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YM Blog-a-thon: Elections Edition
It's that time again
Tomorrow, WireTap and YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia will launch our fifth youth media blog-a-thon. This time the topic is elections. It's happening from Wednesday, October 22 thru Wednesday, October 29.
Aside from an historic presidential election, filled with its own racist undertones, caricatures and myths, local state and county ballots are packed with frightening ballot initiatives. In California, voters will soon decide on harsher penalties for suspected youth offenders and whether teenage girls have the right to choose abortions.
From the press release:
We're calling all young bloggers (between the ages of 14-26) – along with any bloggers dedicated to writing about youth issues and youth media – to blog from October 22nd to October 29th about national and local elections taking place on November 4.
Here are some ideas to address in your blog posts. Feel free to come up with your own:• What local and national issues are you concerned about this election season (i.e. health, education, the economy)? Why?
• Immigration raids have dramatically increased throughout the state of California and the nation, yet neither presidential candidate has said much on the issue. Why? And is their silence warranted?
• California’s Prop. 4, if passed, would prohibit a pregnant minor from having an abortion until 48 hours after their parent or guardian have been notified. How do you feel about the possible limitations of young women’s right to abortion? Do you think it is important for parents to have a say in the reproductive health of their children?
• Do you feel racism and sexism has played a big role in the election?
• Are you suffering from voter burn out this election season? Has it changed the way you look at the candidates?
• If you were elected President, what would (or wouldn’t) you do?
• Are you broke? How should our next president address the economy?
Have questions? Contact me: jamilah@wiretapmag.org
(If you want to get involved, just write a piece on your personal blog and send in a link. If you don't have a blog, just send me an email)
Don't Just Vote -- Change the World
How will you feel on November 5, 2008?
Chances are, you'll either be ecstatic or crying hysterically, depending on who wins the presidential election. But as campaign anticipation fades and the reality of a new administration sets in, we'll be looking for our next president to turn those lofty campaign promises into practical agenda items.
That's why WireTap, as a member of Generation Vote, is proud to introduce the Youth Agenda. Organizers representing upwards of 1.5 million young people from 20 organizations chose their top eight issues. As the first ever national issues agenda written by youth organizers from around the country, the platform is a national call to action around issues such as education, jobs and healthcare. The goal is to present our issues to the next presidential administration and rally them to take action. Less than two weeks after the election, young people from around the country will meet in Oakland at the Youth Policy Summit to strategize effective actions.
According to Mattie Weiss, Director of Campus Camp Wellstone and GenVote member, "We came to the pretty movement-changing realization that to win on all of these issues, we’ve got to start by winning on one."
You can get involved, too. Take a look at the agenda, endorse it and pass it along.
Still need more information? We sat down with Mattie to talk about the significance of the Youth Agenda.
Why did Generation Vote collective decide to create a Youth Agenda?
We decided to create the Youth Agenda to document the issues young people face — and the youth-specific nuances of these issues that aren’t part of the national political conversations. I think the other thing the Youth Agenda does is demonstrate that we not only have a multi-issue understanding of the problems we face, but that we have ideas about where we should be heading.
We talked about having a third paragraph under each issue, in which we outline actual policy solutions to these problems — specific bills and campaigns. But this is a place we’re still developing into. We didn’t want to rush that — so we’re holding that agenda for our post-election work.
What was the process of writing it like?
Writing it was a beast! We went through so many edits and input sessions — we had to make sure all of the GenVote organizations felt represented by it but that it was also succinct and readable. The outcome of the writing process is what’s most exciting to me. By working through which issues to focus on and how to represent them, we came to the pretty movement-changing realization that to win on all of these issues, we’ve got to start by winning on one. Out of this realization we decided that post-election we are going to choose 2-3 policy pieces that all of our organizations will throw their weight behind — even if this isn’t their primary issue — in order to demonstrate the power of young people and to teach ourselves what it looks like to win.
What was the biggest challenge of creating a collective document that 20 organizations could get behind?
Read the rest of the post »
When Wall Street Goes Broke
Last night, President Bush took to a primetime national television address to convince the American public that a $700 billion dollar bailout for Wall Street was absolutely, positively necessary. He also made sure to let everyone know that he's still against government intervention and loves unregulated free markets. Except when unregulated free markets fail. Like, now.
In case you missed it:
See more here.
Feel better?
No?
You're not alone. In cities across the country, people will take to the streets to say no to welfare bailouts for Wall Street.
To see an event near you, click here.
