Public enemy co-founder Chuck D and founder of Hip Hop 4 Peace Tina Marie Tyler is among the honorees for the upcoming Rap 4 Peace: A Hip-Hop Gun Violence Awareness Conference & Gala. The event will be held on National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 2) at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California.
For their volunteerism and contributions to peacebuilding, the evening's honorees will receive the President's Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award. Hip Hop 4 Peace (HH4Peace) is launching the conference and gala in partnership with the UNESCO Peace Center and the United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations.
In the comments given to Advertising sign, Tyler says in part, “Racial disparity in gun homicides has plagued Black and Hispanic communities for decades. Change begins with dialogue to better identify the causes of gun violence and how we as a community can bring about meaningful change. This award is truly humbling as many people are doing amazing things in communities across America. This conference will examine the issue of trauma as an underlying cause of gun violence in black, Hispanic, and vulnerable communities. Hip hop was born out of historical and systemic trauma and serves as both a healing mechanism and a catalyst for change. Peace is the foundation of hip-hop culture.”
Echoing Tyler's sentiments, Chuck D says Advertising sign, “I am just one of many people in this movement and all of them should be recognized for their contributions. To me, awards are like notches on a yardstick that show us how far we've come and how far we still have to go. This nation's normalized behavior of gun violence is not normal. Hip hop can and should lead the way to bring peace to our neighborhoods.”
According to a recent study published by Brady United, black people make up 14% of the US population, but account for 60% of those killed by gun homicide each year. Gun violence is also the leading cause of death for black teenagers.
“As we work to reduce gun homicides, especially in black and vulnerable communities, we use this opportunity to discuss issues, solutions and honor those who make peace a priority,” Guy Djoken said in a press release announcing the upcoming Rap 4 Peace. : A Hip-Hop Gun Violence Awareness Conference & Gala. Djoken is president of the United States Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations and executive director of the UNESCO Center for Peace.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/rap-4-peace-honor-chuck-d-tina-marie-tyler-1235666010/
