You are lazily strolling through blogosphere in search of a good read and happen upon a blog titled Our Black Children or A Jewish Mom's Blog or Tales of Married Latino Couples.** Would you stop and read the blog even if you aren't of the ethnic persuasion named in the blog title? Seriously, would you? Ha! Did I just put you on the spot or what, eh? Don't hold back, I'd love to hear your honest thoughts.

This topic has been surfacing quite a bit lately in blogdom and I have been a part of a few of the discussions. How the conversation even began was at a session at BlogHer. I didn't attend Blogher, but I was told about the conversation. It appears the topic was raised that some bloggers feel unwelcome to visit blogs that identify a race in the title. It is my understanding that it was implied that bloggers should refrain from doing this to avoid isolating their blogs. Of course, this made me wonder if these same people would equally feel unwelcome about pictures in headers that identify a race. Would they feel isolated by a weird ethnically named blog like, Quiskaeya (lol). Hey, just saying...

Fair is fair. If I'm going to put you on the spot then the least I can do is give you my honest thoughts. Before I do, let me address a question that I get emailed a lot. People want to know how to pronounce my blog name. It's pronounced kis-kay-ya. The pronunciation is simply but it looks very confusing.

Blogs with unusual ethnic names or names that target a specific race in my opinion are doing one of two things; and in some cases they maybe doing both. Firstly, they may be reaching out to a specific audience that can relate to the blog name or secondly, they are potentially making a connection to their background or past. In regards to my blog name, Quiskaeya, I was doing the latter. The name Quiskaeya has a personal and special meaning to me because of the history of this name. In this blog I talk often of my past, my family, my views and a lot of the things I cherish. I wanted to connect those things all under one name and hence, why decided on the name Quiskaeya.

All this being said, when I see a blog with a very specific name, particularly with a racial profile in the title, it is saying to me that the author of the blog is targeting people of that racial group. I don't see anything wrong with this. All of us like community, camaraderie, a place we can feel safe to express ourselves and a place we feel is home. Blogs have become that place for some people where they can find likeness and oneness. Therefore, naming a blog something very specific so that a blogger can reach the community they desire, is perfectly normal. We do this in everyday life. We join various groups, clubs, organization, etc all in an effort to surround ourselves with common people.

I agree that naming a blog in this manner does run the risk of isolating some people. I think it would be a bit nonsensical for the author of such a blog to wonder why bloggers that don't fit the profile might feel hesitant to join in on the discussions. Then again, if you are like me I enjoy reading blogs from varying point of views. A few of my favorite blogs are from bloggers from other races, cultures, countries, religions etc. Seeing life from another person's world view can be extremely eye-opening.

I think it comes down to why a person reads blogs. Are they traveling the blogworld to broaden their perspective and peak into another world they might not otherwise have exposure to? Or are they looking for their niche, their clique and the people who can "feel them"? Personally, I don't see either as being wrong. To each his own. Come at me folks, what say you?

Resources: google images

**Disclaimer: As far as I am aware there are no blogs by these names. If for any reason there are blogs by these names or at a later date some blogs are named the same names or similarly to the above referenced blog names, it was not my intention to speak specifically regarding these blogs.