Regardless of whether you're for or against the massive bailout plan, it's important to ask about the particulars: how it works, who's responsible, and what happens if it fails. And, as Roberto Lovato remarks, what happens to the rest of the world, namely Main Street, Cesar Chavez Blvd. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., if the causes of this economic nightmare aren't addressed.
Green Jobs Now
On Friday, September 26, Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama will appear in their first nationally televised debate. The next day, on Saturday, September 27, thousands of people around the nation will take pictures.
The pictures will range from youth in San Francisco holding a solar powered hip-hop festival to a neighborhood block party to clean the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the Showdown in Motown talent show in Detroit, MI that will support Young Detroit Builders.
The effort is part of a national day of action for Green Jobs Now. The thousands of pictures will be used to put pressure on the next Presidential administration to make green collar jobs a national priority -- and make sure that communities of color aren't left out of the dialogue.
The movement toward green-collar jobs is arguably the most organized national youth agenda item in the country. Young folks have made the connection between our economy, access to skilled jobs and the environment. The goal is to build a green economy strong enough to lift millions of people out of poverty.
National youth organizations, including WireTap, The League of Young Voters and other members of GenVote, will push for our next president to outline an effective and sustainable plan for Green Jobs during the first 100 days of the next administration.
Learn how to host an event in your community by following these nine easy steps:
To find an event near you, visit: http://events.greenjobsnow.com/
DNC: Talk With Strangers
Strangers have been on my mind a lot this week. It started in Denver, around the time that thousands began to descend onto Invesco field for Barack Obama’s democratic nomination acceptance speech. Our WireTap crew – meaning Kristina and I – got there bright and early at 10am, with one press pass, blisters and unbeatable determination.
After careful networking and a huge dose of luck, we were both able to get into the stadium. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Joseline Pena-Melnyk, perhaps our most memorable person from the convention. Optimistic and warm-hearted, Joseline spoke fondly about letting her kids in Maryland watch the speech on TV only if they finished their homework. After an hour of conversation she revealed herself as an elected official, and spoke candidly about her journey from the Dominican Republic to public office.
There were others – grandmothers from Harlem, rednecks from Missouri, anti-immigration activists from Colorado and anti-establishment writers from New York. Some I connected with, others I just listened to, but we respected one another despite our differences.
We lucked out with great seats, and began our ten hour wait in Denver’s unrelenting sun. There were celebrities and politicians, worthy political observations (secret service agents) and not-so-worthy ones (Al Sharpton’s perm). By the time night fell and the crowd of over 80,000 strong stood screaming and teary-eyed, I couldn’t help but think about the power of strangers brought together for one common unifying cause.
Inevitably, anyone can become family when given the chance.
It’s in this spirit that just days after the historic gathering of millions in Denver that we await Hurricane Gustav’s landfall.
Read the rest of the post »
Vote Hip Hop & Talib Kweli
Hip Hop's not running for president in November -- well, not exactly. But the issues that effect young people and communities of color are crucial. From the fight for affordable healthcare to tangible plans to end violence on our streets, our issues don't just end when the ballots are counted.
That's why WireTap teamed up with Generation Vote and judges like Talib Kweli to launch Vote Hip Hop. You can win money and speak your mind. Here's how (from our press release):
The contest is separated into three categories -- audio, video, and design. Are you a graf artist? Throw up your message on a piece! Begin the movement with one of your own! A DJ? Blend together the messages that speak to you! An emcee or poet? Tell us what's on your mind! Any way that you creatively express your thoughts about the candidates and social issues that affect you and your community, put it on a track, video, or visual art piece, hop onto www.votehiphop.com, and upload it for the world to see -- and then check out and vote on the work of other people across the globe!
The Prizes:
Winners selected by online voters and judges, including Talib Kweli, will have their work displayed in national voter registration drives, BET.com, Current TV and WiretapMag.org. Plus, winners in each category also each get $500 and a free trip to a nationally televised awards ceremony!
Also, be sure to endorse the Youth Agenda, which outlines the key issues we want our next president to stand firm on throughout their presidency.
For more info, contact Jamilah King at Jamilah@WireTapMag.org, or show us what you've got at www.votehiphop.org!
YM Blog-a-thon: Sex Update
(From Wednesday to Wednesday, May 28-June 4, 2008, WireTap and YO! Youth Outlook are hosting the fourth youth media blog-a-thon. This month's topic is sex. Young folks– along with any youth bloggers dedicated to writing about youth issues and youth media – will address the topic of sex.)
