The Fight Is Far From Over

President Elect Obama is receiving well deserved best wishes and congratulations from millions of people across America and throughout the world. The hip-hop community in particular came out in record numbers to vote and to help provide the margin of victory for Obama.

Global Grind expresses it gratitude especially to the hip-hop generation for helping to make history. We are sure the Obama campaign also is very grateful for the tremendous turnout of youth voters.

We are issuing an urgent call to vigilance and continued action by America's young voters to insure that Obama's leadership is fortrightly supported. The election is over, but the essential work of transformation has just begun.

Fixing the economy for all Americans with emphasis on the working and middle class to restoring confidence in the corridors of Wall Street will require the same serious focused leadership that has come to embody Obama's successful journey to the White House.

Steadfastness of resolve will be necessary. Hip-hop is about perseverance. It is about not only overcoming the odds, but it is also about rising to the occasion to make the critical difference.

Delivering health care to all, increasing quality education opportunity, ensuring social and economic justice, protecting the environment, international dialogue and peace to end war and poverty and overall making our participation in democracy more effective and long lasting means not sitting down but continuing to stand up, speak out and to take back responsibility.

We must internalize the hard won lessons of the Obama campaign. Participatory democracy works. Keeping our faith in God and country and always striving to make our communities and world a better place is a sustained priority. Hip-hop is the culture of transformation. Obama is the "transformative" President Elect. Yes, let's celebrate. But we must be more involved and accountable now than ever before to support Obama.

We can not afford to go back to politics as usual. The change that we prayed and worked for is here.

-Russell Simmons

Discuss Russell's post at Global Grind

Comments

[Smith808]

When did the United States of Hip Hop adopt a political platform?

"Delivering health care to all, increasing quality education opportunity, ensuring social and economic justice, protecting the environment, international dialogue and peace to end war and poverty and overall making our participation in democracy more effective and long lasting..."

I suspect this is what Miss South Carolina "meant" to say.

Why weren't these issues inspiring enough to "transform" hip-hop before the election?

I would also like to lobby hip-hop for an end to the propagation of homophobia, misogyny, and wealth envy.

[Smith808]

...and a formal injunction against rhymes ending in "-ation."

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Hey Russell, what do you have to say about California's Proposition 8?

[tokesan]

Ummm, "Hip-hop is the culture of transformation" That's the first of this I am hearing. I guess it is because I am not hip. However, I agree with the article, the election may be over but the real work begins, and like Barack mentioned he will demand more of everyone of us, perhaps in little ways like the country demanded citizens participation during the world war. But I doubt the hip-hop community have the stomach for anything that altruistic.
I really hope that the hip-hop community that is claiming to contribute to Obama's success will take cue from the future president - he is ever impeccable in his appearance, whether in suit or rolled up sleeves.
Enough of this hip-hop fashion - saggy baggy pants, long white/black t-shirts flowing to the ankles! When I see the pictures and films from the 70s, other than skin, one can hardly tell whites and blacks apart in what the wore. And then came hip-hop and everything and people went out of their ways to look different, separate from the establishment. Granted not all can look the way Obama looks but let's clean up our acts along with other stuff that Mr. Simmons mentioned above.

[yappnmutt]

does this mean the black community will clean up its act? now that obama has swept away the main reason given for its dysfunction?

[PowerPridePinstripes]

Generalizing a bit aren't we?!! That's like saying ALL Blacks are one way and ALL Whites are one way and ALL women are one way etc... kinda childish don't you think?!!

[yappnmutt]

denial doesn't help. for all the gains in education and economics and social achievment the african american community has made since the civil rights act the community has possession of the most crime ridden communities in america. that's a fact. the solution lies within that community. i can't solve the problem nor can anyone else not a member of that community. its about time the onus of that responsibility be awarded to those that can.....the community itself. if there is one thing obama's election has proven is that america is color blind when it comes to the positive character traits every human should strive to possess without excuses for falling short. his election should put tremendous pressure on all people who have a ready excuse for their personal and collective failure.

[kutkreata]

Great piece Russell. Members of my local GOTV team contacted me on Sat & we are meeting this weekend to re-group as local community organizers. I can't wait.

