Obama Looking to the Hip Hop Gen for Help

January 11, 2008 by
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Politics, Society & Culture 

obama_barack_headshot.jpgYou can’t tell me this guy isn’t on his grind to win this thing. Barack Obama is looking to get support from Jay Z and Kanye West to reach the young voters and I think this is definitely a step in the right direction. I heard a comment on the radio that stated if 20% of the young voters participated in the election, he could win the presidency. How true that is, I’m not sure. But I am glad to see him reach out to the younger generation to get them involved in the political process.

Obama’s recognizes the importance of their vote and I hope his intentions are real. I’m glad to see younger people get involved because the laws and policy enacted today will affect them the most. For us old guys, this is our chance to encourage them to get involved. If you don’t vote, you have no reason to complain about anything our government is doing. Many people have put their lives on the line so that we could have the right to vote. So whomever you vote for, encourage others to do so also. It’s our right as Americans.

And while I’m on my soapbox, let’s not forget about those who have paved the way for this to happen.

 

Tags:

Comments

6 Comments on Obama Looking to the Hip Hop Gen for Help

  1. Vanessa on Sat, 12th Jan 2008 4:22 pm

    2. I totally agree with you on this one. If young people would vote in overwhelming numbers, there’s a possibility for real change in this country.

    Thanks for the link to the Shirley Chisholm post.

  2. Joel on Mon, 14th Jan 2008 12:36 pm

    3. Regardless of the intention, I commend him for including this demographic. An engaged and involved younger generation is better than the alternative.

  3. theo.johnson on Mon, 14th Jan 2008 1:38 pm

    4. Vanessa: No problem. We can’t forget about those trailblazers who paved the way for this to happen. Thanks for writing it.

    Joel: You are so true. I get excited to see them energized about this type of stuff. It’s important because I believe the children are our future and it’s up to us to teach them well and let them lead the way.

  4. Joel on Mon, 14th Jan 2008 5:24 pm

    5. I hear that Whitney reference..LOL! I’d just rather have more thinkers in our younger population than those that are only concerned with all things pop.

  5. Yobachi on Tue, 15th Jan 2008 10:46 pm

    6. There are inherent pitfalls with aligning yourself with a guy who is a self described pimp and American Gangster; who has a catalogue of lyrics ripe with what tinges on misogyny (or is misogyny)to a lot of people), drug dealing, and boasting of violent exploits.

    Particularly dangerous for a black man to do since white folks, who’s votes he’ll have to have, have a tendency to easily buy into the ideal of the “inherent tendency of criminality of Black men”, though they may not even admit to themselves that tendency.

    Especially with Hillary’s proxies out there insinuating he’s a drug dealer, based on his admitted pass use. Irrelevant to many of us, but not to the psyche of a lot of people who’s votes he’ll need.

  6. theo.johnson on Wed, 16th Jan 2008 12:11 pm

    7. I tend to vote for the lesser evil of the candidates. This country is run by modern-day pimps and people with a gangsta mentality. All I can do is place my support behind the person I feel will do the best in that position. If my choice is wrong, then I (along with the entire country) has to live with it until his/her term is up. When it comes down to it, I have to choose someone. Not participating at all in the election is not an option for me.

    Their personal life is a concern, but if you dig deep enough they all got something to hide. I guess I need to read Obama’s book everyone is talking about.

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!