Dear Reader,
I’ve strayed from my usual focus on books to the World Wide Web. I have always been a strong advocate for independent websites and Black-owned indie websites in particular.
I’ve been creating websites since it was possible to do so—for over 25 years. One of the most dramatic changes I’ve seen is how much harder it is for indie websites to survive, As a result, the WWW is a less diverse and rich place than it could be. The biggest reason is that Google’s search results are dominated by its products and advertisements. The actual search results are biased toward corporate sites. This makes indie harder to discover. Other reasons include the dominance of social media sites that use our data to addict us to their platforms.
If Black-owned websites are to be created and thrive, we have to take an active role in making it happen. This is why I spend time and energy creating the lists I’ve shared above. Hopefully, you will share this information and support these sites and any others you find valuable.
Always remember dear reader, you are why we’ve been able to make AALBC the premier online platform for books by, or about, people of African descent. Your paid subscriptions, book purchases, suggestions, engagement on the site, commenting, social sharing, and advertisements help support AALBC’s mission.
Peace and Love,
Troy Johnson
Founder & Webmaster, AALBC.com