I have decided to come up with my own short list of nominees, beginning with McCain who simply scares me. We have already had one President with Alzheimer’s; we neither deserve nor need another one. We especially don’t need one who has had his share of what Fox News calls “senior moments,” and seems intent on trying to provoke a war with Iran.

McCain is a war hero and I sincerely appreciate his sacrifice, but that doesn’t mean he gets my vote. His time as a P.O.W. is actually scary and may show some insight to his well known hot temperament. Think about it. If regular soldiers suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome, what kind of psychological damage is done after a soldier is shot down and tortured? This scenario was actually the basis of a book and the movie “The Manchurian Candidate,” the plot of which resolves around a P.O.W. being tortured by the Chinese, turned into a political assassin via brainwashing and released back to the United States.

Like I said, I respect and appreciate McCain’s sacrifice for all of us, but do we really want him and his temper to be one push of a button away from starting a nuclear war? This is why I believe his choice of V.P. is even more critical. Former Governor of Massachusetts and business man Mitt Romney and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appear to be the front runners. Let’s start with Romney, who has been the most effective Obama critic. He’s strong on economic issues and is capable of helping to raise money for the race.

Romney also brings a downside to the ticket, what McCain has spent an entire career avoiding: political expediency. McCain’s stock-in-trade has been straight talk. Romney has not only changed his positions on specific issues–he’s pretty quickly changed his entire persona, from a moderate conservative governor to a far-right presidential contender. He is the king of flip floppers in this race.

Pawlenty is lesser known, but has an established relationship with McCain and has been a visible surrogate for him on the political talk shows. He’s spoken powerfully about changing the Republican Party and would help in those key states like Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. But nothing suggests at this point that Pawlenty could actually deliver those states, so look for Mc Cain to go with Romney for his economic strengths.

Obama on the other hand has a wider selection of V.P options to choose from. His recent trip abroad shows that he has tremendous popularity overseas. He probably could have selected rapper Ludacris and got away with it. But seriously, I believe it’s down to four: Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius is a woman who Obama is close to and respects. She has been looked at closely as the alternative to Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s attitude and negative campaigning all but assured that she had no chance on being on the ticket despite what the Obama camp says. Biden has the foreign policy credentials and experience that Obama lacks, but he is known for being loose cannon and may not stick to the Obama script. He is a long time Washington insider, which doesn’t match with Obama’s message of change. Gov. Tim Kaine is a Washington outsider, which would make him a good fit with the Democrat’s core campaign mantra of change. But, he also lacks foreign policy experience, the common knock against Obama. Additionally, he has only been in office for three years and is not known nationally. Americans wants change, but not enough to elect two people they just met. Obama is going to be change enough.

Which bring me to Sen. Bayh. He has enough experience, but isn’t a long time D.C. insider. He is well liked in the state of Indiana and could help make Indiana a blue state for Democrats. He could also help with votes in the surrounding Midwest states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Bayh also has this picture perfect family which combined with the Obama’s makes for a very compelling and interesting family campaign of change.

Who ever is selected by both candidates is going to have to be prepared. There are one heart beat away from leading the country. I hope both men make the right choice.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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You are a three-time Grammy award winning artist. No one can dispute that you are one of the leading rappers in the industry. You have the first amendment right to record music of your own choosing. But I feel that the recent release of your song attacking Jesse Jackson and Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain only hurts Senator Obama. Obama, who you have stated is a friend of yours and offered your support to. But with friends like you, Obama doesn’t need enemies.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright , Father Michael Pflegler, Jesse Jackson and now you have all made public statements during this historic election that were an unnecessary distraction and harmed Obama, forcing him to respond. If you were really his friend you would realize that maybe you should just shut up! This is a close race and there are many Americans who are undecided and looking for an excuse not to vote for a Black man. How could you go and have the audacity to call Hillary Clinton an “irrelevant bitch?”

I can envision the McCain and Republican attack ads now. Pictures of you and Obama. Exploiting your comments and letting white America know that Obama has the support of rappers like you who call white women bitches. Our organization has a long track record and history of condemning not just you but all gangster rappers who disparage women, and glorify violence. We are not ever backing down from our position.

Ludacris, we’re calling for you to apologize to those that you disparaged in your song. With a special emphasis in regards to Sen. Clinton. Sen. Clinton is a former first lady, wife, mother and woman. I’m sure when you see Michelle Obama you don’t envision her in that manner and would never call her that. No woman deserves to be called that term.

Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly has previously taken you to task, denouncing your controversial lyrics. His public pressure cost you a significant sponsorship with the Pepsi Corporation. Oprah Winfrey took you to task for the misogynist role you have in rap when you appeared on her show a couple of years ago. And now Obama has personally denounced you. I doubt very seriously whether you will be on his guest list for the inauguration. When are you going to realize that yes, you’re rich, but not respected. You have become your own worst enemy?

I support Obama with all my heart and want him to win. If you truly feel the same way, then maybe you should humble yourself and apologize. If not, can you and any other Obama “friends” out there just shut up until after the election? Because if Obama has any more friends like you, he doesn’t need enemies.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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The shooting death of Wicks becomes more troubling based on the facts of the case. Wicks, a 19-year postal office employee with no criminal record and single father of two, was home alone when Inglewood’s finest banged on his door at 1:30 am in response to a domestic violence call. Wicks, obviously under the impression that someone was trying to break in, went to his door armed with his legally registered gun.

According to preliminary statements from witnesses, Officer Ragan shouted to Wicks to show him his hands because he could not see them through the cracked door. Wicks complied and raised his hands, and then is blown away by officer Ragan.

And if you thought it couldn’t get worse it, does.

Ragan is already under investigation and was placed on administrative leave for his role in the May 11, 2008 shooting death of Michael Byoune and wounding his two friends. People, these were all unarmed Inglewood teens. Ragan and his patrol partner officer Roman Fernandez shot at them by mistake after hearing gunfire from a different direction. They shot all three teenagers while sitting in their patrol car through the front windshield. Which would be the most comical event in law enforcement I’d ever heard of except for the fact that it is a true story – a true tragedy. How can someone justify this cop being back on the streets? For what?

Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrook is the first African-American police chief in Inglewood history. She stood grim faced as she faced the wrath of hundreds of outraged community members, leaders, and the Wick’s family at the City Council meeting four days after the killing. Many supported a demand that I made earlier that day and calling for her resignation.

I actually met Seabrook in a private meeting in her office a week before the Wicks killing to welcome her and to discuss the rash of shootings of unarmed Black men in her city by her officers. She was professional and seems to take the issue of police brutality seriously. Which is why her lack of leadership, communication and accountability to the community was so disturbing.

In the Wicks case, it took her several days to come forward and speak to the family and community. Her silence was as if she was essentially spitting in the face of a grieving family. If she can’t improve the department or do better in her management skills then she needs to step down and resign. I’m proud that a sister has the job and indicated that when I met with her. But the community always comes first. We can’t support anyone based on race or gender when it’s about being competent. Especially when lives are at risk. We owe it to the memory of Kevin Wicks and others who have been the innocent victims of police brutality resulting in their deaths to stand up and fight because they can’t do it for themselves.

The issue of police brutality is not just an Inglewood issue, it’s a national issue. Its time that our nation take a stand to implement true, real and lasting changes to help curtail possible abuse by rouge officers who give the 98% of good police officers a bad name.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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In the last two weeks, Jackson made national headlines disgracing himself. He didn’t need my help. He has single handedly eroded his tainted legacy with his crude comments about wanting to surgically remove Sen. Obama’s lower anatomy. Now there is the newly revealed news that Jesse also had the audacity to use the N-word!

A reputable source received a partial transcript of the rest of Jackson’s comments on Fox News and confirmed the transcript was authentic. That’s right, Jesse called black people niggers! This is a huge issue for me because I was there when Jesse came to Los Angeles on November 26, 2006 and held a press conference denouncing comedian Michael Richards, AKA Kramer of Seinfeld fame. Jesse insisted that the word not be used publicly or privately due its offensive nature.

In fact, Jackson called for a boycott of all entertainment media that used the word. Jesse used the incident with Richards to call on the entertainment industry to ban the n-word, including rap artists that use it in the lyrics, actors and major television and movie studios. This campaign was felt in cities around the country, with the New York City Council agreeing to ban it.

Jesse’s press conference in Los Angeles was attended by every major Black leader and organization in the city. He stated: “We will challenge and urge all artists and comics to stop using this (N) word. What other group is subjected to such a degrading terminology?” As Jesse spoke, I agreed with everything he said. As a Muslim, I call Black people either brother or sister in public and privately. In fact, my friends have made the mistake of calling me the N-word as a term of endearment or just using it in my presence. A quick friendly glare and disapproving look quickly corrects them.

As an activist, my group has lead high profile campaigns against the use of the N-word, ranging from protests of gangster rappers to foul mouthed comedians. Even Aaron McGruder (creator of “The Boondocks”), who I respect and love, didn’t escape my criticism.

