NC exit polls reveal Obama’s core demographic
My home state reared some interesting results for the Obama camp yesterday. I already knew that black voters tend to be overwhelmingly Pro-Bama, while working class whites lean towards Clinton, but I found the specific generation by generation results to be very intriguing. Among black voters, the youth (aged 18-29) voted overwhelmingly in Obama’s favor by a margin of 96%. The Hip-Hop generation was followed by Civil Rights generation (aged 45-59) at 91%, then the elders (aged 60+) at 90%. The Black demographic least supportive of Obama were those aged 30-44, rolling in at a lackluster 86%. You could draw all types of interesting conclusions based on these numbers. The slope among white voters was a little more linear. Obama beat Clinton out for the young white vote (aged 18-29) but lost by a higher and higher margin, the older you get. He lost the soccer mom’s (aged 30-44) by 7%, the Baby Boomers (aged 45-59) by 31% and the senior citizens (aged 60-older) by 40%. Looks like older white North Carolinians aren’t ready for a Black president quite yet. These numbers came from exit polls so, they need to be taken with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, I think these numbers are an interesting glimpse into the minds and priorities of American voters from various generations.
1 Comment. Filed under Uncategorized, news/politics.
Is the Reverend Wright? or is the Reverend Wrong?
Reverend Jeremiah Wright addressed an enthusiastic group scholars, spiritual leaders, and press at the National Press Club this Monday. I watched the whole thing and found myself engaged by the charismatic delivery and penetrating content of his speech. 
My first thought was about how much this speech was going to clarify and reconcile some of the misconceptions that mainstream media had purported about Reverend Wright - and he was going strong, all the way up until the question and answer section.. oh boy. During the Q&A the press baited the Reverend with several loaded questions designed to enhance controversy and alienate Obama. Unfortunately, Reverend Wright played right into their hands, going so far as to suggest that Obama only distanced himself from Wright as a political maneuver to satisfy his conservative white constituency. Even if this were the case, by snitching on him, Wright has forced Obama into a very compromising position. The Rev. couldn’t have done more damage to Barack Obama’s campaign if he had tried.
9 Comments. Filed under news/politics, television, spirituality.
Blackademics/Language Arts: Sean Bell Tribute
I created this Sean Bell tribute in response to the outrageous “not guilty” verdict passed today. I recorded the original song, “Don’t Push” back in 2006, when the incident first occurred. Rest in Peace, brother.
Comments Off. Filed under racism, violence, police brutality, healing.
Not Guilty: Sean Bell’s NYPD Murderers Walk
Today the NYPD officers who slaughtered an unarmed father of two named Sean Bell received a verdict of Not Guilty. A New York State Supreme Court judge cleared officers Mike Oliver, Marc Cooper and Gescard Isnora of manslaughter and reckless endangerment this morning.
On November 25, 2006, Sean Bell was murdered on the day before his wedding in a barrage of 50 bullets. Bell and his two friends Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield were unarmed. Bell was killed on the scene having been struck 4 times in the neck and torso. Joseph Guzman was hit 19 times and Trent Benefield, who was in the back seat, was hit 3 times - both men survived. All victims, including Bell, were handcuffed after the assault. For the full story check out MK’s post: The Destruction of the Black Family… by the NYPD.
This is a travesty.
7 Comments. Filed under racism, violence, police brutality.
Rock the Vote / WireTap Call for Young Election Reporters
Rock The Vote / WireTap: Calling for Election 2008 Reporters!
Check here for more information.
As young voters are coming out to vote in record numbers, WireTap magazine parterend up with Rock the Vote to support the work of five emerging reporters for Rock the Trail project. These young reporters will rock their local, state and presidential campaign trails to deliver blogs, articles and videos from the communities they live in, reporting on young people’s top issues. Rock the Trail reporters will help make this election relevant, fun and meaningful for new voters.
The issues and voices of Rock the Trail reporters will be posted on RocktheVote.com, WireTapMag.org, BET.com, WashingtonPost.com and will also be available for viewing on AT&T mobile phones.
Entries will be judged by the young staff of Rock the Vote and WireTap, as well as an advisory panel of distinguished journalists including:
–Jeff Chang, award-winning author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation
–Sian-Pierre Regis, producer, BET News
–Peter Rothberg, associate publisher, The Nation magazine
–Jose Antonio Vargas, political feature writer, The Washington Post.
Rock the Trail reporters will be paid a $500 monthly stipend and supplied with a laptop, cell phone and video camera to rock the 2008 campaign trail. Rock the Trail reporters will work approximately 10 hours a week from May 15 to November 30 interviewing candidates, elected officials, campaigners, young voters, youth organizers and Rock the Vote artists discussing everything from the Presidential race to mayoral elections and anything in between.
