the pan collective

My steelpan

So you may recall that a little over a week ago, I was thinking about starting a new group blog. Since this passing comment illicited a few "woman, are you not busy enough?" comments, I thought I'd share some of my thinking behind this.

About 2 months ago, one of the contributing editors of SHE Caribbean magazine (a regional fashion magazine) asked me to submit an article on Caribbean women bloggers for one of their upcoming issues. This, of course, required a bit of research. In writing the article, I becan to discover that blogging, while huge in the United States, is still in its infancy in the Caribbean. In addition, the women who blog are, to a certain extent, engaging in a revolutionary act * -- because the islands are so small, it is difficult to be outspoken without catching the attention of many -- and many who may know (and/or judge) you in real life. Furthermore, because the Caribbean still tends to be rather patriarchal (e.g., abortion is still illegal, and don't get me started on the local radio station that gave away BOOB JOBS as one of its contests right before Carnival, not to mention its hard-hitting discussion topics it has every day, such as "Men: do you feel like victims when your woman has PMS?"), it's rather unusual for a woman to set up a little corner of real estate on the internet and speak her mind.

So anyway, while I was doing this article, and interviewing all these wonderful West Indian women bloggers, it dawned on me that if the voices of these were harnessed into one blog (in addition to their own blogs), perhaps their collective words would be made a bit louder, and amplify what was going on in the Caribbean. Besides, one of the frustrating things about being from the Caribbean is the fact that most of the rest of the world merely associates us with white sandy beaches, drinks with little umbrellas in them, reggae, and, well.. pot. And we're so much more than that.

And so, for this reason, I started The Pan Collective -- a group blog where I'm lucky to write alongside some of the brightest women who either live in the Caribbean, or are from the Caribbean. The blog is intended to provide personal accounts of life in the Caribbean -- generally positive in tone, sharing what life is really like here in the islands. I figured it was time that the world realized that the Caribbean was more than just white sandy beaches, rum-and-coca-cola, and yellow birds. In addition, my hope is that the writers will also shed some light on some of the issues currently facing (particularly women in) the Caribbean, and hopefully provide a forum for some solutions, and so on.

Anyway, please check it out -- and leave a message. And tell your friends. I think you'll enjoy what you read.

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* Speaking of revolutionary acts, it turns out that one of The Pan Collective's authors, Georgia, who is the Caribbean region editor for Global Voices, has a Chinese colleague who has been arrested by the Chinese authorities -- yet not charged -- a mere 10 days after he was appointed the Northeast Asia editor. In addition to blogging at Global Voices, Hao Wu is also a documentary filmmaker. To date, the reason for Hao's arrest has not been given; however, one of the possibilities that is being considered is that the authorities who detained Hao want to use him and his video footage to prosecute members of China’s underground Churches. You can read more about this here and here.

Here's praying for his freedom.

Comments

[Christopher]

Yes, Another great blog for me to siphon away all my time. I love it!

[Schmoopy]

Girl!!! I can barely keep up with my own blog -- what with all the reading of your articles and others blogs -- and this is what?.. your 23rd blog???!! Where do you find the time? I SO want to be you when I grow up! ; )

[Meepers]

I don't know how you do - let alone do it so beautifully! I'm definitely blogrolling the Pan Collective!