In my best, pleasing, and most encouraging fundraising voice...
As long-time readers know, I do a twice a year fundraiser here on We Are Respectable Negroes (WARN).
It is that part of the year is here again. Where has the time gone?
WARN has continued to grow its community and reach. I have been very lucky to meet some of the readers and fans of the site in person--always cool and fun--as well as talking off site via email, Twitter, or other means. As I have said many times, you are all a great group of people and the site's continued success is a function of your positive energy and support.
We Are Respectable Negroes is a time consuming project. I do not advertise on the site. It is tempting during high traffic periods (such as the last few weeks). However, I continue to stand by my decision that independence is preferable to the obligations which may come with a relationship to an advertiser.
With few exceptions, I am not paid for my writing on other sites. My radio appearances are also done for free. There is no "great liberal conspiracy" as some on the Right would like to believe. As a rule, I try not to republish other peoples' writing. I also do not accept money to place articles here on WARN (this is a very common practice, and one that I am sure that the general public is aware of). The content here on We Are Respectable Negroes is (almost exclusively) original. That takes time. I believe in quality over quantity.
We Are Respectable Negroes has helped to shape the conversation about race and politics in the American media. Books and articles have cited WARN. For example, our recent work on the tragic Elliot Rodger murder spree has gone viral with many tens of thousands of shares on Facebook and thousands of comments online. The work we developed here on WARN about Elliot has been cited by Salon, the New Republic, Infowars, and other online sites and magazines. The phrase "aggrieved white male entitlement syndrome" was coined here. When you here that concept used in discussions about Elliot Rodger, do remember its origins.
As I do when I extend my open hands for some support during the site's infrequent fundraisers, I try to reflect on our accomplishments and plans for the future.
We have passed 2.5 million page views. The essays here on WARN continue to be featured by Salon, Alternet, and other sites. I have continued to appear on national radio programs--now including an additional the BBC and SiriusXM.
At the urging of the site's readers, I am using Twitter, Facebook, and (now) Tumblr to share material that may be of interest to the followers of WARN.
As a result of your support, the podcast series continues. The second part of Season 2 will be posted to coincide with the fundraiser this month. My plans for Season 3 include putting the series up on Itunes and using Soundcloud to embed the audio for easy sharing online.
The podcasts take a good amount of time to edit and produce--on average 3 to 4 hours per show. If you have enjoyed, learned from, and shared those online conversations with others, please do try to support WARN.
Times are hard out there. I am the worst fundraiser because I thank people prematurely and always tell folks to take care of home, family, pets, and self first. If you have a dollar or two--or more if you are feeling particularly generous--do throw it in at the Paypal link on the sidebar. It would be appreciated.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those folks who have supported WARN throughout the year.
Please do keep commenting, sharing, and boosting We Are Respectable Negroes. All of your helpful comments and other contributions are so very, very, very much appreciated. The fundraiser will go on for about three weeks or so. I will kindly remind folks of our annual donation drive without being too annoying...I promise. When we reach our goal, sooner rather than later I hope, the fundraiser will end.
Thank you so very much for the support.
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