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**Long Tings Alert**

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I have been asked by the admin team on the eve of Blacknet Village first birthday. T

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o do a part retrospective, part thank you and part celebration of what was achallenging first year.

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Although The Village is in fact eight years old, this version or should I say this reincarnation of Blacknet was reborn on 20th August 2003, after much too long in the doldrums..

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From a very quiet beginning, where it was far from certain if Blacknet could regain its crown and reputationit had asthe home of the cutting edge of black opinion of the ordinary African and African/Caribbean.

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One year on this village has surpassed all expectations, and surprised even those like myself who thought it would bounce back...

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One year on we recently celebrated our 50,000 post milestone… and we are now well on our way to reaching 100,000 posts probably well before our second birthday next year....

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We have more than 3000 registered members, more than 3000 posts ranging from political Iraq revisited debate to the light hearted word game which is still going very very strong..

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From being a very distant poor relative to some of the other black forums, from a standing start we have now surpass those ahead of us, and without doubt have become the fastest growing and busiest space for All-Africans in the UK today..

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Despite this spectacular success it is unfortunate (in my view) that the team behind Blacknet and Blacknet village itself has NOT been recognised for their undoubted consistent service thatthey have provided for our community, not just in the UK but globally.. I really hope that this is put right soon..

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I am also sad that Blacknet is not recognised as the Godfather of Black message boards, for the trends it has set and the way it has createdthe blueprint for others to follow.. For that Kennedy, Dillinger, Raven & Menzer ought to be recognised and commended for their courage and commitment in this area.

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I also need to mention Mafdet, apart from having a terrible year with the sad lost of her dear brother. she is celebrated now for giving this version of Blacknet its name, by coining the term Blacknet Village…So she must be honoured for that..

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It is also a big strength of the Blacknet Village that its Moderation team is multinational, reflecting All Africans at its best… For those who always say African and African Carribeans, young and old, men and women can’t work together and can’t unify..this is proofthat this a lie!!!

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This team more than anything else typifies the lie in that statement.. Over the last year we have demonstrated just how it is possible despite our many differences (and they are many believe me), to agree or disagree around common ground to work together and hold the line on consensus agreement.

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The team has demonstrated teamwork, commitment and professionalism of the highest standard this last year. Remembering that the Moderators here are unpaid volunteers, this team in conjunction with the moral and physical support of Kennedy, Dillinger & Raven is one of the reason why being here is so special to many..and demostrates black people at its best!!!

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A poster commented recently 'what is the use of talking the same ol same ol’, or word to that effect. to himtalking was simply a waste of time..

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How wrong can you be, how wrong? As the longest serving member, I can see the visable changes in our community, the growth and the maturity in our discussion iswell documented inthe old versions of Blacknet...and here today..

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We have moved on in so many different ways, from making everyone but ourselves the centre of our attention, we have moved on from defining ourselves by the actions of others outside our culture.We have definitely moved on from just having one or two contributers knowing their stuff to now having the strength in depth, where I would now say anyone here today, could hold their corner with anyone at any level.

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When we or someone elsetalks about unity, or the lack of unityin black people. Pleasepoint them to this Village and show them Black unity in action.

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We don’t get unity or consensus from shutting ourselves away, or from keeping our thoughts to ourselves in isolation. We get unity from forums like this, from sharing and testing our views and from voicing our views when there is nowhere else to be heard..

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That to me is unity in action!!!

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What is very very pleasing on a day when some idiot is talking about trouble with 'black' men.. is that today our youth are here in force onBlacknet Village doing well, intelligent andAfrican centredthis is a good sign for the future a very good sign..

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So all of this effort and work would be nought and for nothing without the quality, the support and the input from all of you, the Villagers. Without you, thiswould not be the hilarious, sometimes frustrating, sometime infuriating, mostly intelligent and always lively debating platform it is today.

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You made this place what it is, and you made the Blacknet Village one of the pieces of the jigsaw in a confusing and complex multimedia world.. So for that and on behalf of the Blacknet team, whom I’m authorised to speak on behalf of and the Moderation team a big big:

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Thank You

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On the Eve of our First Birthday in our new home..

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Happy Birthday Blacknet Village….