| » About Destee |
How Destee Got Started
In 1996, as a single Mother of three children, working as an administrative assistant, I logged onto the Internet for the first time. Like most of you, I immediately began to look for my people out here. I wanted to know where the Black people were. It was hard to find us in those days! There was a small group of us on AOL back then. We hung out in the chat room, talking, flirting, and having fun. One day, a Brother came into the room, his screen name was SkyWatch, and I soon learned that his real was Umar. He came into the chat room fussing at everyone, about how we were wasting a great opportunity, using this technology and our pc, only to chat. Yall know the type of Brother, always pushing us to higher heights and deeper depths. I mean he was fussing! Most ignored him I'd imagine, but the two of us began talking privately. He shared with me, some of the things he had going on in his life, as it related to business and using this technology. He talked about building web pages, and offered to do one for me. Most everyone was sharing their own web page, and I wanted one too, so I took him up on his generous offer.
Every time we ran into each other, in the chat room, I'd ask about how my web page was coming. He never had it ready to show. He was a busy man, so many irons in the fire as he had previously shared, so I was patient, just eager to see it completed. After a couple of these encounters, I began to feel bad that all I was doing was waiting and bugging him about my page, when I had never tried to do one myself. So, I decided to surprise him next time we met, by helping him with my page! Using the free space and web site tools on AOL, I made my first page! Needless to say, Brother Umar was quite proud of me! 
AOL provided a simple drag/drop environment, allowing me to insert a picture and a few words of text on a page. I was hooked! This easy-to-use technology had given me a starting place, but was not nearly enough to satisfy my interest. I wanted to know how to add more than the fields allowed in their program. I needed to know what was happening behind the scenes. At that time, I imagined web site design was no more than "glorified desk top publishing", if you will. So I had confidence that I could master it.
When I started, there were not many classes available on web site design, especially in Alabama. As a matter of fact, the term "webmaster" was still being defined. I searched the Internet for tutorials and visited my local bookstores, buying manuals that inspired my level of expertise (beginner) and allowed room for growth. I spent countless hours every night studying. I was so excited. This venture became more than a challenge, but a real thrill, as I continued learning about this completely brand-new medium that was so captivating. I had discovered a breeding ground for innovative thoughts and ideas. After having worked for the same company for 16 years, though a blessing in itself, it had grown quite predictable and nothing on my job excited me like learning web site development.
About six months into my self-study program, I was completely overwhelmed! I found web site development to be much more than "glorified desk top publishing". Though I started with a specific area to study each night, I always found myself somewhere else, rarely touching the night's planned lesson. It was at this point that I stopped and screamed! I felt as though I was in the middle of a raging river, Internet technologies (html, Internet protocol, java script, optimization, cgi, perl, web servers, databases, design, graphic optimization, community building, etc.) coming at me from every direction! I'd gone too far to turn around, and the other side of the river looked so far away. What had been a pleasant challenge, turned into a very demanding one. After investing so much, and savoring the accomplishments already made, I had no choice but to continue.
In order to understand all of these technologies, I needed a platform where I could practice and showcase my skills as they developed. So in 1997, I purchased destee.com. (Domain names were $100.00 then! Mandatory 2 year purchase at $50.00/yr.) Destee was (and is) my screen name on AOL, so it seemed a logical choice for a domain name. At that time, I thought I would create an online community, where like-minded folk could come together. The first page I created on destee.com was this one, in honor of my Mother and her Dear Beloved Husband, Charles.
During this same time period, I was the host of a Black entrepreneur chat room (it wasn't necessary to be an entrepreneur to host the chat), and was afforded the privilege of being in the company of Black business owners. I used destee.com as a way for us to get to know each other, inviting the business owners to add their business card to the site. (All the while, this provided me the opportunity to grow in my understanding of web site development). We also had a picture page here on destee, so we could see each other (some have become Ancestors now). It was this same group of Sisters and Brothers that I offered to make a web page, at no cost. I wanted to see if I could deliver what someone else wanted and/or needed. There were only five people that took me up on this free offer. Of course they were kind and said nice things about my effort, but I doubt those pages are still being used.
My studying gave me a great appreciation for this medium and the opportunities it could provide to our people. I felt so honored to be able to take part in the (relative) beginning stages of such a great technology. I started destee because I had a dream and desire to do and be a part of something those before me never had, to fully experience something new. As many of you know, Black folk have historically never been allowed to take full advantage of "new" stuff. We usually are only able to experience these things when others have sucked all of the good out of them, leaving us the scraps. My Grandmother, God Bless her, shared with me how she had to buy "dead mules." The mules were so old, tired, and used, they were no good to her in the fields of Mississippi, but she had a note on them. It was this that really compelled me to remain involved in this technology. The Internet was relatively new and I saw the opportunity to be a part of it. It's been hard work, cost money, long hours, but I felt an obligation to do this, for my Mother, Grandmother, and all those before me. They deserved at least one new mule, and I was going to give it to them.
That's how Destee began almost ten (10) years ago. The above briefly outlines the first year or so. There is much more, including the most recent years not even mentioned! I've been blessed to make the acquaintance of many wonderful Sisters and Brothers over the years. Lots of great stories and experiences I could share, and some I have shared in the community. Yes, destee.com has grown and evolved considerably over these years, ultimately bringing us here .... having a place of our own, for our own.
If you'd like to see, there are archived guest book entries from days gone by. They have always proven to be very encouraging to me, even as the years have passed. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Where does "Destee" come from?
In 1996, I adopted my 2 year old niece. Her name is Destiny, and she is twelve years old now. This time, adopting her, coincided with me getting online for the first time. Naturally, she was at the forefront of all my thoughts and actions. During my first attempt at reserving an online screen name, I entered "Destiny," but it was taken. I then tried "Destee," and it worked! The rest is history!
There is a beautiful story surrounding the adoption of my niece, and all that has come to pass over these years. Perhaps I will share it sometime soon, as I'm sure it would be an encouragement to many.
A brief and funny story though ... after choosing the name Destee, i was soon referring to myself as Destee on occasion, as well as others doing so. Destiny was so mad at me! With her 2 year old little self, she let me know, in no uncertain terms, that her name was Destiny, not mine, and I could not steal her name! It was so precious! I had to fully explain to her that the names were different, and that I would never steal from her. She soon understood, and calmed down. I guess it's good that the name "Destiny" was already taken!
If you'd like to leave questions or comments, you may do so in this thread.
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