Toad reports from the campaign trail: Sorry this is a little late ya’ll, a funny thing happened to me on the way to Flatbush. Hopefully, everyone has read Tom Robbins’ August 28 Village Voice account of Obama’s Brooklyn visit already; if not, check it out here. At around the same time Tom was outside on Adams Street, behind closed doors Caribbean American Weekly reports:
Dr. Slinger Francisco, better known as “The Mighty Sparrow– Calypso King of The World,” on Wednesday August 22, 2007 endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama. The endorsement was given at a brief exclusive meeting at the Marriott Hotel. During the meeting, which was also attended by publisher and attorney, Brian Figueroux, community activists Gerry Hopkins and Jordan Thomas, and Trinidadian licensed process server Derrick Webster, the Mighty Sparrow also presented Sen. Obama with a cd of a calypso which he composed and recorded as a tribute to Obama.
The song gives an exposé which takes the listener through Barack’s humble beginnings and his rise to the top. The sharp lyrics, which are skillfully interwoven with a rhythmic, Caribbean melody, present Barack as a family man, a towering intellectual, a tremendous grassroots community leader and organizer and now a progressive Presidential candidate with a solid agenda for real comprehensive reforms. In more ways than one, this song captures the sentiment of many people interviewed by Caribbean-American Weekly. Like The Mighty Sparrow, who is of Grenadian/Trinidadian origin, most of those interviewed about their opinions are also of Caribbean-American descent.
Barack! Barack! He is fighting for openess and honesty in government
Barack– is doggedly defiant: phenomenal strength, and wisdom beyond comment
the chorus of the song states. The calypso single, “Barack The Magnificent,” is not yet available in record stores but can be heard on certain radio shows, such as “ICE: Immigration & Cultural Exposé” on WPAT 930 AM, aired every Saturday at 6 pm and at www.thenegroworldinc.com.
