Posted by Angel Elliott, BET News for You(th) Vote

While Obama calling a reporter “sweetie” and Clinton’s fight for her fantasy nomination are still making headlines, the state of our nations youth has gotten out of control.

At Locke High School in South LA earlier this week, a lunchtime brawl occurred between Black’s and Latino’s that involved 600 students! Riot police had to be called in, and the school was locked down. Media outlets are reporting that the fight was gang related, which it could have been considering LA’s infamous gang reputation. 

Locke’s 2600 student population is comprised of 65% Latino and 35% Black students. In a NY times article, one of the students said that Latinos and Black’s segregate themselves from each other from the lunchroom to the classroom. Its interesting to me because racism is always seen as such a black v. white issue; but lately tensions between African Americans and Hispanic Americans have become more prevalent.This black v. brown issue is even prevalent in the election. A large majority of Latinos have been voting for Clinton over Barack Obama.It’s really nothing new, black folks and Latinos have a history of racial tension. It’s even been popularized in movies like Friday After Next. The issue isn’t something that’s reported much because lets face it, to the majority of people in this country (and we all know who the majority is), blacks and Latinos are the same thing, both brown.Whatever division that exists between blacks and Latinos is spilling into the minds and psyche’s of our you, and you know what I’m going to say. We’ve got to do better.

Why do you think there is tension between blacks and Latinos? Is it all gang related, or is there a deeper issue? Let me know!

 

-Angel

Posted by Ashley Slayton 

 “Young people are leading the political consciousness and defining it.” -David White

It’s impossible not to notice how invested our youth is in this election. Especially our youngest crop of voters.

Yeah they’ve got prom and graduation at the top of their “To Do” lists, but many high school seniors are also first time voters and they’re focused on more than just finals.

When I visited my old high school (Go Lobos!), I found out that students are just as invested in the issues affecting these elections as they are in figuring out how to pass algebra.

In a class 50% White, 25% Black and 25% Hispanic, I found myself in a touchy, full blown discussion about whether or not race and gender were factors in this election.

“Race is a factor but it shouldn’t be,” one guy said. And I had to agree.

Since this election started Obama’s been fighting his blackness, preferring instead to be a chameleon representing all ethnicities. He’s totally against race being a factor in his campaign and his speeches say as much.

In a yahoo poll the overwhelming majority of people polled said that race and gender weren’t factors. When these same people were polled after casting their ballots, results showed different.

But in the classroom that day we arrived at the conclusion that race and gender are only factors for an uneducated voter. These politically savvy students were more preoccupied with answering the question “What does success in Iraq look like?” than determining Obama’s parentage and Hillary’s hormonal balance.

I learned two things from my trip down memory lane: High school hasn’t changed a bit. The students have. They’re leading the movement to become more politically active. They’re voting at the polls. They’re here and they want to be heard.

What do you think? Will race and gender cease to become factors in this election or will we be discussing this again in November? What does success in Iraq look like?

–Ashley

     

 posted by Travers Johnson for You(th) Vote!: 5/15/08 @ 3:24 p.m.

There’s probably a lot of “snapping for the kids” going on in California right now. 

Earlier today, in a very close 4-3 decision, the California Supreme Court overturned a gay marriage ban, which will make California the largest state in the country, and the second state period, to allow weddings between gay and lesbian couples.  

The city of San Francisco,along with gay rights groups and two dozen gay and lesbian couples, brought cases before the California Supreme Court in 2004 after the Court halted San Fran’s monthlong same-sex wedding march, which was instituted by Mayor Gavin Newsom. 

 This ruling comes almost a year after Andre Jackson, a gay black high school student in Newark, NJ, made the news when school officials blacked out a yearbook photo of him and his boyfriend kissing.  To view the story and the “controversial” photo click the following link: Warning: this photo may be shocking to some people. 

 It’s no secret that the black community has issues with homosexuality.  Hell, it’s no secret that this country has issues with homosexuality.  In fact, in the 2004 presidential election, the Republicans capitalized on our country’s rampant homophobia by encouraging people to vote for constitutional amendments in 11 states which defined marriage as between only a man and a woman.  Thanks to that, many socially conservative voters of all races fled to the polls, and not only overwhelmingly banned gay marriage (which was not going to pass then anyway), but re-elected George Dubs Bush at the same time.  Yep, we were hoodwinked. 

So I wanna know:  Do you think gay marriage should be legal? Why or why not?

Do you think the Republicans will use this same scare tactic to try to defeat the Dems in the general election? 

Do you think our country is homophobic?

Hit me up to break it down. (And check out below what a black man has to say on the Tyra Banks Show about growing up gay).

—TRAVERS 

 

Posted by Travers Johnson for You(th) Vote!: 5/15/08 @ 11:49 a.m.

