Posted on 07/02/2010 4:02:02 AM PDT by Altura Ct.
How do you win over 1 million-plus people on Facebook?
Entrepreneur Kumi Rauf has taken a simple phrase not unlike James Brown's "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" and the 70s soul affirmation "black is beautiful" and created a movement. I Love Being Black is one of the few fan pages on the social network devoted to consistently and unapologetically rallying black people to feel good about who we are.
Rauf says, "With this page, and soon our mobile applications, I want to bring Black people together to start a dialogue on a variety of topics and to show our love for our culture."
Love for black culture is evident in the empowering messages found in news stories, quotes by notables and questions that challenge our perception(s) of ourselves, such as "Should Hollywood cast another non-black Cleopatra?" I Love Being Black delivers color-affirming messages without politicizing blackness and that is probably the single most key to their ability to attract 1 million followers.
Facebook user Sherri recounts her first impressions of I Love Being Black. The freelance writer says, "When you first see that group suggestion in your requests that says 'I love being black,' and you see the 'confirm' under it, it's a no-brainer. It's not a hard sell. You can't help but say yes to that simple phrase. 'Yes, I love being black.'"
Rauf has sold his page's 1 million and counting fans on a whole lot more than his line of clothing or other items found at his online store. He established the company in 2003 as an outgrowth of racial tension while he was a student at UC Santa Barbara and as a social media platform to encourage positive relations between blacks. For greater accessibility, he is also in the early development stages of creating mobile applications for Android, Blackberry and iPhone users.
Digital media entrepreneur Markus Robinson of Black Web Media believes that I Love Being Black is an example for other marketers to follow. Robinson says, "Rauf has successfully built a community based on a concept and not a product, which is rare. Most people push the product and totally ignore the buyer. In this case, the buyer is King and Queen."
While there are other similar fan pages on Facebook, none have been as successful as I Love Being Black in attracting a diverse following that seems to be in need of positive representations of blackness.
66 out of Sherri's 889 Facebook friends share her sentiments and are also fans of I Love Being Black. The avid social media consumer thinks that "in a world where you're constantly bombarded with negative images of African Americans, I Love Being Black is a safe haven in the midst of turmoil.
"It's a positive force when I need to recharge my batteries and remember to love my beautiful brown self."
This is sad.
“Pathetic” was the word I was going to use, but...
How long before this deteriorates into White-bashing?
I am white and I am ashamed.
There, that ought to satisfy the “I am black and I am proud” group.
Over a million, huh? I bet 200,000 of them are white teens. Boys with the crotch of their pants down to their knees, and girls hoping to land their own gangsta man for a blissful life of abuse and welfare checks.
“How long before this deteriorates into White-bashing?”
Just as soon as Obozo gets the boot.
>Digital media entrepreneur Markus Robinson of Black Web Media believes that I Love Being Black is an example for other marketers to follow. Robinson says,
Right - So I can market “I Love Being White?”
LLS
Actually I’m ok with that. As long as I can say “I love being white” without being called a racist.
It is true the urban black culture has had a poor self esteem encouraged by the likes of Rev Jackson and all other false Revs out there. But of late us white folks have been taught to feel guilty about the past which we had nothing to do with.
All of us need to be “ok” with who we are.
Great book by Thomas Sowell;
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rednecks-Liberals-Thomas-Sowell/dp/1594030863
Amen, And with affirmative action, why wouldn’t someone want to be black? What happened to begin American? I wish all success and happiness, however, as long as a black American looks in the mirror and sees oppression, it will not happen. I think that all along, most white Americans have not wished anything but the best for all Americans, but most of us do not condone destructive behavior and try to distance ourselves from it. Discrimination and racism are a two way street and all can participate.
“As long as I can say “I love being white” without being called a racist.”
***
Is it okay to say “I love NOT being black?”
;-)
What if there were a facebook page “I love being White!” How would that be received?
In our narcissistic culture there is no lack of people who love themselves above all else for whatever reasons.
I love being a child of God and a son of Adam.
White Miss America
Congressional White Cacus
White Scholarship Fund
Etc.
So, they’re back to being “black”? Just makimg sure it isn’t “African American”, “Afro American”, “Negro”, etc. It’s hard to keep up.
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