What does a grandmother of four know about rapper Cardi B, and why would I be writing about the very popular entertainer in this civics column?
Anytime someone famous says something crazy like, “I’m not voting,” I feel like it’s my civic duty to refute what they say. On Thursday, May 16, 2024, an edition of the television news magazine program “TMZ Live” reported and showed video footage of Cardi B saying she was going to sit this election out. She said she didn’t like Trump or Biden and used profanity as she expressed how much she is disillusioned with both candidates for President. In the interview, she also stated that she believes that Donald Trump will win the November 5, 2024 general election.
Cardi B publicly came out in support of President Biden last time around. Her following on social media and in every other way is extremely powerful, with a youthful base of would-be voters. When Cardi B said, “I’m with Joe Biden,” four years ago, that meant something. For Cardi B to say what she said today on national TV that has gone viral–that too means something.
The reason a grandmom like me knows about Cardi B largely is because my adult daughter educated me about Cardi. Minus the cussing, I like the young woman and wish her continued success. She grew up poor and never had a Hard Education–although she does have some college under her belt, she morphed herself from being a stripper in New York to being an internationally acclaimed star in her own right. Talk about coming up! Cardi B has done that, and so I have respect for the young woman. What I like about her the most is that she always comes off as REAL, honest, open, and transparent. Cardi B says–exactly what’s on her mind. This is America, and she has the right to do that.
However, to not vote is not the answer at all. If you are 18 and over and in the right mind, it’s your civic duty to vote. Everybody wants to run around talking about “I’m grown.” Well, in my mind, grown folks vote. Do not listen to people who say voting doesn’t matter or that it’s ok to not vote.
Look around the world. Really, take a look. Sometimes, the grass may look greener over there, but as for me, I’m staying right here. Our foremothers and forefathers gave their life’s blood for us to get to the point where we are today. As a part of being here in America, as an American citizen, one of the things we are expected to do is to vote when we become of age to participate in the political process.
I realize that Cardi B is still a young girl in my book. She’s a grown woman and she has a lot of power. I don’t think sometimes that she understands how much power she has–to send a message to the world and all her kazillion fans here in America ”not to vote” was the wrong thing for her to do. I’d have rathered Cardi B. just kept her mouth shut on this one. These oh-so-very impressionable young folk out here love the ground she walks on. I’m referring to young people but of voting age. Cardi, Cardi, Cardi.
I was always taught that when it comes to voting, do your homework. Read up on both candidates for President and in the other races, too. Don’t just decide not to vote. The reality is sometimes we are forced to really think hard on our decisions and create a list of pros and cons for each candidate. Then vote.
The rule of the SCOOP Newspaper is to not endorse political candidates. Instead, we inform you of all the political candidates in all parties for the areas of our coverage that we know to be critical races. To the very best of our ability, we always work to be fair and share information on political candidates who make themselves available to us to get their names out there to our readers. We inform our readers about who is running for political office in key races. We always encourage people to be registered to vote and then to vote on election day or by mail before election day.
Please don’t get it twisted. Cardi B is wrong on this one, in my opinion. We can’t give up on voting. We have to vote. We must vote. When we come out and vote in large numbers for good candidates, change can happen. It’s a shame that sometimes it seems like major change has not happened fast enough in four years. Start making those lists I referred to earlier in this column. I think the good will outweigh the bad.
Get registered to vote, no excuses, and take responsibility for the direction of our nation. That’s our civic duty. Don’t know where to get registered? Call the Philadelphia City Commissioner’s office for a start–if you live in Philly, call 215-686-3462.
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