Can Georgia Turn Blue?

With Election Day around the corner, the state of Georgia has already broken state records pertaining to early votes.  According to data collected by the Secretary of State’s Office, the number of votes cast has reached 1.3 million, with black votes accounting for 34 percent of the votes. This year’s election could be recorded as the largest black voter turnout event in Georgia’s history. In 2008, African Americans cast 30 percent of the votes, but that number is already up to 34 percent for this year’s election. The high turnout shows that there is enthusiasm in the Democrat party especially among African Americans. Georgia is not a swing state, so this high turnout is not suspected to turn the state blue. However, it does moves toward the goal of getting more African Americans to vote that many activists and leaders have been pushing for. It is important to note that if there was ever a chance for Georgia to be turned into a blue state, this is the time. Black votes are not enough to turn the state of Georgia blue though. Hispanics, Jews, blacks and all democrats must exercise their right to vote. To find out more about the voting results and process in Georgia you can visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov.

The YES Summit

The Awards just seem to keep coming in for the Valdosta State University’s NAACP chapter. VSU’s NAACP chapter won two awards at the Youth Empowerment Summit (the YES Summit) held at Clark Atlanta University on the weekend of Sept. 21 -23. The YES Summit’s theme was “Thinking Outside the Box.” Some topics included Juvenile Justice, 21st Century Civil Rights Problems, the 2012 election, and other issues affecting our youth. VSU’s NAACP chapter won the Chapter of the Year for their second year in a row. They have also won an award for the Juvenile Justice initiative, which they also won at the national convention.

Because of their great success at the summit, the chapter has been featured on their university's homepage, accompanied with an article and picture of the NAACP chapter’s executive board. To read the article visit the link below:

http://www.valdosta.edu/about/news/releases/2012/10/vsu-naacp-wins-two-awards-at-the-youth-empowerment-summit-at-clark-atlanta-university.php

The Absentee Ballot

It is important that college students are aware of the voting processes in the county that they are currently residing in. With this years race being predicted to be closer than last years, either political side needs as many voters as possible to stay ahead of their competitor.

Even though you may be registered to vote in your home town, the county where you attend school will put up issues on the ballot that may affect you, and even if you are not interested in voting in any other county beside your hometown, you need to know that you can be affected.

Whether you are in tune with what is going on in your hometown or not and you want your vote to count, you can get an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot “is the printed ballot marked by an absent voter, sealed in a special envelope, and given or mailed to the municipal clerk,” as stated on gab.wi.gov.  If you are interested in an absentee ballot, you can visit http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/absentee.htm to fill out an application.

By William Garrett

Voter Registration Updates

By William Garrett

If you are planning on voting in the state of Georgia for the upcoming presidential election, being informed about the Voter ID Law can save you from having to turn around and going to get the proper identification. Georgia is one of the many states that have a Voter ID Law and I list the ID’s that are acceptable as listed on sos.georgia.gov  below:

                Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a FREE Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)

                A Georgia Driver's License, even if expired

                Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state

                Valid U.S. passport ID

                Valid U.S. military photo ID

                Valid tribal photo ID

If you do not have any of these IDs, the State of Georgia offers free Voter Identification Card. Identification card can be issued at any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office for free.

VSU's NAACP Chapter Recognized

Valdosta State's University chapter for the NAACP has accomplished an amazing feat, this past July. They have won first place for Juvenile Justice for the Youth and College Division at the 103^rd NAACP Convention in Houston, Texas. This was a great accomplishment because they were the only chapter in the state of Georgia to receive an award and be recognized at the national convention.

The initiative of the Juvenile Justice initiative is to educate young people about the justice system. VSU's NAACP chapter's advocacy was based on juvenile justice rights on campus through events such as the vigil for Troy Davis and the Trayvon Martin: Do We Look Suspicious forum. As an organization they strive to inform faculty and students of current issues regarding the rights of young people.

“This award was a great honor for our college chapter,” said Airyagany Hall, VSU NAACP president. “To be recognized at the national level is an outstanding achievement. Even though we are young college students, this award showed that we do care about current issues and that others are proud of the hard work we do here on campus. We could not have gotten this award without our members and supporters. VSU NAACP plans to continue striving for excellence in all that we do.”

By Maya Kellam

Valdosta, Ga Juneteenth Celebration

[Additional pictures will be added]

Saturday, June 23, 2012, was the 20^th annual Juneteenth Celebration in downtown Valdosta, Georgia at the historic Lowndes County Courthouse Square. Many came to support the history of America and to also have fun with family and friends.

Valdosta State University’s (VSU) own NAACP chapter had their own booth set up to allow people to register to vote, and to also play a friendly game of Jeopardy in order to spread light on some exciting facts about our history, in Valdosta and in the entire U.S.A.

There was also a guest speaker, Dr. Shirley Hardin, the director of the African American Studies program at VSU, who spoke on the education of the celebration. Ending with Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise, Dr. Hardin's words continued to uplift the audience.

In addition to this experience, there were plenty of events for families and acquaintances to enjoy. Things, such as the Kid’s Corner, the Youth Talent Explosion, and the Gospel Fest, filled the square and graced everyone within it.  Vendors and organizations also filled the square to offer their services and products to everyone who came.

There were also tour rides that took guests and residents down to the Valdosta/Lowndes County museum to learn fun facts, such as famous people who were from Valdosta, Georgia, that contributed in some of the World’s most famous things. One of these people, that many will soon recognize, is James Lord Pierpont. Lord Pierpont was the maker of the song Jingle Bells. After the museum, the tour took the visitors and residents on a trip around Valdosta to see what this town was and has become, and then back to the square for more celebration.