Here's an update on our ongoing discussion on sex:
Does good sex lead to a good relationship?
Feeshauce answers:
As much as those lesbian U-Haul stereotypes are often common enough, I’ve been jaded from too many broken relationships to still be that naive. No, other than that first night of amazing (admittedly, not entirely sober on my part) flirting and sex, we took it ’slow.’ Partly out of necessity — living eight hours apart can do that. We talked, learned a lot about each other, opened up, joked around, and built up that comfortableness and security before we saw each other again.
On the dating game:
From Sidelined:
See, the thing is, I have a tough time "playing" the game when I know how badly it hurts to get played. I know how painful it is to get fucked up by patriarchy time and time again. So when I see a woman I think I might want to ask out, I don't. I get stuck on the sting of sleazy advances and objectification and struggle to find the path that allows me to be her respite from that world.
On identity, awkwardness and losing your virginity:
From ColinResponse:
I lost my virginity (here’s the part you were waiting for) to my first “real” girlfriend on a trampoline (seriously) during the summer of 1999, and it wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds (NOT that this sounds glamorous in ANY way)...I look back at these thoughts and about the fact that while I truly wanted to have sex with my girlfriend at the time, there was a bit TOO much relief that came from it just being over and done with. As men, we get railroaded into having our masculinity questioned if we are not having (a lot of) sex with (many) women.
On choosing to wait:
From Youth Outlook:
I recently had a conversation with my very close friend who has a date this Saturday with a guy three years older than her... She mentioned that she feels like, at 17, too young to give up her virginity. She mentioned that she had the same conversation with her mom earlier that day where she had found out her mom and aunts had all lost their virginity by the time they were 16. Personally, I was proud that she had come to her own conclusion that she was too young, which I also felt but, not wanting to impose myself on her, left for her to decide on her own.
Read the rest of the post »
YM Blog-a-thon: Learning to Love
(Editor's note: Youth Outlook and WireTap are kicking off the fourth Youth Media Blog-a-thon. This month's topic is sex. Check both sites frequently for updates, and feel free to join the discussion!)
In late December, a group of friends and I sat on my homegirls bedroom floor and shared New Year's resolutions. We talked for hours, drinks in hand, and shared sob stories of former boo's and missed opportunities. Our stories were all different, but one thing was certain: the new year was going to be different. So we made a pact and jokingly called it 'Campaign '08': the unabashed pursuit of safe, non-dramatic romance with chill folks.
Simple, right? These mysterious lovers would magically appear when we were lonely, tell us how beautiful and talented we were, and then disappear when we got busy. No questions. No tears. If the new year meant that our country was on the verge of electing its first Black or female president, then damnit, we could find healthy relationships.
And I thought I needed one. My past few relationships had left me on edge. Some were ugly, while others were just stagnant and dissapointing. What started out as exciting and full of promise ended, in one way or another, with me deleting someone from my phone or IM buddy list. There was the multi-year relationship with a former best friend that went from disappointing to dramatic to downright ridiculous in a matter of months. Then there was the "we're-so-deep-no-one-else-can-understand" on again, off again romance with another close friend. Then there was the seductress who argued with me about Critical Race Theory and lived two hours away -- far beyond my designated dating zone. I've blamed myself, my partners, my family and society for my love's demise. Sometimes if I'm in a good mood, I'll mumble something about it being a test of fate, that I'm being challenged by our higher being, blah, blah, blah.
Lately, I've been shying away -- and sometimes running -- from anything that smells even slightly romantic. My excuse? I want time to myself. I want to deal with my shit. I want to stop looking for someone to be my perfect shield. I know that everyone has their baggage, and some of us have a lot more than others. And while I've grown to accept that the baggage will always be there, I want to figure out how I can carry it more effectively. Instead of spilling my shit in the middle of some busy intersection while trying to run for a bus to take me anywhere but my past, I want to be organized about it, put my pain and insecurities on a granny cart and strut my way down the block with the confident swag of someone who's mistake-prone but life-savvy.
Then I read an article about a woman who married herself.
Read the rest of the post »
YM Blog-a-thon: Post-College Anxieties
(Editor's note: Youth Outlook and WireTap are kicking off the third Youth Media Blog-a-thon. This month's topic is money. Check back frequently for updates and feel free to join the discussion.)
Few things annoy me more than unsolicited advice.
