Hip Hop culture has permeated all aspects of American pop culture and is a dominant trend in not just music, but movies, TV shows, other media, and fashion. If we recognize the strength and prevalence of popular Hip Hop culture across all social and economic classes, ethnic groups and gender, it can be used, as it has been in the past, as a means to initiate and inspire change. Face Forward is attempting to use its Star Power, and influence in the hip-hop community to make a difference. The “Respect My Vote” campaign is another organization that is making change through star power, popular culture, and hip-hop and could be expanded to do even more good in the community.Elsa Davis noted the power that the words of Queen Latifah had on her life, as she notes that Latifah's “music and public image were intimately, almost inextricably, connected to [her] awakening personal and political identity,” (Davis, 128). Other artists and celebrities including T.I., who is a spokesperson for “Respect My Vote” , are personalities with whom young people can, “identify in a practical way,” (Davis, 129). Although T.I.'s lyrics may not always have an activist bent, the message and influence outside of his video persona can still be valuable.
Some may see our political system as broken and as a vestige of our nation's white patriarchal origins. We have yet to truly become a “democracy of the many rather than a republic ruled by a virtuous few,” (Robinson, 22) and those who are outside the “mythical norm” (Lorde, 116) still enjoy “limited freedom,” (Robinson, 22). While our system is flawed I believe that the political system is still a vehicle for change, and is more than just a “master's tool”. Unfortunately, more often than not, those involved in the political process, those who vote, and those who are elected, only represent the dominant power structures and “established power...has, in this country, always been antithetical to the interests of Black people,” (Cole, 26) and other groups who do not consist of white, protestant, middle class males. “Respect My Vote” is urging urban youth of America that has felt disenfranchised in the past, to have their voices heard and let them know that “what they think matters,” (Cole, 25).
“Respect My Vote” is using popular music and celebrity to encourage young people to register to vote. While this is a wonderful project, there needs to be more follow through. It is difficult for young people and working class people to find information about candidates, determine where their local polling places are, and obtain transportation to their polling places. In addition, this project could be taken a step further. Young people could be taught about the U.S. Political system, become acquainted with local government representatives, and given information about local issues, and grassroots organizations.
While this might be overly ambitious, helping people register to vote, providing candidate information, and providing transportation for people to reach the polling places could allow many people who may not have voted in the past due to age or attitude, to cast their ballot this year, maybe for the first time. A project could even start out small by picking a population of local high school seniors to educate and transport. Even if transportation is impossible we could map out routes on local bus schedules and distribute them. Local community groups, TV, and especially radio stations, are excited about this year's historic election and may be interested in donating vans or buses to shuttle people to polling places.
I have worked as a local election official for the past couple of years. During each election it has been evident that those who voted did not represent the local population. Lines of white men over the age of forty filled the elementary school gym. I only saw an occasional woman, a few people in their twenties, a random few high school/college students drug in by their parents, and I could count the non-white voters on my two hands. It made me frustrated and angry.
The young people who may potentially become involved in a program like this, and vote this year, may become involved by running as an elected official many years from now. Today our government may not represent the diverse communities in this country, but with education, inspiration, and hope, change is possible. Service focused members of government can focus on “changing system-based and dominant/subordinate social and economic relations and improving living conditions for Blacks and thereby, other communities,” (Jennings, 35). Once individuals are granted access to the power structures, for example government institutions, they can “make common cause with those others identified as outside the structures in order to define and seek a world in which we can all flourish,” (Lorde, 23) and where “our personal visions lay the groundwork for political action,” (Lorde, 23).
Links to Watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=UFvdSBqrMKEhttps://mailstore.wm.edu/wm/mail/fetch.html?urlid=3328b247e42c35ef460f927e00169a796&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com2Fwatch%3Fv%3Db2o0vUf1TCs%26feature%3Drelated
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