I was honored to be on a panel about Hip-Hop with fellow MC/Acivists Immortal Technique, Invincible and graffiti legend Sen One, at the historic Schomburg. Columbia University was the host of a incredible conference dedicated to the late great Manning Marable. Occupy the Hood, which brought a busload of young people to the rally was nice enough to give me a ride to my next destination New York City. After a brief march a large group of activists got arrested in front of the White House to protest not only Mumia’s unjust imprisonment, but the mass incarceration of Black and Brown people. Not only did we hear from Mumia but also representing were Chuck D, M-1 from Dead Prez, Rebel Diaz, Pam Africa and actor/activist Danny Glover. The next morning I hoped on a plane to DC to participate in the Occupy the Justice Department Rally for Mumia Abu Jamal on his birthday. We not only focused on the way media frames race in America, but we also had breakouts with local organizers around issues like violence in our communities and police brutality. Mark Anthony Neal, Joan Morgan, Elizabeth Mendez Berry, and Hip-Hop artist Dee-1. The panel was hosted by Hip-Hop author and scholar Bakari Kitwana and featured Dr. Next I headed to Tulane University in New Orleans to participate in an powerful panel titled, “ Trayvon Martin and the Rebirth of a Nation“. The guy who sent me the email that said I couldn’t perform “ Occupy (We the 99)” even came to apologize. From there I made my triumphant return to the University of Connecticut, whose student government tried to censor me a few months back. I performed in Stamford, CT at a Student Diversity Conference which was keynoted by the great Tim Wise, who the inspiration behind my viral video, “ What if the Tea Party was Black“. It’s been a whirlwind week for me on the Hip-Hop side of things. Jasiri X and Chuck D of Public Enemy at the Occupy the Justice Department Rally for Mumia in DC (Photo by Paradise Gray)
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