ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Tezlyn Figaro speak on stage during Day 3 of Revolt World at Pangea Studios on September 22, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta VoiceJust one year ago, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs could be seen in Atlanta surrounded by a throng of security guards parting the sea of REVOLT WORLD festival attendees as he shouted “Love! Love!” at fans. The love is no more. When video of Combs assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Fine (formerly Ventura) in a hotel hallway surfaced this summer, Combs stepped down as chairman of REVOLT, the media company he launched in 2013.Now, less than a week after Combs’ arrest on federal racketeering charges, REVOLT WORLD is back, their coffers buoyed by corporate sponsorships from the likes of Pepsi and State Farm. REVOLT WORLD attendees were invited to play games in the Mountain Dew-sponsored gaming center or visit the Wal-Mart “Shout Out” tent.Perhaps with this rebrand in mind and an election just 42 days away, this year’s REVOLT WORLD programming included several panels with a political bent. Tez on Ten, a REVOLT show hosted by political analyst Tezlyn Figaro, recruited Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds and outspoken civil rights activist, Louisiana’s Gary Chambers Jr., to serve as surrogates for the Republican and Democrat platforms, respectively. ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) speaks on stage during Day 3 of Revolt World at Pangea Studios on September 22, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta VoiceDonalds has increasingly aimed to position himself as an advocate for former United States President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the Black community, an interesting placement in a heated election year where polls indicate that many Black Americans – traditionally a heavily Democratic voting block – are increasingly considering other options.The informal debate, moderated by Tezlyn, yielded several heated moments around charter schools, inflation, minimum wage, and police brutality. During one exchange, in which Chambers challenged Donalds on the coronavirus death rate in Florida, Donalds’ response was given an impromptu fact-checking by a curious attendee: none other than journalist Roland Martin. Donalds credited Trump with keeping businesses afloat with PPP loans during the pandemic, and Chambers responded with a civics lesson, explaining that the funds were allocated by the Democratic Congress. According to Chambers, Trump only delayed the process by insisting that the checks be signed with his name.Both men were firm in articulating their respective points, and pointedly avoided shaking hands or any other polite formalities. The audience – modest numbers on a Sunday morning – largely seemed to respond to Chambers’ Democratic appeal, while a handful of vocal members sided with Donalds.Gary Chambers Jr. wrapped things up with an appeal on behalf of Harris and the Democratic ticket: “I can’t list all of the things that Donald Trump did that were detrimental to Black people. But I can tell you that if you go to [Gary Chambers Jr. on social media] there’s a post about fifteen moments and the judges he’s appointed and the impact they have on you.” Chambers told attendees that they don’t need to “fall in love” with Harris, simply analyze her policies and understand that they are designed to benefit the working class, not the wealthy. He continued: “Talk to your cousins. There’s a false narrative that my good brother [Byron Donalds] tries to carry out there that Black men are going to the other side. Eighty-plus percent of Black men have voted on the right side, protecting their humanity, protecting their pockets, and advancing their communities. Black people cannot put our humanity on the shelf for our pocketbook because they will kill you on the street like a dog and then you’ll call somebody like me to help get you justice. So […] listen to the people who fight for you every day.”The post REVOLT WORLD debate attempts to clear the air about the Black vote appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.