Obama, You Got Me
Yeah, I know I've been quiet this summer. I've been running so hard it's been a minute since I had the time to blog in this space. But something got me fired up last week. It got me so inspired I feel like I'm 19 years old and ready to take on the world again. It was Barack Obama's convention speech.
I've read and heard all the opinions. Plenty of people have had something to say about this. So why do I feel the need to weigh in now? I've always been the guy who found politics boring, and I haven't trusted anyone in Washington to do anything for me for a long while. It had no relevance to me, and I never really got what all the hype about Obama was about. But now I get it. The guy won me over. He touched me in a way no politician ever has before. He hit all the right notes and he hit 'em hard. I was the undecided voter Obama needed to reach with his words, and now he has my full attention.
What resonated with me the most was when he said: "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it."
That to me sums up what's been the problem with the old way of doing this on all fronts. The old guard ain't bad necessarily. It's just that they don't understand that there's a new reality, and a new way of doing things that's a better fit for our times. When these guys fight change they stand in the way of progress and push back the energy and drive of the young. It hurts their future, and everybody else's.
But Obama's words gave me an energy I haven't felt since I got started in the music business, when I believed anything was possible. That's a powerful thing.
So when I woke up the next day and checked out all the blogs in the black media, I was shocked. I read that Tavis Smiley thought King's legacy was being "glossed over" and that Rev. Jesse Jackson was mad that King's famous speech was "being reduced to a soundbite." A whole bunch of commentators were complaining that Martin Luther King wasn't getting enough respect, and that referring to him as "a young preacher from Georgia" was somehow a dis. It felt like they didn't even hear the same words I heard. But what hurt me the most was when Dr. Cornel West, a man I really admire and respect, said Obama was "running from history."
For real?! Exactly why was Obama supposed to be giving everyone a history lesson in his speech when the whole point was to talk about the future? What he said was exactly what he needed to say to introduce himself to apolitical folks like me and get us fired up and ready to make a change. It was his job to lay out the plan that will bring America into the 21st century, and that's what he did.
I want to know where we're going and how we're going to get there, not where we've already been. It's his actions that carry the torch for MLK, not some boring tribute to the past that other people expect him to make. That's the kind of bullshit that old people who've been here forever get stuck on. They're missing the point. They're forgetting that when they followed Martin Luther King they were young themselves. They were looking ahead, not backwards.
You name me one single politician or president in living memory who could get a standing ovation from 84,000 people before he even spoke. More than 40 million people were watching -- more than anyone paying attention to the Olympics. If anything, even a leader of Clinton's caliber might get a few boos. I've been in the music business my whole life and I've never seen anything close to that kind of excitement in a crowd.
It was intriguing to me to see how the dude caught these people. Obama came out with a power that no world leader has. He commands that kind of crowd because he brings something that goes beyond politics. What I was watching from my home in Los Angeles, Obama had me through the whole 45 minute speech. No one can grab my attention like that! Anyone who knows me can tell you I can't even sit still for five minutes, but I watched that speech from begin to end. His words and mindset spoke to me in a way that's relevant to my life.
Obama's movement is about us, and what we can do to shake things up. He delivers the drive in people to want to do things that make change. That's why older people who've held their spot forever -- the John McCains and Jesse Jacksons of this world -- find him a threat. They have to fuss about the small stuff that has no relevance to the big picture of our future because they got nothin'!
It reminds me of the beef between Ice T and Soulja Boy. Ice T said Soulja Boy was "single-handedly killing hip hop." But whose hip hop? Soulja Boy speaks to his own generation. He makes songs that sound great on a ringtone and get millions of hits on YouTube -- something Ice T could never do today.
No disrespect to these older dudes, but it's not about you, it's about the destiny of our kids. Just because it's new and different doesn't mean it's bad. I run into the same kind of mentality with older executives in the music industry. The business is failing because they're stuck in the old ways of doing things, but they resist the ideas of younger people like me. I've been battling this way of thinking my whole life. When I first started making music in Atlanta, people said I was too country, and that the music of the South would never have the flava of what was going on in New York or LA. Now everyone's coming to Atlanta. It's the mecca of music. Times change.
Things don't need to stay stuck in one gear. If we keep trying to fight progress, it's gonna march right past us. We need to be inspiring young people instead of always telling them what they're doing wrong. That's why I wrote my book, "Young, Rich and Dangerous." There aren't enough people with credentials who can speak to the younger generation and influence them the right way. A few months ago I blogged about the fact that young black people fall off because they don't have a bridge generation that can listen to them without judging them and set them on a path to a better future. Black or white, Obama is a good bridge. We have a long way to go, but he's a start.
