Previously posted on the Young People For Blog.
This marks the end of my school and academic year, the beginning of my third decade of life, and the completion of my second year of college. It has been a year of amazing successes and advancements. I have watched the progressive movement in my area wax and wan and now begin to grow stronger than ever.
From being extremely involved on my campus' progressive groups and issues, to attending the national YP4 summit, to becoming more involved with the progressive campus issues, to watching the progressive movement build off of others' passion, this year truly marks the beginning of a movement.
This may not be the exact beginning, but this is the most visible beginning of progressives on campus. Coalition building, new organization start-up, EL hip hop, and the hopes of a progressive newspaper all signal my hope for our generation.
Unfortunately I was introduced to the capital of Michigan's hip hop scene on my last day living in the area, at least until the next school year. At one of the local bars, known for its efforts to defy stigma, a monthly hip hop show completes its first full year. To many people hip hop is all about the negative. Hip hop crowds are unruly, defiant and violent. In this small locale the scene is growing. The Respiration hip hop show in East Lansing is quoted as being, "indicative of what hip hop is about, not what you see on MTV." The real aspect of hip hop exudes from this small bar in Michigan. Today, the local bar is hosting what is called Hip Hop Conference IV, where there will be a diverse crowd of hip hop artists and fans.
Last month, there was an event on MSU's campus that sparked an intense controversy. The Minute Man Project came to present and as you can imagine there was a good deal of protest against such a program since the Minute Man presentation is given for the purpose of recruiting college students to join and to incite those who oppose the Project. I will not attempt to give an accurate account of the event because I did not attend. However, the controvery sparked when the presenter made a racially charged comment, 'soap and water.' This was followed by a strong outcry from the protestors and that is where the event took a sour turn. The presenter's discriminatory remark compelled the protesters to be too much for the event to continue. The campus police started moving people out of the venue to close the event, however only the protestors were forcibly removed, only the students with hispanic heritage were forcibly arrested, and the public university sanctioned event continued with a police line at the door to keep out protestors, even after the Minute Man speaker broke the university's speaker policy with his racial remark.
This led to a strong student outcry and numerous progressive student groups banded together to speak out against the actions of the campus police, the sponsoring student organization, and the administration's lack of action. The coalition of progressive student organizations is growing and becoming stronger. This school year also saw the addition of an important progressive student group, the Young Democratic Socialists. As a member, I have watched the group grow, increase its voice, partner with the Detroit DSA, and use its reason and knowledge to combat apathy, ignorance, and injustice.
This new organization and coalition comes with a voice, but where is that voice going to be heard. Just the other day a friend approached me with the idea of creating a progressive student newspaper on campus. A place where the progressive student voice could be read and heard. I was asked to be a writer for the potential paper and I am extremely excited to have this paper become a reality.
Many people tell me that there is no student or youth movement today. I would argue that they are completely wrong. The youth movement is growing and the progressive voice is increasing its membership as the world seeks to bring equality to all people and ensure their rights are provided for. We are the movement, we are progress, we are the answer for which the world is searching!