♣ Leroy Moore:
Keith you are many things Hip-Hop artist, advocate, father
and now you are going into politics. Tell us your recent
goals and projects.
Keith Jones: Well, my goals are quite simple at this stage
of my life. The goals are to continue to strive to be a
good father and continue to work on issues that are
important to me. As far as projects, I have begun to really
focus on putting together a solid team and running an
effective and successful campaign for the U.S. Senate.
♣ LM: How many
CDs have you put out and what is your latest?
KJ: Well, in my illustrious career (tongue firmly in
cheek), I have recorded two cds and the latest one, which
will be my last, is called “Vocal Tai Chi”. Two of the
tracks off of the cd have been featured on Krip-Hop Volumes
1 and 2.
♣ LM: Where does
the name Fezo and your other names you use come from?
KJ: The name has been around for almost as long as I have
been into hip-hop. It is actually an acronym from “back in
the day” and I came up with it visiting my grandparents in
the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
After listening to Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack and Cool DJ Red
Alert, and the deciding I wanted to be an emcee. I felt I
needed a name that was different from everybody else that
also represented how “dope” I was. Hence FEZO, (F*ckin’ EZ
to Obliterate suckers). I’ve had that name for almost three
decades –that’s a long time.
♣ LM: What is
your responds to the hip-hop industry when it comes to
artists with disabilities?
KJ: I don’t have one. The industry much like society in
general has a schism towards people with disabilities. The
reason I am and have remained unsigned is because they
“didn’t know how to market me.” This is indicative of a
larger issue – there is uneasiness around disability and
what talents and contributions does the individuals have to
offer. So in that sense, I don’t think the industry will
“take a chance” on a hip-hop artist who is a person with a
disability until and unless their attitudes change.
♣ LM: We met face
to face at the DNC in 2004 and now you are exploring a
political run for the Senate why? And as a Black disabled
man what do you bring to the political arena?
KJ: Why run? Because as a person concerned about the state
and the future of the country. I believe that there has
been a systematic consolidation of power and at the same
time an ignoring of the really critical issues facing us as
a country. For example, the recent report from the IRS that
21.2% of the nations wealth is controlled by 1% of the
nation’s population. The fact that there is virtually no
parity in quality or access to health-care, and that as a
country this will be the first time that the succeeding
generation has the prospect of doing worse than generation
before it. And this on top of a war that needs to and
should end.
And as a Black man with a disability I am under no
illusions about what this journey will entail. The only
thing I can anticipate is that I am intent on affecting
change. I know that people may look at this endeavor as a
lofty goal to obtain. I can’t help their impression of what
a candidate should or must look like. I do believe however,
that I could either complain about those making the
decision or participate in the democracy as it’s
advertised. Or I can wait for the repercussions. What I
bring to the race is a perspective that no other candidate
has. A perspective on the “promise of America” and its
“reality.”
The promise that America has and offers for some is
everything they could have imagined. For others it’s almost
but not quite. And there are those for whom it isn’t at
all. I am not convinced that a candidate speaking focused
group tested ideas is the answer this time. People want the
truth this time – I know I do. I want that promise to be
kept.
♣ LM: Your state
elected the first Black Governor. Have you followed his
action and what do you think about his policies?
KJ: I pay attention to the policies along with the
philosophy that guides him. I think he has a unique
challenge before him. He has to for better or worst do what
he said he intended to do as well as, be forever vigilant
that he is governing for all. Do I agree with everything?
No. Do I believe he is governing for the entire
Commonwealth? Yes.
♣ LM: Discuss
your political platform and the people that make up your
supporters.
KJ: The platform of “Fulfilling America’s Promise”, is
centered on Promoting along developing policies and
legislation that: Support the workers of the Commonwealth
and the country to earn a “living wage;” this done with a
goal of stimulating a much fairer approach to equitable
sustained economic growth.
Support equal and fair access to affordable health care,
regardless of urban or rural dwelling, in the Commonwealth
and the nation as a whole. Also, for those who have a need
for governmental assistance; particularly seniors veterans
children persons with disabilities and, families and
individuals who are under insured.
Support the funding of public education in order to close
the achievement gap; modernizing schools, recruiting and
retaining talented people to the profession. All to
guarantee our publicly educated students are some of the
best prepared in the world.
Ensure that ALL citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation
are afforded their constitutional rights and protections,
including the right to vote, to choose, and to marry.
As for supporters, they aren’t what one would consider
typical for this type of candidacy.. The supporters cut
across all demographics and, that at this point is a very
good indication that people still believe in the promise of
America.
♣ LM: Last
Congressional election there were many disabled candidates
running but few got media attention. What would you do in
your campaign to have the media cover you?
KJ: I have a very talented team who are committed executing
in every phase of the campaign – including attracting media
coverage. But as I stated earlier, I am under no illusions.
However, this is an era where user generated content sites
and non-traditional outlets can be an entree to larger
media outlets. Also, I know if this campaign appears to be
even slightly “not ready for prime-time.” It will be very
difficult if not impossible to be seen as having a viable
campaign – especially due to the unorthodox nature of me as
a candidate. So, I am going to focus in the campaign on
controlling what we can control and if we do that we will
be right were we should be on November 5th 2008.
