Thoughts on the Movement Potential of "Women in Hip Hop"

These thoughts flowed forth from reading Bakari Kitwana’s “A Hip Hop Response to Chris Brown and Rihanna.” Kitwana’s basic premise was that the Hip Hop political organizers could transform this incident into an opportunity by launching a public policy campaign around domestic violence. This got me to thinking about the issue, the Women in Hip Hop surge, and whether or not this is evidence that such a campaign could be effective.

Hip Hop needed its woman’s movement, and the last few years have been a blast. We needed our voices heard. We wrote books, dropped albums, made documentaries, launched initiatives, built youth programs, nonprofit organizations, conferences, shows, support networks, and Hip Hop Association even declared 2008 the “Year of the Woman in Hip Hop.” It was inspiring. I don’t know how many records or books it sold or how many careers it launched, but I know we all got a little more press. I also know that programs were funded, stipends were dished out by universities, and all of a sudden, everyone wanted a token woman in Hip Hop at their fund raising dinner. I also know that women who were the most active in their communities realized there was a whole network of sisters doing just the same all across the world, all because of this “Women in Hip Hop” spotlight. Was it self-empowering? Yes it was. Did this at all have an impact on domestic violence numbers? I’m guessing not at all.

The reason we have fallen short on impacting public policy is because we let misogyny dominate the conversation. It’s not exactly our fault; many of us didn’t know it was happening. Journalists wanted to know what parts of ourselves we were sacrificing to be in Hip Hop, feminist and women organizations wanted us to generate youth interest, colleges wanted us to speak on the subject, and we were caught off guard. But now we have to come back and face the consequences. In the field of the Hip Hop movement base -the artists, the hood, there are places where this conversation has not only alienated our male counterparts, its reinforced divisions between organizations and individuals on the local level, and even blocked open honest dialogue on sexuality and relationships amongst women ourselves. Here is why:

Liken misogyny in Hip Hop to domestic violence in relationships. Now, look at the detrimental impact that compartmentalizing the issue of domestic violence has had on families, especially in the case of people of color and immigrant communities in the criminal justice system. I was in court earlier this week and a Bosnian woman crying while pleading the judge to release her husband in custody. She said, “In my country when you call the police, they help. Here they don’t listen.” It’s also been show that public financial assistance programs also have divisive consequences in the relationship of parents, reinforcing a negative cycle of unhealthy relationships. Thus, the human rights advocacy and service provision framework that centralizes women as victims of either her partner’s abuse or his inability to provide is unhealthy because it is divisive in real life application. Likewise, focusing on misogyny is incorrect for the Hip Hop movement base because it removes real life women artists and activists from their relationships, family, and community context.

While I agree that Americans need to think change their thinking about dating violence, domestic abuse and gender equity, we need a holistic, empowering approach to reach the masses and address the root causes. For women in Hip Hop, in the context of the broader movement, this means refusing to let the misogyny and domestic violence discussion further criminalize our brothers, sons, cousins, and fathers, who are already either disproportionately imprisoned, or out dying on the streets. For a Hip Hop public policy initiative on dating and domestic violence to make real changes, we can't replicate the flaws of the criminal justice system and the state. We need to turn our energies toward healing our families and communities as one.

Hip Hop Congress, Explicit Ills takes a stand for Economic Human Rights

The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign and Hip Hop Congress are collaborating to promote the award-winning film Explicit Ills, which features an all-star cast including Rosario Dawson, Tariq Trotter (Black Thought of The Roots), and more. The story is about poverty, drugs, and the healthcare crisis in the United States, and is centered on a sick boy and the community that rallies behind him. But unlike many movies on this critical issue, Explicit Ills doesn’t stop at simply portraying, or even analyzing the complex dilemmas people are faced with. Explicit Ills chronicles the real beginnings of a movement led by the poor for Economic Human Rights, and shows how any community can channel their energies into making real change. Check the trailer here.

Mark Webber, writer and director of Explicit Ills, is the son of Cheri Honkala, internationally renowned human rights activist, and executive director of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPERC). Cheri’s reputation for getting the job done is driven by her action-oriented tactics which include housing and capital building takeovers, building “Bushville” homeless encampments all the over the country, and organizing tens of thousands of poor people in protests for the past three Republican National Conventions. At the 2008 RNC, Hip Hop Congress teamed up with PPEHRC, Rosa Clemente, and many others to unify thousands in The March for Our Lives through the militarized streets of Minneapolis. The march also included students from Hip Hop Congress’s Evergreen State College Chapter and HHC’s Portland head and emcee, Mic Crenshaw. Explicit Ills ends with a scene reminiscent of that march, where movie characters and KWRU and PPEHRC members, leaders, and friends march through the streets of Philadelphia demanding healthcare and other Economic Human Rights. “Working with PPEHRC to get the word out about Explicit Ills is a great opportunity for us,” said D’Labrie, HHC National Outreach Director, “We are trying to get out an important message: that Hip Hop has always advocated for healthy communities, health care, and economic justice for all.”

“What you have in Explicit Ills, the story of the boy, is the fictional depiction of a social catalyst, something that creates a surge of energy from the people, something we are experiencing more and more in our own backyards due to the state of the economy,” said Julie C, HHC’s Northwest Regional Director, “But the question then becomes who is channeling those energies where and why? If we’re not clear on the political undercurrents, our direction as artists and organizers is always with the wind. This is why relying on the star power of Hip Hop celebrities has never been an effective strategy for building a Hip Hop movement. It’s superficial. But cultivating our own networks to get around the distractions, that’s power. That’s Universal Zulu Nation, Hip Hop Congress, Silicon Valley Debug in San Jose, Global Fam in Portland, the Umojafest P.E.A.C.E Center and Hidmo in Seattle, J.U.I.C.E in Los Angeles, the Hip Hop Chess Federation in the Bay Area, Mississippi Artist and Producer’s Coalition in Jacksonville, Women in Transition in Kentucky, IMAN in Chicago, that’s a movement. Now, how do we all move as one to create some real changes?” Suntonio Bandanaz, Northwest Outreach Director for HHC added, “The more awareness people have that Hip Hop is actually already a part of this movement, the closer we get to realizing our strength. Hip Hop is not just a bunch of words and rapping [be it on tracks, in the classrooms, on panels, online, or in the magazines], it’s action and community.”

As Hip Hop Congress continues to build towards its 2009 National Conference in Seattle, Washington July 29th- August 2nd, the organization plans to utilize Explicit Ills in education and outreach, and their partnership with Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign as a part of their ongoing mission to provide the Hip Hop Generation and the Post Hip Hop Generation with the tools, resources and opportunities to make social, economic, and political change on a local, regional, and national level.

For more on Explicit Ills, including cities and screening information click here.

Seattle Hip Hop Community Tackles Tough Issues at NW Hip Hop Leadership Conference

"Approximately 200 people came out from across the greater Seattle Area to participate in the 1st Seattle/NW Hip-Hop Leadership Council on Saturday February 28th at Seattle Central Community College," wrote Wyking, co-convener of the event, "presented by the Seattle Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, Bush School Diversity Speaker Series, UmojaFest P.E.A.C.E. Center and Seattle Central Community College Black Student Union, the conference provided a wealth of information beginning with history and socio-cultural analysis related to the hip-hop generation." Okay, so I was only able to attend one part of one panel, but I still gotcha covered. Here are the highlights I was able to collect from the comrades. Shouts out to Suntonio Bandanaz, Rajnii Eddins, and Toni Hill for helping me piece this together. Also, be sure to check out the rest of Wyking's write-up as well. If you missed this one, don't worry. We're about to set it off at the 2009 Hip Hop Congress National Conference in Seattle, Washington with Dope Emporium, Umojafest, Hidmo, 206 Zulu and more July 29th-August 2nd! More to come.


