Don't Forget the Present.

I looked left, I looked right and I even did a hop, all I could see were people, the millions of people walking along my side. We were all facing the prize. The glorious moment, that some spent sleepless nights knocking doors, hanging posters, reading about, donating money, consistently following the political trail and VOTING for. We the masses, were walking to enjoy and bask in our moment in the sun. Obama was about to become the official president of America.

Coming from NY, I figured I've seen crowds. ( Walking around 34th St in Manhanttan. ) Nothing could've prepared me for what had happened. I was surrounded by masses of people. So much so that, my walking pace depended on the thousands ahead of me. I definetly was not prepared for the warmth and general happy tone from thousands of people I did not know.

I shooked hands with Mr. Conward from Miami, we talked about the future of America. I laughed with one of the Obama vendors as we talked about NYC. I gladly gave people directions around D.C ( I tried my best, afterall its just letters and numbers.) These moments seemed flow to one another, everyone was excited and hopeful.

One thought that kept crawling through my mind, was if I would ever really understand what I was doing and where I was. Two hours earlier, I had got out my dorm room and headed 4 blocks towards the Capitol. This is nothing compared to the 5 million outsiders, some from other countries that traveled to witness this moment. We began to pack any open space available, not only was the crowds large and polite, they were diverse. Behind me were two students from Kenya drapped in large Kenyan flags, In front of me was an Vietnam Army veteran. We all stood alongside the Washington Monument, which began to spread rays of the sun that glistened off its marble build, spreading warmness through the crowd. No longer were there a thousand different people but I was beginning to feel as one identity for America's future.

An old lady, stared to tear up as Obama speech began. I asked if she was okay, she said "I'm better than okay, we all better now." There I was an 18 yr student, that just began to become politcally informative, I didn't have to wait most of my life. It was at that moment, I sweeped away those thoughts of not truly appreciating what was happening. At that present time, I told myself I could not forget, I would not forget. Just like those before me held the memories of past struggles to empower us. I will hold the current memory of hopefulness and gratitude to pass to those coming after me.

-Kwasi

There was a Time

As I sat there watching Notorious, I started remincising. Something kept jumping at me ( besides the fact Diddy aka "Derek Luke" danced every 2 seconds.)

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New York rappers made anthems.
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Simple and plain, not R&B joints, club bangers or hustler's music.

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It was all done in one song.

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Look at "Juicy," it had it all the story of hustler, a nice R&B flow to it and still could be danced to.

Now I'm not saying all NY rappers had the same style. ( as they do now)

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What I'm saying is gone are the times of anthems, that moved people all across America.

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As I'm watching Biggie perform in Notorious ( and more dancing from Diddy), I noticed how they started a trend for more melodic rap songs. This later sparked into the Super Tag-Team of Puffy and Mase. Look at the songs Mo' Money, Mo' Problems, Feels Good and Been Around the World.

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These were anthems, no matter where you're from, you bumped to it.

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Yup, they was a time when East Coast rappers had it all.

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I was only like 8yrs but I definetly know my anthems when I hear them.

"Ha ! I'm sicker than ya average.....BIGGIE, BIGGIE can't you see"

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-Kwasi

What a Way to Start Off the New Year!

We rang in the '09 with a few episodes of police brutality that resulted in the death of two young men and the injury of another.

Oscar Grant,22 - Oakland, CA
Killed on New Year's Day when a BART police officer shot him in the back in the midst of an arrest on the train while he was handcuffed. The day of his funeral, a riot broke out in Oakland where disgruntled citizens confronted police officers.



Robbie Tolan,23 - Houston, TX
New Year's Eve
Shot on his driveway in front of his mother by police officers who accused him of stealing a car that was the family's. Currently hospitalized, his once flourishing baseball career might only be a dream.



Adolph Grimes,22 - New Orleans, LA
New Year's Eve
Shot and killed a couple feet from his grandmother's home 14 times by police officers, including 12 times in the back. The FBI is currently looking into what happened as the police force refuses to speak, only saying that Grimes fired first and they shot back in self-defense. His family refuses to



What do you think about these events and what does this mean for police accountability? Also were the riots in Oakland justified?

A Hard Start

Finally it's 2009. In a couple of days, whatever is left from 2008 will be forgotten, there will be a new hot rapper ( excuse me Lil' Wayne), classes will start and we will have a new president.

For most of us, except die-hard Lil wayne fans, 2009 doesn't seem too bad especially with a new younger guy in the White House.

Realistically things are going to get tough in America. The Big Three Automakers are still fighting for a fair deal to save the car industry, people are still losing their homes and now there's conflict once again in the Gaza. Though Obama has kept his opinion to himself stating " There's a president currently in office," eventually he will have to face these situations.

It is this point that will truly define him. Whether he was just Mr. Popular or truly an American president the likes of Roosevelt and FDR.

Obama might surprise the American public by truly following through on his statement of change, making a decision past U.S presidents have never made in the region.

Will he vouch for Palestine and claim their separation?

Will he really sit down and speak to Ahmadinejad ( Iran's Pres.) to discuss issues of nuclear energy?