I met David Reid, Black Kos managing editor, for the first time at Netroots Nation 2014 in Detroit. David and I sat down with DailyKos writer Armando Llorens for a drink and some positive chatter, this time around at Netroots Nation 2017. Armando has been one of my most consistent critics, so it was fun talking to him in person. I interviewed David live on my Pacifica Network, KPFT 90.1 FM Houston, Politics Done Right show.
David Reid explained his reason for reluctantly creating Black Kos in a community that is Progressive even though he did not blog about racial issues. David alluded to the black blogger’s dilemma. I found it refreshing that we saw things similarly.
David blogged about environmental and other issues. He rarely blogged about racial issues. Many place black journalists and black bloggers into a box where they give them notoriety on race issues but not other issues they may be providing substantive coverage of day in and day out. Black bloggers do not want their work judged through the prism of their blackness. Of course, this applies to just about every minority group.
In the early days, no one knew that David Reid was a black guy. David said that after a particular YearlyKos where they discussed the lack of diversity, he came out. Beforehand, he entertained many exchanges online in the DailyKos community when at the time no one knew he was black. David was sure then that at that point they did not filter his words through his race.
David said that the Black Kos members are mostly non-black. This reality fulfills one of his missions, intersectionality to break down self-imposed silos. His Black Kos group centralizes topics that relate to black people. However, he makes an important point.
“We have to get to a point where, …” David said. “Everybody usually comes to activism because of one or two issues that really motivate you. There is a tendency for everybody to think that’s the end-all, be all. That is the most important issue. I think we have to get to the point where we say, this may be my most important issue, but I am still going to support everybody within the movement on their issue.”
David points out that because of a limited amount of time, one may not be able to participate fully. If free time is available, one’s second and third choices can be chosen to work on effectively.
Interview with Black Kos Managing Editor David Reid
