Edd’s MANtra: Lessons from Egypt

Today we celebrated with Egypt as President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, following weeks of protests by anti-government demonstrators in Cairo and other cities. The historic moment was a testament to the scores of protesters who stood their ground in their fight for democracy.

It amazes me how a revolution that gained ground on social media networks like Facebook and Twitter literally changed the world.

It also saddens me that we take our freedoms for granted over on our soil. Check out this video from poet laureate Waka Flocka Flame, on the “importance of voting.”

Yes, this dude basically said so-called “low class” people don’t vote because nothing changes. Waka says, if things change first, THEN maybe they’ll consider voting.

So, he expects ailing, struggling people who are hungry for change to NOT speak their minds and wait for change to magically come – then they’ll start voting.

Can you imagine if this idiot was a protest leader in Egypt?

While it’s easy to ignore anything this guy says – he’s a grown man named after one of the Muppet Babies! – it troubles me that even hip hop’s more revered lyricists send out very dangerous messages to our kids.

I anxiously await Lupe Fiasco’s new album next month, and I was eager to hear his new single,  “Words I Never Said,” which was released a couple of weeks ago. But I was appalled by the time I got through the first verse:

Limbaugh was a racist, Glen Beck is a racist
Gaza strip was gettin bombed but Obama didn’t say s***
That’s why I didn’t vote for him, next one either
I’m a part of the problem, my problem is I’m peaceful
And I believe in the people! Yeah!

On the surface, these lyrics don’t seem problematic. Lupe doesn’t trust war-mongering leaders, he trusts the peaceful hearts of the people. Awww. But Lupe has often preached about the futility of voting, a message he restates in the verse above. And that, Mr. Fiasco, is absolutely stupid.

The foundation of democracy is giving the people a voice. And that voice is projected through voting. No vote, no voice. African Americans, of ALL people in this country, should never take those rights for granted. We struggled for decades for the right to be heard alongside our countrymen. And now that we have that right, celebrities who have the ears of our children treat it like a disposable luxury.

Happy Black History Month, Lupe.

I hope America’s youth learn from the events of the past two weeks. We saw scores of people willing to lay down their lives in their quest for freedom. I don’t care what your favorite rapper says, democracy is a right that can never be taken for granted. Egypt’s youth have learned that lesson well; I fear for our youth if they haven’t.