Shabazz named “Chess Educator of the Year”
Dear Chess Community,
This Tuesday, the University of Texas-Dallas awarded me the “Chess Educator of the Year” award. The award has been given since 2004 when Susan Polgar was the inaugural honoree. I was surprised and truly humbled by the gesture.
UTD has been at the forefront of chess education since Dr. Tim Redman started the program in 1996. I used to play in his scholastic tournaments at the University of Chicago High School (U-High) under the tutelage of my coach, Tom Fineberg of Chicago Vocational High School. It was Fineberg who provided the environment for me to develop a passion for chess. I also had Marvin Dandridge and Roger Hickman who served as mentors.
Years later, a burning question, “Where are the Black chess masters?” led me on a research project to find out and talk to many chess personalities and officials. In 1990, I wrote a marketing plan for a chess network for the African Diaspora, which was later launched as a website in 2001. Now, 24 years later, the site has compiled approximately 25,000 pages, including news articles, interviews, videos, tournament reports, opinion-editorial articles, games and other chess content.
The purpose has been to educate the international chess community about the African Diaspora and, in turn, to educate the African Diaspora about international chess. The main adage is to show and demonstrate the “universality of chess” and to be inclusive of underserved segments of the chess community. Moving forward, the site will remain a platform for chess content in the form of podcasts, videos, and as a portal for promoting chess in the African Diaspora.
I would like to thank the UTD chess community, particularly Jim Stallings, Tim Steiner, and GM Julio Sadorra, for their hospitality. Also, a warm thanks to my friend Rodney Thomas, who serves on the UTD Chess Advisory Board. I appreciate this national honor, and I accept it on behalf of the Chess Drum community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Daaim Shabazz
a copy of “Triple Exclam”
Photos by Rodney Thomas
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: This presentation will discuss the role of the digital platform in the role of chess education. Over the past 30 years, chess has been riding the technological wave of change from earliest chess servers like FICS and ICC to the latest craze of online chess content through social media channels and streaming on Twitch. This evolution has accelerated advanced learning and consumption of chess knowledge through digital learning aids. Chess engines have become the “de rigueur” of training regimens for professional chess players and a vehicle for “advanced learning.” Players no longer have to wait for the latest Informant to get the latest analysis. Websites were also part of the first generation of content providers for chess.
In the 24 years of The Chess Drum, there has been an increased emphasis on providing a visual orientation in education content. The early days of websites were simply digital magazines, but later transitioned into an interactive format through blogs. These blogs embedded audio-visual social media content and allowed lively debates. There has been a deemphasis on written literature and more focus on developing fast-paced and visually appealing video content. While there is still a market for chess literature, much of the content has moved to a digital platform. Nevertheless, websites are still staples for research and educative content. The Chess Drum has tried to fill the void of an underserved segment.
The purpose of The Chess Drum has been to (1) expose the world to chess in the African Diaspora, (2) to expose the African Diaspora to the chess around the world, and (3) to show the universality of chess. The site has been a journalistic mainstay in the international arena and provides a platform for stories that are often overlooked. The online arena remains a wonderful place to provide educative content and allows it to be consumed and shared without any of the traditional limitations.