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Hip Hop Caucus Climate Change Tour Coming To Central State

The Hip Hop Caucus Act on Climate Campus Tour will stop at Central State University on Wednesday. The purpose of the tour is to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on black communities.

Ten years ago, rap music stars Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Russell Simmons and Jay Z put together the Hip Hop Caucus to help young people become more engaged in the political process. The Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. now leads the organization.

Yearwood says the Caucus is looking to lift up voices in support of political action on climate change.

"People have put things in our communities that have been toxins, from landfills to dog food companies," Yearwood said. "You know, things that later on we would find out caused cancer and asthma and other problems. We want those companies to be regulated. We want to know what's coming out of those smokestacks."

Yearwood believes using the culture involved with the Hip Hop Caucus is an effective way to get younger members of the African-American community motivated to speak out on climate change.

"Hip for us means to inform and hop means to get folks to move to action and caucus means together," he said.

After Wednesday's event at Central State, The Hip Hop Caucus Climate Change Tour will visit five other historical black college and university campuses.