The Hip Hop 101 presentation was led by Silver Shadow D, Rajnii Eddins, and Suntonio Bandanaz.The 206 Hip Hop vets opened the discourse with a mini open mic of sorts, with participation from one young man and two sisters in the crowd. The discussion then moved to the basics: roots of hip hop culture and violence prevention, and Universal Zulu Nation, the inception of the music industry, and the progression of the movement behind the culture. Naturally, the dialogue progressed to the domination of the corporate industry, its role in undermining the political aspects of the Hip Hop movement, and connection of such interests to Cointelpro through entities like Interscope Records and more. “We went from Fight the Power to Reclaim the Media, basically,” said Bandanaz, “to return to the founding principles within culture’s art forms.” Suntonio Bandanaz and Daichi Diaz from Alpha P also dropped by KSER 90.7 community radio in Everett for an interview on DJ Nanino’s Boombox FM later to promote their March 18th show at Studio Seven featuring Spaceman, Specs Wizard and more! Be sure to check Daichi’s new vinyl “The Fight Lullaby.”

The next panel, Hip Hop the New Face of Racism, was a community discussion, which included photographer Inye Wokoma of Ijo Arts, the conference keynote and author of How to Hustle and Win Supreme Understanding, Aisha B from Lakeside School Hip Hop Congress, Charys Bailey, Tacoma artist and youth mentor, and others.The discussion evolved to the questions, what happens when a culture becomes an industry, how does the corporate Hip Hop industry cater to white people’s perception of who Black people are, and what is the impact of that on racism and racial identity? One student spoke on how while her friends listened to conscious Hip Hop, they still had a hard time dealing with and recognizing white privilege. According to Raj, the dialogue that followed reflected personal experiences on the complexity of institutional and systemic racism and white privilege. A social worker spoke on the immense caseloads and rigorous data entry that supersedes effective service provision, a doctor spoke on the lack of people of color amongst his colleagues, a mentor spoke on how policies in youth detention centers interfere with young people’s ability to talk and internalize their experiences. Others spoke about the subtly of racism in Seattle, and the difficulty of addressing it without being labeled as an ‘anger black person.’ Supreme Understanding brought up the need to give people strategic tools and to make solutions concrete so they have practical applications in combating racism.

Rajnii also did his best to help me piece together a quick summary of the next panel, From the Hood to the Club, Violence in Hip Hop. This presentation featured Kun Luv, Omari Tahir-Garrett, Supreme Understanding, Gregory Lewis, Merciful, and Ted Evans and was moderated by Wyking. When Raj came in, Merciful was asserting the importance of addressing the root causes of youth violence, and illustrating the role police play in criminalizing and antagonizing Black youth through militarizing communities. He also spoke on young people acting out on that misplaced aggression, and how that contributes to the overall environment of the neighborhood by having communities turn in on each other. Kun Luv took issue with the claim, saying that most of the violence taking place in Seattle now comes from someone having a beef with someone specific. Kun’s basic premise was that the intentional, premeditated nature of the crimes makes youth violence not a political issue in Seattle. Omari, an unsung hero in Seattle Human Rights and Black history, smashed on this by stating, “There’s nothing going on that’s not coerced and endorsed by the state.” Tahir-Garrett grounded his assertion in his own family history and his experiences as a community organizer and activist in Seattle, which provides him a uniquely thorough understanding of public policy as offensive strategy to quash social movement. “National Security Council 46 is the new Cointelpro,” Omari said, cross-referencing the Obama adminstration’s recent restructure of the National Security Council with the Carter-administration memorandum to the Secretary of Defense and CIA on “Black Africa and the U.S. Black Movement.” Understanding the reference may be especially pertinent since the Obama administration has picked up a surprising number of our region’s slimy political leadership. Do some research. I spent 3 hours on some google ish myself after Raj gave me that quote.

