When word spread that Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., and several other House Democrats had made the suggestion that some black voters were disenfranchised in the 2000 presidential elections, and problems could occur again this fall, on the House floor 2 weeks ago (week of July 15), many people realized that, that event was inspired by Cynthia McKinney. On July 15th Cynthia McKinney received a rousing endorsement by Actor/Activist Danny Glover. He said "The integrity, honesty, and truthfulness of Cynthia McKinney is rare in politics these days". As you know, McKinney was trying to regain the congressional seat of the 4th District of Georgia. She lost her re-election bid two years ago after coming under fierce attack for her support for Palestinian rights, and her early call for a 9/11 investigation of the Bush Administration. The first step in that process was a victory in the July 20, 2004 Democratic Primary. As you may recall, there were several candidates in this race and they had the backing of powerful and wealthy institutions, interests, and individuals who were hell bent on preventing McKinney from representing voters in the United States Congress. Now Former Georgia Congress woman Cynthia McKinney appears set to make a triumphant return to Congress. McKinney shocked the world and won 51 percent of the vote in a Democratic primary July 20th, defeating five opponents and avoiding a runoff election in August. She will now face Republican Catherine Davis in November in a heavily Democratic district and is considered a shoo-in to win back her seat, but we should not take anything for granted, so just in case I suggest that anybody reading this support her with a donation. Recently she answered questions from Bruce Banter of Playahata.com on Hip-hop, her role in inspiring other politicians to speak up, Farenheit 9/11 and challenges in store for her. - Charlie

Leadership With Courage

Playahata.com: Recently you had a historic Internet broadcast to the hip-hop generation. In a nutshell what is your message to the 18 - 35 year old voting block that the media is calling the hip-hop generation?(Listen to it here)

Cynthia McKinney: I love young people. I love their exuberance for life; and I want to see in them the continuation of the values and the struggle that I hold so dear to me -- and that was the struggle of my father's generation for justice. Not just in America, but globally. And our young people can do it. Through their rich culture of Hip Hop, young black Americans have been able to spread a message throughout the world: in Asia, Africa, and Europe, on every inhabited continent of this planet. And at the same time, I see so much wasted strength in the actual message being pumped by big industry. It is not an empowering message. I believe the Hip Hop Generation is strong and sometimes I think they don't even know it. They can change things for the better, for themselves, their children, and dispossessed people in this country and throughout the world, but they have to believe it. I believe it. I want them to become history makers, event shapers, and real players on the world stage, and I know they can do that with loving guidance, nurturing, and hope. I'd like to contribute in some way to that loving guidance, the nurturing, and be--if I may--just a flicker for renewed hope

Playahata.com: What rap artist do you listen to - any favorites? I know you check out hip hop websites but do you read any hip hop magazines and what is your take on the current state of rap music since this area was not the focus of your web broadcast?

McKinney: Tupac's message still resonates with me and I just bought Tupac Resurrection and viewed it with my family and friends; I took my mother to see it at the theater. Tupac was a special leader, with special insights that are still relevant today. In fact, Tupac will continue to be relevant as long as the black man is not free. Dead Prez continue in the tradition of truth telling. I like the positivity of Nas. I like the raw power of Paris's political prose. And my son tells me I'd better not omit Kanye West. With that having been said, I have to send kudos to Indie Arie and Lauryn Hill for their conscious, soulful melodies, permeating pride.

Playahata.com: When Russell Simmons first began organizing politically he selected you as a leader, he seems to have backed away since the "controversy" but what was he like to work with?

