Wow - read these interviews (Great Article)

Obama Moments: Hip-Hop Artists & Political Figures Reflect



http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/beyondhiphop/2008/09/5481/


Wow!!!!
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"BallerStatus.com: Thinking back to the presidential election of 2004, to Ohio and the illegal voter disenfranchisement of so many African-American and minority voters, especially in the Cleveland area, which affectively stole the election from Kerry. What's interesting is because of that voter suppression and disenfranchisement of blacks, it essentially opened the door for Obama. Had Kerry won Ohio and the election, it would have been 12 years before Obama would have had this shot.

Rep. Sellers: I agree. History is amazing. You have to be ready to capitalize on your moment in history. People tried to tell him to wait, and I was saying to myself "Please don't wait." I was just happy that he was prepared and he was ready, and so were Michelle and the girls. They have and certainly will become the face of the new America.

Yearwood: Yeah ... you know it's interesting? It's funny because sometimes in our worse moment ... we've been discussing the 40th anniversary of Bobby Kennedy's assassination. One of the things that he discussed was the wisdom that was the awesome grace of God. That was one of the things he mentioned when Dr. King was killed. That wisdom gives you a sense of overcoming. I think that's what we saw in 2004. I think what this country kind of knows, deep down inside, is that with the war, there's a reality out there. We have to deal with the fact that there have been over 4,000 American troops killed in Iraq over a lie. I think we have a situation where people are really feeling upset, and that we must overcome. So no, I think you're right.

Lord Jamar: The sh** they did in 2004 is now going to come back and bite them in the a**. This is karma. That is the beauty of the universe. I don't want people to get complacent, though, and take this for granted, because we've already seen what these motherf***in' Republicans are capable of, as far as stealing elections, and abusing their power to get what they f*** they want."




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"BallerStatus.com: Giving that acceptance speech, on the anniversary, was that in a way the dream becoming reality.

Rep. Sellers: I think we have to wait for November to come for that dream to be reality. We cannot expect it to be reality until Barack Obama moves into the White House. It's more than just an African-America at the top of the ticket for the first time in American history, it's an opportunity for the country to turn the page and go in a different direction.

Chuck D: There are 365 days in a year, it could have taken place on any of them. Sure it is ironic that it happened on a historic date, but Barack's moment was remarkable no matter what day it took place on. Barack's speech wasn't just fulfilling King's dream. It was a fulfillment of his dream, and our dream. It was his moment, and it is now our moment."


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"BallerStatus.com: Rappers tend to be quite cynical towards politics, but with Obama that has changed within the last year. Have you been paying more attention?

Twista: Oh certainly. I've been paying more attention to a certain extent. I definitely sit down and watch when Barack is on. I don't flip through. You have to savor it man, because it's been a long time coming.

Double-O: We actually had the conversation recently with Cornell West. Barack is the first candidate who has connected with the hip-hop generation. That is the most important part, and why you see people more interested now because he speaks our language. There's not a disconnect where it feels like he's from that side and we're from this side. He's partially a part of the revolution in America that is hip-hop. This is very much his generation as well.

Lord Jamar: I'd say I have. I never been the guy who says we need to go out and vote, blah, blah, blah. I feel like the American political system was kind of a farce. That was put on display when Bush went and stole the election in 2000. With the same token, however, positive and negative exists within all things. Over the years black people have become more accepted. At some point it seemed like to be black became cool. America now seems to have a love affair with black people, now let's see if we can carry it into the presidency. There's the most interest within the culture now though, we talk about it on tour amongst ourselves or whatever. I'm secretly rooting for this dude. It would be a nice thing to see.

Chuck D: It's not a game to me. I'm voting for Barack for the right reasons. Voting for him just because he's black is the wrong reason. That's change. It's something I want to see, and I hope happens, and should happen. But in the end, I think I'm going to be voting for the best guy to sit at that desk."