We Are The Ones...that can change the world!

The celebrity endorsement is serious business as evidenced by the ridiculous amount of money they command from gym shoe, cosmetic, and clothing companies. When I was a youth I cut my curly bob asymmetrically to immulate Salt ‘N Pepa’s stylo circa 1988 and as a teen I cajoled my parent’s into purchasing a fresh pair of Jordan’s more times than I care to remember. Today, many of my students take these endorsements, perhaps, more seriously than my generation. Everyday I watch the urban teens under my direction mimic their celebrity of choice; I observe them mimicking the gait, diction, and b-boy stance of the hottest MC of the month. Many of them single-handily revived NIKE stock post-Michael Jordan retirement with the consumption of Air Force One’s at the behest of hip-hop artist Nelly. Our youth, suburban and urban, take lifestyle cues from celebrities, although many of today’s celebrities are yet youth a la Lindsey Lohan and Jamie Lynn Spears. Today’s “celebrity” has been used to glorify the prison culture, P.I.M.P lifestyle, chronic, misogyny, and the like. Witnessing these celebrities show public support for their candidate of choice is refreshing. I sure hope this will help to invigorate the youth that look to these celebrities for the newest hotness to follow their lead and become politically aware and active.