Posted by TRAVERS for BET’s YOU(th) VOTE 

I’m about to hook y’all up with some valuable information.

Are you still trying to figure out a way to make it to Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration?  Well if you’ve got a way with words, you might just be able to write your way to the Inauguration!  The Presidential Inauguration Committee is sponsoring the “Your Ticket to History” Essay Contest where they’re asking people to answer this question: “What does this inauguration mean to you?”  

The contest is open to anyone 18 and older and is limited to residents of the 50 states and D.C.  The deadline for all entries to be submitted is 11:59 pm. EST on January 8, 2009. 

Ten winners will be chosen based on the strength of their essays, and each of them will receive tickets for themselves and one guest to attend the January 20 swearing-in of Obama, the Inaugural Parade, and one of the “official” inaugural balls.  On top of that, the winners and their guest will also receive airline tickets and hotel accommodations for two nights.

CLICK HERE to enter the essay contest!!! 

This is a GREAT opportunity for you to witness history, so don’t let it pass you by!! (Click here for more information about the contest!)

Now that I’ve hooked you up, please do me a favor and CLICK HERE to vote for me to attend the inauguration! Maybe we’ll see each other there!

As always, I got you covered, 

TRAVERS

VOTE TRAVERS TO COVER THE INAUGURATION!!!! 

Posted by Ashley Slayton for BET You(th) Vote

Did Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich seriously just appoint Ronald Burris as Obama’s Senate replacement?!! Is he on crack? Why on earth would he try to appoint the Illinois attorney general to this position when he himself is facing federal charges?!

Never-mind that the Secretary of State of Illinois won’t certify the appointment. Never-mind that Senate Democrats say they won’t seat him. NEVER-MIND that Blagojevich is out on bail right now and shouldn’t be appointing anyone to anything. We’re just supposed to look past all of this crap and see the qualified candidate that Burris is. Yeahhh…right.

You know what this makes me think? Blagojevich is no stranger to illegal substances, because this man had to be under the influence of something when he made this move. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: You’re not fooling anybody Blagojevich. Clearly this is just a ploy to buy himself more time and force Burris into the hot-seat. I’ve got three words for you buddy: political corruption charges. And they render everything you say and do as null and void in my eyes.

What do you think of the appointment? Can we seriously consider Burris as a qualified replacement or has he been tainted by his Blagojevich connection? Is Blagojevich going to jail? You tell me.

-Ashley

Click here to send me to the presidential inauguration!!!

Posted by TRAVERS for BET’s YOU(th) VOTE 

 First off, I hope everyone had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and I wish you a Happy New Year!  So if you’re just joining the conversation, recently I saw a magazine cover that stated: GAY IS THE NEW BLACK.  Since that’s such a bold statement, I thought that it’s worthy of debate.  Last Tuesday, I presented “4 reasons why Gay IS the New Black” (Click here to read that post), so today I’m presenting 4 Reasons Why Gay is NOT the New Black.  Here they are:

1.  Racial discrimination has historically been more powerful than any other form of discrimination.

You can’t compare discrimination against an entire race of people to discrimination against people who share a sexual orientation.   Although discrimination against gays and lesbians is a horrible reality, it is a huge miscalculation to say that the discrimination that they experience is equal to the discrimination that black people have experienced since slavery.  Think about all the different ways in which people are categorized: race, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, etc.  Now think about which one of these factors has always been considered the most “important” in society.  Better yet, think about what has historically (and even still sometimes in today’s society) been the most significant difference between a wealthy, educated, Christian, heterosexual black man in America and a wealthy, educated, Christian, heterosexual white man in America.  Get my point?

2. The Civil Rights Movement and the Gay Rights Movement are two VERY different animals.

 While there are some similarities between the two, the black Civil Rights Movement and the Gay Rights Movement are very different.  Here are some examples: 1. The power of religion helped the Civil Rights Movement; the power of religion hurts the Gay Rights Movement.  2. Black people in the Civil Rights Movement were fighting for many basic rights that gay white people have always had (voting, education, riding in the front of public transportation, etc.).  3. In Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement had a leader and a face; the Gay Rights Movement is yet to produce an individual standout leader to represent the struggle.

3. The slogan is technically flawed, confusing, and inaccurate.

The slogan “Gay is the New Black” is flawed for several reasons.  Here are two examples: 1. The most glaring flaw to me is that the slogan fails to acknowledge that there are actually BLACK gay people!  It might as well say “Gay White People are the New Black”!  2. It can be interpreted in too many different ways (i.e. “all black people are gay,” “gay black people aren’t discriminated against,” “gay people and black people have the same experiences,” etc.).  And what does “black” really mean anyway??

