Although today may not be an official national holiday, and many of us are at the j-o handling business as usual, the feeling in the air right now is nothing short of electric. Head nods, daps, moments of shared laughter and tears. Everyone just seems to be a bit happier, prouder at the moment. And rightfully so. For we, the people of the United States, have just chosen our first African-American President: Barack Hussein Obama. Just reflecting on that point right now hits me pretty hard in the chest. No doubt, this is the greatest moment in our nation’s history and, to be a witness to it all is truly a blessing.

Photo via NYT

The Obama camp responds:

“As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to,” said spokesman Bill Burton. “This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”

Ouch!

Considering the sharp words directed at Clinton, Jackson and McCain, I can understand why the Obama camp felt the need to distance itself from Ludacris by issuing that statement. It’s a classic PR move. Besides, we’ve seen how questionable remarks made by surrogates have been used against candidates throughout this entire election cycle. A simple statement expressing their disapproval of his remarks against the three individuals would have sufficed, however, they completely ignore the positive in his message (he encouraged folks to vote), dissed his effort completely, and went on to blast hip hip as a whole. Totally unacceptable!

[via Politico]

I applaud 50 on the move, however, the really odd (and in some ways interesting) thing about all of this, is the amount major media attention that this story’s received–CNN, Wall Street Journal, LA Times (not to mention, the various media outlets that have mentioned the story during their on air reports). It’s pretty crazy. I wonder though, does this story matter to them because it’s 50 Cent (outspoken, controversial rapper) at the center of it all? Or because it’s 50 Cent (outspoken, controversial rapper and the establishment’s unofficial hip-hop representative) at the center of it all? You have to wonder.

I’ve said it many times throughout the current presidential race, but after hearing this speech its become 10 times clearer: Barack Obama is the one! If you aren’t moved by his words, and the way that he so honestly addresses the issue of race in America, then you’re seriously losing. Seriously.

But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America – to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.

The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through – a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.

Understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point. As William Faulkner once wrote, “The past isn’t dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.” We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.

Read on.