Black Children's Hairstyles In The "Vote For Somebody" Video

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a performance by students from Harlem, New York's Democracy Prep charter school of a song motivating adults to vote in the 2012 United States Presidential election. This song is a political take-off of Carly Rae Jepsen's hit Pop song "Call Me Maybe".

This post includes the lyrics to that school's song "Vote For Somebody" as found on their video, documents the purpose of the students learning & singing that song within that school setting, and also documents the singing performance styles of those students.

For historical purposes, this post particularly focuses on the hairstyles of these 4th grade students.

The content of this post is presented for sociological, historical, motivational, and aesthetic purposes.

My interest as a community folklorist & historican is to document aspects of African American culture.

I presume that this song was composed by a teacher or teachers affiliated Democracy Prep school. I'd love to credit the composer/s of this song by name/s.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED VIDEO - Democracy Prep Citizen-Scholars: Vote for Somebody!



Published on Oct 15, 2012 by DemPrepPublicSchools
Democracy Prep's amazing fourth grade scholars want YOU to vote this November 6th! The Harlem Prep Hawks sing their civic message loud and proud to the tune of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe."

A "Straight A" network, with 2,000 students across seven campuses in Harlem, NY and Camden, NJ, Democracy Prep is proving what is possible in urban education. We are preparing our responsible citizen-scholars to succeed in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. We hope they inspire YOU to Vote for Somebody! The scholars are hoping to get 100,000 views and likes, so please forward this to your friends and visit DemocracyPrep.org to learn more. Work Hard. Go To College. Change the World! Follow us @DemocracyPrep or visit http://www.democracyprep.org/

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VOTE FOR SOMEBODY
(Democracy Prep, Harlem, New York)

It’s time again now to speak
to what your nation needs
and time to challenge your beliefs.
The power is yours today.
So put your hands to the fight.
Start exercising your rights.
Debates are yours to ignite.
What do you have to say?
Blue Democrats and red Republicans want
Your support on tax and healthcare, but
Are you going to be persuaded?

VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!
So many ‘round the world
Long for democ-RA-cy.
So here’s YOUR reminder!
Vote FOR somebody!

VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody

So many ‘round the world
Long for democ-RA-cy.
So here’s YOUR reminder!
Vote FOR somebody!

VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!

How do you think we can solve
the issues facing us all
from JOBS to energy and war?
Tell me your reasons why.
You might say, “It’s just one vote.”
You might think you just don’t know.
The TRUTH is you’re really not alone.
Research the facts tonight.
Blue Democrats and red Republicans are
out trying to make a difference, but
HOW are you going to help them make it???

VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!

So many ‘round the world
Long for democ-RA-cy.
So here’s YOUR reminder!
Vote FOR somebody!

VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!
VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!

So many ‘round the world
Long for democ-RA-cy.
So here’s YOUR reminder!
Vote FOR somebody!

VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!

If you’re going to vote on November 6th
then put your hands up!
VOTE!
Voice your choice loud!
HAWKS!
Yeah, you’re a citizen now!
If you’re going to vote on November 6th
then put your hands up!
VOTE!
Voice your choice loud!
HAWKS!
Yeah, you’re a citizen now!
VOTE for Obama
or VOTE for Romney!
It’s your CIVIC duty!
Vote FOR somebody!

So many ‘round the world
LONG for democ-RA-cy.
So here’s YOUR reminder!
Vote FOR somebody!

[Wooo!] (This exclamation isn't a part of the song, but is the students' reaction to their performance of the song.)

This is my transcription from the text which is superimposed on the video screen. Additions and corrections are welcome.

EDITOR'S NOTES
Explanation For Certain Terms In The Lyrics
Blue = the color used to symbolize the United States Democratic party. "Red" = the color used to symbolize the United States Republican party.

**
“Hawks” is the school’s nickname and/or mascot.

The Purpose Of Teaching That Song To These Students
From https://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=EVkfNUxRh7g
Note: "Warning- YouTube comments may contain profanity, racist language, and/or other language that may be inappropriate for children".

As stated in the summary given by this video uploader, and as stated on this school's website, the central purpose of this song & video is to motivate adults to vote in the 2012 United States.

The following comment from this video's viewer comment thread reminds potential commenters that children may be reading those comments. This comment also responds to other comments found on that comment thread that criticize the school for teaching such a song, particularly because the song doesn't include any mention of other political parties in the USA besides the Democratic Party & the Republican Party.

"Little Eyes have access to these comments as well. As my mother always says, "If you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything at all".