So it's not surprising that during my senior year of college, I turned a deaf ear to anyone who tried to give their two cents about life post-college. I already knew the horror stories. Me? I was going to be fine. The universe would align itself, I'd fine myself a nice job that didn't assault my soul, great apartment, and my friends and I would visit each other every other month.
Things didn't exactly turn out that way.
While I'm probably the last person who needs to give advice, I'm going to offer my ill-advised, unprofessional opinion based on my not-so-cute encounters with brokeassedness over the past year.
First, a little background:
Recently, a friend and I were talking about how unexpectedly hard knock this post-college existence has been. To put it lightly: it's rough. And not just for spacey cats like myself who majored in impractical things like English. My friend got her degree in Biology, which meant she really studied -- like numbers and shit. Interview after interview, we're learning the truth behind the age-old adage, 'It's not what you know, but whom you know.' Sadly, it rings true both in the corporate and non-profit world's which, for better or worse, are both pretty exclusive. When you don't know the right people, it sucks.
We're not adverse to work in any way. We both had steady full- and part-time jobs while we went to school. But having a degree can sometimes give you a sense of entitlement that's flat out unwarranted.
[Note: These tips come from a very particular kind of college experience. I went to a small liberal arts college in the middle of the Southern California desert. It was like being at Camp -- with a few token people of color thrown in the mix to grace the front of the school catalogue.]
Read the rest of the post »
Money Ain't a Thing?
Biggie and Puff might have popularized the refrain "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems," but nowadays, millions of Americans find the exact opposite to be true. With skyrocketing gas prices, thousands laid off at jobs, a housing crisis, cuts to school budgets and a costly war, words like "recession" are on the minds of millions. And with no lucrative record deal or Hollywood biopic film, no one's really singing anymore.
For our third virtual event, WireTap and Youth Outlook want to know your story. Our monthly Youth Media Blog-a-thon is set to run from April 23rd to April 30th and the topic is: Money.
Some questions you might want to address in your entry:
• What do you and people you know do to make money, i.e., sell things on eBay, braid hair, babysit, DJ, sell drugs, etc.?
• Do you feel the effects of the national “recession” in your community? What does it look like? What has changed? How are people dealing with it?
• What are your strategies to save money during hard time? What does your family do to cut corners? How do you save money?
• California is cutting $5 billion from the school budget next year, what will this mean for your education system? How does the lack of money affect your school?
• The price of gas is $4 a gallon in some states, how does this affect your life?
• The “recession” is due to the sub-prime mortgage disaster which caused many people to lose their homes, do you know anyone this happened to? Tell us about that.
• Do you know how to go out and have a good time without spending a dime? Write a post advising others how to have fun on the cheap in your city or town.
Past participants include:
Boston Progress Radio (http://www.bprlive.com)
iLL-Literacy (http://www.ill-literacy.com)
The Playground (http://www.jaysplayground.com)
The Cheddar Box(http://www.thecheddarbox.wordpress.com)
Oh Dang! Magazine (http://www.ohdangmag.com)
Youth Radio (http://www.youthradioflows.com)
Girls for Change (http://www.girlsforchange.org)
Edin08 (http://www.edin08.org)
Respect RX (http://www.respectrx.com)
Vanessa Van Petten (http://vanessavanpetten.com)
Kameelah Rasheed (http://kameelahwrites.blogspot.com)
Vanessa Huang (http://graniterainbow.wordpress.com)
Sex Etc. (http://www.sexetc.org)
We want to hear from you! Read, comment and participate! For more information, contact me at Jamilah@wiretapmag.org
Harassed By The Cops
Recently Matt Nelson, a frequent contributor to WireTap and spokesperson for the Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition, was stopped and harassed by an officer from the Milwaukee Police Department. In a written description of the confrontation, Nelson explains:
"On the evening of Monday March 10, 2008 at 11:40pm I was stopped by two MPD officers while standing on a public sidewalk outside of my business on 2008 N. Farwell Avenue. Officer Ferrell (District 1) approached me aggressively and demanded that I give him my social security number or he would have me arrested."
While Nelson pursues legal action against the department and the officers' blatant abuse of power, his situation sheds light on important issues related to the civil liberties we often take for granted. The issue is particularly relevant given the hostile climate of today's immigration debates. Whether you're documented or undocumented, it's crucial to counter the fear and intimidation tactics used by many over zealous folks in power with knowledge.
The National Lawyers Guild has a very detailed Know Your Rights manual, available in seven different languages including Spanish, Farsi, Punjabi and Arabic.
