Samson Styles “Locked Out: Ex-Con’s & The Vote” to air on BET on 8/29

Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008

PR - BET's "Official Street Cat" Samson Styles presents "Locked Out: Ex-Con's & The Vote", airing Friday, August 29th @ 11:30pm. Samson Styles; writer, producer, and correspondent for BET News, takes an investigative look at disenfranchisement policies (felons & their voting rights) that have marginalized millions of African-Americans. Although some debate exists as to whether there remains racist intent in our country's criminal justice practices, there is no question that certain policies adversely affect the Black community more than any other group in America. Nearly half the prison population is African-American, and one in eight Black men is ineligible to vote because of varying levels of involvement within the system.

In what is undoubtedly another historic election year with Barrack Obama being the first African-American presidential elect in history, the nation continues its ongoing discussion about the power of the Black vote. BET's "Official Street Cat" Samson Styles investigates how these laws continue to affect our numbers at the polls. As one of the 5.3 million people in America who has lost the right to vote due to a criminal conviction, Samson sets out on a journey to regain his own voting rights, explore the state-to-state differences of disenfranchisement laws, and investigate the national effects of such legislature.

Disenfranchisement policies affect not just the individuals who have lost the right to vote but entire communities. Communities with large numbers of convicted felons have a significant disadvantage because many of the members are excluded, or at the very least, discouraged from participating in the political, civil, and social spheres of community life.

Samson Styles "Locked Out" provides an in depth look and exposes the truth behind the disenfranchisement policies. As we move closer to election time, the importance of every vote grows. Don't sit back and watch this country make a change. Be a part of the change!! Start by watching "Locked Out: Ex-Con's & The Vote" this Friday on BET at 11:30pm!!! This is a special that you don't want to miss!!!