Also, this was teamed with weekly ALL SCHOOL civics lessons so the kids at Democracy Prep get a well rounded education about all parts of government...not just the things that the teachers want them to learn. We teach the full story!
-PerformingArtsHPE, October 19, 2012
-snip-
The use of the pronoun "we" in the last sentence of this comment & the commenter's name infers that he or she is a teacher, or is otherwise affiliated with the Democracy Prep charter school.

My interpretation of this comment is that teaching & performing "Vote For Somebody" was a joint project of Democracy Prep charter school's Performing Arts (Music) and Civics departments.

For the record, it should be noted [no puns intented] that several commenters on that video's viewer comment thread took issue with the fact that the "Vote For Somebody" song only mentions the Democratic and Republican parties. Other commenters critized the fact that in the song President Obama's name was given before Governor Romney's name. And other commenters took issue with the fact that such a song was taught in school, calling teaching such a song "brainwashing". I vehemently disagree with those criticisms.

I applaud Democracy Prep charter school's teachers for creatively & effectively combining the subjects of Music & Civics. I also applaud the composer/s of this song and I applaud the producer/s of this video. I especially applaud these 4th grade students for the quality of their singing & for the joy that they showed in their performance of that "Vote For Somebody" song.

I'm glad to also document that several commenters to that video's viewer comment thread indicated that the "Vote For Somebody" song is being taught at other schools throughout the United States.

Singing Performance Styles
The 4th grade students of the Democracy Prep school wore uniforms - girls either wore jumpers & shirts, or shirts & pants, and boys wore shirts & pants. Students were seated in individual chairs in a classroom (the music classroom?) The song was performed to recorded instrumental music. The children swayed from side to side as they sung, and accompanied their singing with handclapping, with movements that mimicked specific words, and with dance-like movements.

Description Of & Comments About The Students’ Hair Styles
[These comments are for sociological record. I'm making no value judgments about these hairstyles. Additions and corrections are welcome.]

Most of the girls in this classroom are wearing their hair in a cornrows or micro braids*. Some of the girls who are wearing their hair in cornrows or micros have any beads attached to their braids.

A few girls wore their hair in two ponytails with or without ballies on the top or at the end of each ponytail. ("Ballies" is the colloquial term for rubber bands which have one small plastic ball on each end).

At least one girl wore multiple ponytails with the same colored rubber bands on them. Another girl wore multiple ponytails with a pattern of different colored rubberbands on each ponytail.

I also noticed one girl wore her hair in a ponytail with a bun on the top and a small ribbon piece in the front.

I also noticed one girl's hair was styled in a ponytail in the back with long side bangs.

One girl wore a colorful Muslim hair covering. Consequently, her hair wasn’t shown.

I believe that one of the girls in this video wore her hair loose (also known as "wearing your hair out").

Some girls had bangs.**

By the viewing the video, I wasn't able to determine which girls' hair was naturally or chemically straightened.*** It should be noted that the cornrow or micro hair style can be done with hair that is natural or hair that is straightened.

Most of (or all of?) the boys wore their hair shaved close to their heads. None of the children had any dreadlocks (dreads) or wore their hair in afros.

Notes:
* From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornrows
“Cornrows, also known as braids, are a traditional African style of hair grooming where the hair is braided very close to the scalp, using an underhand, upward motion to produce a continuous, raised row. Cornrows are often formed, as the name implies, in simple, straight lines, but they can also be formed in complicated geometric or curvilinear designs."
-snip-
Since at least the 1980s, cornrows or micros with beads of two or more colors appear to be a very popular hairstyle for African Americans girls from 2-12 years old. This style might also worn girls younger or older than that age. Sometimes hair extensions are added to make the hair longer. Those extensions are then braided and beaded.

"Micros" are a popular style of multiple long tiny braids. "Micros" are often made from store bought hair. These hair pieces are called "extensions". Here's some information about taking care of "micros":
From http://thirstyroots.com/braiding-hair/micro-braids
"Micros are a beautiful hairstyle but they can also be a little rough on your locks. A lot of people usually leave them in an average of three months. The longevity of your braids really all depends on who did your hair and how they did it. If they left them to loose the may start falling out immediately. Although the looser they are the better they are for your hair, because of the fact they are not pulling the locks so tightly. Like I said it depends on the skill set of the braider. He or she must no [sic] how to take care of your hair all while at the same time making it look good and giving you your moneys worth in longevity."
-snip-

** bangs = a short piece of a female’s hair which is worn over her forehead and usually curled

*** straightened hair = tightly curly hair that is loosened ened by using a perm, relaxer, hot comb, or a flat iron.

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RELATED LINK
Click for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNaR-rxAic for a video of Carly Rae Jepsen performing "Call Me Maybe".

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the students, teachers, and administration of Democracy Prep. Thanks also to those whose comments I quoted and to the uploader of this video.

Finally, thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.