Peace and Blessings,

First off, let me spread love to my mellow Musa aka Howard Lloyd. The hook to one of his songs was on my mind when i sat down to write this. I'll let you judge if the reference is appropriate. It came to mind, though, because Barack Obama's victory on Tuesday is one that many can feel proud of. He humbly stated that it was our victory, but its one that many specific groups can be proud of.

It goes without saying that it was a moment that Black people can claim. Not just because it was something that would have been unfathomable only a few years ago (let alone back in the days when the Panthers were getting executed left and right for the crime of feeding their neighbors)... Truth be told, i think most of us felt it was unfathomable a few months ago. But also because it brought generations together. I was touched to hear the story of a womyn in her 30s who was waiting on line to vote. An elder (in this case someone many might call an 'old womyn') got on line and her chronological junior offered to let her cut ahead on line and the elder was so proud to vote for a black man that she confidently asserted that she would stay in her place.

I also would assert that it was a victory for Hip Hop. I won't go too deep out of respect for an inactive member of the Immediate Family who is about to publish an article on the subject, but suffice it to say, we embraced him and helped make him (and voting, to a large extent) something today's youth wanted to embrace.

Regardless of if you agree with me, one thing is undeniable. The election, the campaign and the the votes that proved it victorious were historic. This week (and possibly the next two months) were our time to celebrate. However, we can not lose site of the fact that it is now that the real work begins. Now is when we must hold him to his promises. Hold him to bringing our siblings home. Hold him to cutting our taxes. Hold him to increasing taxes for corporations and/or rich people. Hold him to ensuring our youth get proper education and we all get proper health care. He seems like a sincere dude. But as even he has said, change must come from us.

I salute Dr King... I salute Sister Rosa... I salute Brother Malcolm... I salute those four little girls... I salute those three voter registration workers... I salute Shirley Chisolm... If you do not know about any of these people: do a web search, ask an elder, link me up... Because it is on their shoulders that we stand. Were it not for their sacrifices, the sacrifices of many of their contemporaries and that of their respective families Hip Hop may never have risen out of the politics of the early 70s. Were it not for them we may never have seen last Tuesday's victory. Respect to the elders and ancestors.

One Love,
Curry Kid


Ps. The Question of The Week is, 'Where is your favorite place to draw strength when times are hard?'