Dogon Village News Alerts

Dr. Height at 96 partied last night celebrating our great victory. Long before CNN declared a winner our DJ was rocking Sam Cooke's "Change", James Brown-Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud, Aretha's R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and even Parliament's One Nation Under a Groove, and of course Ray Charles' America and Marvin Gaye's National Anthem not to mention multiple versions of Lift Every Voice and Sing as well as incredible Obama songs. We celebrated our UNITY knowing that we had done all. We celebrated each and every check for Obama with shouts and dance but when that final check came in for just one moment--less than a second--but a clear moment in time we stood as one with one collective breath before exploding in a great jubilee. Dr. Height had tears streaming down her face seated next to former Lincoln University president Niera Sudarkasa. My daughter Illai took off her Black Youth Vote tee shirt and replaced it with an Obama President tee shirt signaling the change. When Dr. Height spoke of the meaning of this election on a personal level she said that "It means my work was not in vain."

My father joined the ancestors this year but not before he had an opportunity to vote for Obama in the primary. I identified with the painfully sweet essence of such a victory actually made possible by those no longer here to see the day. My father was a deep, philosophical thinker fond of profound instructive quotes. Dr. Height left us with the same quote that my father shared as the single most instructive. It was powerful then and resonated throughout my being when Dr. Height selected the same quote last night: "At the banquet table of nature, there are no reserved seats. You get what you can take, and you keep what you can hold. If you can't take anything, you won't get anything, and if you can't hold anything, you won't keep anything. And you can't take anything without organization." A. Philip Randolph

There is very little time left and my heart goes out to all of the Black folk that could vote that will soon miss the train. I just blogged about responsibilities so now it is time to make it known that there are no excuses, not for Black America. The nationalists can't say anything about imperialism, I don't want to hear about faith in God preventing participation, as Dr. Lowery always says for some "voting is a sacred right but for Blacks it is a moral obligation." There are only 15 minutes left I want to dedicate this last blog to the sisters and brothers who would give anything to have the right to vote. Some have made mistakes but there was one young brother incarcerated in Florida who sent a letter and $10 to the National Coalition because he wanted to play a small part in making history even if he could not vote. There are so many that moved with great physical challenge to make their way to the polls one 82-year-old grandmother in Michigan preferred to stand in line with her daughter and grandson so that 3 generations could vote together while training a 4th too young to vote. I am all for removing obstacles to voting but we have to be willing to make small sacrifices for the greater good. Standing in line does not compare to standing in a swamp with dogs following, or being attacked by dogs for demanding the right to vote, come on people there are 7 minutes left. My heart is breaking for those who were turned away but at least they came forward to represent. Each and every vote today celebrated an ancestor that kept the flame of freedom alive. Five minutes left, my job is to blog it on out, free style, I close honoring Barbara, Lee, Marie, Eleanor, Chaneys, Davis, Hobsons,to Illai, Tashonie, Kemauhl, Kwahme, Edrea, Omar, remembering Jr.,Alvin, thanking Andy, Ronald, Michelle, Bernetta, Wanda, Pam, Anita, Dempsey, LeRoy, Eula, Henrietta, Woodrow,Roscoe,Percy,Henry,Matthew, Maurice,Joe,there is only one minute left until the polls close. Out of time

I can't believe the sun is going down and I am just getting around to mentioning resources. If you did not contribute to the Black Campaign you can go to blackcampaign.org or support a young person to attend the Black Youth Vote. We mobilized on the strength of our desire for change and the Black community gave time, money, creativity, and passion. This is movement and it is bottom up but make no mistake, if we are to move the agenda forward it is essential that we get our priorities in order. Like it or not brothers will have to pull up their pants that is a giant first step and will signal to the world that we have embraced change that we can all appreciate. Next we have to knit together families. Mend, blend what ever we need to do to build relationships that are strong and healthy...the type of environment needed to rear children. Focus on family and finances is key along with community. It is all about the village. We must support institutions and businesses so that we create jobs that anchor an care for people especially elders. We must discipline our children so that their creativity is channeled into constructive enterprise. The election today is a great and historic event if we are to embrace the full significance we must let this day usher in a new era of industry, education, and advancement for Black America that permeates all of America. It is a good sign the markets are soaring let's make sure we stay in the black.