* President Bush tested Obama’s gangster today with a not-so-subtle attack on him and the Democrats in a speech in Jersualem.  He suggested that Democrats are for the “appeasement” of terrorists just like some Western leaders appeased Hitler right before World War II.  [Side note: Do you think he can spell “appeasement”?]

* John McCain pledged today that if he is elected president, he will have the troops home from Iraq by January 2013.  He said, he sees a country that, “By January 2013…has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won.” [But wait. Didn’t he say not too long ago that we could be in Iraq for 100 more years  ?  And doesn’t this sound just like the Democrats’ plan for withdrawal? Hmmm…]

* Despite John Edwards’ endorsement of Barack Obama yesterday Hillary Clinton vowed to continue to “fight for the endorsement of John Edwards, even if it takes all summer…I have not begun to fight for this endorsement!”  [Ummm….ok.]

* Barack Obama apologizes to a Michigan television reporter for calling her “sweetie” when she tried to ask him a question.   [So, is “sweetie” the new n-word or something?]

And since we’ve been talking about race a lot lately, be sure to check out that HILARIOUS video at the top!

I’ll check in with y’all later today.

—TRAVERS 

Posted by Angel Elliott, BET News for You(th) Vote!  

 

Senator John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama!

Not that I’m excited or anything… ;o)

Poor Hillary, she couldn’t even get 24 hours of glory out of her West Virginia win. Obama had this one in his back pocket…he said during his speech in Michigan, “I got something special for ya’ll!”

It’s still uknown whether or not Edwards 19 pledged delegates will go to Obama. John Edwards being known to represent the little guy,  and fight against special interest helps Obama with his weak demo, blue collar working class white folks.

What does this mean for you(th) voters? Edwards is a big proponent of combating poverty, economic disparities, education spending, job loss, and finding a viable solution to this countries economic crisis. 87 percent of Millennial Generation (a.k.a us, you(th) voters age 18-29), believe that the economy is the most important issue,   for candidates to address in the race.  Edwards obviously believes that Obama will do everything in his power to put more money in our pockets.

Let’s not forget that Edwards is the original myspace candidate! He is fundamentally for the youth, for job growth, healthcare and the underdog getting ahead!

Do I see a vice president? What do you guys think, could John Edwards be on a ticket with Obama? And what does this endorsement mean for Hillary? You decide! Let me know what you think!!!

-Angel

“The democratic voters in America have made their choice and so have I!” - John Edwards

 posted by Travers Johnson for You(th) Vote!: 5/14/08 @ 5:30 p.m.

After months of speculation and being courted by both camps, Obama campaign officials say that former Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate, John Edwards, is set to endorse Senator Barack Obama!

Also, in a CNN interview today, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton seemed to be warming up to the idea that Obama will be the candidate by stating that it would be a “terrible mistake” for her supporters to choose McCain over Obama in the general election. 

What, if anything, do you think Edward’s endorsement means for Clinton’s candidacy?  What, if anything, does it mean for Obama’s?  Are you surprised?  

COULD THIS MEAN THAT EDWARDS MAY BE TAPPED FOR V.P.??? 

This just keeps getting more and more exciting!  Stay tuned for more updates!

—TRAVERS  

posted by Travers Johnson for BET You(th) Vote! 

 

It just might be.  In fact, it probably is.

An angry crowd protested outside of Mulligan’s bar in Marietta, GA yesterday over the selling of t-shirts with a picture of a monkey resembling the storybook character Curious George and the words “Obama in ‘08″ beneath it, as seen above.

Protesters say that the t-shirt is offensive and should not be sold because it draws on longstanding  racist stereotypes of Blacks resembling monkeys.

The tavern owner, who is described as “ultra-conservative,” considers it to be harmless and says that he actually thinks Barack Obama resembles Curious George: “Look at him…the hairline, the ears–he looks just like Curious George.” [Shaking my head]

Check out this video of the protest!

 So what do you think?  Is this ‘much ado about nothing’, or is this t-shirt racist?  

Should the bar stop selling it?  

Does Barack Obama look like Curious George ? (LOL just kidding, but feel free to answer that if you want).

Hit me up to break it down.

—TRAVERS 

 Posted by Angel Elliott, BET News for You(th) Vote!

“Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone” … “Make plans to come and go home with a slave!”

This is a headline from Pastor John Hagee’s March ‘96 Cornerstone Church bulletin. In true good ‘ol boys fashion, Hagee announced the ‘slave sale’ to raise money for college bound high school seniors. He also said “…I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.”

I could go on and on about this dyed in the wool good ’ol boy, but it wouldn’t be relevant without mentioning that he endorses, JOHN MCCAIN! McCain was so “pleased to have the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee” despite the voting demographic (i.e. you and I) that he leaves out by excepting Pastor hog-maws Hagee’s support.

Mc-I-need-a-Cain, we all know you’re trying to sure up your Republican voting base, and this endorsement takes care of the church going anti-everything demo. But Hagee leaves no ethnic group or ism unturned!