That's why it's time for people like myself, who have real influence with kids, to inspire them to get out there and vote. Obama's not going to be able to bring America into the future if the younger generation doesn't get behind him in a way that counts at the polls. He's got my vote, but he needs yours. Now I'm gonna go out there and do everything I can. Because it is time for a change.
Jermaine Dupri, who was named the most successful R&B producer of all time by the Guinness World Records 2007, is a Grammy-award winning music producer, president of Island Urban Records and author of Young, Rich and Dangerous: The Making of a Music Mogul (Atria, October 2007). For more information about this blogger, click here.
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I read this post reluctantly, thinking "who cares what some rap mogul thinks?". But I must admit Jermaine Dupri made some very astute observations about the changing political reality in the U.S., particularly in the African American community. There were tremendous expectations on Obama's acceptance speech from nearly all quarters. In a 45 minute speech he was expected to dispell all doubts about his candidacy , spell out exactly what he would do in every conceivable political situation, retintroduce himself to America, and pay homage to Dr. King. Now that's a pretty tall order. Surprisingly he actually did a wonderful job (as usual) of articulating a new vision for America and inspiring many people to action. Of course there are still those who will say he wasn't specific enough, we still don't know who he is, he's not respectful enough to the so-called black leadership, etc. But the fact remains that he is currently our best hope for change in American politics.
When I was about 6 years old, I saw a sign in my neighborhood that read "If you don't vote, don't gripe". I never forgot that sign and when I turned 18, I registered to vote and have continued to vote ever since 1970. I used to skip school to go to protest marches and there were some scary encounters with the cops from time to time.
I agree that we need to look to the future. But we also need to remember the past, because it is glorious. MLK, Jr. had a mentor named A.Philip Randolph who taught him everything he knew, but Randolph did not need credit. He gladly deferred to MLK. In the speech on the mall in D.C., he's there just behind MLK. SOME of the old guard are jealous and they shouldn't be, unless they were there for the wrong reasons. I thought we were there to pass the torch.
The essence of this post rings true just as the essence of Obama's speech. All that aside, it still comes down to what I've said before and in a recent post on Writer's Whirlpool.
"Barack Obama channeled the spirits of change and now it's up to you and me, individuals acting as individuals on behalf of others."
People continue to underestimate Obama's brilliance. We made a huge deal out of his being nominated on the anniversary of Dr. King's historical speech but that was for the historians to note. Not for Obama to wrap himself in Dr. King's mantle. Obama didn't want to mess with Dr. King's speech or to anoint himself as the natural successor to Dr. King. And had he done anything other than what he did, these same little people, (Smiley, West & Malveaux) would have been criticizing him for being presumptuous. Man, I am tired of Tavis Smiley!
Well said Jermaine....BRAVO!
Wow! I was halfway through this article and I had to stop. I am a passionate admirer of Dr. Cornel West. I am a hip hop head and an intellectual, and I thought that potentially JD's comments (caveat: I am unfamiliar his opinion articles, which are expected to be casual and from the heart) would be equivalent to Chris Lighty's (I believe I spelled his last name wrong, but he is a manager in the hip hop industry who posted on HuffPost stating that Obama is taking the hip hop vote for granted), which followed my expectations of disappointment. But this certainly exceeded expecations. In particular, the comment concerning the african american political bloggers. I did not read them, and I do not believe they represent any community other than elite pundits. They do not represent anyone else except their own interests and they do not serve, at this point, any community. They are ripping down and causing controversy, at times, the one person in the presidential race that has the possibility of help any of their agendas. Obama's speech brought to life Dr. King's dream and it gave me chills when he mentionned Dr. King. The convention, however, was for the purpose of nominating Obama and uniting the party. They need to recognize that there is a time and place. I respect their efforts, but they need to check their biases at the door and work to elect Barack Obama.
I am no where near you in demographics. We are polar opposites in that respect. I am white, and middle aged. I watched the Obama speech and couldn't look away. I have seen some of his other speeches and liked everyone. His speech about race was tuely one fo the history books. His convention sppech was so well done with all the right inflections at just the
right times was something to see. This man is a true orator. I have seen great speeches by MarioCumo as well as Bill Clinton but each one misses one
thing the other has. Mario Cumo could give a loafty goal setting
speech but had a hard time connecting with the common man. Bill Clinton could walk into any room and give a speech like he had known the pople his entire life, but he doesn't present outreaching goals well. Obama
has
mastered both worlds.
I Liked Obama's speech, and of course I am voting for him, but I thought it was a B+ speech, pretty good, but president Clinton's was a A+. President Clinton is a much better speaker. I am not saying that Obama won't get there someday, but there is a good thing about being older and having been there, practice, practice, PRACTICE makes perfect. And who has had more practice and gotten paid as much for speaking, as Bill Clinton?? I think that President Clinton presents outreaching goals just fine!!
