Where's the Color in Social media?

Every new tech-social media-communications conference I read about lately is filled overwhelmingly with... um, what is the circle on the forms? Oh right - white/ Caucasian.

- Take a look at this week's Web2.0 Summit speaker lineup in San Francisco - I see no color.
- Same with the upcoming Audience 09 conference. None.
- Last week's BlogWorld speaker lineup was only slightly differentiated - only 3-4 speakers of color out of about 90 in all.
- And peek at this week's Marketing Profs Digital Marketing conference - one exec of color?

Why is this? Are African Americans (or 'blacks' or 'people of color', whichever you prefer) excluded from social media? Of course not, but you wouldn't know it from the leading conferences. I'm no sociologist, but wouldn't a thoughtful presentation at one of these shows from an African American social media mover and shaker provide a different social media perspective? I think it would. Or does the the world of 'social media of color' exist on an entirely separate and unequal plane?

A quick Google search finds BlackWeb2.0 ('a different perspective'); Blacklife (from Glam Media); BlackAtlas (for travelers of color) and Pepsi just launched We Inspire a social network for African American moms. I'm sure there are others - leave 'em in the comments.

There seems to be a opportunity for bringing leading African American social media stars to the masses. I wonder how and when it can start to happen. If you have thoughts, drop 'em in the comments.

[I've also cross-posted this over at The Social Media Bible Ning site.]