[jrockbg]

Will one of you out there please explain "Economic Justice" to a simple hard-working man, like myself? Because to me it means that I work, I get paid, I enjoy the benefits of my work and skills. Between Obama and now Russell Simmons, apparently I missed the definition of "Economic justice".

[yappnmutt]

its still code for giving up your money to people who don't understand what you apparently do only now you can't call them what too many of them really are.....useless.

[jrockbg]

I just don't want to wait 6 months before I realize that "economic justice" has nothing to do with justice. Kind of like the "tax rebates" that will go to Americans who don't pay income tax.

[genia]

"Participatory democracy works."
Well said and well done.

[almostchosen]

If "Participatory democracy works" then why did the founding Fathers determine that representative democracy is a better system?

It's telling that Simmons makes no mention of liberty or freedom. The role of equality is the U.S. must be an equality of Liberty, not an equality of outcomes. What fun would the Olympics be if they forced everyone to run the race at the same speed?

It might be worth learning some history before changing this nation:

"Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom."
--Alexis de Tocqueville

"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."
--Alexis de Tocqueville

[DAE]

There are literally hundreds of thousands of people languishing in jails throughout this country for the crime of being poor and vulnerable to drug abuse and other sins of poverty. Billions upon billions of dollars are being spent on prisons rather than schools. No one speaks about this travesty because it is political dynamite, but if we do not address this fundamental flaw in our society nothing else will truly change.

[jrockbg]

...and what role does the federal government have in achieving this? These are noble concepts, but quite frankly, this country was not designed to handle issues like that on a federal level. Nor should they. It is YOUR local governments responsibility to address that issue.

[DAE]

The POTUS has a bloody pulpit to focus our attention on issues of this sort and I'm sure there is federal legislation that address the issue as well. The War on Drugs and mandatory sentencing are two areas where the federal government has a role to play.

[mbilinsky]

Russell, I'm just waiting for the directives to come down. Most of the steps necessary to solve our countries problems will be tough and require sacrifice (at least short term). I just want to make sure Barack make these decisions instead of the easy ones that just delay the inevitable.

[Debzie]

Thanks for this! It's not over yet, people need to stay involved and voice their opinions.

[tmbrinkley]

Don't Forget!!!...you are not finished in Georgia yet...

[Chironomid]

Amen... it's on all of us, not just the young and hip-hoppers.

Check out the change.gov site for an opportunity to give your input, and get in the practice of participatory democracy. The Internet is supposedly transformational -- let's prove it.

[BlueZoo]

Russell, this election IS NOT OVER! Here, in GA, we are having a run-off election for Senator that is crucial to President-Elect Obama's success! An absolutely knock-down dirty campaign is being waged by Senator Chambliss against Jim Martin, a Vietnam vet. We desparately need YOU to call to action your young voters in this state! Help us, please!

[brokenarrow]

Everyone who voted for Obama will back our new president with deeds and action. Time to get off the couch and down the street, kids.

Please do continue to get the word out around the country. Together, this country will roll up their sleeves, and greet a brand new way of being.

Obama has lit the torch of inspiration. It's up to us, especially the 18-24's, to put yourself out there to serve something bigger than yourselves.

[DundeeNatalSA]

Russell, I completely agree. I really believe there should be an Obama Information Office in every single state that gets the word out on exactly what Obama is doing and trying to make happen for the country. The news media cannot be trusted to reach the vast majority of people.

The 50 state strategy of getting an office in each state to help people learn about Obama was tremendously successful. This created the support. I strongly believe this is what is needed to keep the support alive for the next four years.

The same old media coverage is just not going to work. Guaranteed.

[torrrep]

Although I didn't vote for Obama I have to agree with you. I think using the internet would be more efficient than opening offices. I have thought about this for years. With today's technology there is no reason to need to use the mainstream media. It needs to be an interactive website where questions are actually answered. Instead of waiting for the media to report, the website should be proactive in publishing the daily activities of the President and members of the cabinet. I also think this should be put in place for all of Congress.

[DundeeNatalSA]

Good point. Much more cost-effective to do it onl-line. But then again it's so easy to not open and then delete an email. We have to be hungry for information. And many voters do not have the internet - at least in my community.

[degenerate1991]

While the internet is certainly important, more traditional forms of 'politicking' are also important. If the internet was the most important forum for politics, then Ron Paul would likely be our president-elect.