"Women In Hip-Hop was a power packed panel with lively discussion facilitated by Rahwa of Hidmo," wrote Wyking, "The panel featured artist/educators/organizers Toni Hill, Khmet, Moni Tep, Monika Matthews Exective Director of the Nia Center and Life Enrichment Group, student Caela Palmer and fashion mainstay FirstLady Beunique of Presidential Clothing
and Beunique Agency." Toni Hill told me, “The speakers on the women and hip hop panel were insightful, engaging and honest. The gift of performance that was shared before the discussion set the tone for an enriching experience and the audience participation. It was an honor to be seated in the mists of Queens and princesses. I was particularly impressed with Youth representation especially Moni Tep. She is a talented, articulate and courageous youth with infinite potential. She was an inspiration and breath of fresh air. I have spoken on numerous panels across the country, sometimes leaving with unsettling feeling that the youth voices were not properly acknowledged or that they(youth) had not absorbed the information presented by the elders because they are tired of many of the adults talking at them as opposed to with them. Rahwa did a great job moderating and I would be proud to be apart of future endeavors with this cast of brightly shining stars." Be sure to check out Toni Hill's record release party for her new album "Only Love" March 13th at Chop Suey!

There were many more panels and workshops, so again, check Wyking's write up on the event, and get ready for this summer. This year is gonna be a good one.

Who is Julie C?

Peace and Universal Greetings, I'm Julie Chang Schulman, Hip Hop artist, educator, freelance journalist and community organizer from Seattle, WA, hailin' from the crew Alpha P. I'm assistant chapter-head of 206 Zulu, Seattle's branch of Universal Zulu Nation. codirector of Reclaim the Media, a media justice organization, and Northwest regional coordinator for Hip Hop Congress, and urban arts and culture 501c3 non profit. I'm also an artist on B Girl Media The Knox Family E.P is scheduled to debut this Spring.



I'm a real person, not a, computer, someone's paid zombie, or an advertisement, and my aim in undergoing the daunting process of penetrating the "blogosphere" is to expand my network, build with like minded individuals, and connect to other community media makers and organizers from the global grassroots in this worldwide people's movement. Please, shoot me any questions, comments, or just a hello, if your out there, world.



Photo: Our presentation at 2008 National Conference for Media Reform (from left to right, Shamako Noble, Toki Wright, Julie C, Rosa Clemente, J.R Flemming)

A Day in the Life of Hip Hop Congress West Coast: 4 States, 2 Capitols, 1 Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

A Day in the Life of Hip Hop Congress West Coast: 4 States 1 Day
www.hiphopcongress.com

Brandon Green, National Contact, HHC Chief Technology Officer
(702) 606-3068 prolyphek@aol.com
DLabrie, California Contact, HHC National Outreach Coordinator
(501) 798-9610 dlabrozia2009@gmail.com
Julie Chang Schulman, Northwest Contact, HHC Northwest Regional Coordinator
(425) 223-7787 juliec@hiphopcongress.com

February 23rd, 2009

This week was a historical one for Hip Hop. Fresh off the very successful 5th Annual Hip Hop Congress Midwest Summit, which featured Little Brother at The University of Michigan Feb 6-7, and the tremendously attended 206 Zulu 5th Anniversary and Hip Hop Film Festival in Seattle, Hip Hop Congress (HHC) presented "A Day in the Life of HHC West Coast" with cultural and political activity in four states in one day including Washington, California, Oregon, and Nevada. Hip Hop Congress is confronting problems and creating solutions all while communicating in real time via blogs, email, text message and social networking sites. This is the 1st of many HHC online campaigns to come.

