By Ismael AbduSalaam
In light of America’s current economic crisis and next month’s historic presidential election, BET Networks announced today (October 10) plans to host two panel discussions next weekend at Clark Atlanta University.
The first discussion, “Get Your Money Right,” will aim to engage young people on the importance of financial literacy in their college and early professional careers.
Topics to be covered include repairing/understanding credit scores, asset and wealth management, vehicle financing, the basics of banking, and home ownership.
Assisting in these discussion are a diverse array of Hip-Hop artists and entrepreneurs, such as Ludacris, Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Fat Joe, Yung Berg, Brian Michael-Cox, Monica, Gorilla Zoe, and 106 & Park’s Terrence and Rosci.
The panel will commence on Friday October 17 from 5:00-7:00PM.
The second session on Saturday October 18 entitled “Fly Girls Vote: Hip-Hop Women for Change,” centers on the powerful role female voters historically play in elections, and how that power can be translated to the women of Hip-Hop culture.
Running from 11:00 AM -1:00 PM and hosted by pioneer MC Lyte, the discussion will first frame the potential of today’s female Hip-Hoppers through the lens of history.
Models to be reviewed include Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and more current examples in Shirley Chisholm, Sister Souljah, and Michelle Obama.
Confirmed so far for the growing panel list are cultural critic/journalist Michaela Angela Davis, Brown University professor of Africana Studies Tricia Rose, and activist Moya Bailey.
Also featured will be clips of the award-winning documentary Chisholm 72: Unbought and Unbossed, which details Shirley Chisholm’s historic 1972 bid to be the first black woman elected president.
Immediately following will be short Q&A session with director Shola Lynch and journalist Lola Ogunnaike.
Ecstatic about the valuable wealth of information being given, BET Networks Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Debra Lee marveled at the potential number of young lives that will be changed for the better.
“We’re so excited to bring the BET Hip-Hop Awards back to Atlanta for the third year in a row, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about partnering with these organizations for these timely and important panel discussions about financial literacy and the role women of color play in politics,” Lee explained to AllHipHop.com. “BET Networks has always had a strong commitment to educating and empowering our audience, and these two forums will provide our audience with a unique and engaging opportunity to discuss and learn about two of the most critical issues of today.”
Both panels are free to the public and will precede the BET Hip-Hop Awards being held Saturday night October 18 at the Atlanta Civic Center.