BET isn't a shining beacon of moral responsibility, and i've been reluctant to enthusiastically support a network that objectifies my sisters and stereotypes my brothers, but they're getting something right tonight. this is a re-airing of the program that ran earlier today, but i didn't see any diary topics on the subject, so i figure i'd share it with y'all.
BET has set up voting registration booths in urban areas in battleground states: Cleveland, OH; Philadelphia, PA; Norfolk, VA; and Detroit, MI. i've been watching for a few minutes and have already seen inspiring exhortations to vote from Maxine Waters (D-CA) interspersed with hip-hop and R&B music videos.
Queen Latifah is holding it down in NYC along with a panel and they're helping to clear up common misperceptions and answer questions from a sometimes woefully ill-informed young electorate. they've already discussed the need to make sure you're still on the voter registration list (purges, anyone?), given a rudimentary explanation of the electoral college, and explained why they're registering in battleground states -- Ohio won the election for Bush in '04.
scrolling on the bottom of the screen are the voter registration deadlines for all 50 states plus DC. no matter what issues you might have with BET, this entire show is inspiring and exactly what we need to keep the excitement up through Nov. 4. it's running till 8p eastern tonight. Brandy, Ray J., Jim Jones, Mary Mary, Terrence and Rocsi might not mean much to many readers here, but they're adding their celebrity to what could be an electoral landslide in November.
press release here.