Vibe Magazine Asks That You Barack the Vote
by Latoya Peterson
In this month’s issue of Vibe, Barack Obama receives a formal endorsement from the magazine. Danyel Smith’s Editor’s Letter is an impassioned plea to get involved and help push Barack all the way into the White House. She writes:
We value freedom and aspire to be better than we are, and to live in a country that will be better than it is. We must vote for Senator Obama and for Senator Joe Biden. We must make sure our friends get to the ballot box. We must reach deep for every bit of idealism we had at the beginning of rap music. We must not be cool. We must not again make manifest the “apathy” label that has been thrust upon us. This is not a moment to be reviewed or dissected, or gazed upon from an ironic distance. This moment in history is ours. Our country will not be okay if Obama loses.
The issue goes on to provide three key pieces of political commentary: Obama’s own letter to Vibe readers, Jeff Chang’s “The Tipping Point,” a piece that explores the shifting nature of our political landscape, and a compilation of 99 hip-hoppers positions on politics.
Obama’s letter cuts straight to the heart of the apathy Danyel Smith describes in her intro piece:
Now, I’ve heard people say, “My vote doesn’t matter,” “My vote won’t count,” or “I’m just one person, what possible difference can I make?” And I understand this cynicism. As a young man attempting to find my own way in the world, I faced many of the same choices and challenges facing many of you today. I sometimes doubted that my thoughts and actions really mattered in the larger scheme of things.
But I made a choice. I chose to check in, to get involved, and to try and make a difference in people’s lives. It’s what led me to my work as a community organizer in Chicago, where I worked with churches to rebuild struggling communities on the South Side. It’s what led me to teach and run for public office. And even today, I hear the skepticism. Too often, our leaders let us down, They don’t seem to do much to make our lives better. So I understand the temptation to sit elections out.
But this year, when the stakes are this high, and the outcome will be so close, I need you to choose to vote.
Jeff Chang pens “The Tipping Point,” which provides a glimpse into each convention as well as a look towards the shifting demographics of America. I was particularly interested in his description of the Republican National Convention:
John McCain has outflanked the Democrats, and the next night, he was in a taunting mood. “Let me offer an advance warning to the old big-spending, do nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd,” he said in his speech. “Change is coming.”
But the Xcel Center’s pale masses belied his message. Only 36 of the 2,380 Republican delegates were African-American, the lowest tally since 1968. Even after adding Hispanics and Asian-Americans, the Republican National Convention was a 90-percent white gathering, whiter even than Minnesota.
It’s a tough time to be a black Republican. The young ones complain that they’re still seen as Carlton Banks stereotypes – which they most definitely are not. Not Sean Conner, 24, the tall Republican National Committee staffer from East Oakland who favors freshly caught fish and piping hot sneakers; or Lenny McAllister, 36, the pinstriped political commentator from Charlotte, N.C., who multitasks interviews with radio, TV, and print outlets; or Claudio Simpkins, 23, the slim Black/Puerto Rican/Cuban Brooklynite, who is finishing Harvard Law School and aspires to become the conservative Obama.
They call themselves hip hop Republicans.
“We are the trailblazers,” McAllister said, comparing themselves to rap’s pioneers. “We’re trying to bring about political diversity.”
They all grew up with the struggles of average inner city kids and joined the party that ended slavery because their views on community and service had led them there. “Don’t let Sarah Palin know this, but I used to be a community activist,” said McAllister, who, through the Hill House Association in Pittsburgh, Pa., organized young fathers around the issues of parenting and social responsibility.
They were frustrated that their party didn’t seem to care for them. “You don’t get much of a policy platform discussion about providing adequate housing, about gentrification, about funding adequate jobs, about reforming our public education system,” said Simpkins, who worries that the party is focused on “God, gays, guns, taxes, and terrorism.”
With Obama’s nomination and the rise of anti-immigration demagogues in the party, they figure tougher times are ahead. “I personally love Barack Obama. I see him as a role model for myself,” said Simpkins. “[But] I look at the policies and values that were instilled in me through my church and my family and I think it lines up more with what McCain talks about.”
He added, with a sigh, “Like it or not, I’m kinda stuck with this party.”
Chang’s piece also briefly touches on the Green Party, non voters, the DNC, and how Will.I.Am decided to make the iconic “Yes We Can” video.
Vibe also obtained 99 quotes on the politics in the age of Obama.
Here are a few of my favorites:
I was with a girl the other night. She’s like “I just don’t vote.” Finally, I said, “Just do it for me. You like me, right? You like me enough to have sex, could you just like me enough to go vote? Do it ’cause you love me.
—Murs, rapper
Athletes should step into politics only if they know what they are talking about. I am personally handing out voter registration forms to the ‘hood, to enlighten them on what it takes to help change the United States.
—Amare Stoudemire, Forward/center, Phoenix Suns
Obama is not perfect – his ideology, what he’d like to do versus what he’s able to do are two different things. It’s not like Great, we got a black president and it’s all good. We need to hold Obama to a higher standard than most.
—Bun B, Rapper
We can’t make records calling Hillary Clinton a bitch. Every rapper should just back away until November. And then we can make any remix we want.
—Fatman Scoop, Radio personality
I hope there’s a radical shift in the image of America in the world. And the image of black Americans in the eyes of the world.
—India.Arie, Singer
I’m not a voter at all. But this year I gotta vote for Barack. And I’ll probably never vote again. For me this is one-time only. I think all these guys are the Illuminati – straight up. I’m gonna cast my vote for this member of the Illuminati.
—KRS-One, Rapper/author
I voted in 2000. Felt like it didn’t count – and I was sour to the whole process. But the past eight years have been terrible. When he gets elected, I just want Obama’s platform to come to fruition. I feel like education is the key…the fact that we have to pay so much to get degrees…living in a democratic society and being capitalists, you get to see the fruits of your work rewarded. But people should take a look around and see educational system outside of America and how they work. We need to borrow from other people’s philosophies.
—Q-Tip, Rapper/producer/actor/DJ
This election won’t be the end of anything. It may be the most important election in history. But it won’t change things by itself. It’s just the beginning.
—David Banner, Rapper/activist
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Tariq Nelson wrote:
I think that BOTH will happen IF Obama is elected tomorrow. I hope that is the case and this is why this election is so important
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 12:04 pm ¶
monica wrote:
Hip Hop is full of coonery and bufoonery. After they have spread this bufoon image around the world they wanna support Barack. I think its time for the rap bufoons to exit stage left. I am sick of them, I don’t care what they have to say postive or negative. I am not talking about the folks in the above post but I am talking about Young Jeezy and the other minstrels.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 12:45 pm ¶
Chris wrote:
I agree with Q-Tip’s point wholeheartedly. Our educational system has been on a steady decline, and standards are imposed on public schools and not necessarily private ones. As it turns out, though… those standards that are used to measure success serve only to bind the hands of educators — to “teach the test” in order to keep desperately needed federal funds in their schools — instead of empowering them to teach children how to think and not to simply regurgitate information.
Education IS the key to the American Dream, and EVERYONE from Day 1 should be given access to an outstanding, comprehensive, engaging, and empowering educational system.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 1:12 pm ¶
Chris wrote:
P.S. You might want to add the second ‘p’ to the ‘Rapper’ behind Q-Tip’s name.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 1:12 pm ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
@Chris Fixed!
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 1:31 pm ¶
drispe wrote:
Bun B seems to be on my wavelength, except for the part about Holding Obama to a higher standard. He’s a politician, get used to it. The guy says in one breath that he knows what it’s like to be the product of parents who society would forbid to be together, and advocates separate but equal civil unions for gays in another. David Banner is in the right mindset too, and I would never imagine myself agreeing with him on anything.
As for African Americans and other people of color magically gaining respect tomorrow, I’ll know that when I see it in the workforce. With a concrete degree of certainty, I can figure out my chances of employment in companies with predominantly white staffs. A zero chance. You see, when a black man wants to be something more than a security guard in New York City, he’s pressing his luck. Trust me, I know. And despite the reality, those are still the companies that best fit my long term goals. Is Obama going to turn that around for me? Even his white heritage couldn’t stop the race baiting that befell him during the campaign.
I do wish Race in the Workplace was still up and running.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 4:43 pm ¶
drispe wrote:
Oh, and education is nice too, but it’s useless if you don’t have the helping hand you need to implement your knowledge. It’s there so that you wont spend most of your life being stupid, but it is no guarantee of a decent job or career. Nobody wants to touch that concept. Obama has to address job opportunities as much as education. My stellar education is largely of no consequence, except for the student loans. The fact that Obama finally paid off his halfway through his 40s is horrifying.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 4:54 pm ¶
Paz wrote:
Thanks for this inspirational post. I was happy to read what Stoudemire was doing.
This election is so hyped up, so momentous, so dramatic, that I am scared of being let down.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 5:40 pm ¶
Jennifer wrote:
@drispe….you betta preach! Can you say that part about education not necessarily being the key to obtaining a better job and guaranteed career for the cheap seats in the back? I think that is the greatest fallacy ever sold in America in regards to the pursuit of the so-called “American Dream.” That is that if you get a “good” education than you will be succeed. I call bullshit. Now I am not saying that education cannot help you in life but at best, it will enlighten you and aid you in self-empowerment…mentally. However, if you don’t have the proverbial “hook-up”…well let’s just say nothing is guaranteed to you. I really wish some of these “leaders” who go around preaching education as the answer give a more realistic, nuanced view of what life is really like. Meaning, you can have all the education you want, but if in that trifecta you don’t have the hustle and a helping hand (i.e. know somebody)….you JUST may end up jaded. I am experiencing this now as I have a Master’s degree and can’t find a job waiting tables. Yeah there is a recession and all, but I’ve been looking for some time. It is really painful, also, to see people who don’t even have a high school diploma with damn good jobs because they have the “right” last name. It is what it is. I rarely post but you spoke truth to light right there. LOL
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 7:25 pm ¶
geo wrote:
krs-one doesn’t vote?
with his love to spew his own philosophies as the truth, he is not an active participant in the political process?
*sigh*
typical.
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 7:43 pm ¶
merq wrote:
People really need to be more careful how they throw that word around. I will never understand the use of words like “coon” and “nigger” in the “they’re providing ammo for white racists” context, when the black people who use these words use them not as ill-advised terms of endearment, or in some misguided attempt at reclamation, but in the same, hate-filled context as the racists who first uttered them.
[How's that for a run-on sentence?]
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 9:28 pm ¶
lunanoire wrote:
@ dsripe and Jennifer
I hear you, because I am there too, an unemployed J.D. Document review (temp legal) jobs are forecasted to dry up because the ABA is about to allow even more outsourcing. I don’t understand why people in the US are required to go to school and take the bar exam to be licensed to practice law but the workers abroad don’t have to attend expensive american schools and take a particular exam. I am more upset at the major firms and the ABA than at workers in other countries who need work.
On another note, when looking for a job after college, I started to realize that many of the young successess profiled in the NYT are children of the rich/famous/well-connected.
The importance of connections and hustle should be emphasized early on- elementary school. Good grades prepare people to be able to learn, work hard and give the boss/teacher what s/he wants. The skills required to be successful in the working world involve office politics and many other factors beyond what is required to do well in school.
Good luck in your search for a job/hookup/etc.!
The importance of connections in the workplace is another angle as to how privilege works.
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 3:16 pm ¶
ladymaati wrote:
At 35, it’s not hip hop/rap to me. (Pop-hop or so called black themed pop music is the best I can say without using all kinds of 4 letter words) The fact that most of the artists listed have a general idea of current politics is good. Contradicts some of their performance styles & lyrics but you gotta start somewhere.
And I have to co-sign about education: american education is greatly lacking. I’m praying & hoping the with this election, the system of education in this country is changed for the better with Obama leadership.
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 5:06 pm ¶
drispe wrote:
Good luck to you as well, Lunanoire.
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 5:24 pm ¶