Early in the AM, HHC was active in the Oscar Grant rally which took place at the California Capitol Building in Sacramento which was organized as a 5 city bus caravan and included participants from various Norcal cities including Oakland, San Franciso, Richmond, East Palo Alto, and Stockton, CA. Some of the buses were sponsored by San Francisco Businessman/Rapper, JT The Bigga Figga as well as others. The Oscar Grant rally was supported by, UC Davis HHC College Chapter, Sacramento HHC Community Chapter, with members Wes Kuruhara (Chapter Head of Sacramento HHC Chapter and co-founder of San Jose State HHC College Chapter) , Sacramento Rap Crew Righteous Movement, Wyzdom of Verbal Venom & Sac Promoter Lord Vex also Gold Toes of Thizz Entertainment, Rudy Fleetwood rapper/author/ president of The United Players, Ministers Chris Muhammad and Keith Muhammad from the NOI, youth from the Muhammad University of Islam. Extended list of attendees will be available on our website. Information was coordinated by President of RonDavoux Records/National Outreach Director of HHC, DLabrie, whose album; "MR. NETW3RK" is due for release in 2009. “I asked various activists what can HHC do to help the cause without reinventing the wheel. The response I got was to help spread information to the streets, in the hood, at the colleges, and to youth through art and events. This is our strong point. We are planning a series of music compilations to inform the community about the Oscar Grant murder and speak out against Police Brutality through the voices of artists from all over the world,” says DLabrie

12 hours North, in Seattle, Washington, M1 of the legendary political rap group dead prez, who recently became the Education Coordinator for HHC along with Midwest Hip Hop Icon One Be Lo were picked up by sponsors (www.driverforhire.biz). The caravan stopped through for a tour of the Umoja P.E.A.C.E. Center (UPC) which is being developed as a community-owned Hip Hop youth center in Seattle’s Central District (CD). They were welcomed by Unite for Youth Coalition members, Seattle Rap Crew Alpha P/206 Zulu members Asun, Jerm, and Julie C, Basement TV’s Jamil and DJ Kuhnex, mother and daughter media team Maria and Imani Kang, poet Geneiva Arunga of the UPC Seattle Hip-Hop Youth Council and UPC co-founders Wyking Allah, Savior Knowledge, and Omari Tahir. Seattle youth violence is reaching critical levels, police presence is historically at its highest, public housing is being torn down, the district is shutting down schools, and money to tackle the problems are being put in the hands of poverty pimps. UPC and its vision are critical to the community reclaiming power and reasserting self-determination. “It’s good to see a center by us for us right in the hood, it’s a lot of potential in this. I’m excited to see it develop. It shows solidarity amongst many individuals and organization out here on the west, I want to take this energy back home and on the road,” stated One Be Lo. For more information on how to support UPC visit www.umojafestpeacecenter.com.


The collective then traveled to Olympia, Washington, where in 2008, Dead Prez Valentine’s Day concert attendees left a police car overturned and riot squad dispatch. One year later, M-1 was welcomed back to the Evergreen State College for a lecture and dialogue with the campus community. Tremendous efforts were made on the part of Evergreen HHC leaders and others to make this event happen. He opened his speech talking about the role of slavery in America’s system of capitalism, the country’s policy of population control, and how his personal history of community work in St. Petersberg, Florida and New York informed his understanding of activism and organizing. Turning to the role of Hip Hop in movement work, he broke down the difference between uprisings and rebellions, and emphasized that, “Revolution is an art and science. We have to be perfect.” He wrapped up the lecture by stating, “I’ve organized amongst my fellow Afrikans, the white left, we all have a place on this field, all have a role to play. Our objective is to raise the interest and agenda of the working class. Use what you have to do it. In moving forward, that’s why I’ve accepted being national spokesperson for Hip Hop Congress, to support local voices. I want to help build a social tool we can use as a weapon to defend our people’s rights.” A full write-up on the lecture and Q & A can be found on our website.

