Blindiannetwork.com is a social website founded by Nathan Thompson and Sue Ellen Chohan, who are a Blindian couple. Blindian is basically Black and Indian, the words merged together. In this case, Nathan is of Jamaican Black decent and Sue Ellen is of East Indian origin; they both reside in the UK. Basically, the site is opening up the world of mixed couples and people of mixed races. As a West Indian, this notion is nothing new. We are all mixed and Blindian plus a few more races. I guess in our culture, we would associate Blindian as being “dougla”.
The site is about a year old but has been prominent through myspace, where I initially was introduced to Blindian. Nathan and Sue are wonderful people, who I truly admire. I’m sure they have faced many racial & cultural issues regarding their relationship and still are happily in love. I feel that in this world that we live in now, with all the hate revolving countries and more personalized; cultures against each other, a site like Blindian is where we don’t have to worry about this. I have met so many wonderful people who are from basically all hemispheres of the world. It’s quite funny that when they friend me, personally, I predominantly look Indian so they assume so. When I get into specifics and explain what being West Indian is, (and I’m very proud of where I come from – rambling on and on about our mixed culture, races and religions) many of my Blindian friends are completely blown away that where we, as West Indians come from, mixed races is not a new thing AT ALL! Speaking with my Blindian friends, unfortunately some of them live in places that even holding hands with another race – is socially forbidden. How do we as people, in this day and age let that happen?
I feel that with more sites and organizations like Blindian, it will change the outlook on “races” and help humans move forward from silly ways of categorizing people. Blindian is not only Black and Indian based, and they are open arms to everyone.
Blindiannetwork.com, to me is the best of all social networks combined. You can friend people and message them. You can also join groups, chat and blog as well! People’s pictures are featured and Nathan really puts a personalized touch on his site as well as Sue Ellen. They both email people frequently and check all the blogs as well as groups. The chats are always a great way to meet people from the other side of the world. Unfortunately there is much of a time gap (in the chat) but, it doesn’t stop people from becoming good online friends at all. Also, my favorite feature of your personalized profile page is the section where you can upload your own mp3 files. Overall, I’m really blown away how people are so open to understand each other. People are always asking questions and also explaining why they feel a certain way. I haven’t felt any negative ways to really anything on the site, which is why I’m blogging about it.
There are many other reasons why I like this site, just go to it and try it yourself. I’m sure it will soon be a favorite online place of yours as well.
It really sounds like a place where you don’t have to deal with the immaturity of a myspace. I’m actually checking it out right now. I know I’ve met some people who have experienced some “racial obstacles” and I myself have had people stare at me and my partner in the past because we were of different races.
I’m definitely gonna check out this website, thanks for opening us up to it!
Aww! What a great way to promote the site and show your love!! Beautiful. I will have to agree with you. I haven’t been a member a full week yet and I absolutely love the people I’ve met so far!! I wish I lived closer to everyone so that I can go to some of the events but I don’t. Great site, awesome people and fantastic discussions!! Thanx Sue and Nathan and everyone else that I have gotten to know so far on the site….Hugz*
Stacee
Jon,
Yeah definitely you should! Keep me updated.
Stacee,
I agree, the only issue it would be awesome to meet some of my Blindian friends face to face but we’re hemispheres away.
Pady is not lying you guys. I joined BNK around 3 or 4 months ago and it is one of my regular sites. I joined because I am Blindian or mixed race and I am in a Blindian relationship. People there are so cool. Sue and Nathan are super sweet and very open mind. I look up to them both in terms of developing my relationship and OVERSTANDING cultural differences from another perspective other than my own. I have learned so much. Indian and Black culture really don’t collide in the U.S., but this gives you the opportunity to do so. It is super super super…I would have to say, BNK is my favorite site no lie.
Thank you so much Pady. As a regular member you describe Blindian Network (BNk) so well. It pleases both Sue-Ellen and myself to know that our work is loved so much. Truly everyone on BNk is regarded as a friend, we see it as a joint acheivement that we share with all our supporting members.
Interculturally we know there is much work to be done in regards to raising awareness and breaking down negative stereotypes in regards to blacks and Indians. Not everyone on BNk is always in agreement but overall we are overwhelmed by the progress we have made. Already in a short space of a year we have reached several people in blindian relationships, marriages, people who have blindian (dougla) children or those simply interested in making new friends and contributing to the site.
