News, pictures and videos from January 31, 2009

Rev. Jesse Jackson and President Barack Obama

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. was asked by Essence to write an open letter to President Barack Obama. In the letter, he mainly talks about ways to improve the future of our country by investing in the education of our youth. Check it out below, and after the cut.

Dear Mr. President:

What a joy and relief it is to be able to salute you as President Obama. Congratulations on a magnificently run campaign. Your discipline, vision, strength and courage will take America and the world a long way. Now that we have made it through the courtship of the primary season, the engagement party in Grant Park on November 4th, and the wedding on January 20th, we’re entering into marriage—the final stage, one that is full of challenges.

It’s high noon in our politics, where hope abounds. But it is midnight in our economics. But we have hope that the darkness will lead to a new light that will shine even brighter. We are in a time of the worst economic crisis of the last half century, and amid expanding wars and conflicts in Iraq, the Middle East and Africa. The two great themes of ending poverty at home and unnecessary wars abroad must dominate our priorities.

We need an economic stimulus. We also need equal protection under the law, which we’ve never had. Those who have been dealt the most inequality deserve targeted stimulation. Our character is measured, as you mentioned in your Inauguration speech, by how we treat the least of these. The least of these are gripped in poverty, high infant mortality, less access to capital, first-class jails and second-class schools, the highest victims of home foreclosures. They need targeted job creation and job training to offset targeted discrimination and denial leading to structural inequality. They need to be able to restructure and modify their loans, real foreclosure relief to save their homes.

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The official premiere of Ciara’s brand new music video for “Never Ever,” featuring fellow ATLien Young Jeezy. Is this even supposed to be out yet? I haven’t seen it online anywhere yet (besides Youtube) so I’d suggest you look at it before the record execs snatch it off. Oh by the way … click the little link in the player to check it out in HQ.

Lil' Wayne

I wouldn’t necessarily call this “brand spanking new” but it’s new enough, and I’m sure not everyone has heard this attrocity Lil’ Wayne has put on the internet. If you haven’t heard it yet, you need to force yourself to listen to it at least once so you can join everyone else in wondering what the hell is going on with this dude. He can’t be serious, can he? Anyway, peep Weezy’s “Prom Queen” above. This next “rock” album should definitely be interesting…

LISTEN: LIL’ WAYNE – PROM QUEEN

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