Rosa Clemente is the Green Party’s Vice-Presidential nominee
….Post 9/11 the majority of the American people have been living under a blanket of lies and fears. As a youth, particularly as a youth of color, we must tell the truth. We must be the ones not fooled. We must be the torch bearers of truth.
We Must Remember that youth have always taken risks. From the Soweto uprisings in South Africa. To African-American and Mexicano children in the 50s and 60s who walked out of schools. To the 17, 18 and 19-year old men and women who joined the ranks of the Student Non-Violent Coordination Committee, the Black Panther party, the American Indian movement, the Black Liberation Movement, the Young Lords Party – young people have always been the catalyst of change. I bring these organizations up because they understood the need to tell their message and create their own media.
We Must Remember, as the Hip-Hop generation, we must make a call for media justice. Not only as something we talk about, but something that is inherent to our humanity. I often find it hard to optimistic to be hopeful, to envision true freedom and justice. In a time when this gov’t is elected by elitist people or selected by Supreme Court judges, in a time when Black and Brown votes never really count. In a time when dogs that get abused get more press time, more justice and more public policies passed to protect their lives then poor and working class people.It’s hard to imagine better times – but they are here. Our stories and this moment tell us they are here.
We Must Remember we know the world in which we live and we’ve always believed another world is possible.
We Must Remember our ancestors who broke those chains everywhere around the world, because they knew another world had to be made. The answer is not always yes we can, but We Will Do. Not always yes you can, but You Will Do.
We Must Remember the words of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglas, “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false.”