To end the days Northwest activity, HHC members traveled with One Be Lo to Portland for his performance at Berbatis Pan and linked with Vocalist/Emcee/Poet, Toni Hill of the popular group Siren’s Echo, whose new album “Only Love” will be released March 13th, and HHC Artist/founder of Global Fam, Portland HHC Community Chapter Head Mic Crenshaw who recently released his album "Thinking Out Loud.” The following day, Crenshaw hosted an HHC meeting at his home to talk about current struggles, strategies, challenges, next steps, and planning for the upcoming 2009 Hip Hop Congress National Conference. “It’s critical that we keep the momentum going,” says HHC Northwest Regional Coordinator Julie C, “Now we got the campus, the real community activists, the Hip Hop educators, Universal Zulu Nation, and an incredible network of individuals, artists, and collectives on the ground. Consistent connection, communication, and coordination is all we need to make history and some real changes this summer.” You can catch Julie C’s music in the new “Knox Family E.P” from B-Girl Media.

All of this and more was covered in real time via myspace, twitter, facebook, text and email. We invited all to participate and join us in celebrating our collective power and vision by taking a stand for our community and our families, and celebrating the art and artists that bring us together. The process of keeping things organized and connected online was headed by Pro-Dash: Filmmaker, Emcee, Producer and Creator of HHC TV on you tube. Pro-Dash is currently involved with the Stop The F Street Closure Coalition. “They are creating walls between the hood and the new project which will attract tourist but keep us Vegas natives out,” states Pro-Dash. While updating HHC online info Pro-Dash spent Thursday drafting a letter to National community organizations calling for support for an organized “National Demonstration March and Sit In” on the Las Vegas Strip. The march is scheduled for April 18, 2009, which is also the weekend of the National Broadcasters Association Convention. “We feel it’s important for the West Las Vegas community and oppressed communities across the globe to stand up and be heard for economic and social justice” says Pro Dash whose song “Fresh up out the West” tackles issues in West Las Vegas.

Hip Hop Congress is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit whose mission is provide the tools, resources, and opportunities for the Hip Hop Generation to make an impact on our collective communities. Our 8th National Conference will be held in Seattle, Washington from July 29th to August 1st at the University of Washington. The theme of the conference is "This is Our Time". There will be no panels. We have partnered with Dope Emporium, Seattle's Only Hip Hop Festival, Umojafest (Seattle’s longest running African American heritage festival), Universal Zulu Nation, The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, Iron Fist Records, Hidmo, B-Girl Media, the Seattle Youth Council, Rock Rap Entertainment, the Coalition to Protect Public Housing, Rapsessions, the Mississippi Artists and Producers Coalition, Culture Shock Camp, Umojafest P.E.A.C.E. Center, Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council, Block Teamsters Union and others to bring a conference that is about creating, and supporting leadership as well as holding leadership accountable and being accountable to ourselves. We invite ALL our chapters, artists, partners, friends and all community members to attend this historical event.

"We believe that the youth have questions that we need to answer, that artists have struggles and deserve our support, and that the community can resolve its own problems better than today's politicians and law enforcement officials acknowledge. It is time to stop talking and start doing." stated by San Jose Emcee & Co-Founder and President of Hip Hop Congress - Shamako Noble

M-1 Builds with Olympia Community on Hip Hop and Movement Strategy

Last time M-1 left the Evergreen State College campus, their transport had to drive around an overturned cop car. Check the video here!

One year after the uprising of last year’s Valentine’s day concert, M-1 of Dead Prez was welcomed back to the Evergreen State College campus for a lecture and dialogue with the campus community. It was not easy. Tremendous efforts were made on the part of Evergreen State College HHC coordinators and cultural advocates Noah Theeman-Lindberg, Marial Culter, Moya and others. However their hard work and efforts paid off, and Mutulu “M-1” Olugabala, was finally given the opportunity to dialogue with the campus community face to face. He opened his speech talking about the role of slavery in America’s system of capitalism, the country’s policy of population control, and how his personal history of community work in St. Petersberg, Florida and later in New York with the Uhuru Movement informed his understanding of activism and organizing. “Most of us have grown up without being given a history of movement. Most of us have grown up with parents telling us to go to college, without being shown the unbroken history of this kind of resistance,” he said, in reflection of his background with Uhuru. “I made the decision to go away from campus, opting for direct action like the Black Panther Party, straight to the root of the problem. As community organizers we were launching campaigns, knocking on doors, learning how to utilize propaganda, making it work, it wasn’t glamorous.” He spoke of the police abuse, tear gas on women and children, surveillance tactics, and other strategies the state employed in both Florida and NY to counteract the efforts of Uhuru’s community efforts, and how President Obama’s “community organizing background” differs in that respect. “He may have been a community organizer, but he’s not the same kind. It’s all about what community you’re organizing for. I come from the perspective of justice not reform,” he said, noting how Obama’s proposed stimulus bill won’t even touch the working class community. “We called Obama’s campaign, ‘the candidacy to save imperialism’,” he laughed later during Q&A’s.

