As you know, fellow Chicago blogger and incredible soul Aaron passed away a couple weeks ago. There's been such an amazing outpouring on the net for him and his family, that it's even featured in the Sun Times, which ironically is the competition for the Tribune, which had featured The Uppity Negro as a top blog several years ago.

It's amazing and heartwarming the impact he has made on so many lives...

Fans flood Internet with grief at blogger's death - by Lucio Guerrero

"Uppity-negro.com was one of the first blogs I ever read, and probably the very first 'Black blog' I discovered, back when I was still wondering if there were any," wrote John Randolph on his blog, hiphopmusic.com. "Aaron was a pioneer in this corner of blogville that we inhabit, arguably paved the way for this site."

"He represented his views and principles with a passion and a wry humor that we could all strive to emulate. . . . I hope he knew how respected and valued he was by this community that he helped to build, and how many lives he touched with his words."

His voice paved the way for a lot of people to talk about issues, debate about things going on the in the world, and for people not to be afraid to voice their opinions.

Uppity-negro was a place where minority bloggers could turn for support, knowing that Hawkins would link their pages to his to assure more readers, giving everyone someone to read them.

Yeah, I was proud that I was blessed enough to be linked to Aaron's site. because that is the mark that I'm a cool blogger!

As soon as word hit the Net, memorials sprang up. Within days there were dozens of memorials dedicated to Hawkins.

"Aaron was Chicago to me," wrote Carol Logie. "We left for the Twin Cities in '99, and I was so terribly homesick. Then I heard Aaron's voice on an NPR commentary, and it made me so happy to have that quintessential bit of Chicago in my ears. That unmistakable voice, now stilled. I can't believe it. I am profoundly sad at the news of his passing."

Rest in peace, Aaron. Know that you are remembered, and missed.

Posted by Yano at September 17, 2004 01:14 PM