Posted on 07/02/2004 5:20:41 AM PDT by schaketo
Though nearly two weeks have passed since the first National Hip Hop Political Convention took place in Newark, N.J., many of the 4,000 to 5,000 attendees are still reflecting on what took place there.
To those who have snidely complained that the hip-hop generation was apathetic and politically irresponsible, it can be said those days are over.
The political platform passed at the convention after much debate addresses issues ranging from education, economic justice and criminal justice to health care and slavery reparations. The event's highlight was not the free rap concerts attended by thousands each night but seeing delegates stay up into the wee hours for passionate debates on everything from school vouchers to reparations to mandatory minimum prison sentences.
Conventioneers kept debating these issues until they had exceeded their time at the convention center. The final vote on the platform took place on the steps of Newark's City Hall.
As Dereeca Blackmon, Bay Area local organizing chair, pointed out, it was better that folks engaged in spirited debate over key issues affecting their future than over whether Jay-Z or Nas was the better rapper.
Local organizing committees from San Jose, the Bay Area and Los Angeles spent the first night hammering out language for the California agenda presented on the convention floor.
At one point, the California delegates brought the proceedings to a standstill by walking off the floor in protest that certain democratic practices were being ignored. The action prompted a shift in the proceedings, and ultimately California's delegates got some key items passed.
Hector Gonzales of the San Jose musical group D-Bug said he was happy the lively dialogue took place. He was also pleased that many of the positions eventually adopted, including those on abuse inside the California Youth Authority and on police brutality, were in accord with the views of the San Jose Local Organizing Committee.
The committee's Lindsay Lohan agreed that the debate was constructive. She said she was encouraged that so many people from all over the country took part. She pushed for an education summit and other initiatives in that area. But even though she didn't get everything she wanted, she found the fact that education was the No. 1 issue among nearly all of the 35 local organizing committees gratifying.
Erin Trailor, another committee member from San Jose, noted she would have liked more time spent on environmental justice issues. She also noted that one of the challenges now facing the hip-hop generation will be getting the significant number of young people who don't listen to hip-hop engaged in the political process.
Local organizing committees are now trying to do just that. In Los Angeles, convention delegates are starting to engage the city's rock and jazz communities, including labor leaders, on health-care issues. The committees are also setting up community academies to teach the basics of the political process and to provide places where thinkers can coalesce around particular issues. Throughout California, hi-hop activists are watching the proposed amendments to the ``three strikes'' law.
Ultimately, the convention did not endorse a presidential candidate. While not many of those attending supported George W. Bush, most were also leery of John Kerry and the Democratic Party, saying they don't want to their votes to be taken for granted.
Rapper Slick Rick got a huge round of applause when he told an audience of 1,000 at his free concert that neither candidate had the interests of the hip-hop generation in mind.
Perhaps the next test will be whether any candidate gets behind the platform issues adopted at the convention. A committee has been formed to formally present the platform to both Republicans and Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Earth shattering!
Yo! ... yo! ... Davey D. for prezeedant!
Hey, come on bikepacker. Din you reed this her part?
" Ultimately, the convention did not endorse a presidential candidate. While not many of those attending supported George W. Bush, most were also leery of John Kerry and the Democratic Party, saying they don't want to their votes to be taken for granted."
Day's not to bee's taken litely, and day's done kater to just any party, only homies.
Translation;
Nobody knew what they were talking about and the translation from Ebonics to ENGLISH isn't finished.
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