VIDAAFROLATINA.COM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Vice Presidential Candidate Brings Boricua Flavor to National Politics
Posted on August 29, 2008

 This year, Sen. Barack Obama isn’t the only political first in the world of national politics. Rosa Clemente, an Afro-Puerto Rican from New York, recently became the first Latina nominated to run for vice president of the United States on the Green Party ticket.

 Nivia Carroll, a Dominican-American holistic health practitioner, recently had the opportunity to interview Clemente during the National Hip-Hop Political Convention held in Las Vegas. On behalf of VidaAfroLatina.com, Carroll questioned Clemente, known in many circles as a hip hop activist, about her historic campaign.

 VidaAfroLatina.com: How do you feel about being the first Latina nominated for the vice president position on the Green Party ticket?

Clemente: I think it’s great! I am honored to be the first Latina [or Latino] representing for my people.

VidaAfroLatina.com: What is your opinion of Cynthia McKinney, as she is often portrayed in a negative light by mainstream media?

Clemente: I personally don’t care what the main stream media has to say about Cynthia McKinney, she needs to be respected. She has been a pioneer in many aspects of the political arena. She was the first one to introduce articles of impeachment [against George W. Bush] before anyone else did it. She has been a congresswoman for six terms. I have known her for eight years. She has been supportive and involved in a lot of the work I do with the youth. She is more than ready and capable of doing the work that needs to be done.

VidaAfroLatina.com:  What are the goals of the campaign?

Clemente:  To [win] 5 percent of the electorate vote in order to be a viable third party. By accomplishing this it will provide us federal funding; $3 million is given to the Democratic and Republican parties at every election cycle. There should be at least four-to-five [political] parties in this country. I also believe that the president should chosen by the majority of the people that vote [instead of our electoral college system]. The second runner-up should be vice president if you really want to talk about a democracy.

Access to every ballot, we have to petition and pay to get on the ballots on every state.

Election integrity, each state has different laws and machines. There needs to be more synchronicity. There were three million African-American votes discounted in the last two elections. Who is counting the votes? How do they get counted? Who is turning away voters because of [supposed] improper identification?

My issues for the youth are the dismantling of the prison industrial complex, access to higher education—every child in this country should be able to get a free education without acquiring debt, and livable wages in every state.

These are some of the goals we want to address.

VidaAfroLatina.com:  What would you like to do about the public school system?

Clemente: Overhaul the public education system starting with repealing No Child Left Behind—there is no learning, there is no teaching. Everything is based on tests.

Implement an educational system that is relevant and will prepare young people to work in the 21^st century. Set up a curriculum to teach them the technical skills they need to know in order to stay competitive. The current curriculum is so irrelevant. Schools are becoming prisons to young people, so dismantling the policing of our young people in schools.

VidaAfroLatina.com:  Do you like reggeaton?

Clemente:  For me hip hop is not music. I love all types of music, but don’t care for the type of music promoted by the mainstream media. It is misogynistic and based on consumerism. I listen to it to stay current, but prefer my own brand that has more political and positive messages.

VidaAfroLatina.com:  Since one of the Green Party’s main platforms is the environment, as a holistic health counselor I believe food is medicine. What is healthy food you like to eat?

Clemente:  Well, I’m not the healthiest … I do enjoy eating my arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) and gandules (rice and peas) and plátanos (fried green bananas), but I have to work on that.

VidaAfroLatina.com:  What kind of impact do you think the Latino community will have on the Green Party?

Clemente:  There are about 200 people running for Green Party seats as sheriffs, supervisors, judges or governors. Cynthia and I represent the top of the party. The Green Party exists all over Latin America. This is a movement to build a legitimate party and I think our folks are ready to do the work.

We are not a homogeneous people; the experience in this country will be different if you are a Black or White Latino. But we have to understand that [African American and Latino] history is intertwined, that we are in the majority and we need to be fairly represented in the media. It will take more than one election cycle because it is a process, but through education and positive role models we can do the work.

VidaAfroLatina.com:  Why do you call yourself a hip hop activist instead of a Latina activist or just an activist? Or will you call yourself a Green activist?

Clemente: I consider myself a hip hop activist because that is the generation I came from. Hip hop started in the South Bronx by African Americans and Puerto Ricans. Hip hop has always made an impact politically. Women of color, people of color have always done that. I define myself as an activist, freedom fighter organizer and scholar.

Nivia Binett-Carrol is a bilingual holistic health practitioner and occupational therapist. She is the founder and owner of Excel Wellness & Rehab in Pembroke Pines, Fla. For more information, visit www.excelwellnessnrehab.com or contact Nivia at nivia@excelwellnessnrehab.com.