Which brings me to the question of hypocrisy. We believe it’s very hypocritical for Jackson to have tried to get rappers such as Nas, the entertainment industry and the general public to ban and not use a word that he utilizes himself. Jackson’s already apologized to Obama, but since he wasn’t the target of Jackson’s slur, Jackson should immediately apologize to Blacks for not only berating them, but also apologize for his hypocrisy. I’m realistic. Just because the NAACP symbolically buried the N-word doesn’t mean its dead. In fact, you can hear it all the time with a younger generation whose use of it has a different meaning according to those that use it.

Jesse has no excuse. Anytime you voluntarily advocate on an issue or cause, you can’t engage in what you are advocating against. When former President Bill Clinton received spiritual counseling from Jackson in the middle of the Monica Lewinsky scandal in an attempt to repair his troubled marriage, Jesse was in the middle of his affair and had a child hidden away that the majority of the world was unaware of.

This is the pure definitely of hypocrisy! Jesse has a long history of it. His use of the N-word and his do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do attitude is just one more chapter in the sad story of a fallen leader.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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“I think Jesse Jackson, he’s the biggest player hater,” Nas said. “His time is up. All you old …, time is up. We heard your voice, we saw your marching, and we heard your sermons. We don’t wanna hear that … no more. It’s a new day. It’s a new voice. I’m here now. We don’t need Jesse; I’m here. I got this. We got Barack, we got David Banners and Young Jeezy’s. We’re the voice now. It’s no more Jesse. Sorry. Goodbye. You ain’t helping nobody in the ‘hood. That’s the bottom line. Goodbye, Jesse. Bye!”

Now this comes on the heels of rapper Lil Wayne diss of Rev. Al Sharpton. On the track “Misunderstood,” Wayne spits: “You see, you are no MLK/ You are no Jesse Jackson/ You are nobody to me/ You’re just another Don King with a perm/ Just a little more political/ And that just means you a little more un-human/ Than us humans/ And now let me be human by saying/ F**k Al Sharpton and anyone like him.” Rappers have the right to their personal opinion just as anyone else does.

But, I’m never going to confuse Nas or Lil Wayne with Chuck D of Public enemy, Mos Def , KRS One, or Sister Souljah. We now have gangsta rappers trying to wrestle away Black leadership and some of them are putting themselves on the level of Obama.

I cant quit laughing. Who on earth would actually follow these malt liquor drinking, misogynistic, drug using, gang banging idiots? Nas and Lil Wayne are helping people in the hood? I believe the last time I heard Lil Wayne’s music it was blasting out of some gang member’s car as they rode though South Central L.A. and did a drive by shooting. Seriously, I do believe Jesse’s time has come and gone, he’s lost to much credibility to be effective anymore. But should we and are we ready to dump Jesse’s outdated vision for the more clear advancing vision of Nas? Excuse me while I laugh some more.

Sharpton on the other hand has emerged as the heir to King’s movement and is seen as the premier civil rights leader in the nation. Now, there are some who may disagree and don’t care for Sharpton and his tactics, but the reality of the situation is he led and organized the Jena 6 movement. The Sean Bell movement was spearheaded by Sharpton as well the fight for justice in the shooting death of Amadou Diallo, and the torture of Abner Louima by the N.Y.P.D.

When Black folks are in trouble across the nation and the circumstances are shady when I turn on CNN, I’m looking for Rev. Al and his bullhorn, not Nas, Lil Wayne, David Banner, or Young Jeezy.

Which brings me to my question. Now that Jesse has truly become irrelevant, and there are so many that don’t want to follow Sharpton, NAACP, SCLC, and the older model of civil rights leaders and groups, which young leader is going to emerge and step up to the plate of advocacy? Is the hip hop nation ready or even prepared to lead a movement for justice? Are you willing to follow Nas David Banner, Young Jeezy and other gangsta rappers and let them lead you and be your voice?

What do you think?

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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Your vulgar tirade caught on tape by Fox News, in which you said you wanted to rip Barack Obama’s nuts off and accused him of talking down to black folks with moral lectures at churches, is simply the last straw for me and a growing number of African-Americans.

There are many blacks across the nation (myself included) who are appreciative of the work and contributions you have made in your civil rights career. But at this point in your career, you are hurting Black America and Senator Obama.

In September 2007, it was clear that you were frustrated by Senator Obama, when you stated in an interview in South Carolina that he needs to stop acting white, because you felt he was not engaged to your liking in the Jena 6 movement.

Rev. Jackson, your continued verbal attacks on Senator Obama are unwarranted. It is as if you’re jealous that he has eclipsed you and both of your campaigns for the Democratic nomination.