For more information, visit their website:
http://nlg.org/resources/kyr.php
Key points include:
Read the rest of the post »
YM Blog-a-thon Update: Violence
Here's a quick update on the Youth Media blog-a-thon focusing on violence. This is the second of our monthly Youth Media Blog-a-thons organized by YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia and WireTap in which youth bloggers connect around issues that affect our lives. Below, you'll find young folks from across the country address everything from the wars abroad, violence on our streets, feminism, every-ism, depression and more. Read, comment and spread the word. There's also still time to participate! Holler to find out how.
Read the rest of the post »
YM Blog-a-thon: Our Silent Majority
(Editor's note: Youth Outlook and WireTap are kicking off the second Youth Media Blog-a-thon. This month's topic is violence. Check back frequently for updates and feel free to join the discussion.)
I'm in an awkward position. On the one hand, I'm a member of the media. What that really means, I still don't know. So far I've gathered that it has something to do with writing and making decisions about what other people read. Take this here, blog-a-thon, for instance. I've been harassing encouraging people for almost two weeks to tell their stories of how violence impacts their lives and communities.
Midway through sending out a mass text message, I started to have second thoughts. It's not easy to get people to write about anything, much less something as personal as violence. And then I began to reconsider what I would write about. I had made the decision long ago to write about topics from a distance, especially those that were closest to me. It was a decision based more on personal protection than journalistic objectivity, and it's always easier to write about something you're removed from. I was going to google some statistics, quote some song lyrics, maybe make a reference or two to The Wire, and then write about it all in some vague, circular way, make sure all my links were on point, post, and then peace out.
But that would make me a hypocrite. After all, I can't ask anyone to do something I’m not willing to do myself.
Read the rest of the post »
What Do You Think About Youth and Violence?
It’s time for Round 2 of our monthly Youth Media Blog-a-thon.
Beginning on Wednesday, March 19th we’ll be kicking off another round of blogging. This month’s topic is violence -- from violence on our streets to the war on Iraq. Once again, we’re asking for participants.
Here’s a little blurb from our official press release:
San Francisco, CA - YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia and WireTap will host the second round of the Youth Media Blog-a-thon from Wednesday to Wednesday, March 19-26, 2008. Youth bloggers (between the ages of 15-25) – along with any bloggers dedicated to writing about youth issues and youth media – will address the topic of violence and its effects on youth and our communities.
The monthly blog-a-thons will connect the youth media community around issues that affect their lives, asking for their thoughts on hard-hitting topics. The goal of these monthly events is to foster more dialogue between youth media, which will lead to their connectivity as media makers and as activists.
We’re coming off of a tremendously successful first round of blogging where over 15 young folks debated important issues surrounding the presidential election.
If you are interested in participating, contact me at Jamilah AT wiretapmag DOT org for more information on how to participate.
Here's an a list on a few of this month's participants:
- Oh Dang! (http://www.ohdangmag.com)
- Khmer Girls in Action (http://www.kgalb.org)
- Boston Progress Radio (http://www.bprlive.com)
- Vanessa Huang (http://graniterainbow.wordpress.com")
- Kameelah Rasheed (http://kameelahwrites.blogspot.com/)
- The Playground (formally known as Grits & Eggs: http://jaysplayground.blogspot.com)
YM Blog-a-thon: Update
A little update on the first Youth Media Blog-a-Thon being sponsored by Youth Outlook and WireTap. So far, it's been a tremendous success! A big shout out to all the participants and especially to the readers. We've had a lot lively online discussions about issues that aren't really being tackled in mainstream media -- and it's not over! We're asking everyone to participate in some way, from posting a blog, comment, or passing the message along to friends. The reason is simple: our voices need to be heard.
Below is a quick rundown of some of important discussions that are on the table -- or screen, however you want to look at it:
Confusing Voting Process
Eming Piansay, from Youth Outlook asked a good question: "Why is the process of voting almost as complicated as the election itself?" Does our delegate system negate the power of the popular vote?
The Cheddar Box had a few suggestions, such as allowing same day registration:
Why have all these confusing dates and deadlines for registering? Yes, it would mean more work for people working at the polling sites as they would have to process paper work and all that. But that’s a small price to pay for strengthening democracy. All you ever hear about is how terrible our voter turnout rates are and how apathetic and lazy the young people are. People stay away from the polls because the process is so damn confusing. Same day registration would go along way towards increasing voter turnout and making it easier for people to exercise their political will.
Read the rest of the post »
Jamilah King is WireTap's associate editor. She is also a founder of The Playground collective blog.