So through the hhpc’s yahoo email list I found out that “Cousin Jeff” of BET fame is working on the campaign of Ken Blackwell. Folks were putting him on blast because they think he’s sold out, but more importantly because he makes the hip-hop movement look weak. Dumi asked me what my thoughts were on it.
First, if there were a Republican I’d support for office it wouldn’t be Blackwell. As Secretary of State for Ohio, Blackwell played a pivotal role in dampening Democratic turnout in 2000 and 2004. Check out this list of suits against him. On top of that, his plan to keep Ohio government small will decimate Ohio’s ability to provide social services for its citizens.
But that’s neither here nor there.
Jeff’s actions have been strongly criticized. In response he’s drafted a statement emphasizing his support of Kweisi Mfume in Maryland, as well as his desire to “change the game” by becoming a true independent.
My response? In all of the commentaries I’ve read on homeboy, I haven’t seen one that states that Jeff Johnson is an elected representative of any body of folks that could be categorized as “hip-hop.” He isn’t on the board of the hip-hop political convention. He no longer works as a youth representative in the NAACP. And he isn’t involved with the Empowerment Temple here in Baltimore. As far as I can tell, he’s a young brother who is down with hip-hop, has a television show with BET…and that’s about it. I no more care about what Jeff is doing with Ken Blackwell than I care about what Leroy Smith is doing with Ken Blackwell.
Why don’t I care? Because Jeff doesn’t represent me. In fact, Jeff doesn’t represent hip-hop. And to take it one step further, Jeff doesn’t represent ANY CONSTITUENCY CONNECTED TO HIP-HOP. Why?
Because he holds no elected position.
He’s just a missile (“miscellaneous brother”) with a tv show.
Now one reason to be moderately concerned is that Jeff may somehow “represent” himself as hip-hop while in Ohio, getting some percentage of heads to vote for Blackwell when they might not otherwise. I don’t think that plan will fly–young voters aren’t that stupid for one thing (remember, it’s BLACKWELL we’re talking about). They’re not going to vote for him because some missile with a tv show and braids told them to.
We’ve got to get back to a real old school mode of representation, at least politically. That way we can know who is acting for us (elected representatives, whether we’re talking about the black student union, or the hip-hop political convention, or Congress), and who’s just acting (people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton). More importantly, we can know how to take OUT the people who don’t act right (by voting them out of office). I can understand why people are mad at Jeff…but they are mad at him for the wrong reasons. Let Jeff do Jeff, while folks interested in a real movement do REAL MOVEMENT WORK.
(edited to add) I was informed that homeboy is involved with the Hip Hop Caucus. He’s on the Board of Directors.
This changes the calculus a LITTLE. He wasn’t elected to that position, and from what I see from the website, the organization itself doesn’t have elections (or flesh and blood members even). It’s like a hip-hop version of Operation Rainbow: Push, or Al Sharpton’s National Action Network–organizations that exist to give their leaders a platform from which to speak. I say it changes the calculus only a little because I still don’t think what Jeff does is important. BUT a loose (VERY loose) argument can be made that he DOES represent a constituency. And if folks are pissed off enough about it, there’s an easy solution–make him resign his post. That’s accountability.
Interesting take on “Cousin Jeff” and his non-elected status in hip hop. The thing that keeps hanging me up about your contention with Jeff’s non-electoral status is that it’s very difficult to argue that hip-hop has, has had, or needs an electoral body. I think the HHPC is a great organization, but the reality is that if Jeff is on BET, he’s getting at more young Black people in a day than most of us can dream about. It’s the same reason I’ve been concerned about TV personalities masq’ing as officials since
“The Mayor of Rap City”. 😉 I agree that voting Jeff off of a board will show our disinterest and our disbelief in his position, but if you and I didn’t know he was a member of the HHC (didn’t know they existed till you linked to them, what’s that say?) it’s clear his “juice” (to take it back) lies outside of organizational lines. I don’t think most folks who see “Cousin Jeff” really know that he used to work for NAACP, they just know, wow he’s the only young dude on BET who EVER talks about politics and activism. All this to say, if we held and election tomorrow among the “hip hop generation” who is more likely to get elected Cousin Jeff or Rosa Clemente? How do the people come to know the real folks working on stuff? And how do we institute a true “arm” of hip hop in this political landscape? Oh, and I do think Cousin Jeff is way of the mark on Blackwell, even to mention foolishly that he was in Ohio in 2000 and 2004, I’m thinking he’s really not expecting anyone to read up on Blackwell!
If any group seeks to become self-aware and have its interests represented in the body politic, they have to have some way of designating representatives that can be held accountable. You don’t truly have a movement any other way–you’ve just got some charismatic folks claiming to represent “hiphop” just like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson claim to represent “black folk”.
And it doesn’t necessarily matter how much “juice” he has. The question is does he represent his constituency. If he doesn’t, and he’s voted out…he can have all the juice he wants to have, but it won’t matter because his actions will not represent anyone other than himself. (or perhaps some other group if they vote him in.)
The answer to your last two questions? Information dissemination, and explicit political organizing. Through a similar process that people get together to start a union, people who believe that hip-hop brings them together somehow have to start a REAL political organization. The history of SNCC is helpful here, though obviously the times are different.
Honestly-
It sounds like you just have something against him. What does the fact that he is not involved w/ Empowerment Temple have to do with your argument? At any rate, it is disheartening when we are so swayed to one side we don’t take the time to listen. You say you don’t care, but it sure doesn’t sound like it. If you are this passionate why don’t you contact him directly to get an answer? He will answer you…..
BTW-He was also affiliated with the Hip Hop Summit Action Network/Russell Simmons
Better yet, go to this site and listen to what he has to say.
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.623/p.all
When I say “jeff can do whatever he wants” I don’t mean that in a “i’m taking my rocks and going home” kind of way. I mean exactly what I wrote.
When I say “Jeff doesn’t represent me,” I mean this exactly how I wrote it. He wouldn’t represent me even if he supported the democratic candidate, or Ralph Nader for that matter. And if you’ve never casted a vote for (or against) Jeff in any capacity, he doesn’t represent you either. Doesn’t matter how nice a brother he is, or how much he SAYS he represents you.
This is why the uproar over Jeff’s actions are missing the point. And incidentally why I wouldn’t need to talk to him about this issue.
LOL…I am not even going to go there. You have spoken your peace, although I disagree. That is why there are forums like this to articulate your point of view…
I don’t understand. Which of the following points do you disagree with?
1. Jeff does not represent you or me.
2. The reason Jeff does not represent you or me is because he was not elected to hold office of any sort.
3. Because Jeff does not represent you or me, what he does, who he chooses to work with (or not work with) politically should not matter to you or me.