♣ LM: What party
are you running under and what is your view on political
parties when it comes to race, poverty, people with
disabilities and gays and lesbians?
KJ: I am running as an Independent/third party. In terms of
the political parties and their stances related to
race, poverty,
people with disabilities and gays and lesbians, the answers
lie in their actions towards these groups. America as well
as the political
parties have yet to engage in real and earnest dialog about
the existence of racism; homophobia, classism or ableism.
If you don’t engage or at least acknowledge that there are
people in this country for whom those isms are all too
real. That being the case, how can they understand or
address the effects policy or, the effects socio-economic
upward mobility. As a person who is among and advocate for
these groups, I would say neither party has, really tackle
the issues that have led to and perpetuate disparities for
minorities, the poor,
people with disabilities and gays and lesbians. Which is
why I am running outside the two party system.
♣ LM: Will you
continue to do your cultural work if you win?
KJ: Of course, the only thing I probably wont do is shop
for a record deal. But then again you never know.
♣ LM: What are
the top ten concerns of people in Mass?
KJ: At this stage there are a lot of issues facing the
Commonwealth much like the rest of country. Some of the
more pressing issues: Affordable housing, The Economy,
Heath Care, Home Foreclosures, Taxes and, Education. This
includes highly charged issues like what to do about the
undocumented residents ending the Iraq War, making
communities safer, environmental concerns as well as, the
dealing with the state’s nearly $1 billion budget deficit
Also, there are issues that are very particular to each
region of the state for example the proposed “Cape Wind”
project in Nantucket Sound. The commonwealth has its own
unique challenges and its own way of developing solutions
to those challenges.
♣ LM: You were in
a documentary. Tell us more.
KJ: The documentary is called “Including
Samuel “. The film was
done by Dan Habib whose son has a disability. Mr. Habib
when he asked me if I would like to be involved said he
wanted to show how he and his family include Samuel in all
facets of school and community. What I found even more
important was his desire to paint an accurate picture of
life as a family. And what that family faces when
confronted with society’s reactions to the family member
with a disability. The film, “Including
Samuel” also features
other families teachers, young people, parents and
disability rights experts.
♣ LM: I saw you
make music with your feet in the studio please tell our
readers how do you do that.
KJ: Well, it is a result of my disability limiting the
dexterity of my hands. So, when your hands fail you use
your feet and that’s what I do. There’s n special equipment
needed. I put the MPC on the floor and go for what I know.
I use my feet not only to make music but also to write type
draw and cook, if I’m hungry enough. I cant say when or how
I started to do things in that way. My grandmother said
that I “just started doing it.” There were no classes. No
training – I just did it.
♣ LM: As a Black
disabled advocate what is your view on the aftermath of
Katrina?
KJ: Honestly, as disturbed and upset as I was and still am
– I cant say I was surprised. Whether its perception or
reality, the facts speak for themselves. It was the poorest
of the poor who were neglected and this was in a city where
poverty among its disabled and African-American population
ran well above the nation average. So, if you take that and
compound it with non-existent emergency planning and what
to me was and is a complete disregard of those who are in
need how can you be surprised at the ongoing issues around
Katrina and Rita and Gulf Coast recovery. I do however
think that as a Senator I can and will deal with the
apparent anemic efforts placed on disaster response and
recovery. Around that same time there were flooding issues
that struck parts of Massachusetts that had an equally
devastating effect. And some of those same issues arose.
Like how do you evacuate the elderly and disabled citizens
who require assistance? How can we continue to allow
insurance companies to not honor their policies? And, what
is the role of government in help people rebuild their
lives and communities?
♣ LM: Where can
people go to keep up with your campaign?
KJ: People will have a chance to follow the campaign via
our website http://KJ-08.COM/ . We will also have a you
tube channel that allows people to submit homemade ads that
may get used during the campaign along with telling us what
are the issues that they want to hear discussed. As much as
it is about the candidate it really is about the people it
has always been about the people.
♣
LM:
What is the biggest issue in the Black community in MA?
KJ: Again, much like the Black community in rest of the
country, the issues are centered around the ability to “get
a fair shot”. This applies to the standards of education,
the ability to work and earn a “living wage” and grappling
with the myriad of socio-economic issues facing our
community. I might add that these issues and their
ramifications reach far beyond the Black community and,
they effect the Commonwealth and the country.
♣
LM:
What is the next step for the Disability Rights Movement
and Black disabled community?
KJ: The next step is a quite simple – get and stay
politically active and involved. Also, make sure that if
the leaders who claim to represent you don’t then either
find one that does. Or, better yet become the leader you
want.
♣ LM: Any last
words?
KJ: People need to retake the power of their government.
Get involved. Be active. Vote for the candidate based on
the issues. And if you live in Massachusetts and you want
to hear and learn more about me and the issues I care about
go to the website to set up town hall meetings, house
parties, or other events.