Dr. Height has just arrived for the NCBCP Election Night Watch Party. Melanie greeted her mentor & shero introducing Dr. Height to a room full of volunteers who are taking a break from monitoring the field. Dr. Dorothy Height is regal as always sith a sky blue signature hat and matching sweater. She is sharp in dress and mind. At the moment she is listening to William Kellibrew the national coordinator for Black Youth Vote. We enjoy the images of our elders making it to the polls in wheel chairs, with walkers and canes. Looking back on how far we have come it is clear that once again Black America is redeeming the soul of America. In this blog I want to publicly thank Dr. Dorothy Irene Height for her vision, leadership, hospitality, and most of all her love. FeliciaD

Yesterday I took advantage of an opportunity to listen in on the Obama campaign call for African American leadership. The line up was impressive, the commentary inspirational. Led by Obama senior advisor, Rick Wade, the call began with an energetic recap of an incredible 21 month campaign along with an emphatic final GOTV push. Congressman James Clyburn said that that he does not believe that America has not experienced such a social transformation since the 1860's and that we are turning a significant page in history. He has been especially struck by the response of southern governors to a progressive Democratic presidential candidate. Donna Brazile followed noting the phenomenal African American early vote turnout. She talked about how the campaign made use of the latest technology to empower people and build from the bottom up to create a new political map.

The campaign has also deployed the most sophisticate Election Protection operation in history with thousands of lawyers, 100 paid staffers and thousands of volunteer monitors. This generation of youth will now be known as the Obama Generation according to Sean P. Diddy Combs who spoke of the honor and privilege of representing the youth on the call. On their behalf he pledged allegiance to President Obama. He explained that until now the hip hop generation felt left out like they did not really have a vote but with the involvement of celebrities in 2004 their numbers doubled and tripled. P. Diddy spoke of the contributions of Beyonce, Lyles, Jay-Z and others in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Above all he stated that youth today must take responsibility for their future. Obama senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett, reinforced the grassroots nature of the campaign and noted how Obama's cool disposition, focus, and judgment led to his selecting Biden, winning all three debates, and delivering a closing argument that will touch Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, and Florida on the final days. Everyone listening in on the call was pumped when Senator Obama spoke next. He thanked Black America and Black leadership for the their work. He credited Black America with making the journey possible.

Noting the fact that "our community suffers more, is more likely to drop out of school, more likely to go to jail, and more likely to die," Senator Obama outlined what is really at stake. Health care, education, ending the war, each was mentioned as a priority. He closed by reflecting on his remarks in Selma where he observed "I am here because somebody marched" and he admonished the listeners to go out tomorrow and march to the polls. If we do our part, we will change hearts. He closed with an image of Sasha and Malia on the South Lawn of the White House along with his "elegant" wife Michelle. For everyone on the call it couldn't get any better, still Oprah did a fantastic job following the Senator. She said it is the greatest honor of her life to stand and support Barack Obama. She said that Michelle asked friends to visualize Obama taking the oath of office and to realize that casting a vote for Obama is really casting a vote for ourselves. She reflected on Mrs. Jame Pittman's question "Are you the one?" which is the question that she asked Obama in an interview before he started running. His reply was that he might be one of the ones. Oprah noted that Obama embodies the spirit of what we are all hoping for bringing together red states and blue states, black and white, red and Hispanic and even white women are increasing on board with Obama.

Dr. Joseph Lowery, President Emeritus of Dr. King's SCLC, closed the call out on a spiritual note. Lowery said that he had not been so spiritually moved since 1947 when he preached his first sermon. This has been a spiritual campaign, a spiritual revival, a movement. Lowery shared that when he was ushered in to the small room for seniors he voted with tears in his eyes and when he realized that his vote was in he shouted Hallelujah. He thanked Obama for answering the call to servant hood, for taking up the mantle so that we can now turn to each other and not on each other. Closing with lyrics, "We've a story to tell the nation. For the darkness shall turn to the dawning ." I will have to ask him for the full quote.

Pittsburgh, Reverend Judith Moore Kensington, less machines than in the previous primary. It is about the same as last election. Florida Salandra reports that young voters are out in numbers. Videos, interviews have been done. No issues other than a couple of provisional ballots, but eventually got a regular ballot to vote. People who were not register was trying to vote. Great turn out with early voting and people have been abole to get in and get oiut. There are a lot of young peole at the polls. A poll monitor mentioned that there was only one machine in one of the precincts I the fort Lauderdale area. Deven Anderson, its been raining off and on all day. First time voters are minorities. A problem was someone took the ballots home and had to bring them back. Few people reporting to the wrong precincts, but volunteers helping them out. Voters have been bused to the polls. No major problems in the county where Deven is Wake County - Raleigh. Stephanie and petee, cincinnatti. Still dealing with a number of problems. Trouble shooting on provisional ballot issues.