Mutulu then turned to the question of the cultural significance of hip hop. “I saw it right here on this campus in action that night,” he said, “We came here to do a show, we were excited, the crowd showed up ready, charged up, it was a glorious concert, ended on high note, we were left with fantastic images, felt motivation, and inspiration, and I remember at one point, someone tapped my shoulder and said, ‘Man you should look out the front door.’” The last comment drew gales of laughter from the crowd, as M said, “It took me back to St. Petersburg. Stic, Umi, and I, we looked and we saw courage, saw injustice, saw it grow, and saw people who needed to resolve it right now.” He explained how that night, DJ Umi and dead prez stayed and watched the uprising, keeping it one phone call distance away, and broke down his analysis from the perspective of an organizer. “The first question was one, did we get justice, not just recital and romanticism, I mean did we get it? and two, what’s the difference between an uprising and rebellion? An uprising is reactionary; a rebellion has goals, objectives, and strategies. What’s the real war? That’s my mind frame.” Mutulu said that as the news began rolling in from the media that dead prez started a riot at Evergreen, he feared for the campus’s ability to use Hip Hop to organize again. “That does our movement no good, it paralyzes our ability to operate,” he said. “The history of resistance in this area is phenomenal. I know the orbs, symbols I’m seeing around here, let’s hook it up y’all.”

But Mutulu, whose name means to show the path, reminds us that as an army, we need to be calculated. “Revolution is an art and science we have to perfect,” he says, “I’ve organized amongst my fellow Afrikans, the white left, we all have a place on this field, all have a role to play. Our objective is to raise the interest and agenda of the working class. Use what you have to do it. In moving forward, that’s why I’ve accepted being national spokesperson for Hip Hop Congress, to support local voices. I want to help build a social tool we can use as a weapon to defend our people’s rights.” He acknowledged how Wyking, Umojafest P.E.A.C.E Center cofounder defends the people’s rights in Seattle’s Central District, and took a moment to remember Tyrone Love, a young promoter who was killed several nights earlier in the CD. For M, the aim is to connect these energies and keep it building to strengthen the movement.

Q&A Summary:
1) Do you believe in nonviolent revolution?

Summarized Response: There's a possibility only if oppressors want to peacefully resolve. You either plead for the system to change itself or know that the only way out is to amass power and bargain it. I’ll do anything to make it happen because the system will do anything to stop you. It's the oppositions decision whether its peaceful.

2) How do we organize sustainably?

Summarized Response: Create organizations that are autonomous, so that you can move inside and out. Revolutionary organizations and institutions should be training mechanism to create revolutionaries everywhere.

3) What are the roles of smaller groups/crew in the movement?

Summarized Response: The members’ purposes have to be the same. I think it's great for morale, but what I've found is that the people are our greatest resource no matter where we are. If you don’t rely on that, you lose your ability to move. Like the MOVE Organization, when police bombed them it was easy to convince others they were dangerous because they kept to themselves. Crew is important but the greatest resource is the people.

4) In referring to organized protests in Olympia, where individual acts of vandalism offset overall message of the movement, what u do with those “brick throwers” who are a part of the movement as well?