Hmm… why hasn’t John McCain’s support of Pastor Hagee caused as much drama as Barack Obama’s with Reverend Wright, or Farrakhan? Can someone please ask McCain to denounce and reject Hagee’s views!? Unless he shares them that is…

McCain is, in an understandingly touchy position. Since the majority of black folks in the country support Barack Obama; and McCain quintessentially represents “the man” to us, almost anything negative that he says about Obama is going to be perceived as racist! Like Travers said in his last post, people love to throw the race card in the deck! Knowing this, it would be a good look for McCain to use his words wisely (not like he did when he said tar baby last year during a Q & A.)

Dear McCain,

Does the black vote matter to you? What about the you(th) vote? You’re efforts to apologize to the black community for voting against a national MLK holiday on the 40th anniversary on his assassination this year didn‘t go unnoticed. But listen, don’t just visit the hoods when you want to speak with us, we live in other places too. Don’t just throw in a black running make and think we’ll give you our support (Former MD Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R)! You’ve got to do better McCain!

What do you think his response to this letter will be! Good, bad, ugly? Let me know!

-Angel

“The Democratic Party is divided.”

This is not a new statement in the 2008 Race for the White House. There are two MAJOR political parties in the United States, the Democrats and the Republicans, but due to the current race, the Democratic Party has become unhinged. This party that was once, what seemed to be united, has now become two parties…let’s just call them the Clintocrats and the Obamacrats.

We may find this humorous now, but all of the bloggers have made reference to the issue of what would happen if the candidate you want to win just doesn’t pull through.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have the same opinions on MOST of the countries current issues, but they believe in different ways of reaching solutions. So if the two candidates are essentially fighting for the same causes, why is the party so divided?

Is it really going to be the Republicans vs. the Democrats in November, or is the Democratic Party going to implode, leaving the Republicans smiling over their victory?

- Keisha

posted by Travers Johnson for You(th) Vote!: 5/14/08 @ 2:40 a.m.

Update:  It’s a good thing no one took that bet because with 99% of precincts in, Hillary Clinton won the West Virginia primary with 67% to Barack Obama’s 26%!

She only picked up 16 delegates, but in her camp’s eyes, this victory proves that she shouldn’t bow out anytime soon.  Sigh…

________________________________________________________________ posted by Travers Johnson for You(th) Vote!: 5/13/08 @ 4:50 p.m.

I’ll bet you a dollar that Hillary Clinton wins tonight’s West Virginia primary.  No takers?  I wouldn’t either.  

Polls show that Hillary Clinton went into today’s voting with a hefty 40-point lead.  But even if she, as Angel would say, “makes it rain on ‘em” tonight in WV, she’ll only pick up a measly 28 delegates–which is nowhere near enough to do any damage.  Knowing this, Barack Obama didn’t even campaign in West Virginia today, and I have a sneaky suspicion that he didn’t for the same reason that Hillary Clinton didn’t spend too much time in South Carolina or North Carolina: racial demographics. 

As the results from SC and NC showed, and as Senator Clinton reminded us last week, black people tend to vote overwhelmingly for Obama, and white, blue-collar workers lean more toward Clinton.  Of course there are other factors involved, so that doesn’t bother me. 

What does get on my nerves, however, is how quickly people turn everything into a racial issue.  After reading Keisha’s well-written and thought-provoking post from earlier today about the uproar over voter identification requirements in some states, I became annoyed at how quick people are to “cry racism” seemingly over any issue that rubs them the wrong way.  Like Ashley said in her comment, we need ID to drive, get into the club, board a plane, or use a credit card, but when we need it to vote it’s all of a sudden a racist conspiracy!  

As I’m sure you’re aware of, accusations of racism and “injecting race” into the conversation have been rampant in this Democratic pres. election.  When Hillary simply states the fact that she is doing better than Barack when it comes to blue-collar white Americans, she’s accused of “injecting race” into the campaign!  When Obama comments that his grandmother was a “typical white person” (granted he could’ve chosen his words more carefully) he’s called racist!  When Hillary makes, in my opinion, a very valid point that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was realized due, in part, to the efforts of President Lyndon B. Johnson, (granted it was a horrible analogy and was said at the worst time ever), she’s racist! And I’m not even gonna TOUCH the Rev. Jeremiah Wright “controversy!”

Just because people choose their words poorly does not make them racist.  The fact is that blue-collar white people do vote for Hillary, and her stating that should not make her racially divisive! The fact is that it can be argued that many white people do have negative apprehensions about black people, and Obama noting that shouldn’t make him racist!  The fact is that President Johnson did contribute to the realization of Martin Luther King’s dream (because a movement alone doesn’t create law, legislation does), and the acknowledgement of this shouldn’t make Hillary racially insensitive!

So my question is this:  Do you think people are too quick to “cry racism?”  In the instances that race is brought into the presidential race, is it legitimate or are people just playing the race card?

Hit me up to break it down.

–TRAVERS