Obama' s speech touched me intellectually and emotionally. Clinton's speech was good but it didn't inspire me.
One area that has yet to be explored, is how Obama has affected speech-making in this country. I watched after Obama's Iowa speech that everybody, Democrats and Republicans, changed their style and tried mightily to copy Obama's. It was during that time that McCain went to the teleprompter. Clinton and Edwards both changed and Romney tried to co-opt the change theme. You know that Republicans are writing their speeches to try to answer Obama's reach and height. Problem is, even when they right the words they still cannot deliver the words in a believable way.
Thank you. You gave me fresh insight to Obama's speech - an insight I missed when I listened raptly to it.
JD,
I agree with you 100%. I think the older guys want to be acknowledged and that's okay. Barack being able to speak on that platform was made possible by them and Dr. King. Barack is aware that he is running for President of The United States not just President of African Americans. The speech was a salute to Dr. King by being able to happen.
You certainly made some valid points. However, it is disturbing to hear you state that you found politics boring until now. Despite your claim to have the voice of the youth generation. You are not that young either.
So all this time, may I ask, have you excercise your right to vote. Jumping on the bandwagon now is certainly better late than never.
But I am hoping that Obama wins, and by a landslide.....the country needs to make that dramatic of a statement. I am also hoping you remain engage in the political process no matter the outcome in November.
Jermaine,
You weren't alone in your thoughts the night of Obama's speech. Not by a long shot. There were literally millions of us watching that night and we were inspired by what "could be" instead of what has always been. I for one, hope you continue to make your voice heard, especially in your home state of Georgia. Some say, that it could be in play and that it could be a part of an Obama/Biden victory. Help to get the vote out amongst those new "ring tone teens" and you could not only continue to sell records but help to make history.
Peace
LOVE IT
Well said JD...
It's time for ALL of the young people to get out and vote in this 2008 election. If we don't stand up for something, we will fall down for anything.
One by One, we can stand...
Obama made history with his speech... Not everyone may like Obama, but nobody can deny his passion that he has to inspire those around him. His speech was not just inspiring, but was something that young people don't get to hear too often. Then again, inspiration is something that lacks everywhere now, in days. We are living in hard times, and ONLY history writes the truth. I say lets make "History" one vote at a time. Obama has my respect, and I hope he continues to makes history so that others will have no choice but to respect him.
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase"
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
"A man can't ride your back unless it's bent"
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't"
-Blaise Pascal
God Bless.
-Shemaiah aka Miah
I agree with a lot of what you say, Jermaine. Jesse Jackson is an American hero, and we owe gratitude to him, his generation, and generations past for fighting for our freedom. But, the negativity of our Civil Rights leaders towards this new movement has me at a loss. I can understand wanting to keep Obama on the right path, but I don't understand being angry enough to want to cut his n>ts off.
On the Atlanta music scene, I hope that it does become the mecca for music. I think it has a little ways to go. I worked in Atlanta for a few years, and I was surprised by the lack of diversity on the airwaves, because I went to Atlanta thinking that it was the mecca for music. However, I found that the radio stations in Atlanta (college, R&B, pop, hip-hop, rock so on and so forth...) had very limited playlists. Right now, I think you can find more variety in R&B in Osaka, Japan, than you can in Atlanta.
Thanks for posting. Tell me one thing though --- what are you doing to get people to the polls? Someone of your statue who has access to so many people. Personally, I am moved by your words but hell -- anyone can write/type. We still have so much to do. What do you have planned???
Jesse Jackson was gushing over Obama's speech...He loved it. Your depiction of his reaction is completely inaccurate.
I don't think he was talking about Jesse's reaction to Obama's speech - but about him getting caught on tape from that infamous Fox News interview.
Then way would he say that about Obama's speech the very next day? Maybe he wanted people to think he loved it, but was all the while jealous of Obama's stature and meteoric rise.
Jesse Jackson is in deep S**T right now. He accused Obama of "acting white" last year, and then this year said that Obama was "talking down" to African-Americans because he talked about personal responsibility instead of JUST mutual (or social) responsibility.
I don't hate Jesse Jackson. I just just trust him, and I don't appreciate his flippant comments toward Obama.
At 14 years old, I watched the 1984 Democratic Convention which was in San Francisco that year. ANd the top speeches from that conventionwere Jesse's speech and Mario Cuomo's speech (which was better, as he delivered his off the top of his head). Jesse inspired me at that time, but oh has he taken a mighty fall. And that is no one's fault but his.
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