Bloggers a Force Behind Jena Protests

Eric Weiner, NPR

For months, the story of the so-called “Jena Six” unfolded largely out of sight of the mainstream media. But in the emerging “Afro-Sphere,” as some call the loose network of black bloggers, the story of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate passed from blog to blog, taking on a life of its own. Petitions were signed, money was raised and protests were organized — all online.

“I think a lot of people ignored the story but the African-American blogosphere has been on it from early on, and it has really caught steam recently,” said Shawn Williams, who writes the popular Dallas South blog.

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