The Black Vote!

I've been asking every African American friend that I come across if they are going to vote for Barack Obama. For the most part I have experienced a non-committal attitude. I have come to refer to it as black political apathy. I understand it...I understand that the black race in The United States is and always will be a minority. After being beat down for so long I get that sense of hopelessness. I ask them if they voted for Mark Mallory for Mayor of Cincinnati. Here is a black man elected as mayor in one of the most racist, right wing, religious cities in this country. The answer is a flat out NO! The response is usually,"He's pretty much a white guy anyway, so what's the difference?" Then I ask them if they are even registered to vote in the first place. I'd say 90% answer with a NO! I had a friend at work tell me if he couldn't vote for Hillary he was going to vote for McCain. Let's just say that conversation got a little heated. I ask him how you could vote for a female Democrat and her platform and not a black male Democrat with the same platform and then for for a rich white Republican male who has a totally different platform and pretty much has an anti-black people platform. That kind of blew my mind a little.

I've read Howard Zinn's "People's History Of The United States" and the follow up "Voices..." and I cringe at the struggle that black people in this country went through just to get the right to vote. A lot of people were beaten and hanged and died for that privilege. For that purpose alone I would think that voting would be taught and expected in the black community.

I know all about the nightmare of the 2000 and 2004 elections. Black people in this country, especially in Florida and Ohio took it up the back side. Ken Blackwell and Katherine Harris showed black people where they stood with George W. Bush. That just shows you how much more important it is to register and vote for Barack Obama in November. If every black person of voting age in this country registers and votes for Barack Obama it would be a landslide victory. I can't promise that Barack will change the condition of black America but it would be an historic event that could change the course of history in this country. So I say if you don't register and vote for Barack in November don't bitch at me.

Wrestling Show and SS-20 Show

What a weekend!
Saturday night I indeed worked a wrestling show. I managed a guy with the name "The Inmate", turns out he used to train when we had Queen City Wrestling going. It was interesting to work with two guys that you never worked with before and you are booked in the first match of the night. It's slightly nerve racking when you are up first. It's your job to get the crowd worked up and to set the tone for the night. But I was able to take the microphone and bad mouth the ring announcer whom everyone loved and get shit started and have fun. The match was so so at best but we used a comedy spot to end the match and all seemed to go well.

Sunday night was a stroll down memeory lane. My favorite local punk band from the early 80's SS-20 played a gig here in Northside. We were able to go and hear and I sang along to a couple of classic songs. Man, I miss the Jockey Club! We tried to set up a date in November for the release of our Jockey Club book and have SS-20 be an integral part of everything, I think it is going to happen.....
I'm getting too old for all this, but damn I sure had fun.

Wrestling Show June 14th...ETC:

This Saturday night June 14th I'll be working an independent wrestling show.
I will be managing for this reunion show for Intense Wrestling Inc.
My alter ego Charles E. Brown gets to rear his slightly greying head once again.
I'll be raising hell and having fun with some friends.

I took most of the month of May off from the political arena, had to take a break, shit gets to you after awhile.

Now I'm getting back into reading the awesome Mother Jones Magazine and The American Prospect Magazine.

Our little publishing venture is taking off with book #2. It's a tribute book for The Jockey Club.
www.aurorepress.com If you want to get involved.
We will be in the 4th of July Parade here in Northside, if you want to be in the parade with us you are welcome. Just drop me a line.

My friend Nathan Singer, who wrote two pieces for our first book ,"Country at War" is releasing his third novel on June 15th called "In The Light Of You". I read it already, it's another kick ass book. You can order it through Amazon.

I have to get ready for work.............Chuck