About Afro-Netizen

Founded in 1999 by native Chicagoan and social entrepreneur Chris Rabb, Afro-Netizen™ is a net-centric social experiment whose mission is to inform, inspire and engage afro-netizens and the communities they touch.

Technically speaking, an "afro-netizen" is a Black "citizen of the (Inter)net". However, the connotation of this term coined by Rabb in the final moments of the 20th Century, bespeaks a more civic value to -- and utility of -- the Internet in one's life beyond its more consumer or individualistic applications.

What started out as an informal e-mail-based news aggregation service for and about Blackfolk has blossomed into a burgeoning online community, having gained national visibility and momentum in the aftermath of the frenzied mainstream media (MSM) coverage of the then-nascent "political blogosphere" during the 2004 election cycle.

Afro-Netizen's focus is on reaching and empowering civic-minded, intellectually curious "e-fluentials" by providing a uniquely compelling mix of content, community and collaboration.

This is a lofty, long-term mission for Afro-Netizen, but one worthy of serious commitment. Needless to say, such missions are only as meaningful to the African American community as there becomes a critical mass of independently owned, Black-managed social enterprises capable of honoring these laudable communal values.