcak website owners could bury some of their differences and support each other and link their sites behaps they would attract more support. Peace.

I hear what you saying, as do remeber I'm a full-time webmaster... :em2300:

It's all good, as it's nice to see another member voice thy opinion...


Sincerely,
C.T.Adams-///:em0200: