[New Video] Don’t Forget About The Hood

Hip-Hop artist and community activist Jasiri X released the “Don’t Forget About the Hood,” video to heighten awareness to political pundits that young people are paying attention to what is happening in DC. His thought-provoking lyrics aim to encourage people to vote for their own self interests, not a political party.

One thing Jasiri X makes crystal clear is that he doesn’t want the energy and passion that is exerted to organize for grassroots causes, such as Hoodies for Trayvon Martin, to vanish once the media stops paying attention to that hood. It is our social and civic responsibility to continue to fight with tenacity for what is right for all people, regardless of their soci0-economic class or zip code.

Watch the video and please share your comments:

Posted by:

Lashunda

Top 5 Reasons People Under 40 Should Vote

No matter what side of the aisle your on, these issues affect us more than we may think.

1. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. The question continues to be asked, has your economic situation improved? Have you found a job? For people just entering the job market, the stakes are high. Most entry-level positions are based on minimum wage rates which very from state to state. Higher paying jobs, may no longer come with the security our parents once had in insurance, and social security, and additional job planning will be necessary. Your vote could decide if we have a return to menial factory jobs from the 20^th century, or if we will create new industries and support independent entrepreneurs in new markets.

2. National Health. What good is a job, if you can’t see a doctor when you need to? Nationalized health care has been a huge issue since 2008, and the implications of this are real. People under 26 remained covered under their parents. People with pre-conditions can still receive coverage, waste and fraud have been reduced, and people who need medical attention can not simply be fired from their jobs. The thing about health care, is we all need it, we just might not know when. While you may not agree with every aspect of national health care, your vote could determine if some of our countries most vulnerable citizens are denied medical care, simply because they can’t afford them.

3. War and Peace. If you are like me, you have noticed a lot of discussion about war and insurgents in the Middle East. The candidates keep speaking about ‘getting tough on Iran.’ But what does that mean? War is expensive and deadly for both sides. Will our country enter into yet another long, arduous war? Your vote could help decide if we, not only as a county, but as individual service people, are going to war, or working toward peace.

4. Reproductive rights. While the media has portrayed this as a ‘women’s issue.’ reproductive rights are a human issue. Both men and women will be affected by access to adequate reproductive services. While millions of women and men are trying to have children, there are also many women and men actively planning and postponing reproduction. Currently, women and men both have the right to buy contraceptives and use birth control. Women also have the legal right to terminate pregnancy according to their state laws. However, laws are changing, and your vote this election could determine how we plan our families from now on.

5. Public Education. Now this is a topic that the national candidates have hardly covered, if at all. But the future of public education hangs in the balance nationwide. Across the country the public school system remains greatly underfunded to deal with issues unique to each community. While some districts are in large urban areas, others are in small rural and suburban areas. For too long, public education has tried to use a ‘one size fits all’ approach, but not all educational problems are created equal. To deal with this issue, it will be important to elect local officials that support your ideals. If you have children now, or plan to in the future, the state of public education is going to have a huge effect on other issues like jobs, poverty, and crime; get involved now.

No matter what party you are with, it is now time to get involved and cast your vote. Voting locally is just as important as voting nationally, so get out there and make your voice known in your community. See you at the polls!

Text VOTE to 69866 if you have any questions about voting!

Posted by:

Ife

What it Takes to get my Vote in 2012

In 2008, there was so much excitement surrounding the presidential election that it was contagious. For many, like myself, it would be one of our first opportunities to vote for the United States’ highest office… President. As a 20-year-old, who just started my second semester in college, it turned into one of the biggest moments of my life.

There was not only a black man in the race but also a woman, who both represented many of the issues I care about. But a lot has changed since that time of staying up late to hand out flyers and giving up my weekends to canvass.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Jamira Burley

[INTERVIEW] Malik Yusef on Politics and Hip-Hop

Artist, poet, writer, musician, MC, rapper, and Chicago native, Malik Yusef is no stranger to success. This year, he won a Grammy with Kanye for the writing of “All of the Lights,” but this poet didn’t always have it so good.

Malik dropped out of high school because he had difficulty writing and speaking aloud in class.

“I used to crack a lot of jokes, distract the class, and get sent out all so I didn’t have to read out loud,” he said.

After dropping out of school, Malik decided to educate himself by spending a lot of time in the library. He started to write poetry about growing up on Chicago’s South Side as a coping mechanism.

“I had to learn ways to deal with people,” Malik said. “[young people should] figure out how to learn. They need to understand environmental literacy, and use context clues to inform themselves.”

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Ife

#ThatSh*tCray: SB 507 in Wisconsin: “Single Parenthood is Child Abuse”

In Wisconsin, there is a very low-key discussion taking place about a bill that has been proposed and if it is passed, it would declare that all single-parenthood is a factor that leads to child abuse.

So my mom should be disciplined for not marrying my punk ass dad? Right!

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes