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Jackson and Sharpton know their days are numbered if Obama wins. There days of blame playing and claiming a leadership role they don't have is will be over and their pockets empty.
I'm sorry but I think this statement arises from a common misconception about the "Black community" and about "Black Leaders." I was listening to Al Sharpton's show today on XM Radio and he, possibly by accident, stated something that actually puts this entire issue into perspective. He basically said that Obama is not a civil rights leader.
I'm not sure he realised just how powerful a testament that was to Obama's image. In the past (perhaps up until the 1980s), Blacks could be said to have a "community" that consisted of a largely shared set of values and goals, and a common sense of being in a "struggle" against the dominant culture. As part of this, well-known people were identified as spokespersons for the "community" (e.g., Jackson and Sharpton). When each of them ran for president, they could be described as racial advocates/civil rights activists/Black leaders running for an office that would allow them a higher podium from which to continue their role as a leader in this "struggle."
Because Obama has the appearance of a Black man and self-identifies as African-American and is running for that same office, some people have viewed him in the same light. However, as Sharpton stated, Obama is not a civil rights activist. Furthermore, he has never proclaimed himself a "Black leader" who would finally bring a sense of social justice to African-Americans. Moreover, 21st century Blacks in the U.S. are so diverse in culture, that it is more difficult to continue describing our collective as "the black community."
I said all this to (finally) make this point: You're right in that Jackson and Sharpton no longer hold prominent positions as "leaders in the black community." However, I'm not sure either of them fears (or should fear) losing status to Obama, as he does not seek to continue, further, or take over anything either of them ever started. Obama is the current Democratic candidate for POTUS 2008, and just happens to be African-American. That is not to say that his ethnicity should be discounted. It just is not a platform on which he is running; nor does his ethnicity drive his stated political goals. This is one of the major differences between him and the Jackson-Sharpton types.
As for Jackson's derogatory remarks, he cut his own by remarking on the cutting of Obama's.
I thnik Jackson is basically a has been leader along with sharpton. Their porblem is that they can't relate to anyone that is not blck;which puts them o the fringe of politics really. Obama doen't have to worry about waht jackson thinks because even with blacks he brought out more voters than anyone has been able to. Jackson and sharpton were two that at first opposed Obama because he was not from the civil rights leadership which they thought would be the first balck president. Then they saw him doing something they never could;so jumped on the bandwagon so to speak.Its all power and politics in the end.
I'm sorry but I think this statement arises from a common misconception about the "Black community" and about "Black Leaders." I was listening to Al Sharpton's show today on XM Radio and he, possibly by accident, stated something that actually puts this entire issue into perspective. He basically said that Obama is not a civil rights leader.
I'm not sure he realised just how powerful a testament that was to Obama's image. In the past (perhaps up until the 1980s), Blacks could be said to have a "community" that consisted of a largely shared set of values and goals, and a common sense of being in a "struggle" against the dominant culture. As part of this, well-known people were identified as spokespersons for the "community" (e.g., Jackson and Sharpton). When each of them ran for president, they could be described as racial advocates/civil rights activists/Black leaders running for an office that would allow them a higher podium from which to continue their role as a leader in this "struggle."
Because Obama has the appearance of a Black man and self-identifies as African-American and is running for that same office, some people have viewed him in the same light. However, as Sharpton stated, Obama is not a civil rights activist. Furthermore, he has never proclaimed himself a "Black leader" who would finally bring a sense of social justice to African-Americans. Moreover, 21st century Blacks in the U.S. are so diverse in culture, that it is more difficult to continue describing our collective as "the black community."
I said all this to (finally) make this point: You're right in that Jackson and Sharpton no longer hold prominent positions as "leaders in the black community." However, I'm not sure either of them fears (or should fear) losing status to Obama, as he does not seek to continue, further, or take over anything either of them ever started. Obama is the current Democratic candidate for POTUS 2008, and just happens to be African-American. That is not to say that his ethnicity should be discounted. It just is not a platform on which he is running; nor does his ethnicity drive his stated political goals. This is one of the major differences between him and the Jackson-Sharpton types.
As for Jackson's derogatory remarks, he cut his own by remarking on the cutting of Obama's.
I agree with your points and would say that Obama is exposing this to the nation and thus the need for Jackson and Sharpton as spokespersons is going bye bye.
I agree with your points and would say that Obama is exposing this to the nation and thus the need for Jackson and Sharpton as spokespersons is going bye bye.
Jackson and Sharpton rightfully have established their social justice platform here in America and if their platform is social justice for their own people, so be it. If Obama is about change for all Americans, that is wonderful as well. We need to stop discrediting these men for the hard work that they all have done while being citizens here in America. They have done more than most of us will ever do or have had the desire to do. Like the newscaster mentioned this morning-all of this should play down within 24 hours and I think we have reached are limits talking about this unfortunate event.
Jackson and Sharpton rightfully have established their social justice platform here in America and if their platform is social justice for their own people, so be it. If Obama is about change for all Americans, that is wonderful as well. We need to stop discrediting these men for the hard work that they all have done while being citizens here in America. They have done more than most of us will ever do or have had the desire to do. Like the newscaster mentioned this morning-all of this should play down within 24 hours and I think we have reached are limits talking about this unfortunate event.
First, I'm not old enough to know the "young" Jesse Jackson and his association with MLK. Maybe he was useful back then.
I guess I see it from a different view. I've grown up in NY, and remember the old Hymietown comment. To me Sharpton is nothing but a scam artist. Both he and Jackson , to my view, are extortionists who blackmail companies into giving into their "charities".
I would be quite happy to see the professional demise of these charlatans. I guess I just haven't seen the hard work that you speak of. I've just seen them misleading people as being perpetual victims while they were lining their pockets.
What is satisfying is seeing that across the board both sides of the political aisle see this as affirmation that Jackson is a jerk.
I agree 100%! What is so sad is that it takes someone like Obama to get people to be brave enough to state the obvious, Jackson is a jerk and is only out for his 15 minutes of fame. I will have to say that one good thing will be that all these types, Jackson, Sharpton, etc.. will quickly become irrelevant is Obama is elected.
What I really want to know is, what was on the rest of the tape?
I had a 3 hour car ride last night, so I popped O'Reilly on in my sat radio to hear this, and he said something to the effect of "And we are not out to get Mr. Jackson, we are not even playing the entire tape, which has much more damaging statements on it".
(Yes, I listened to O'Reilly, I took a long shower crying in the corner scrubbing myself w/ Brillo when I got home)
We all know you Obama supporters are closet O'Reilly listeners.
Jesse Jackson says Obama talks down to blacks. Hey Jesse, he's talks down to everybody. Join the crowd.
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