4. Gay is gay, black is black—there is nothing “new” about it.

The slogan “Gay is the New Black” assumes that everything is peachy-keen for black people in America when it comes to racial discrimination.  Here’s the truth: just like the election of Harvey Milk to public office in San Francisco decades ago didn’t mean that discrimination against gay people was over, neither did the passage of the Civil Rights Act nor the recent election of a black President mean that racism against blacks is dead.  No one likes to be the “new” something else or the “something else” that is being splendidly reinvented.  People just want to be themselves.  It will makes it even harder for African Americans to support the Gay Rights Movement when it boasts a slogan that fails to acknowledge the current status of black people,  and makes them feel that gay people are trying to replace them.  Both gay people and black people are discriminated against, and it is reckless to imply that one group suffers more or less than another.  

So what do you think?  Do you agree or disagree with my reasons for why ‘Gay is NOT the New Black’?  Would you add or subtract anything from the discussion?

Hit me up to break it down. 

TRAVERS

If this discussion made you think, please CLICK HERE to vote for me to cover the inauguration! Vote TRAVERS to go to the Presidential Inauguration!  

Posted by TRAVERS for BET’s YOU(th) VOTE 

Barack The Magic Negro – video powered by Metacafe 

If you’ve watched the news at all over the past week you’ve probably already heard about the Chip Saltsman “Barack the Magic Negro” hot mess by now, but if not, here’s the shortened version:

1.) Good Ole’ Boy Republican Leader circulates a racially offensive joke to all his Good Ole’ Boy Republican friends.

2.) Good Ole’ Boy Republican Leader gets widely criticized for the racially offensive joke.

3.) Good Ole’ Boy Republican tries to weasel himself out of the mess he’s gotten himself into by claiming that the racially offensive joke that he circulated to his Good Ole’ Boy Republican friends was just “satire.”

4.) The American public is neither amused nor surprised by another Good Ole’ Boy Republican Leader’s ignorant and idiotic antics.

See? Nothing new. 

 Chip Saltsman, a candidate to be the Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) circulated a Christmas CD to committee members that contained songs such as the infamous “Barack the Magic Negro,” “The Star Spanglish Banner,” “John Edwards’ Poverty Tour,” “Ivory and Ebony,” and “Wright Place, Wrong Pastor.”  Saltsman, a Tennessee Republican, defended his actions by saying that it was nothing but political satire.

Hardy-har-har.

But I want to know what you think.  Check out the video above and tell me: Is “Barack the Magic Negro” racially offensive, or is it just “political satire” like Saltsman said?  Are you at all shocked that Saltsman had the balls to do this?

Hit me up to break it down.  This is ridiculous, but I’m not sweatin’ it: come January 20 the ‘Magic Negro’ will be running it anyway.

TRAVERS

Please CLICK HERE to send me to D.C.! Vote TRAVERS to go to the Presidential Inauguration! 

Posted by TRAVERS for BET’s YOU(th) VOTE 

Last week I did a post (Click here to read it) about a magazine cover I saw on a newsstand recently that boldly proclaimed that “GAY IS THE NEW BLACK.” The issue of gay rights is all over the news these days from the outrage over Obama’s choice of pastor (and anti-gay marriage advocate) Rick Warren to pray at his inauguration, to the recent passage of Proposition 8 in California which outlaws gay marriage in the state.  All of this has led some activists to parallel the struggle for gay rights to the Civil Rights Movement.  

I can see both sides of the issue, so this week and next week I’m going to present some reasons to support each side.  Today: 4 Reasons Why Gay IS the New Black

 1.   Face it:  Gay people get discriminated against

While race and gender have historically been the most obvious reasons for discrimination in this country, discrimination based on sexual orientation is also very present.  In some states a person can be fired from their job just for being gay.  

2.  It’s “acceptable” to discriminate against gays and lesbians

Even in a world where a person can lose their job and have their reputation ruined for a racist or sexist remark or action, people aren’t equally ridiculed for discrimination against gays and lesbians.  In fact, in many ways it’s socially acceptable.  Think about it.  How often do you hear someone say “that’s gay” or use the word “faggot” ? Now, how often do you hear of someone getting ridiculed for saying these things?

3. It’s not just about marriage

Gay rights, like the black Civil Rights Movement, is not just about one issue. While gay marriage is the primary issue (just like school integration was with the Civil Rights Movement),  gay people are fighting for job equality and many other basic human rights.  Did you know that a gay couple doesn’t have the right to see their partner when they’re dying in the hospital?

4. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”–Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK said it best. Just because the discrimination faced by gay people may not affect you personally, that’s still no excuse for you to ignore it.  If the government can take away one minority group’s rights, it could certainly do it to another.

So what do you think?  Do you agree or disagree?  Is Gay the New Black?

Hit me up to break it down, and check back next week as I state my case for why “Gay is NOT the New Black.”

TRAVERS

If this discussion made you think, please CLICK HERE to vote for me to cover the inauguration!  Vote TRAVERS to go to the Presidential Inauguration! 

