The 44 Percent: gun violence, Karen Bass & Florida redistricting
I wonder what Young Dolph would’ve done today.
He was supposed to be here. Playing with his kids. Recording new music. Putting on for Memphis. Instead, he was gunned down one year ago today while getting cookies for his mom. Yes you read that right: while getting cookies for his mom.
Similar to Takeoff, Dolph was another artist whose music could make you laugh, dance and chase a bag all at the same time. Two states -- Tennessee and Georgia -- honored his legacy by declaring Nov. 17 Adolph Thorton Jr. Day — but that doesn’t negate the fact that Dolph still should be here.
Hopefully the hip-hop OGs will be convening a sit down soon (more on that later). In the meantime, I will be sure to honor Dolph’s legacy the best way I know how: running my paper up and serving my community.
INSIDE THE 305
Book of sorrow and survival shows the toll gun violence takes on the living | Opinion:
Few people love Black Miami more than Nadege Green. In her latest opinion piece, she discusses her anthology “More Than What Happened: The Aftermath of Gun Violence in Miami,” which explores how shootings, both fatal and non-lethal, actually affect people through a combination of “prose, poems, and essays.”
This book bears witness to survival. What it means to survive being shot. What it means to survive a loved one taken from this world far too soon. What it means to survive a violent partner. What it means to survive in neighborhoods where shootings are far too common. What it means to survive at school and what it means to survive the police.
Be sure to check out Green discuss the book on Nov. 19 at the Miami Book Fair. The book is available for purchase here.
One more Miami Book Fair story:
After checking out Green’s talk on Saturday, go hear Jonathan Escoffery talk about his book “If I Survive You,” which follows a Jamaican-American family as they navigate the twists and turns of Miami. Born in Houston but raised in Miami, Escoffery has A rather fascinating view of the Magic City.
“I’ve lived in the South, in Boston, in Minneapolis, and I think Miami is the most anti-Black place I’ve ever lived,” says Escoffery, who is currently living in Oakland, California. “It’s not the only place where this kind of racism is going on, but in Miami there’s just this ease with which it’s communicated. I don’t know if that’s better or worse.”
Escoffery will discuss his book at at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19. Click here for more info.
OUTSIDE THE 305
Karen Bass to become Los Angeles’ first woman mayor:
Democratic Congresswoman Karen Bass bested her challenger Rick Caruso, a billionaire real estate developer, in the Los Angeles mayoral race. Caruso campaigned as the law-and-order candidate while Bass promised to foster racial unity and promote better policies tackling homelessness.
“The people of Los Angeles have sent a clear message,” Bass told The New York Times in a statement on Wednesday. “It is time for change and it is time for urgency.”
DeSantis’ congressional map helped Republicans to U.S. House majority, but how much?:
After Republicans won control of the House late Wednesday night, it was important to see how Florida’s redistricting played a role in the congressional victories. As Romy Ellengbogen noted, Florida voters sent 20 Republicans to Congress, four more than the previous cycle.
Just in case you need a refresher, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office drafted a congressional map that gave Republicans a significant edge. Voting rights groups have already accused DeSantis of violating the state Constitution and and the Voting Rights Act in a lawsuit that’s still ongoing.
Listed below are a few significant findings:
The draft plan showed Republicans had the voting advantage in 20 out of Florida’s 28 seats — which is how the results came in on Election Day.
The boundaries of Congressional District 2, which used to link rural Black voters along the Florida Panhandle, were altered in DeSantis’ maps, leading Rep. Al Lawson to lose reelection to is Republican challenger by 20 points.
Matt Isbell, a Democratic redistricting expert, said that had the district been kept intact, Florida Republicans would almost certainly have one less member of their delegation.
Yurij Rudensky, a redistricting expert with the Brennan Center for Justice, said that though a minority access district may look contorted, the idea of compactness is generally a proxy to make sure that communities are not split apart, and that in North Florida, Black voters in the Panhandle have a shared history of interest
Florida Republicans outpaced Democrats in turnout across most counties in Florida, leading to meager results for Democrats even in Florida’s heavily blue areas.
HIGH CULTURE
An intervention is needed in hip-hop:
When the OGs talk, we need to listen.
Too $hort and E-40 recently penned an article in The Atlantic about the need for change in hip-hop. On the heels of Takeoff’s murder and the one-year anniversary of Young Dolph’s tragic murder, their piece was even more timely. Specifically, they compared the current moment to when the Nation of Islam sat rappers down following the deaths of Tupac and Biggie.
It’s time for us to come together again. The industry needs change. Artists need to move more carefully and strategically. Labels and music executives need to invest more in educational resources to protect the artists they work with. Managers must hire skilled security teams that can efficiently diffuse tense situations. Rappers have to minimize their social media activity and be more vigilant when they’re out of their house.
Where does “The 44 Percent” name come from? Click here to find out how Miami history influenced the newsletter’s title.
