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| Woman from Toronto Caribana 2010 / iStockphoto |
I'm leaving for Toronto on Tuesday night and I'm super excited! It will be my first time in Toronto and my first Caribana. (Practicing my Kat de Luna whine up.) Much like an excited child, I have checked my camera battery more than twice (photo opps galore!), have fallen asleep with visions of brightly colored costumes and contagious soca music in my head, and have annoyed my husband with questions about our hotel reservation at the Fairmont Royal York (which is in the center of it all). This is going to be fun! Yessirree.
But as much fun as I know I'm going to have in Toronto, I am looking forward to getting home, settling down for a few days, ditching My Fella, and then catching a flight to San Diego for BlogHer '11, North America's premiere blogging event for women. Not because I anticipate brightly colored costumes and contagious soca music (although you never know), but because I, along with three other rock 'em sock 'em bloggers, will speak on a panel about the business of diversity called When Diversity is Simply Good Business. About why some brands aren't giving diverse niche bloggers the same opportunities as general market bloggers. About how there is a cross-cultural marketing bandwagon that a lot of PR folks and brands might want to get on. About how by 2050, minorities (silly word) will make up the majority of the population. About how I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. Yessiree.
There's going to be some real talk going on at BlogHer '11 and I'm leaving the sometimes-quiet-ultra-PC-Brown-Girl back at the ponderosa. Besides, what's the point of being asked to speak if we aren't going to get down to the nitty gritty of the matter? I have a lot to learn and a lot to say....so, hey, I'm ready to let my locs down and make some music of my own. Maybe it'll even resonate somewhere. *Shrug*
Anything in particular you think I should bring up? Let's do this.
7 comments:
I completely trust your judgment to represent at the Blogher convention. Your blogs are always interesting, informative, and insistent and I always look forward to the newest one. Carry on Ms. Friley, you're doing just fine.
Nothing in particular that I think you should talk about because I think you have this in the bag! This is your passion and you are well versed.
See you there!
It sounds like this is going to be an informative talk. Wish I could be there! I know you'll do great!
Thanks, ladies! =)
See you there, Sherrelle!
Dori, I'll be in London for a few days in November. Maybe...?
Ms.Friley or should I say, #1 Brown Girl, I trust that you will have no problem representing at The Blogher Convention but am happy to voice my opinion. You are right in saying that minorities are quickly becoming the majority as that is already the case here in Texas. Despite that & the increase in minority owned businesses, I continue to see a disparity. It has improved but still exists. The entertainment business is one example. We have seen a rise in minority stars but there are still "black/latino" movies, sitcoms, & music that anglos don't consider as "choices for them." It also still exists in other businesses too. There are "black car dealerships" & "latin grocers" for example. It has improved but unfortunately that "label" is still applied & until it is completely destroyed minority owned businesses will continue to have to work 5 times as hard to generate business in order to keep up w/an anglo owned firm. Go forth #1 Brown Girl & conquer!!!
I'd like to think the moral imperative was enough to get businesses to share their advertsing dollars, but as with most things it's the business imperative that gets their attention. Have you developed a list for businesses/PR folks to consider as they develop those relationships with bloggers - starting with the blogger's content and who their audience is (is it diverse)?
I'm looking forward to this panel the most. There is still disparity when it comes to campaigns although we have excellent bloggers on our community.
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