It’s Bigger Than…

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — September 17th, 2004

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It’s Bigger Than…

It doesn't matter if you lay the smackdown, rock it or die trying, as long as we as black folks get up, get out and vote. Dang, I sound like a politician. Am I telling you something you don't already know? Thirty eight million people between the ages of 18-36 not voting in 2000 is a direct cause for the predicament the U.S. is in. This isn't nuclear physics, well with the ballot situation in Florida for the past four years it might as well be. They're trying to make it harder than it already is. The best way to counter that is to show up to the polls and make your vote count. 

 

If you know me, you're probably wondering where this sudden change of heart came from. I assure you, I am fine. It's not like I've been forced to say this to clear my militant history. This is out of my own free will. 

 

I voted in 2000 and since then I would have told you how pointless my one vote was. Now multiply that same apathy by a few million and you can see the reason for concern. I bet that's how most people felt after Bush stole the election. First, let's clarify. With all the honest, trustworthy and wholesome people running this country, it's impossible for one man to steal the election from millions of unsuspecting citizens. It's a lot simpler if you just steal a single state. I mean, come on, there's 50 of them, who's going to complain about one being manipulated. Especially since it was only by a few hundred (930) votes. That's slightly less that Howard's 2008 freshman class. Better yet, it's less than the students who attended the First Annual Hip Hop Caucus in Cramton Auditorium last Saturday. Nothing major you say; did I mention that last Saturday also marked the Annual Battle of the Real HU in Hampton, Va. Exactly. 

 

See, since I've been here, we haven't won against Hampton yet. Even after 2002's thriller that left me with a bitter-beer-face for a year, I still supported the Bison last year. But that game left fans' with that same feeling when the Cosby Show aired it's last episode, it's over...NOOO!!!

 

Naturally, nothing would stop me from going back to Hampton, not even Homeland Security playing Red Light, Green Light with the terror-alert level. 

 

The Hip Hop Caucus, however, wasn't in the plans. Like the President did three years ago in Florida, I didn't know what to do on Sept. 11, 2004; Howard vs. Hampton or Hip-Hop, Politics and the Vote. Hmmm...(a seven minute pause)

 

The latter seemed more appropriate seeing as how we need everybody attacking the polls on November 2 so we aren't denied our V.O.T.E - Victory Over The Enemy. 

 

When I speak of enemy, I am not talking Republicans. History tells us that in the 1790s, Thomas Jefferson opposed another famous G.W. and formed the Democratic Party. Back then they were called the Republican Party, 30 years later it was the Democratic-Republican Party and in 1834 they were spilt; one controlled by the Whig Party and the other was the Democrats. It's funny (chuckling), you're going to laugh too, back then the Democrats were supported by plantation owners and the Whigs were about getting power to promote, correct and reform the system. 

 

So I ask this: is the enemy of our enemy, our friend or our enemy?

 

Since it's a perplexing question, let's deal with the enemies we can confront. 

 

Ignorance. I am voting for a Democrat, but don't get it twisted, it doesn't mean I am a jackass. You can say I am a Republican because I won't ever forget those who were unselfish with their wealth of blood, sweat, tears and hard work, paid the price and made me who and whose I am today. 

 

There's this group on campus, revolt or rebel against the vote, who are asking students "why vote? After what happened in 2000, isn't it meaningless?" I heard my mom tell her second graders that there's no such thing as a stupid question. Point taken, but I say there are stupid people who ask questions. I walked by and couldn't bring myself to debating with them because talking to them would be like talking to a bush (pun intended); it's not mentally stimulating.

 

Genocide. With the recent events in Sudan, it seems as though genocide is making a comeback. My question is: Where did it go? You don't have to look overseas to find it happening in the world. Just listen to any rap song on the radio or television and you'll hear and see the worst form of genocide- suicide. 

 

I don't have to go into detail because everyone knows rap is a genre of hip-hop and as the leading genre, it's devaluing the quality of hip-hop. 

 

I'll admit, though it's not a drastic restructuring, it is getting better. The Commons and Talibs and Mos Defs are few and far between, but they're opening the eyes, ears and minds of other artist in the industry. On top of that, we have an election year and Hip-Hop is the main voice trying to get young cats to vote. Now I can see why Chuck D and Russell Simmons would be out there firing up the masses. In 2001, Simmons launched the Hip Hop Summit Action Network and everybody remembers Fear of a Black Planet's Fight The Power; Public Enemy was Hip Hop's Black Panther Party. What about Flava Flav and his clock? He had no excuse for being on CP-Time. But, is it me or couldn't he be Lil' Jon's father? huh...WHAT?!?

 

Why does it take a major event for rappers to take action? Everybody's getting crunk about voting because in this year's election, it's the fad. And like throwbacks, spinners and pink shirts, it'll pass. After November 3, Hip-Hop will return better than ever. We don't have to wait 55 days to see the voter-turnout results; it's Hip-Hop and if the voting age was lower to 12 or 10, the Republicans would demand a post-election recount. 

 

If in four month, these rappers can get 18-year-olds to put down the guns and pick up a ballot, why not get them to pick up a book and not drugs; watch the news and not women's behinds or locate Sudan on the map, instead of searching for the next quick satisfaction. 

 

That would defeat the whole purpose of the rap game; it's about promoting sex, violence and materialism, not revolution and social and ethical responsibility. My bad, I forgot. You'd rather have a Lexus or justice, a dream or some substance, a Beemer, a necklace or freedom...you choose because in the end candidates are running to be future Dead Presidentz.