So, if you’re a U.S. citizen between the ages of 18-29 and interested in reporting on one of the most exciting times in U.S. politics, please visit http://www.Rockthevote.com/rockthetrail to complete an application by May 7th (not a minute after 11:59pm).
Rock the Trail project is sponsored by AT&T.
Comments Off. Filed under news/politics.
April 2008 Interview w/ Gamal Nkrumah
This month’s interview is with Gamal Nkrumah - the eldest son of the first President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah and Fathia Nkrumah. I caught up with him in Accra while he was in town with his family mourning the loss of his mother. In this two part interview we discuss the IMF and World Bank, Fela Kuti and his father’s spirituality and leadership. Check out the interview here, or click on the youtube videos below:
Part 1
Part 2
Comments Off. Filed under interviews.
Uganda: U.S. Army Set to Recruit Citizens
Not much to say about this–not much but ‘damn.’
***UPDATE***
Army attendance at Uganda conference stirs recruiting rumor
The United States Army is not looking for a few good Ugandans.
An Army recruiting spokesman said Wednesday he was working to squelch a potential influx of interested applicants after an African news agency incorrectly reported the U.S. military planned to recruit Ugandan citizens during an Orlando convention.
“I’m relatively certain that there is no one working to get non-citizens (living abroad) to join the U.S. military,” said Douglas Smith, spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, adding only noncitizens living in the U.S. with a green card are eligible to serve.
Army recruiting officials have discussed plans to attend the Ugandan North American Association 20th Annual Convention starting Aug. 29 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort, Smith said.
Annette Kironde, spokeswoman for the association, said the publicity spurred dozens of e-mails to her organization, most saying they would do whatever it takes to join. “They’re desperate to get out of Uganda,” Kironde said.
[…]
“There are a lot of myths and misinformation on this topic,” he said of the U.S. military recruiting foreigners.
Not all Ugandans who heard about the bogus recruiting were interested.
“Ugandans, especially northerners, are too traumatized by 22 years of war that joining the U.S. army would not be therapeutic but rather a psychological trauma on top of trauma,” according to a comment Kironde received that was signed “A concerned Ugandan!”
This is all very confusing…if they are not recruiting then why are they attending the annual conference? And what is this business about cheaper flights…?
6 Comments. Filed under news/politics, diaspora, Africa, violence, international relations.
Absolut Chaos: Mexican vodka ad enrages anti-immigrationists
Many of you may be aware of the Absolut Vodka advertisement campaign theme, “Absolut World.” These advertisements use the slogan “in an Absolut World” to describe one’s ideal circumstance. One “Absolut World” ad shows a pregnant couple that consists of a slim, smiling mother and a strait-faced father with a bulging belly. Another personal favorite shows a politician standing at a podium delivering a speech with his nose stretched out like Pinocchio. Clearly, in this world these circumstances are impossible, but Absolut Vodka gives us a glimpse into an alternate world where pregnant mothers and disenchanted voters see justice. One recent advertisement from the “Absolut World” campaign has been the center of intense controversy. The ad, shown above, depicts a map of the United States, which places a significant portion of the American south-west within the territory of Mexico.
7 Comments. Filed under history, international relations.
Roc Nation: 150 Million Reasons to Leave Def Jam
Hip-Hop juggernaut/artist/mogul Jay-Z has stepped down as the President of Def Jam and is on the verge of signing a ridiculous partnership with Live Nation. The 10-year deal, which could include certain publishing and licensing rights, future touring, recordings, and other entrepreneurial ventures, will go down for no less than a whopping $150 million dollars. Wired.com provided the breakdown:
Jay-Z will get $25 million upfront, $5 million per year for his own label, publishing, and management business, and $10 million for each of three albums to be released over the next ten years. The remaining $45 million will presumably be used for what the New York Times calls “future acquisitions and expansion.”
4 Comments. Filed under entertainment, economy.
FBI’s MLKonspiracy
A CNN special report on the FBI’s conspiracy against Martin Luther King, Jr. will air this Thursday, April 3rd, at 9pm. Initially the FBI was concerned with Kings possible associations with the Communist party, but eventually the investigation turned personal. Several official memos from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover have been uncovered, revealing his disgust for King. On a story about King receiving the St. Francis peace medal from the Catholic Church, Hoover wrote, “this is disgusting.” Other memos include Hoover referring to King as a “degenerate” and more deserving of the “top alley cat prize,” than the Nobel Peace Prize. Hoover’s obsession with King increased after the March on Washington in 1963, where King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. After the speech, an FBI memo referred to King as the “most dangerous and effective Negro leader in the country.” Shortly thereafter, the Bureau initiated “a complete analysis of the avenues of approach aimed at neutralizing King as an effective Negro leader.”
2 Comments. Filed under history, education.
