Rosa Clemente's Stand

"We’ve got to admit to ourselves that it was not the first time that we heard the word 'ho.' Turn on the radio station. There are a whole lot of songs that use the same language and we’ve been permitting it in our homes, in our schools, and on iPods."

These were the words of Barack Obama in the wake of the Don Imus scandal in April of 2007. Obama was indeed unsympathetic to Imus and applauded his firing, but ending his speech with this seemed to blame the racism and sexism of one man on, of all things, hip-hop. They are words, unfortunately, are all too common in an age where politicians can score easy points by scapegoating music and culture.

Which is why the news last week was encouraging: Rosa Clemente, longtime writer and hip-hop activist, became the vice presidential candidate for the Green Party's presidential ticket, joining presidential candidate and former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

A statement posted on Clemente's website reads: "I am honored and excited to accept this invitation to run with Cynthia McKinney. Cynthia McKinney is a hero to me and many others across this country and around the world for her courage in standing up to George Bush while the Democratic Party establishment caved."

Clemente herself has a long and proud history of standing against injustice and oppression, no matter which party is responsible. She has spoken out against war, police brutality, sexism, gentrification and a whole host of urgent issues that both Democrat and Republican have failed to address.

She is also someone who has never waivered in her defense of hip-hop, which is at the height of its influence among young people, yet frequently subject to attacks from the political establishment.

She has been unsparing in taking on those who might exploit hip-hop for their own gain. She vocally defended the artform against the post-Imus assault and while seeking to engage artists and MCs politically, she has always had strong words for the industry that seeks to turn them into minstrels.

To Clemente, youth culture isn't just worth defending; it's a potential weapon in the hands of ordinary people. In 2003, she helped organize the National Hip-Hop Political Convention, which sought to bring artists and activists together to lay out a political agenda for hip-hop. She has also designed, along with her own Know Thy Self Productions, no less than three concert tours intended to help raise political consciousness in communities and colleges.

Clemente's announcement has energized some of hip-hop's most politically committed acts. M1 of Dead Prez had this to say of the ticket: "I've never voted in the Presidential election; I've never felt strongly enough about a candidate to. Knowing that Rosa Clemente is down with Cynthia McKinney's run, I feel that now is the greatest opportunity for the Hip-Hop community to put our collective strength and power to the test and vote for someone who represents who we are and what we stand for."

Though Clemente and Dead Prez represent the leading edge of radical and progressive hip-hop, they aren't alone in their consciousness. This announcement comes at a time when hip-hop is finding itself increasingly under the gun, but also increasingly politicized. As the racism and inequality of this country becomes more and more apparent, artists have been reconnecting with rap's capacity to speak truth to power (which has been woven into its fabric since its inception in the late 70s Bronx).

The hip-hop generation, that massive bloc of young people who have grown up multicultural, in a world threatened by endless war and declining opportunties, are coming into their own. And, to put it bluntly, they're pissed.

Perhaps because of this, the Obama campaign has garnered an unprecedented amount of support from the hip-hop community, ranging from the Roots to Nas. It's little wonder why. The prospect of the first Black president in a country built on centuries of racism is understandably exciting to all kinds who want real social change in this country. But for plenty of artists, the change they are looking for goes well beyond who is sitting in the White House.

This is evidenced by the recent string of angry postings on his campaign website from his own supporters in the wake of his vote for extensions of wire-tapping. It's clear that these people want an alternative, not Republican Lite.

This is why the McKinney/Clemente campaign is important. There is a need for activists and candidates asking the tough questions. Why did Obama support the shredding of the constitution with the FISA bill? Why, despite being billed as "anti-war" does he want to maintain a troop presence of tens of thousands in Iraq (as well as a military base bigger than the Vatican)? Why is his position on Palestine slightly to the right of Bush? Why is he so slow to speak against racism, but has no problem lecturing Black fathers for their "irresponsibility?"

Why, despite being a fan of Jay-Z, is he willing to play the politician as usual by attacking hip-hop?

There is no doubt that this is going to be a tough year for independent left candidates. The exhaustion of two terms of Bush, the draconian nature of our electoral system, and the expectations that Obama has raised, will make the McKinney/Clemente embattled to say the least. They are also unfortunately competing with another progressive ticket: that of Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzales, which runs the risk of fracturing an already small vote pool.

But after election day, there needs to be a movement willing to hold the new president's feet to the fire, whoever he may be. Hip-hop, much maligned and misunderstood, has a role to play in fanning the flames. Though one can only guess where the McKinney/Clemente ticket will go, Rosa's announcement is a step in that direction.