Where do you stand on gay marriage? CLICK HERE to Be Heard.

Posted by TRAVERS for BET’s YOU(th) VOTE

Take a look at this photo.  Take a really hard look.  Do you notice that “Barack” and “Michelle” look strikingly similar?  Almost like they’re the same person?

Well, it’s because in this photo they ARE the same person! And that person is none other than the world famous drag queen RuPAUL!!!!!

According to Blackvoices.com, this is the cover of RuPaul’s holiday card.  The article cites one of the queen of drag’s spokespeople as saying, “RuPaul celebrates the holidays and the history-making Obamas in a commemorative holiday card of presidential proportions.”

My opinion:  THIS IS A HOT A$$ MESS!!!!! LOL!

Now tell me yours:  What do you think of RuPaul’s holiday card? 

Merry Christmas,

TRAVERS

Please CLICK HERE to send me to D.C.! Vote TRAVERS to go to the Presidential Inauguration!

Posted by Ashley Slayton for BET You(th) Vote

Whatever happened to that guy who threw his shoes at the president? The Internet is still buzzing about Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, who managed to hurl two loafers at President Bush during a speech before he was tackled. It may look bleak for al-Zaidi, who’s facing up to two years in prison for disrespecting a foreign leader, but millions of online users have found the silver lining in a video game inspired by his short-lived shoe throwing incident.

In Sock and Awe, players are given 30 seconds to hurl as many shoes as they can at the president. President Bush’s superior dodging skills may have caused al-Zaidi shoes to miss him by an inch, but gamers have managed to sock the virtual Bush in the face over 46 million times! The site even lists the top 10 Bush-shoeing countries. (The United States ranked number one, of course.)

Visit www.sockandawe.com to take your shot at the president today. I mean, come on! How often in your lifetime will you be able to say that you hit President Bush in the face with a shoe? It’s therapeutic really. I found myself shouting random things at the screen, such as “this is for those so-called weapons of mass destruction”  and “this is for that sixty dollars I spent on gas, you jerk!” I could go on, but I think you get the point.

What will you shout when you sock President Bush with your shoe? Is the possible sentence al-Zaidi is facing too steep? Since the U.S. is ranked number one on the list of Bush-shoeing countries, what does that say about Bush’s term in office? You tell me.

Ashley

Your vote could send me to the presidential inauguration! CLICK HERE to vote today!

 Posted by TRAVERS for BET’s YOU(th) VOTE

Here’s a little something to add some holiday cheer to this last weekend before Christmas.  Times are hard, but the video above is a reminder of just how blessed we really are.

 Happy Holidays!

TRAVERS

If you like what you see, please CLICK HERE to vote for me! Vote TRAVERS to go to the Presidential Inauguration!

Posted by ANGEL, BET News for YOU(th) Vote!

You can add international pop icon Rihanna to the long list of big name superstars that will descend on D.C. for the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) confirmed in a press release today that she’ll headline their January 20th charity ball.

The RIAA teamed up with with Feeding America to raise money for the world largest anti-hunger organization. They’re accepting donations starting at $25,000! The Washington Post reported that, “A solicitation emailed to lobbyists and corporations listed asking prices of $25,000, $50,000, $75,000, $150,000 and $200,000″.

So much for keeping lobbyist and corporate greedy grabbers at bay. Oh well, at least it’s a good cause!

The ball will be held at Ibiza Nightclub in Washington D.C. on January 20th.

-ANGEL

Your vote could send me to cover the  Presidential Inauguration!

Posted by Ashley Slayton for BET You(th) Vote 

If there’s one thing we can be sure of, it’s that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is confident. Even after being arrested … even after the president-elect called for his resignation … even after the media ran those wiretapped conversations into the ground, the governor is confident. 

Blagojevich made an appearance Friday requesting to be given the same rights that all Americans are entitled: the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. He also announced he had no intention of resigning.

“I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath,” Blagojevich said. ”And I’m not going to quit a job that people hired me to do because of false accusations and a political lynch mob.”

Who knew the governor was an actor as well as a politician? But let’s not dwell on the dramatic delivery of this statement and simply call it what it is, rubbish. His own Lieutenant Governor, federal prosecutors, and the president-elect are screaming for his resignation. Well I’ve got news for you Blagojevich: You’re not fooling me. That was a very nice piece of “political theater,” but it’s going to take a lot more than that to prove your case. I suppose you expect us to just turn a deaf ear to the recorded conversations of you  blatantly expressing your intent to sell Barack Obama’s senate seat? To sit here and say that you’ve done nothing wrong when the evidence clearly suggests otherwise, is to contradict yourself.

I’m with Obama on this one. I say we kick the double dealing, corrupt governor to the curb.

Are you buying the governor’s story? Should Blagojevich resign? You tell me.

-Ashley

Your vote could send me to the presidential inauguration! CLICK HERE to vote today!