31st
A web browser for blacks?
Depending on your ‘techie’-ness, you may know there are many web browsers available to guide you in your travels across the net. Popular internet browsers include Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera, and Firefox to name a few. While these browsers are customizable, for instance you can add and remove features, personalize your settings, etc., one company believes the customizability of those browsers may not have been enough for blacks. Until now…
Made especially for blacks, here is the BLACKBIRD browser.
I first heard about the Blackbird in December of last year. A techie site called Ars Technica had a story on the browser, which was created by a black entrepreneur. As opposed to a standard browser, the Blackbird browser searches among African American resources, news, video sites, social sites, etc. to bring you more black related search results.
To be honest, I didn’t know what to think about a ‘black’ browser. I have some pro feelings about it - sometimes I can’t find a ‘black’ anything on the web. I might be able to use a black specific browser.
But I also wonder about the cons as I look back at discussion of the browser across the web.
From another technology site TechCrunch: Parker R - if i made a WET {White Entertainment Channel} channel or a WHITEBIRD browser I’d be considered racist. white man = less rights then all.
From HBCU.com a web community for historically black colleges: …they see anything “black” as “racist,” and yet don’t get that the alternative, e.g. everything else, is essentially “white.”…If a Samoan developed a web browser for Samoans, I doubt if you’d get the same response … It’s only when it’s black that they get offended.
Why does always seem to come to an “us” versus them conversation when issues like this arise? Who the hell needs a ‘black’ browser? Why does anyone care who needs a ‘black’ browser?
I’ve got a few preliminary thoughts, but before I put them to screen, I think I’ll do something unique.
I’m going to download and use the browser. Yep. I’m going to become fully informed before drawing a conclusion.
What do you think? Could you use a black browser? Do you care that other races might see this as an affront?
P.S. Look at this spoof created in response to the Blackbird, the White Bird Browser
