I'm In Chi-ca-go!

I left my laptop in the hotel yesterday while attending the Blogher Conference. I wanted to see if I could go without checking my email for a day, as it seems as though I have developed an emotional attachment to it. It worked. I watched as people lugged their computers to every session, hunting around for cords and grumbling about the wireless service at the Navy Pier  - which is beautiful, btw.

I got into town on Thursday, after taking the subway from the airport downtown. What a trip! I don't think I have ever spent that much time on the train - an hour. but hey, it was dead cheap and pretty accessible, even though I think I'm going to take the shuttle back tonight. I dropped my bags and headed down to Michigan Ave to check out the stores. Very quickly, I realized that we have many of the same shops in Toronto, so it seems unpractical to blow my cash here, even though I am planning to head to Borders today.

So I was on a panel yesterday....it went okay. Here's a description of the panel:

What are the benefits and drawbacks of speaking across divides, and trying to be a "bridge"? What do we gain and lose when we assume we're blogging to people a lot like ourselves? Let's talk about insularity, authenticity, intolerance, and diplomacy. At times, bloggers can be like indie bands, risking having their original fans stop liking them the minute they start being appreciated by a more diverse audience, outside the original "club”. There's bloggers who cross all sorts of potential barriers...and bloggers who like it in their own neck of the woods just fine, thank you very much, go away if you disagree. Do Birds of a Feather groups encourage intolerance? Or are diplomats "sellouts"? Decide where you stand. Liz Henry moderates this discussion around a topic a lot of us observe, but few of us say anything about.

Liz Henry, you da'bomb! To be quite honest, I have been dealing with some pretty serious insecurity problems for about 5-6 months, and I was hoping that what I was talking about was being understood by the audience. Halfway through I just froze, thinking, ohmigod they are going to laugh at me. It's a tough crowd, as the audience at this conference are part of a demographic in which I question how seriously they take the subject matter I am concentrating on for the website. I felt at times like I could be whining about race, or that I was putting too much emphasis on a situation. On the other hand, I report on real issues that have happened, don't really have the intelligence (and too honest) to conjure up fabricated situations to prey on the sympathy of people. Who wants people to feel sorry for them? It's not about me.

I have met some really interesting people. Susie Bright is totally cool. I also saw my girl Lynne D. Johnson, who's holding it down in NYC. Hat tip to all the sistas I met last night at the cocktail party. Man, that was funny! It's always interesting to talk to Americans about race relations. There's not so much difference, just different experiences.

Speaking of race, last night I went out with a group of women to find a restaurant. We went to this one place (very busy with a line up - all white, upper middle-class folks), and one of the women, Dannie a sista from the Bay area, enquired to see if we could get a table. She was told that the restaurant was sold out. We all thought that the terminology was a bit strange, so another woman (white) from our group went back and asked again. She was told that there was an hour wait if she wanted to come back. So when she came back and reported to Dannie, she stormed over and gave the host that she talked to a piece of her mind (she's a lawyer), got his card and assured him that she would be filing a complaint the next day. In hindsight, I stood there, feeling a bit sheepish (and a bit hypocritical, since this is what I partially do for a living), and should have joined her as she tore the guy a new one. I would like to think that if it was me I would have been a bit proactive, but would I have been? Frankly, I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we were downtown in Chicago (where there were tons of tourists) and hell, Chicago is one incredibly diverse city. I don't even live in this country. I have nothing to lose by cussing someone out! Grr, I need to see a therapist, toot suite. Later!

Comments

[Tish Grier]

Hi Laina,

I'm *finally* getting around to writing about the great women I met at BlogHer, and came here to link to you...heard about what happened at the restaurant on Daring Young Mom, and just cannnot believe it. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do in that kind of situation--when it's happened to me for sexist or agest reasons, I've also been sort of chagrinned on the spot, not knowing what to do next. So, your reaction makes sense--that kind of stuff just isn't expected these days. And I truly admire the women who can act when it happens. eventually I think I'll be over the shock factor and will probably be able to speak up--but when these things happen, it sure feels like a wet fish to the face.

[Content Black Woman]

Hey Laina:

Allow me to say that you are awesome! You are strong, beautiful, smart and a needed voice in blogging community. Shoot me back an e-mail as soon as time permits.

Sorry, we didn't catch back up at the airport. I trust you had a safe flight. All the best.

CBW