This has been a long and on-going process...Who would've thought that we'd have so many amazing local poets in the city of Nashville just dying to perform at a Human Rights event?

 An entry by Allie Funk, cross-posted from http://www.GirlHeadQuarters.org

 *I feel the need to place a warning of sorts here, as the topic of this post involves a series of ads which are rather graphic and disturbing.*

Leadership Academy fellow Josh Bolotsky just posted this Drinking Liberally Shot of Truth at OpenLeft.org. In it, he compares the new Open Society Institute Fellowship to other members of the "progressive-movement-builder" family, spotlights 2007 fellow Alex Hill's S.C.O.U.T.B.A.N.A.N.A., and talks a bit about his experience in the Leadership Academy:

I'm a huge Obama supporter for many reasons, and one of the ways his candidacy excites me most is his ability to inspire young people to become engaged in the democratic process. Yesterday's primary in South Carolina saw huge turnout, and of voters under the age of 30, a full two-thirds -- 67% -- voted for Obama. I haven't been able to find more detailed voting breakdowns that would directly indicate that a lot of the younger voters were voting for the first time, or that those who were newly engaged were Obama supporters, but that's my hunch. There's something about Obama that seems to present a cure to the political apathy that's plagued large swaths of my generation for years. And I've been wondering how that cure can be -- to continue with this tortured metaphor -- bottled for mass distribution.

By Laura Hadden

I spent last Thursday evening with one of my best friend talking the manager of my hometown's local sports bar into tuning one of the bar's many televisions to CNN's coverage of the Iowa caucus (who, after all, cares about whose going to be the next president of the United States when you've got men in short shorts running around?).

After grabbing our drinks and settling in, we were joined by my friend's college buddy who I will call "Dave".  Dave was a pleasant enough fellow - articulate, educated, solidly progressive and well-informed - and we quickly began analyzing the developing caucus results as well as the Democratic candidates at hand.  When I expressed my sincere ambivalence between the candidates (something that has been plaguing me for months), particularly between Obama and Clinton, the conversation immediately turned cold.  Long underwear-donning, snot-freezing cold.

"I would rather vote for any Republican than vote for Hillary."

This, my friends, is how I began spending my evening defending a candidate who I hadn't committed to voting for in the first place.  

Yesterday's Washington Post article "A Gathering of Young Conservatives: Former Reagan Ranch is Site of Annual Retreat for Politically Active Students" illustrates the serious investments that conservatives continue to make in young leaders.

If you don't think such investments make a difference, look no farther than Ann Coulter. As the article mentions, "Before she became a published author, [Ann] Coulter was sent out on a speaking tour by Young America's Foundation to promote her brash brand of conservatism."

Read on for a glimpse into the experiences of 400 young activists at this annual "conservative boot camp," held on Ronald Reagan's former ranch.

Read more below.

"In the moment of inhaling...Tears swelled my soul's passage way...Till I caved into a wounded wailing...In the morning I had nothing left...But, Hip Hop It Gave Me Breath" (original piece).  

Thinking back to my first loves Hip Hop music is definitely at the top of the list.  During times of heartache, suffering, celebration, disappointment, and bereavement amongst other things, the melody enabled me to overcome or enjoy each of those moments.  Observers of the culture and music fail to comprehend the emotion and commitment artist bring to the genre.   Furthermore, the constant bout to masculinize the culture overshadows the tenderness within the music.  Hip Hop is more than gangsterism, exploitation of females, and glorification of negativity.  For that reason, because of Hip Hop I live and love; and since I love and live, the love of Hip Hop does also.

For the last couple of years Hip Hop has been on trial.  Charges range from murder of Black America's culture, negative influence on the youth, breakdown of the Black family, and prejudice against females.  It is time that the community takes responsibility for the negativity, which we're currently plagued by.   Utilizing a genre of music (seeing as no one recognizes Hip Hop as a complete culture; just rap), as a scapegoat is ridiculous.  Who or what will receive the blame when hip hop really dies?  

Saturday, I served as a panelist to Cleveland's ESOP Youth Committee, Hip Hop Forum; and to no surprise the finger pointing began.  "If it wasn't for the videos, if it wasn't for the lyrics, if it wasn't for the flashy clothes and such, if the artists would be better role models"...HUH?!?!  When did `we' as a people put the responsibility of our youth and community into the hands of entertainers and artists?  Their only purpose is to ENTERTAIN us, nothing else.  Yes, it's great if from time to time an artist creates an uplifting or educational piece, but that's not their primary responsibility.  Therefore, I insist you STOP BLAMING HIP HOP!!!

In past times southern states were identifiable as Democratic and northern states Republican, while African Americans identified with the Republican Party.   However, during the 1930's Black America made a party shift in response to the development of Roosevelt's New Deal Program.  Thereby, branding the Democrats a party of the underprivileged and leading to various events and a greater (if not complete) shift.  Since that time in my opinion political party alignment is becoming a blur.  Various factors play a role in how individuals select their party affiliation such as social economic status, education, family ties, and race.  But, in contemporary America what is the political identity of the young and urban?

Thursday, 20 September 2007 will mark its appropriate place in Black history just as many dates before it.  Another march added to the repertoire of injustice stampedes faced in America.   Organizations and individuals from across the United States have organized in order to provide body (moral) and financial support to the 5 young men who'll face trial and to Mychal Bell who has already stood trial.  During today's society such an event should NOT be occurring.  However, due to the complacent attitudes of young Black America "we" find ourselves in this re-occurring condition.  Today I call upon `Young Black America' and request you to "stop wearing stunna shades, before you revert back into slaves".