Senator Obama’s recent comments about Black fathers not abandoning their children and accepting moral responsibility is a lesson you apparently needed to learn when you were younger. If you had, it may not have caused you to cheat on your wife and father a child out of wedlock with a former staffer.

Maybe that’s what really bothered you about Senator Obama’s Father’s Day message urging Black fathers to be responsible for their children. You certainly haven’t been.

Living in Los Angeles, I have watched your ten year old daughter grow up. Over the years, I have had the pleasure to spend several holidays with your daughter including Christmas, her birthday parties and other milestones in her life. I will never turn my back on Ashley, her mom and their family. It is about providing friendship, support and love while you have been missing in action.

Your daughter has never traveled with you. You have an annual birthday party in Beverly Hills every year where your entire family is welcome, but your youngest child has only attended it once. She has had very little contact with her siblings and has never even met her big brother Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, who apparently doesn’t want anything to do with her. Allegedly (I believe it to be true), he was the one to leak the scandal to the media concerning your affair.

Now don’t get me wrong, Senator Obama is not above reproach. He is a politician and is fair game to be fairly criticized by you or anyone else. But to personally attack him is crossing the line. Senator Obama is not talking down to Black people. He wants you and other dead beat dads to spend time with and care for your children properly.

The destruction of the black family and absentee fathers is a major problem in our community.

It’s a problem that Dr. King spoke about and fought against. Forty years after King’s murder, I can see why King didn’t trust you. If you can’t and won’t sincerely help Senator Obama in this historic run, then at least stop attacking him.

Listen to his message of being a responsible father and start with taking care of your own daughter.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark created a national firestorm of controversy this week when he stated that Sen. John McCain getting shot down is not a qualification for the presidency. Clark said McCain’s experience as a squadron leader in Vietnam and his five years in a prisoner of war camp “shows character and courage, but not necessarily judgment.”

“I hope the American people will discriminate between someone’s early experiences and the kind of judgment they take away from those experiences,” Clark said.

I personally don’t believe that Gen. Clark was attempting to diminish Sen. McCain’s bravery or war record. He was just stating what I believe was an obvious fact. I went to high school for four years, but that didn’t qualify me to be the principal or a teacher there. I played football and ran track, but that didn’t qualify me to be a coach. I ate in the cafeteria twice a day, but that didn’t qualify me to be a cook.

I write and submit this weekly blog, but as I told Ava DuVernay, the founder of UTC, and Ellene Miles, my editor and blog mate, I’m not a writer or an author. So, it’s not as if I have the qualifications that writers or more seasoned veteran journalists have, but they have allowed me to let me have and find my voice. My point is, just because you’re able to do or experience something in life does not make you qualified for something else.

Clark, who was the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces during the Kosovo War and a one time Democratic presidential candidate, told “Good Morning America” that he wasn’t questioning McCain’s patriotism or courage.

But he repeated the comments that have already been rejected by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Clark described himself as “someone who came home from Vietnam on a stretcher.” Still, he acknowledged that being in combat doesn’t necessarily qualify someone to be president. “It depends on which level you served,” Clark told “GMA.”

Being a fighter pilot in the Navy “isn’t the same as having been in the highest levels of the military and having to work with the president and other heads of the state and make those kinds of life or death decisions about national strategic issues,” he stated.

I understand the reasons why Obama (who is leading this historic race) had to publicly reject and distance himself from Clark’s comments. He doesn’t want to create the appearance that he does not honor and respect McCain’s war record and sacrifice for our country.

I’m not running for president, so I don’t have to be politically correct. I believe Clark’s point was valid and to the point. We should judge the candidates based on their domestic and foreign policy positions, and respect the service, sacrifice, and patriotism of all Americans.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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This town and its residents are described as Catholic and blue collar. I sat in amazement as the media spun a tale that portrayed the Gloucester teens as sympathetic victims who may have been caught up in a teen celebrity culture that glorifies pregnancy and identifies with teens such as Jaime Lynn Spears.

I can’t help but feel that if this same situation were being played out in a high school in South Central Los Angeles, Harlem, Detroit, Chicago or in any urban city in America that the media would not have been as friendly. Black teens would have continued to be portrayed as reckless, immoral, and irresponsible. There would have been howls and shouts of “where was the parental responsibility of black parents?” by Fox News reporter Bill O’Reilly, white conservatives and probably even our own Bill Cosby.

I’m not an advocate for anyone to have a child – adult, teen, white, black or otherwise – who is not capable of providing a financially stable and loving home. But because the teens in question were white and not black, I feel there was a racial double standard in how much sympathy they received and how it was reported.

