Citizen Change Explained
Citizen Change is a political service group, founded in 2004 by musician P. Diddy, and backed by Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and 50 Cent.[1] The stated aim was to get young people and minorities to vote.[2]
History
The campaign's message, promoted on t-shirts and other things, is "Vote or Die!", a phrase adapted from Join, or Die, a well-known cartoon by Benjamin Franklin.
P. Diddy said at the time that its mission was to make voting "hot" and "sexy."[3] [4] The 2004 campaign included a line of "Vote or Die" t-shirts, an album, a voter registration push in cities and campuses nationwide, and commercials on such outlets as MTV and BET.[2]
2008 presidential election
P. Diddy invoked the phrase, "Obama or Die", at the BET Awards 2008.[5]
In pop culture
- In a South Park episode entitled "Douche and Turd", P. Diddy and his associates chase Stan Marsh around with weapons and literally threaten to kill him if he doesn't vote.
- In 2012, the "Vote or Die!" t-shirt concept was resurrected for the Democratic National Convention in the form of parody "Vote Obama" t-shirts.
Notes and References
- Web site: All aboard P. Diddy's political party plane . Today . 27 October 2004 . January 18, 2019.
- Web site: Silverman . Stephen P. . P. Diddy to Kids, Minorities: Vote or Die . People . January 18, 2019.
- News: Quart . Alissa . They're Not Buying It . The New York Times . 6 November 2004 . January 18, 2019.
- News: Vargas . Jose Antonio . Vote or Die? Well, They Did Vote . Washington Post . January 18, 2019.
- Web site: Elsworth . Catherine . P Diddy leads rapper 'shout out' for Barack Obama . The Telegraph . January 18, 2019.
