- Blog: The Field Negro
- Niche: Social/Political Issues
- Founder: Wayne Bennett
- Twitter: @fieldnegro
There’s something to be said about being so passionate about a subject that you get kicked off a blog for commenting too much. Wayne Bennett didn’t let that closed door stop him. Instead, he took his views and launched The Field Negro, a no-holds-barred space to duke it out over politics and race. A lawyer by day, the Philadelphia native has cemented himself as a voice to be heard, even if that means pissing some folks off. The disclaimer on his site is clear: “The views expressed on this site are the field’s and the field’s alone.†Bennett isn’t alone because his site receives 80,000 views a month. With that kind of traffic, Bennett could easily earn some serious cash but has decided, for now, not to have ads on his site. “Money is nice,†he says, “but being able to speak my mind is better.â€
Since launching in 2006, The Field Negro has been awarded numerous times, winning several Black Weblog Awards–including Best Political News Blog in 2007 and again in 2009 [Judges Vote] and 2011. Bennett’s also been featured in the LA Times, New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer. Now, the opinionated scribe is recognized as part of BlackEnterprise.com‘s Black Blogger Month for his work in the digital space.
I started blogging…
After getting booted from another African American website (I won’t put her on blast) for being too “outspoken†in the comments section. I vowed that I would start my own blog and look down on her on my way up. Also, I love to write and I am very opinionated.
The Field Negro is unique because…
I try to be honest with my readers no matter where it leads, and I like to think of my writing style as being somewhat unconventional. It’s actually an acquired taste. My comments section is also different from most Black blogs because I don’t censor anyone. I get a lot of heat for it because invariably the storm front people always find me because of my handle and my position with the Google search engine. They make the vilest and most ignorant comments you can imagine. Still, I think it’s important to put it out there so that folks can know what they are dealing with in our so-called “post-racial” country.
People trust my brand because…
They know that when I write, I write from the heart. I am not afraid to be honest with them and take unpopular positions.
The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…
Trusting others to do the work I should do myself.
What I learned from that was to…
Do as much by myself as possible; even if it means that I have to work harder
I realized blogging was a business when…
I met the young lady who started Bossip [Marve Frazier] and I learned how much she made in a year. And then there was Arianna Huffington selling her company to AOL for $315 million.
Click here to continue reading…
It’s important for the Black blogosphere to use its voice to speak out on topics like Trayvon Martin because…
The mainstream media will not do it for us. They won’t focus on our issues because they don’t think that their audience cares about our issues and so it’s not profitable for them. We have the luxury of not having to worry about our bottom line and profit margins as much, and so we can put stories out there that others ignore. We don’t need traditional media platforms to reach people anymore, which is a beautiful thing.
The average American isn’t as active in politics as they should be because there are…
Too much distractions, and they are too comfortable. If their next meal depended on which political party is in power, like my home country of Jamaica, I guarantee you that they would be more engaged with the process. We need to get kids excited about politics at an early age–and African Americans in general–and make them realize that the only way that they can really change what is going on is to become involved with the political process. People will pay attention to you if you have power at the ballot box.
Herman Cain’s impact on the way mainstream America views African American men…
Wasn’t a good one. He played right into that stereotype of the Black male being this hyper sexed, skirt-chasing, Lothario. The whole thing was sad to watch. Mr. 999 didn’t do us any favors.
My advice for anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps is…
Stay at it and don’t get discouraged. It takes time to start gaining followers, and building a brand. Just write about what you love and write for yourself and they will come. Oh, and keep your posts short. That’s the best advice I ever got.
Next on the horizon for me is…
Hopefully a book deal and a radio gig on the side. Until then I just want to keep building the Field Negro brand.
Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.
Watch below as Bennett’s reveals the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of The Field Negro’s success.
Video shot and edited by Brain Food Film. Shot on location at the 40/40 Club New York.