«IT'S CALLED GOSSIP AND OF COURSE IT'S AN OBSESSION OF MINE»

In a blog written for GlobalGrind.com, republished by The Huffington Post, Russell Simmons explains his deep contempt with the fact that the California Supreme Court has decided to uphold Proposition 8. Simmons is not only bothered by the outcome of this, but he is also furious with how the civil rights of oppressed individuals have been either granted or denied based on the outcome of votes placed in a ballot box. Simmons explains: “If President Johnson had to take a vote, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would not have passed. If Congress took a vote in 1920, women may still not have the right to vote today. And if President Lincoln went to the polls, blacks would definitely have endured many more years of slavery. We trusted our government to make the right decision and protect the minority, and yesterday we, as a nation, failed.”Simmons then goes on to challenge those within the African American community who are opposed to gay rights. “As an African-American, I urge my own people to take a deep look at our own struggles and not wish them upon anyone else. Simply, civil rights for all is about being connected as humans, united, tolerant, loving and brave.”

Hip Hop DX
May 29 2009