That means it's just for practice, so you can register at the site and say hi in any of the threads and it won't hurt a bit! In fact, in this openish thread, I'd love to hear what you are writing about on your sites. I promise not to look! (Okay, that's a lie, but still). Don't be shy. Bragging on yourself is encouraged, shyness is discouraged at intrapolitics.org. Soon we'll have one of those "Who's New" thingies on here, and when new folks sign up, I'll announce them and their sites, if they have them.

Anyway, as I explained before, I am taking a rotating list of black blogger's sites and randomly picking the first 5 on the list, in order to let everyone know who is out there, and to connect and communicate and all that. I'm afraid there is one on my list that I really had to struggle with myself to include... but include it I did, because it's good to know that there is a wide variety of thought and beliefs among Black people. Even if some are wrong, wrong, WRONG. Ahem.

I will be nice, though. You'll see! Read below.

So, first up... living out loud with darian - activist, writer, dancer: a blog that discusses a range of issues from the African-American gay male perspective.

And he brings that perspective to bear in a story about the GLBT group, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Jena 6 - and the fallout from the organization supporting this issue. Black gay issues, Darian says, are often ignored by this powerful white organization, but he does commend them for stepping up and being a part of the Jena 6 march. It seems that some of their other members disagree though. Read the story... it's interesting. He also discusses Jonathan Plummer's (Terry McMillan's former bf who came out as gay) book Balancing Act and how some stores seem to be boycotting it. And highlights a site by three talented and dedicated men, Brave Soul Collective, which was "founded to educate the black gay community on the reality of HIV/AIDS".

A little update to the above... I wrote that a few days ago and since then Darian has posted more about the Jena Six and the mainstream GLBT community, Terry McMillan has visited his blog and left a comment telling her side of the story and there are a number of other good articles on various topics.

Next on the random five is Oliver Willis.com. You could be forgiven for thinking that he is the "wrong" one, but no... you'll have to read a bit further for that. Willis is only sorta wrong, and only sometimes! He has a bunch of stuff there, which I'm not going to detail too much, but I have to include his advice for good ole Bill O': "When you're in a controversy about racial remarks in Harlem, try not to say that your competitors are on the "dark" side for accurately quoting you." Heh.

Oliver mostly writes about US politics, dumb stuff conservatives do, sports and Jessica Alba.

And then we come to Thirty Three Jones - Respect *my* Fresh. Fresh writes mostly about music and new bands and such, and also it appears he is planning a line of clothing, which should be interesting to see.

Akindele Unleashed - Like mama said, if you can't say anything good, say nothing at all. For now.

And last, but far from least, is Mad and Crazy - GIiving Life The Slip. Iwala is in Juba/ Entebbe/ Kampala, Uganda. In my US centric ignorance I don't know if that is all one place or if Ilawa travels between places, but anyway... that's where s/he is. In case you've wondered, the explanation for why cats often gravitate towards the visitors that don't like them, and it seems that someone else wants share parking spaces.

Visit, say hi and in the comments here, let us know what masterpieces you are working on... or thinking of working on, or have found around town.