After Fighting For Troy Davis, Activist Turns Focus To Elections

This Black History Month, we honor the GAME CHANGERS: Everyday heroes whose actions make life better for the people around them. SEE ALL OUR GAME CHANGERS HERE.

——————————-

Rashad Robinson

Age: 33

Place of Residence: New York, N.Y.

Why he is a local hero: As the new head of Color of Change, Robinson is responsible for helping to challenge the messages coming out of the media during this crucial 2012 presidential election.

SEE ALSO: White House Director of Black Media Gives Community Presidential Access

Whether fighting to save the life of Troy Davis or helping to force clemency for Kelley Williams-Bolar, the Ohio woman jailed for sending her child to a school outside of her district, Robinson has had his hands full since taking the reigns from Color of Change founder James Rucker in May.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_i-ru_42_Q%5D

Robinson, who previously served as senior director of media programs for GLAAD, planned to “dive in feet first.”

“We are dealing with a cultural landscape that is showing Black people as criminals on a regular basis,” says Robinson. “It’s not that every image has to be ‘The Cosbys,’ but right now we are dealing more with ‘Atlanta Housewives.’”

The images depicted from the media impact how people view the world. When Donald Trump was garnering news coverage for saying some very over-the-top things about President Barack Obama last year, Robinson and Color of Change struck back. Robinson called on “Celebrity Apprentice” contestants Star Jones and Lil Jon to speak out against Trump, organizing a Twitter push to pressure the pair to speak out.

“We’ve gotten a lot of people tweeting. (They) can’t have a relationship with the Black community and have a relationship with Trump and not call him out for his actions….They’ve remained in silence and now it is time for them to speak up,” said Robinson.

Now Color of Change is on a mission to stop attempts to change voter identification laws by the conservative group American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Color of Change is targeting the companies that support ALEC.