For the first time in VIBE's 14-year history, a political figure graces our cover. It's time.
Music and all amusements are important to you and important to us, but it's time to turn down the speakers and pull out the ear buds - at least for right now. Music is great; it inspires us. Films can change minds. Fashion makes us feel more alive. But, really - check the clock. Do you want to feel alive? Or actually be alive?
Every sad story is not a love song; every personal gripe does not make for a cause or for a fresh hip hop song. Which rapper gets what ringtone deal or which singer starts a clothing line or which pair of limited edition sneakers you cop - well, it won't matter when we're fighting each other over the last bottle of Poland Spring on the block, or wondering why kids can't spell, draw, or do a simple algebraic equation (they already barely play instruments), or when we're in a line around the block to get a physical exam or visiting crazy cousin Johnny in a privatized jail rife with the stink of abuse.
It's not even about fighting the power this time but about finding the power - in us. As the globe gets warmer and poor people get poorer and paid people get more paid and the iron gates between them get taller, what will we do then? Or is that "then" already here? Will we all just click on SHUFFLE, and let that beat bang? Will we sip from our cans of the caffeinated beverage repped by the coolest artist, adjust our hoodies, and vaguely remember when we had a chance to make a change - and then remember how we flaked and didn't register to vote, didn't recycle, didn't read up (let alone act) on what was going on in the world, didn't sacrifice, got played, and lived like: As long as my block's not on fire, I'm good?
I met the Senator. For the very short time we were all together, he was pleasant, a bit stern, cool as can be, very much with the dry sarcasm. "Ms. Smith," he said to me, after he'd breezed in late enough that a frown was etched in my face. "Do you think it's more important for me to be voting on the floor of the Senate or being at a photography session for your magazine?" The Senator had his priorities together. It was the Energy Bill. He voted Yes. Our cover shoots can last four hours or longer. He stayed 20 minutes with no apologies. Left us standing in his office like, what? Like he had a dinner meeting with Desmond Tutu? Yes. Exactly like that. He bobbed his head to the Staple Singers while his photo was being taken. Cocked his head to Twista (of course we hooked up an all-Chicago playlist for this special occasion). But his mind was clearly on other things. He had 99 problems, and VIBE, as major as we think we are, was not one.
Don't get it twisted: The Senator had a slight bit of longing on his face when he saw the hi-top sneakers we brought down to D.C. with high hopes, the gorgeous silk ties, the shiny cufflinks. But then he looked at us with a smile on his face - not the big one he sports on the campaign trail, more of a good-natured smirk - and said, "You guys are hip. I used to be hip. I can't be hip anymore. I'm running for President." (For the record, the clothes he wears in the shoot are his own.)
The future has a funny way of arriving unannounced. It may or may not be Obama time. But if he means good change and freedoms, strength and truth, and a swagger that comes from having the wisdom of knowing hardship and service and of having experienced pure joy - well then, I'm ready to not be hip, too.
Danyel Smith
Editor-In-Chief
July 31, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Editor's Letter: The Brother's Gonna Work It Out
Editor-In-Chief Danyel Smith on our September 2007 issue, featuring Barack Obama.
Article tags: Barack, Barack Obama, Danyel Smith, Obama, Obama Time, Senator Obama, Vibe
Page printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/07/sept07_editors_letter/
Comments
1.
yipee says:
why doesn't she put up her editors letter all the time
August 16, 2007 at 11:01 pm
2.
pay per click 898282928 says:
ahh, yes! the event is continuously missed but also arriving. Very interesting, Prof. Thinky. 1022052021
August 6, 2007 at 4:42 pm
3.
pay per click says:
What hosting service do you use? 504537035
August 6, 2007 at 11:25 am
4.
Romario says:
C. Raymond,
I have no qualms with your decision to vote for Edwards, so we're on the same page. I'll be waiting for the links, even though I seriously doubt you'll have them, because I've seen ALL of Obama's speeches on foreign policy, and he has never said anything about invading Pakistan.
I'll hold my breath and wait for the links though.
August 5, 2007 at 2:57 pm
5.
C. Raymond says:
Romario,
I totally agree that I get disgusted when blacks say that Hilary Clinton understands the problems of Black America more than Obama. She could never understand them like he does b/c he has to live a black man's life everyday, where she gets to choose when she wants to fight for blacks and when she doesn't. There's no disagreement here with that issue. Im just saying that Obama will not get my vote just b/c we are both black, and in my eyes he is not the best candidate when it comes to focusing on the issues at this point in the race. I will post two links on here later on today so you can see the video yourself
August 5, 2007 at 6:33 am
6.
Romario says:
I challenge you to post the link to the video of Obama saying he will invade Pakistan if elected. He has NEVER said such a thing.
Obama said he would make continued military aid to Pakistan conditional on a more aggressive Pakistani Army offensive against the Al Qaeda followers who have retreated to a region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in which local tribes operate virtually free of central government authority. Here is what he said:
"I would make our conditions clear: Pakistan must make substantial progress in closing down the training camps, evicting foreign fighters and preventing the Taliban from using Pakistan as a staging area for attacks in Afghanistan."
Please show me a link to this supposed video where Obama said if elected he would invade Pakistan.
Lastly, regarding voting for Obama because he is black...well...I'm sure some people will do so, and conversely some will NOT vote for him for the same reason...and this applies to whites and blacks. I'm amused whenever I hear/see blacks on TV saying they prefer Hillary Clinton over Obama because she understands the problems of the black community and Obama doesn't....it's almost sad.