A lot of the discussions take place on people’s walls and in our forums. This is because BNk started off as a forum but hopefully in time more members will take advantage off our chatroom along with continuing to use the other assortment of features that are available. We are always looking at new ways to improve and although we get critised for being a bit to liberal in regards to the moderation we feel the best way for improvement to happen is to let members feel in control the direction of the site by sometimes taking a step back.
We welcome all new members to introduce themselves without the pressure of feeling ignored as everyone is very open and friendly. We hope to make more friends on BNk and welcome Baiganchoka readers to visit our website whenever they feel the need to do so. One of the reasons we like Baiganchoka is that it is also a very open and welcoming place on the net that raises awareness on the West Indies which could be considered one the first interracial melting pots in modern history!
One again thank you Pady for including BNk in your exciting blogs we will keep an open link to Baiganchoka on our website on the condition you give us the recipe to the dish
http://www.blindiannetwork.com/
Paddy,
Thank you again for your kind words and support, your blog is a amazing generous gift.
Your blog is perfect and could now have been worded any better. We’re over the moon and happy that you and others enjoy the social interaction on Blindian Network (BNk). This journey has been one of growth and experinace, I have learnt so much since myspace days, and got to know so many wonderful ppl who are our friends, and part of the BNk Fam.
What I like about BNk is how understanding ppl can be too. There isn’t any fear that your views will be objected by the majority, if your willing to explain, we are willing to listen. I say it often but there is so much to BNk, the social aspect but also a support system, a platform to share and educate others with our experiences, we are truly blessed to share everything we have so far and I look forwards to everything we will encounter in the future.
BNk is nothing without it’s members, which we value and adore, all our members are amazing.
Thank you for your wonderful blog. I’m sorry I didn’t get to your blog sooner, but with recent shattering events I hope you can understand why.
xxx
Nathan,
I’m so glad you liked the blog
. You guys are way to awesome.
Only one problem – I DON’T KNOW HOW TO COOK
so, i cant really give you my recipe for BAIGANCHOKA, and actually I’ve never really tried the food either… I’m not really a fan of eggplant.
I know shocking right?
I know that we can’t really change the world in an instant with your site or this blog but, still people on your site are being introduced to the notion. I was actually shocked that others were shocked my family is from a mixed culture. I mean a lot of us live in the US, Canada and the UK and there is much mixture of races. Why can’t it coexist in other countries? The sad thing is, even living in the US… NY more specifically, there is still racial boundaries that some people make a big deal about, which i’m usually oblivious to. I mean why pay attention to it anyways.
Sue,
Gosh you guys make me feel so loved. THanks! And of course We adore you all too!
I’m definitely not the only one that feels so.
But seriously it’s the truth… see everyone before you that commented
Again, i wish you and Nathan all the best
Nathan,
The guys here at Baiganchoka have a special recipe for baiganchoka that we have refined over the past couple of years and we make it every Saturday morning when we are together. We would be more than happy to send if you wish. Thank you for introducing BNK and a warm thanks to Pady for sharing BNK with the readers that frequent Baiganchoka.com.
Andrew
dis website sound pretty kewl =]
Baiganchoka rocks! It taste soo good but depends on who is cooking it and how much pepper they make it with and if they cook it ove a flame if not it doesnt get the tasty flavor. but you have to get some rotie to eat with it .
And what is wrong with being Black and Indian? Look at me I am heavily mix, mostly BLACK and INDIAN and damn PROUD of IT:-) Why just be plain? I am too unique and would NEVER EVER trade who or what I am for nothing in this world. I love that I can reach out to just about any (if not all) race in the world. I LOVE ME and how I AM!!! It’s just sad that some people can’t except us for who we are sometimes. They don’t understand that I can be whatever the HELL I choice to be because I am ME and always will be ME, Pady:-) I didn’t used to like Bigianchoka its makes me VOMIT, but if someone who can cook real well Yummy I say bring the Dahl and the ROIT so people can eat some real food nah man=D I love mixed RACE, but I must admit it does get confusing at a lot at times. Only because, and I am being very honest here when I say when a person who’s living with their Indian family they talk about black people a lot ( in a bad way in case you’re wondering) and you have to listening to there nonsense all the time you get very frustrated. I want to say HELLO in case you forget I am BLACK too you know. I did that before when an old friend of mine was talking about Blacks and I said I am black too she said “oh you love more Indian” But, in life I learned and still learning that you have to take the bad with the GOOD. I realize that they(Indian fam.) are scared of what I am not too sure. Well maybe they are scared of what they went through in Guyana. I mean Guyana was mostly Black and Indian back in the days. Both Races was fighting again each others for ownership of the country. One can only imagine what massacre went on there back then. Okay fine I confessed too I am not really into Black Men, ha ha no I am not into Indian Men neither:-) I am so mixed beyond Indian and Black, But those are my two primary Race. I love getting to know other RACE I know about mines already. People failed to realize that NO ONE ASKED TO BE WHO THERE ARE. We just got to work with what We GOT!!!!!!!!!!!
