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.

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Posted by:

Jamira

#NewMusic: Santigold “Disparate Youth”

Santigold is preparing to release her forthcoming album, “Master Of My Make-Believe” and she delivers the second single since her announcement of the project. The first time I heard it, I thought to myself – this is exactly the message we need from artists when contributing to the movement. It’s almost as though she’s speaking to all the young voters, activists, and leaders.

She simply says,

don’t look ahead, there’s stormy weather/
another roadblock in our way/
but if we go, we go together/
our hands are tied here if we stay

Click HERE to download

[LISTEN] after the [JUMP]

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DJWillieShakes

A 15-year-old Georgia Girl’s Nightmare

Lidiane Carmo woke up in a Florida hospital bed with IVs in her frail arm and did not remember how or why she got there. Shortly after, Carmo learned that she was the only survivor of a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of several other passengers, including both of her parents and only sister.  She was returning home from a three-day church-related conference in Florida when her vehicle (a church van) was impacted in a multiple-car collision that was caused by a thick fog of smoke.

The devastating news was accompanied with a surprising discovery: she is undocumented and therefore not a legal citizen of the United States. Earlier this week, it was reported by many news outlets that she was at risk of being deported back to Brazil after being released from the Florida hospital. Brazil is a place that Carmo has not been to for more than 12 years.

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Lashunda

What Happens When 33,000 Young People Show up to Talk Politics?

The mainstream media is going to have to change its narrative. How can you say that we’re apathetic and lazy when 33,000 tune in to watch the president address the nation?

On Tuesday, the League put on #BarackTalk, our second annual State of the Union panel and watch party. From hip-hop stars to journalists, the panelists discussed some of the most pressing issues of our time in the context of the speech. More importantly, twenty-somethings from around the country tweeted at a mind-blowing rate about what the state of our union is.

From unemployment to college affordability to the prison industrial complex, you spoke up; and when 33,000 people get together, the powers that be can’t afford not to listen.

What makes politicians quake in their boots is that we don’t simply pay attention to what’s going on it our world. We vote.

(Don’t forget, if you need to update your voter registration to your new address, do it online right now).

Missed the live broadcast? Check it out here.

Posted by:

The Editor

Obama Administration Makes Youth Employment a 2012 Goal

As the 2012 presidential election approaches, it is becoming painfully clear that the U.S. economy may be the topic helping voters decided which candidate to choose. Unemployment has remained relatively high across the nation, but some populations have been hit harder than others. The Obama administration has made progress in its attempts to stabilize unemployment, and job growth has been on a small but steady rise. But if stabilizing the economy is the greatest challenge for the 2012 election, then increased employment is the only solution.

While job growth has increased, the questions regarding who is gaining employment still remains. Today, the White House released a press release announcing the Summer Jobs Act to employ nearly 180,000 youth between the ages of 16-24 nationwide. The White House has been encouraging youth employment since 2009, and has worked with many private companies to ensure that young people received on-the-job training and paid internship positions. However, today they took an aggressive stance toward youth employment stating:

“America’s youth can’t wait for Congress to act.”

Obama is moving forward without Congress by proposing $1.5 billion to make sure that youth can be hired not only in the summer, but year-round.

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Posted by:

Ife