Yes We Did, America! Hope Always Wins.

"For as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible."
- Barack Obama

(Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

What a poignant, exciting, electrifying moment and movement in world history! Wow, words can not express the way I feel today.

I am so proud not only of President-elect Barack Obama, but also of everyone who came together to make democracy and progress happen before our very eyes. In Alice Walker's thoughtful open letter to Barack Obama, she says "we are the ones we have been waiting for". Her wisdom is true.

I know I'm not alone. The whole world is celebrating intense feelings of joy and renewed promise in the United States of America. Regardless of how you voted, it's a great day to be alive, participate and bear witness to history in the making and breaking. We are moving forward!

"From far away, this is how it looks: There is a country out there where tens of millions of white Christians, voting freely, select as their leader a black man of modest origin, the son of a Muslim. There is a place on Earth — call it America — where such a thing happens."

Poplicks via Patrick Moberg (click to enlarge)

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I guess it's one step at a time though. On a truly disappointing note, I will never understand 52% of California, where some people care more about chickens' rights than fundamental human rights. Are you as confused as I am? The fight against Prop. 8 is definitely NOT over! With lawsuits flying, ballots still being counted and thousands upon thousands of Californians more ready than ever to repeal Prop. 8 (sign the online petition if you can), there's hope that the California State Supreme Court Justices will overturn this illegal step backwards.

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After 8 long years, it's a new dawn, a new day. Sing it high priestess of soul Nina!

progress PROGRESS

Saul Williams, one of my all-time favorite spoken word poets, dynamically delivers "An Open Letter to History":


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full text.

Stand up for Equality! NO on Prop. 8

When I read the Mojo Blog this morning, I was shocked to find out that the Gay marriage ban was actually succeeding in California. In the first three months since same-sex marriage rights were legalized this June 17, more gay couples (approximately 11,000 couples) were married in California than were married in the first four years it was legal in Massachusetts. "Next month, Californians will decide whether gay couples can continue to marry when they vote on Proposition 8, which would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as between only a man and a woman."

Why would you try to take an already existing fundamental right away and write discrimination into the California constitution?! I couldn't agree more with what the Los Angeles Times Ed. Board proclaimed in their endorsement for No on Prop. 8 back in August:

"Civil rights are commonly hard-won, and not the result of widespread consensus... Fundamental rights are exactly that. They should neither wait for popular acceptance, nor be revoked because it is lacking."

To all California residents --

Wake up and stand up for LOVE, EQUALITY, and PROGRESS. Please vote NO on Prop. 8. An inspiring video a friend recently shared:

Eve Ensler on Security and Freedom

TED could not have timed the September release of this moving Eve Ensler presentation any better (a visionary role model for women of the world!). While she gave this talk back in 2005, her wisdom is necessary and relevant to our election season. Eve is having "Sarah Palin nightmares" like the rest of us, as she recently shared in a bold op. ed in the Huffington Post. She's one of my favorite storytellers.

We The People Festival (9.27.08 -9.28.08)

We The People Festival -- I couldn't have imagined a better way to enjoy my birthday in this historical, "tipping point" moment in our lives. It was an empowering day through night event celebrating social consciousness, community activism, and urban youth and culture via raw uncensored music and art - the way I love it.

The live performances we caught included Dilated Peoples, RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, DJ Z-Trip (dedicated his turntablin' set to Barack Obama and mobilizing voters), Flying Lotus (my favorite show), Bassnectar and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine (the way I remember him, at least). It's a shame we missed roots reggae classic Barrington Levy and bassist extraordinaire Les Claypool though, since there were too many solid stages to choose from.

Here's a taste of what we appreciated -- click to enlarge images (not pictured but definitely devoured: raucous, rhythmic, truly fertile electric music embracing a backdrop of the downtown LA skyline and passing metrolinks, endless Blue Moons, endless sunshine, amazing baked yam with cinnamon/brown sugar/butter, baked potato with the works, and grilled seasoned corn. bliss.).