Andrew,
Kavita,
Let me know what you think of the site
Jacob,
I’ll think about trying it, still unsure though.
Safrina,
I think we have all been in situations similar to yours. Once I was studying with a couple of college classmates who (were all East Indian). A few guys and girls hanging out near our table were westindian and started talking and giggling, but not in any type of rude way. Anyways, Some people in the group started making fun of Westindians how “the girls are sluts” and “the guys are always drunk”, so I said how do you know that since previously they all stated they only date within their races and religion.., and that they didn’t know any WestIndian people personally (b/c i asked if they did).
They didn’t know i was WestIndian, but shat does it matter if i am or not, utter ignorance to any race without knowing anything is just simply retarded. Well we don’t have to go into detials but i kept my cool and told those who were laughing and talking “crap”, I politely told them to never talk to me again and dont ask me to help them with their study group stuff.
Some of the guys said things similar to “what does it matter your not westindian”…. i said i am… and walked away.
So its not only different races that do it, people within similar races do it as well. People always try to find some way to make themselves “look better” or be above another group of people. A lot of people on a whole forget quickly that each group has their bad and good, and its the same through out each group of people.
So,this is the reason why I like Baiganchoka (the site) & Blindian… I haven’t felt like other people are attacking or trying to attack other groups of people.
Besides don’t we all have better things to do tan focus on petite nonsense like how much or the lack thereof of melanin?
Hey, posting a message regaridng my own socialising website, it’s been running for almost an year and it’s going well, it’s a multimedia social website, all the latest entertainment and gossip as well as news and also a live music video station to listen to various types of music.
check it out
http://www.peekonnect.ning.com
i agree with jon, it does seem like the place that doesnt seem to have the immaturity all the other social networking sites have, which is great.
Sounds great. Just created a profile. I’m glad it’s not like the nonsense on Myspace. That’s mainly why I stopped using it. Can’t wait to get started! I never really knew what this website was about. I saw it on Facebook, but never actually bothered to sign up because I taught it was like a myspace. But I’m very interested now to create a profile. Thanks.
And I love this website, by I myself is not a big fan of eggplant. LOL
I”ll cook it, but won’t eat it. =]
Great
Yeah eggplant is kinda funkie looking
Thank you guys n gals for all the postive feedback. Believe it or not we’ve been friends with a couple of people here a long time on MySpace. We like to network with loads of people especially from Africa, South Asia, Caribbean, Britain and U.S.
Made a lot of Guyanese friends online and love the indo caribbean food, music and accent.
Nathan,
Seems like you’ve totally been converted by BaiganCHoka, and yes we westindians know how to wield our charms
Everyone is super sweet on this website ! I’m speechless ! =) It’s only been one day, and I feel so loved ! =)
Wanita,
I’m glad you joined. They are really nice…. my new social family
Same here ! It’s the first website i log into ! Baiganchoka is now second ! :p jk jk I can’t wait till I get back from work to start blogging! It’s not quite finish yet, so i don’t want to post it up ! =x LOL
Wanita,
How dare you! You know BaiganChoka is always numero uno.
It’s my one true love, My computer has bookmarked it “my soulmate”.
DOnt ever speak of BC like that ever again lol
See ya in Blindian
AND DEAR BaiganCHoka,
You know i love you dearly… BUT I HATE THESE CAPTCHA NONSENSE….
i’m gonna start a petition to take em off… so annoying!!!!
Love,
Pady
LOL ! I’m kidding ! I love Baiganchoka ! It will always be #1 in my life ! =) see ya gurlie !
p.s. i agree ! i hate it because for some reason it takes me about 3 tries to post my damn comment ! it constantly says ” ERROR: That reCAPTCHA response was incorrect . So, my name will be second on that petition.