NYC Stop And Frisk

Laws are made to protect our natural rights, liberty, and property, and when laws come about that disproportionately targets a certain group of people, it is our responsibility to question the law at hand. This brings me to the highly controversial law: The Stop and Frisk law.

The Stop and Frisk law is a law, in New York, that allows policemen to stop and frisk anyone they deem suspicious. Unsurprisingly, this law is the driving force behind the unjustified frisking of thousands of black and Hispanic men. Even though statistics show that this law is not working, the NYPD and conservatives alike continue to praise the intentions and results of the law while purposely and knowingly ignoring the facts about the flaws in the law.

If you are interested in finding out more about this law and how it affects people, look no further then the new, sleek app. The sleek app is an app that allows New Yorkers to record and report their run-ins with cops pertaining to the Stop and Frisk law. The app allows them to record and report any incident they deem inappropriate regarding residents and the law.

It is our job as U.S. citizens to help fight against unjustified laws, and being aware and informed is the first step. We all know the power of the social media, so take to your Twitter or your Facebook and alert your followers and friends about a law that is being used as legal from of racial profiling – The Stop and Frisk law.

Another effort that is being put forth is the NYC Silent March. Thousands of people were invited to join a “Silent March” against racial profiling. The march will be held Sunday, June 17, 2012 in New York, New York. For more information, visit the following links:

http://www.silentmarchnyc.org/

http://www.naacpconnect.org/content/main

Last Day To Register To Vote

Your votes count and your voices deserve to be heard. It does not matter if you are black or white, gay or straight. It does not matter if you are a republican or a democrat. What does matter is that you are an American citizen, and that your voice needs to be heard in the upcoming election. It is our duty as American citizens to speak up on what we believe in and how we want to live the rest of our lives, and registering to vote is the first step.

If you are registered to vote, I commend you. If you are not, don’t worry because there is still time.

According to O.C.G.A., July 2^nd is the last day for a person to register and be eligible to vote in the General Primary/Non-Partisan/July Special election and Runoff Election.

By William Garrett (VSU)
Press and Publicity Coordinator

Juneteenth Celebration Coming To Valdosta

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger rode in to Galveston, Texas, to inform residents that the Civil War ended two months earlier. Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation and General Granger delivered the order that freed the last 250,000 African Americans that were still in bondage.

The state of Texas was first to start this celebration and it became a state holiday in 1890.

The Juneteenth Celebration is the oldest commemoration that nationally celebrates the ending of slavery in America. It has become the African American equivalent to Independence Day.

Today, Juneteenth celebrations are growing with a lot of organizations and communities throughout the country. The Henry Ford Museum, Smithsonian, and other institutions have begun sponsoring Juneteenth activities, including the city of Valdosta.

Valdosta plans on supporting the celebration by having a community festival in downtown Valdosta, Georgia, by the Old Courthouse on June 23.

There will be an NAACP booth there giving individuals the opportunity to register and vote in the upcoming election in the fall.

The future of Juneteenth looks very bright as the celebrations are emerging among a lot of cities and states. They are creating bonds, understanding and educating others on the meaning of Juneteenth.

By: Maya Kellam (VSU)
Morgan McFarland (VSU)
Press & Publicity Coordinator

What’s REALLY Going On At NAACP’s Leadership Summit?

By Elon James White

New One

I have heavily critiqued the NAACP. I’ve spoken about how it feels very much disconnected from my generation and I’ve watched as local chapters hold press conferences about ridiculous and frivolous issues. The nation’s oldest civil rights group to me seemed stagnant—Just a bunch of old Black folks being old and Black and not growing with the times. Yes, of course there were some places where the NAACP was still doing good work but I scoffed at it being genuinely relevant anymore. 

So when my co-host L. Joy Williams — an active member of the NAACP’s Brooklyn branch — wanted to invite the National NAACP’s chairperson on to our radio show, I half-heartedly agreed and told her don’t get mad if I say something she doesn’t like. Chairman Roslyn Brock appeared on “Blacking It Up” January 23, 2012, and when I thought I was pushing back on her and the organization she pushed back on me. She challenged me directly. She asked me if I was a member of the NAACP? If I had issues with it, why not join and voice them from within? Why not work with them? It wasn’t as if I hadn’t considered it before. At Netroots Nation in 2010 during the Black Caucus, the idea of “infiltrating” the NAACP was discussed by a group of very engaged Blacks who felt disconnected to the organization — but I personally didn’t follow up on that threat. The closest I came to joining was when they issued the resolution that there were racist elements in the Tea Party—which at first I thought was silly. But when the declaration caused some members of the Tea Party to respond with racism, I realized that it was sort of a brilliant move. Then within a week or two of that high profile checkmate, the Shirley Sherrod incident occurred and I crossed my arms and said “SEE.” 

But as I spoke to the Chairman issuing a direct challenge to me, I felt as if I couldn’t just blow it off. If you’re going to talk smack about organizations you have to also be willing to stand up when asked. The historic nature of the NAACP can never be overstated. And with the challenge the chairman also invited me down to their annual Leadership 500 summit, a 4 day meeting of the minds discussing the path and focus of the organization. That’s where I’m writing from now.

See Live Coverage of The NAACP 8th Annual Leadership 500 Summit, “Protecting our BMW’s – Black Men Walking,” here.