ABOUT US
Welcome!
My name is Daaim Shabazz, Associate Professor of Business at Florida A&M University (USA). My name is pronounced Da-eem Sha-boz. I’m quite pleased to present The Chess Drum (launched on 12 February 2001), an online magazine whose time in history has come. Welcome!
At the 2015 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis
For too long, many chess-playing segments have been overlooked… especially Black players. As a young player developing a passion for chess, I read chess magazines and books with an insatiable hunger. However, I noticed there is little variety in terms of reported stories, particularly in terms of demographics. There were burning questions in my mind about why there was such little diversity in the people playing. The question resulted in a research journey and The Chess Drum was born!
Thus, this vehicle seeks to expose the world to contributions from the African Diaspora and in turn, to expose the African Diaspora to international chess. The Chess Drum is a chess website from a different perspective. It also expands the profile of chess as a universal activity able to touch a wide variety of people. That profile did not exist and chess was perceived to be white, male, and intellectual, but chess has always had adherents touching every demographic spectrum, but these stories were not being told.
The Early Years (2001-2007)!
