Lennox Yearwood
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Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. is an American minister, activist, and hip hop connoisseur. He has served as a White House intern under President Bill Clinton and currently serves as CEO of the Hip-Hop Caucus (H2C) in Washington, D.C..
The Hip Hop Caucus is a national and international coalition of hip-hop, pop-culture, social and political organizations, community-based organizations, youth leadership organizations, and individuals who believe in the collective power of persons born after 1964. The Hip-Hop Caucus was established to provide a comprehensive agenda for the Hip-Hop community both domestically and abroad. The Caucus’ programs promote social and political equality in the areas of Economics, Education, HealthCare, Housing, and Justice.
Reverend Yearwood was the National Grassroots and Political Director for the Russell Simmons’ Hip Hop Summit Action Network, and was a Senior Consultant for P. Diddy’s Citizen Change, and Jay Z’s Voice Your Choice, where he provided a national template for engaging the Hip-Hop generation in community-building dialogues. He was also the founder of Hip Hop Voices, a subsidiary of Voices for Working Families (AFL-CIO), and the Hip Hop U.N., which is a coalition of all the Hip Hop Political organizations throughout the world. During the 2004 Presidential election, Rev Yearwood created, along with Russell Simmons and Jonathan Lewis, the first ever Hip Hop Team Vote Bus Tour, to ensure that young people were challenging the established political order in a most profound and substantive manner.
In addition, Reverend Yearwood is the Chairman of the Board for E.G.O.S (Education, Goals, Opportunities, and Sports) United Inc., and Helping the Homeless of the World Inc., as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the Progressive Democrats of America, ROOT Inc., Industry Ears, and is on the steering committee for UP (United Progressives) for Democracy, and United for Peace and Justice Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq.
After Pat Robertson called for the assassination of the democratically elected leader of Venezuela, Rev. Yearwood, Christian Leaders and other members of the Faith Community held a vigil and press conference on August 27th, 2005. The group demanded an FCC investigation of the Christian Broadcasting Network and insisted that Robertson and CBN apologize directly to President Chavez and the Venezuelan people.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, on September 19th, 2005 Hip Hop Artist, David Banner, joined forces with fellow artists and Rev. Yearwood for “Heal the Hood.” The event was held in New York City at B.B. King’s to raise money for survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
On October 5th, 2005 Rev. Yearwood protested outside of the offices of William Bennett. The protest was in response to his statements where he called for the abortion of all black children as a remedy to crime.
On November 7th, 2005 Rev. Yearwood organized a March on Gretna. The March was formed to bring attention to the travesty that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina where people of color were not permitted to cross the bridge into the city of Gretna. Congressional leaders, students, activist and others walked over the Crescent Bridge with police escorts and successfully demanded access to the city.
Beginning on December 1st and running until December 10th, 2005 Rev. Yearwood helped to organize a “Save Tookie Williams” campaign to ask the California state governor and appropriate courts to save the life of the Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
Katrina Survivors testified before Congress on December 6th, 2005 under the organization of Rev. Yearwood and Cynthia McKinney. Rev. Yearwood also worked with various Republican members of Congress to facilitate the testimonies.
Along with the People’s Hurricane Relief Fund, Rev. Yearwood participated in a March in New Orleans on December 9th-10th, 2005 to demand a right to return for Hurricane Katrina survivors.
On December 14th, 2005 Rev. Yearwood organized a protest at the FEMA Office against the decision to evict Hurricane Katrina survivors from their temporary housing locations. More than 50 protestors rallied outside FEMA Headquarters followed by a symbolic march to Capitol Hill where a FEMA Hearing was being held.
On February 15th, 2006, he was escorted out of the Katrina Hearings in Congress after he vocalized his disgust about non-action.
On March 14th, 2006 Rev. Yearwood organized another protest and Press Conference at the US Capitol against the decision to evict Hurricane Katrina survivors from their temporary housing locations and to demand passing of H.R. 4197. More than 500 protestors rallied outside the US Capitol followed by a march to White House.
Rev. Yearwood is a graduate of the University of the District of Columbia, a predominately Black and Latino public university, and the Howard University Divinity School, part of the historically Black university. He was the Student Government President at both schools.