The pollworkers do not have the right information. The pollworkers are telling them the wrong information and the voters are filling out the provisional ballots to the point where they may not count. The training is not good in the board of elections because wrong information is being given at polling sites. Petee Provisional ballot issues. Pollworker training is the issue. Working with the secretary of state to issue an advisory on issues, but no luck so far. Turnout is good. The weather is great in ohio. Louisiana, new Orleans Xavier university - students have registered through the registrars office and having problems. Helen butler, election protection group helping out. A police officer was outside the poll and tried to intimidate voters. Northern VA 400 - 500 people in line. Way more students trying to vote at polling locations that cannot handle the volume. Other than glitches from this morning Cynthia is fine. Got slow around 11 a.m. team is confident on where their work stands. We call initmidatio when the police comes to the polls. It was said that the intimidation could Contona Thomas at four precincts in the African-american are. 70% turn out so far for polls in terms of early turnout.

Black Youth Vote is the name of the National Coalition's youth division. Back in 1996 when we were almost youth ourselves we wanted to be specific but we wern't sure of the punctuation. For a few years it really was Black Youth Vote? By 2004 Black youth out voted all other youth and today our elders are commenting all over the nation about how proud they are of all of the young people in line to vote. We were a little worried but my daughter convinced me that the O Generation would turn out. She said they are waiting to make history "on a history making day". Now they are reciting the poem "Rosa sat so that Martin could march, Martin marched so that Jesse could run, and Jesse ran so that Obama could win." That is catchy but even better is to eavesdrop on a youth conversation and hear them planning Next Steps. They will come together and host a Black Youth Vote Conference next week at the NEA. The have outlined an agenda: the economy (jobs), tuition (student debt), environment (climate change), ending the wars (Iraq & Afghanistan), and criminal justice. Not only did they show up, vote, volunteer, now they are planning their next steps to hold the Administration accountable. Black Youth Vote! Indeed FeliciaD

NCBCP Election Day Command Center Michigan Melanie Campbell asked the callers on the Media Conference call what was happening in the country in key states. Catherine Martin with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. Long lines, machine broke downs, voters at wrong polling locations. The lines are moving well. Pittsburgh Dewitt Walton with the Pittsburgh chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute mentioned that there are no major incidents. There are isolated spots of long lines. There are also some reports of machines broken. The Secretary of State promised that they would have emergency paper ballots if machines were broken. The elections board has been responsive. Atlanta, Georgia Helen Butler mentioned that they have had problems with machines and the polls are using paper ballots. Long lines are widespread. Some people are not on voter rolls when they arrive due to not receiving their voter cards. Northern Virginia Precincts are 2 long. Some are not given paper ballots and they are turned away at the polls for no valid reasons. Coalition partners with water and snacks are helping people in the line. The average wait has been an hour to 2 hours. Richmond Southside Baptist Church only has one machine. St. Petersburgh, Florida There are very long lines at smaller precincts. The turnout is heavy. Many first-time voters are turning out as well. Orlando, Florida Voters started lining up at 4 a.m. to vote. There are a lot of first-time voters. Black Youth Vote! is conducting exit poll surveys.

NCBCP Election Day Command Center Michigan Melanie Campbell asked the callers on the Media Conference call what was happening in the country in key states. Catherine Martin with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. Long lines, machine broke downs, voters at wrong polling locations. The lines are moving well. Pittsburgh Dewitt Walton with the Pittsburgh chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute mentioned that there are no major incidents. There are isolated spots of long lines. There are also some reports of machines broken. The Secretary of State promised that they would have emergency paper ballots if machines were broken. The elections board has been responsive. Atlanta, Georgia Helen Butler mentioned that they have had problems with machines and the polls are using paper ballots. Long lines are widespread. Some people are not on voter rolls when they arrive due to not receiving their voter cards. Northern Virginia Precincts are 2 long. Some are not given paper ballots and they are turned away at the polls for no valid reasons. Coalition partners with water and snacks are helping people in the line. The average wait has been an hour to 2 hours. Richmond Southside Baptist Church only has one machine. St. Petersburgh, Florida There are very long lines at smaller precincts. The turnout is heavy. Many first-time voters are turning out as well. Orlando, Florida Voters started lining up at 4 a.m. to vote. There are a lot of first-time voters. Black Youth Vote! is conducting exit poll surveys. Houston, Texas Carmen Watkins reported 750,000 voters voting early.