Why does BlackCommentator.com
present opposing commentaries? Why do we not speak with
one, cohesive voice of the “Progressive Black Community?”
The answer is: there cannot possibly be just one voice
of the Progressive Black Community, nor any other group
of people, as long as we revere freedom of thought and
speech.
Yes, but shouldn’t a publication
take an editorial stand and only publish that which falls
within some prescribed editorial opinion? Perhaps that
is true of other publications both on the web and in print,
but it is not true of BlackCommentator.com. In fact, it
is contrary to our core belief of what BC should
provide to our readers.
At BC, we firmly believe
that it is through discussion and debate of divergent
opinions that we gain in understanding, and therefore
may be brought closer together - not that we will come
to speak with one voice on every issue, but will grow
in our critical thinking.
We believe in inclusiveness
of all those who consider themselves to be Progressive
thinkers. How better to develop one’s own, unique opinions
than to understand divergent points of view? Surely, it
would be racist and sexist, for example, to expect all
Progressive, Black men to speak with one voice or to suppose
all Progressive, Native American women think alike about
every issue, or that any group with a common identity
all have identical thinking. When we see the goings-on
among conservatives we witness (albeit with some admitted
relish) the distress with which certain conservative white
men are learning that not all of them think alike, either.
Our
editorial approach is to print what we assess to be well-written,
Progressive commentaries, presenting a compelling point
of view. With that standard as our guide, we, the Executive
Editor and the Publisher, therefore do not necessarily
agree with everything BC Commentators write; indeed,
there are times when we completely disagree. At those
times, we strive to understand the viewpoint in question,
and then print the commentary so that our readers will
have the same opportunity. BC doesn’t strive to
tell you what to think, but rather to
give you the information with which to draw your own
conclusions.
If BC can provide our
readers with varying ideas with which to consider and
shape one’s own opinion, then we will have done much in
fulfilling our purpose to further the development of economic
and social justice – and peace.
Thank you for your readership
and financial support of BlackCommentator.com. We value
each of your communications as we, collectively, continue
the struggle.
