Nick Cannon, Murph, Jibbs jab at ‘State of Black America’
By Kenya Vaughn Of the St. Louis American
The entertainment, vendors and turnout overall were noticeably scaled down for the 2007 Missouri Black Expo, compared to recent years. But MBE president Tom Bailey used the many facets of his event – even hip-hoppers – to put “the State of Black America” on display.
On Saturday morning, the “Gear Up” Leadership Summit was focused on youth empowerment. It included local rappers Murphy Lee and Jibbs and actor/producer/emcee Nick Cannon, talking to young people in a way that must have surprised many.
“Who’s the biggest rapper out right now?” Cannon asked the crowd.
Folks shouted out different answers, ranging from Cannon to Murph to Jay Z.
“Okay, what’s the hottest show on TV?” Cannon continued with his audience-interaction quiz.
They eagerly yelled answers ranging from “Wildin’ Out” to “106th and Park.”
The kids became even more excited when he walked across the stage and they anticipated his next question.
“All right, now,” Cannon asked, “who are your Missouri state senators?”
This question was met with silence and confused faces.
(In fact, the two state senators who represent districts that fall within the city are Maida Coleman and Jeff Smith. It’s a safe bet some of the audience members also are represented by Rita Days or Tim Green, who represent districts within North County, or Joan Bray of University City. Hip-hoppers from the East Side are represented in the Illinois Senate by James F. Clayborne Jr.)
“We don’t know what we need to know, and we as young people need to prioritize,” Cannon said. “My father said, ‘Think outside of the box and blaze your own trail.’”
It was obvious when he stepped to the mic that Cannon’s father James was responsible for Nick’s extremely level head.
“There’s a whole lot of history counting on you to pick up the baton and carry it the rest of the way,” the elder Cannon said. “But there’s a prison system that’s running after you and wants to make sure that you are locked up for the rest of your life.”
He urged, “You have to cut out the foolishness because we’ve had a great history – now, you are the future.”
Everyone involved with the State of Black America segments of the Black Expo were optimistic. The message was that black people are survivors and have a historical legacy of triumph over adversity.
“Black people have been doing so much with so little for so long, that we can do anything with nothing,” John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation Hope and author of Banking on Our Future, said during the UMSL State of Black America panel discussion on Saturday.
“African Americans have become victims of our victories,” said U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.
“We have made enormous progress,” Cleaver continued as he discussed political accomplishments of his congressional colleagues Charlie Rangel, Bennie G. Thompson and others.
Then he mentioned Ward Connerly, the black Republican operative who has introduced a ballot initiative that would ban affirmative action programs in Missouri. Cleaver said Connerly is an enemy of black people.
Cleaver – who happens to be a minister – also said that black people are vulnerable to pleas in the name Jesus and can be duped by Republicans who hide behind the veil of Christianity.
“In 2007 we had 35 people (in Congress) vote against the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1964,” Cleaver said.
“And every one of them will get significant black votes in the name of Jesus.”