Summarized Response: Ultimately it doesn't serve in the interest of our movement when that stuff happens. You have to identify those types of individuals as agent provocateurs. Even if it’s unintentional, you move as agent of the state even if you don't mean to. Those individuals must rectify it with the people. I have done this, I was 19 and impatient, I'm 36 today. We did something stupid. We called police on our own event. I was convinced it would cause the confrontation we wanted. I was wrong.

5) What is connecting really look like? What is the more proactive approach? How do we know what’s real?

Summarized Response: We struggle with that. It’s not easy because we’ve been taught to be separate, especially in artist communities. I just came back from Houston, I saw the worst crabs in a barrel. People don't want unity. I connected by going and being folks, I tried becoming that connector. Mutulu means to show people the path. True is one on one without media dialogue, and there are plenty of ways to set it up. What are we willing to do to get peace? I know some folks with careers around political prisoners and no intention to free them. That ain’t real. It’s about returning power to an African progressive community. Just ask yourself in whatever given group, what’s the goal?

6) What websites or groups/organizations can we use to sharpen ourselves?

Summarized Response: I say it's easy the Internet, uhurumovement.org, hiphopcongress.com, we can turn twitter and facebook into our own movement.

7) I’ve been told that having a Hip Hop Congress Chapter at Evergreen is cultural appropriation of Hip Hop because it’s predominantly white. Can you comment on that?

Summarized Response: Be mindful, Hip Hop is from Afrikan people, but it doesn't mean only Afrikans can be involved in it. Just recognize the root of the culture, and how we can empower it. If you leave Africa out, you relinquish power in the world, that’s why Europe and all these nations got their hands all over Africa they know that, but it’s true in everything. I have no problem with white rappers. Although, I’d like to see white rappers give a moment to ask permission of the ancestors, but it's cool. It strengthens the real movement. We can literally control this hundred million dollar industry.

8) Do you have suggestions to reverse damage done to youth in schools?

Summarized Response: Independent charter schools, community control over education.

9) Why did some Hip Hop artists endorse Obama?

Summarized Response: Opportunism in most rappers. We called candidacy to save imperialism. The middle class agenda elected Obama. Rappers, many of them blow with the wind. Not me, I'm anchored in the movement.

This event at Evergreen State College was a part of Hip Hop Congress's Day in the West Coast: 4 cities in 1 Day. More to come. Hip Hop Congress 2009 National Congress is in Seattle Washington July 29th-August 1st.

Seattle Welcomes Hip Hop's First Ever VP Candidate

Seattle Welcomes Hip Hop's First Ever VP Candidate

Wanna know why M1 from Dead Prez, Professor Griff of Public Enemy, Rebel Diaz and NY Oil are voting Green in this year's presidential elections? Meet Rosa Clemente. She is undoubtably one of the strongest voices in today's growing Hip Hop Movement, and if you didn't know, get your facts. The 36-year-old South Bronx native and member of the Grassroots Malcolm X Movement is an internationally recognized activist, scholar, organizer and journalist whose known for her commitment to change from the grassroots. When former Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney won the Green Party presidential nomination earlier this year, it was Rosa Clemente she named as her running mate. Come November elections, McKinney and Clemente will be the very first all-women of color presidential ticket in the history of the United States.


Rosa Clemente will be in Seattle from September 10th to the 11th. Wyking, from Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council will be hosting a Power to the People Hip Hop rally at 4pm on Wednesday the 10th, details TBA. For more info, email wyking@gmail.com.

In addition to this, Rosa will be speaking at an antiwar rally at Westlake in downtown from 12-3pm on September 11th. For more info on this event, and for how to support the McKinney/Clemente Campaign, email jim@mckinney2008.com.

"The only way I can even begin to accept this nomination is that I must understand that I am just a vessel, a representative of the work of an entire generation, the Hip-Hop radical activist movement. I stand on the shoulders of a generation of young people of color that are united, that clearly understand that we are suffering form structural racism, institutional racism and capitalism."
-Rosa Clemente July 2008