August 4, 2007 at 10:31 pm
7.
C. Raymond says:
I have my facts correct, and I have 3 youtube speeches where Obama himself says we will invade Pakistan if he is elected. But he is another fact that Im sure someone on here wont like...Obama is quick to say," I opposed the Iraq war from the beginning." My problem with that is that a senator that opposes a war from the beginning DOES NOT come back and vote to fund the war. I just think that Obama if elected will do a much better job than Bush (who inmy opinion has run this country in the ground). However, Im not ready to give Obama or anyone else a vote just b/c he is black. I really think that Hilary Clinton will get the democratic nomination, and if she is smart she will pick Obama as her running mate. Just my opinion
August 4, 2007 at 6:08 pm
8.
Romario says:
To C. Raymond:
Please, get all the facts before posting such nonsense here. Senator Obama never said anything about invading Pakistan. Let me ask you something...have you seen his speech? Did you take the time to find out what Obama actually said, or did you just blindly follow the distorted media headlines on his speech?
Obama said that IF the Pakistani government refused to act on "actionable intelligence" to strike Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders who are chilling in Pakistan's mountains, then America will. How does that equate to Obama saying he will invade Pakistan? I strongly suggest you go and read his entire speech on fighting terrorism, and you'll see that he outlined a comprehensive plan, of which striking at Al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan's mountains is the last option, which he would use only IF the Pakistanis refused to do it.
Educate yourself and stop reading headlines to form your opinion.
August 4, 2007 at 5:54 pm
9.
C. Raymond says:
I think Black America should wake up and stop voting for Obama just b/c he is black.Im a black man, and if had to vote today I would vote for John Edwards b/c he has MY best interest in mind, and can immediately do much more for Black America than Obama can. Plus, Obama isn't being realistic with this war. He says at the debate that he wants to bring the troops home, but he turns right around and sayshe will immediately invade PAkistan if elected. Doesn't make sense.I think if Obama represents what you think is a great president, then vote for him. But all Im saying is dont belittle your vote, and give it to him b/c he is the same race as you b/c there are many more important issues at hands other than race.
August 4, 2007 at 12:02 pm
10.
monica says:
I'm proud to see your magazine making this move to spotlight Obama. It's the right thing to do, a great thing to do and the only thing to do. He needs and deserves our support. It makes me sad and irritated when I hear blacks be overly critical of Obama just to prove they aren't going to support him just because he's black. Get real, we have one of the best presidential candidates than many of us have seen in our lifetimes. Stop trying to prove something to and listen to what the brother has to say, AND VOTE!!
August 3, 2007 at 5:54 pm
11.
Pat says:
I've never bought your magazine before, but I will this month to suspport your support of Obama. I'm a 48-year-old, white teacher and mother of teenagers. I've never had time to get involved in anything political, but I'm making time this time. An article in the Washington Post recently suggested black voters are afraid to throw their support to Obama because they're worried America isn't ready to vote for a black candidate in a general election. I wonder about that sometimes, too, but I'm learning that a relatively small group of committed people can make someone President. It's about getting out to vote in the early primaries and caucuses. Every state has active Obama volunteers. Go to barackobama.com to find out how to be heard in your state. GObama!
August 3, 2007 at 2:48 pm
12.
Arthur says:
Danyel, you already know that was a great editorial. Just keep up the good work.
I think it's about time that black leaders and black leaders finally get together once again after 40 years to do something more for themselves, their children, and their country.
America was not ready for the civil right movement but it happened. America was not ready for JFK. "He was too young, he was unexperienced, he was catholic" the critics claimed. At the end, he became PRESIDENT.
Remember 9-11? America was not ready for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 but Osama made it happened. What about Katrina? I do not need to get there. Well, it seems like America is never ready for anything.
It is absolutely no surprise that America is not ready for Obama. Therefore, black leaders and voters need to go beyond their personal interests, their negatives and likes to make it happened.
August 3, 2007 at 11:50 am
13.
mary says:
Thank you for doing this story. Great editioral, and it is imperative that people heed your words. Love his dry sarcasm. Would be grand to see him in the White House don a pair of high-tops and have some one on one hoops games with other elected officials. Now that is my kind of poitical game.
He is a good man and tailor made to lead this diverse and troubled nation.
July 31, 2007 at 10:04 pm
14.
AH says:
"Why the hell do we have to keep waiting? We've invested 400 years in the country, it's time to pay up."
Who should pay up?
July 31, 2007 at 8:33 pm
15.
Dee says:
Emmy,
If you have the time between now and January, Senator Obama can certainly use you in S. Carolina. I've been down there this summer, and I'm going back during my son's Christmas break, and dragging him too. This is all about his future. OUR forefathers and foremothers proved time and time again that the impossible was possible even when they were told to go slow and not expect too much. If MLK could make history 40 years ago when so many told him his ambitions for US were too high, we damn sure can do it today. Why the hell do we have to keep waiting? We've invested 400 years in the country, it's time to pay up.
July 31, 2007 at 3:32 pm
16.
Emmy says:
I think vibe need to do more to get blacks to register to vote for obama in the primary...i will never in my life time support a white woman over a black guy...never in history have we as a people have one of our own in position to be president...and i am tired of hearing America is not ready....no the question is are you ready to go do all that needed to be done to support him...are you ready...because if you are ready then America is ready....
July 31, 2007 at 11:33 am