The Gloucester teens are now going to have to face a huge hurdle in life being young mothers. I hope they are successful for their sake, and for the children they will have to raise. Fortunately for them, they escaped the sting and criticism of the media who didn’t barrage them with a string of questions about the morals. For black teens who continue to have early pregnancies, they unfortunately will more than likely continue to receive ridicule by the media, pundits and others about with whom and where their baby’s father is. This is most certainly another racial double standard. And unfortunate one to say the least.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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Anita Shaw stated that it’s a shame that she was risking her life in a war across the world and her own son was not even safe in his neighborhood. During the last three months, the Shaw family has made headlines of their own by leading a campaign to implement what they are calling “Jamiel’s Law.” This is a proposed ballot measure which would require the Mayor and Police Chief to investigate and arrest gang members that are in the country illegally before they get caught committing crimes, not just afterwards.

The Shaw family also has pushed for the prosecution to file hate crime charges, insisting that the murder of their son was based on his race. When initially meeting with L.A. County D.A. Michelle Hanisee, the family balked when she did not comply with their hate crime demands. When she revealed to them some of the true facts of why their son was murdered, they became outraged and created enough media and public pressure to have her removed from the case.

Since the tragic murder, the Shaw family has not only launched a smear campaign against Hanisee, they attacked activists, community leaders and members of the media who began to tell the family an inconvenient truth. Their son may have been involved in some dangerous extracurricular activities. This made my sitting in the courtroom last week as an observer much more interesting.

For the first time, we unfortunately saw and heard part of the secret life of Jamiel Shaw. Shaw was killed 4 houses down from his own home. He was wearing a red belt emblazoned with black skulls and the belt had “20” written on it. According to the law enforcement gang expert, this is a symbol used by the Rollin’ 20s, a Bloods gang in that neighborhood.

Jamiel also had gang images and materials in his I-Pod that mocked and ridiculed rival Black and Latino gangs in that neighborhood. It was also revealed that Jamiel’s girlfriend told police officers that he was a gang member. As I sat in court, I was troubled and upset. The Shaw family is grieving and I’m sorry for their pain. However, they need to stop this hoax that their son was murdered because he was black.

All the evidence in court points to the fact that he was murdered because he was a gang member. According to gang intervention workers that I know personally, Jamiel’s father knew his son was a gang member. They tried unsuccessfully to stop him from being involved in the gang. The lesson for all parents is that no matter how good you think your children are, you might not know they have a secret life away from home.

This is a real tragedy the family is going through, but they making it worse by being in denial, playing the oft-used race card, and unfairly trying to smear people who simply are doing their jobs.

Of course, let’s fight for justice for Jamiel. I don’t care how many gangs he was in, he didn’t deserve to be killed. But let’s keep it real and accept responsibility for the choices that we and our children make in life.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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In my opinion, Kelly is the latest in a long line of celebrities to fly off to freedom and escape without being brought to true justice. From O.J. Simpson to actor Robert Blake, celebrities can kill their wives and get away with it. We live in a star struck celebrity judicial system were jurors are swayed by wealth and power.

This verdict was personally devastating to me. I, along with others who have been the victims of child molestation by adults we trusted, truly believed that Kelly would be brought to justice. I was almost too emotionally overcome to even write about this verdict. But, I know that it is important that those who have been abused not allow ourselves to be victimized with shame and guilt our entire lives. Someone has to step out the shadows with some courage and conviction and be a voice for those who have been abused as children.

Kelly was acquitted of all child pornography charges, despite several witnesses who testified that he was the man on the videotape.

Kelly, who married the late singer Aaliyah when she was only 15 years old, has had to settle several out-of-court law suit settlements involving young girls and their families in Chicago. The prosecution based this latest case on a videotape in which a man who appears to be Kelly has sex with a young child and then urinates in her face.

Several witnesses and family members also came forward and testified in court that they knew the victim, who they stated was only 13 years-old at time the tape was made. I was not in the courtroom for the trial, so I did not personally see or hear all the evidence. However, in my mind Kelly was guilty and should have been taken down for what many people believe he did to that child. This verdict sends a horrible message to young black women that their lives, welfare, and protection from pedophiles are not a priority in society.

I want to personally thank Minister Bamani Obadele of Chicago, Donald Baker, Pearl Jr., Jasmyne Cannick of Los Angeles and other activists across the nation for their coverage of this issue. During the past six years we lead protests against Kelly all over the nation, and I believe it was worth it. If black parents and leaders can’t take a stand to send a message to our children that their lives are precious and valuable, who will do it for us?

This blog is dedicated to all youth who have been sexually taken advantage of by adults they trusted and loved. I pray and hope that God gives us justice one day, because the R. Kelly jury certainly didn’t.

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.

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