McKinney: I was pleased to be invited to participate in the original Hip Hop Summit held in New York City several years ago. I was pleased to know that, that energy of Hip Hop was about to be harnessed and put to good use for the community. In my remarks, I reminded the young people there of their awesome and immense power, and that young people had been targeted by the FBI in its original launching document of the COINTELPRO program. I warned them that this effort to control our youth had not ended because the program named COINTELPRO might have ended. Finally, I mentioned Tupac and how the forces that were allegedly issuing death threats to him were also used by the FBI to cause the Black Panther Party to implode in East Coast, West Coast rivalry, among other things. To live up to its potential, I had hoped that Russell Simmons would harness the power of the Hip Hop Summit and improve work conditions for the young artists who might just need to unionize in order to get fairer recording deals. I certainly hope the revisiting of COINTELPRO can be stemmed by these Summits; and I would like Hip Hop culture to strengthen minority-owned businesses. Finally, while I'd like to be considered the Hip Hop Congresswoman, I'd love to serve under a Hip Hop President. These things can only happen, though, if young people are organized, allied with older generations, and have an agenda to which elected and appointed officials are held accountable. The currency for this kind of real power is unity and the vote.

Playahata.com: You have an uncanny understanding of the moral sentiment of African-Americans and Africans in the Diaspora. Afrikaleidoscope radio host on WBAI said that you were the most important Congressional person since Charles Diggs (Randall Robinson Mentor) and New Africa Magazine just did a great feature on you and said you were the continents best friend. What role have you had in supporting Africans on the continent that would make for such glowing remarks?

McKinney: I have consistently said that African Americans will not be free until Africa is free. That makes our destinies intertwined. Therefore I saw/see in Africa and for blacks in the Americas the opportunity to uplift us all. I tried to unite African Americans, Afro-Latinos, Africans on the Continent, and people of African descent wherever we might be. Sadly, all of our communities are oftentimes buffeted by the whims of outsiders, manipulating so-called leaders who sit at their feet, responsive to every beck and call. Puppet leaders in microcosm in the United States spell doom on the Continent where such machinations are played out in macrocosm. In the bio on my website (www.cynthiaforcongress.com) I recite some of my activities with Africa, Afro-Latinos, and African Americans. Suffice it to say that African American access to innovation and technology combined with African human and natural resources can provide the kind of empowerment that sees us both able to determine not only our own fates, but those of the global population who depend on Africa's bounty for their own enrichment and way of life. In short, we can improve the terms of trade and in so doing; help bring in check the depletion of the planet's resources by a select few.

Playahata.com: When I saw Fahrenheit 911 it took me back in time, because seeing you made me recall that, the primary elected officials who were really outspoken against Bush's War were you and Barbara Lee. Do you feel vindicated seeing the film now with the majority of the public being against the war according to polls? 

McKinney: I am happy that Michael Moore was able to get the film out this summer rather than later in the fall. It is clear that Moore was aware of every point that I made about the Bush Administration because my points are clearly contained in the film. From the Carlyle Group and Halliburton to legitimate questions about what exactly happened on September 11th. From my position on the House International Relations Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. I was just the first to ask the questions that many American families sitting around the dinner table now ask as a matter of course.

Playahata.com: Award Winning Journalist Greg Palast and a few other media pundits have said that to the best of their knowledge you never said the Bush statements that the New York Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution and NPR reported on. These alleged comments used by right-wingers and soft democrats to get you unseated - what exactly did you say in your own words about 9/11 and Bushes insight?

McKinney: I have had the opportunity to meet our President. It is clear that many people wonder what our President knows. After all, in Europe and Canada, prominent individuals have apologized for referring to our President as "that idiot" and "a moron." A brief visit to our website, www.cynthiaforcongress.com can highlight all of the conservative angst about me and my return to Congress.

Playahata.com: Can you briefly tell people how you were removed from the 4th Congressional District of Congress?

McKinney: Georgia is an open primary state, meaning that there is no party registration and voters with a history of voting in the Republican primary can, at their whim, decide on election day to vote as Democrats if they are so moved. 48,000 known Republicans were so moved on Election Day in 2002 when they chose to vote for the Republican black woman drafted by them to run against me in the Democratic Primary. This year, the United States Supreme Court ruled the Washington State open primary unconstitutional. My experience should show all of us that the truth is not necessarily the only item on the agenda of the corporate media upon which we rely for information.