Yeah Jesse Jackson Messed UP...But He Still Speaks for US!!

First, I need to preface my comments by reiterating that I am a huge Obama fan and will be voting for him come November and that I love it when we can talk openly and honestly about issues like this.Jackson supported Obama in his bid for the Illinois State Senate seat and he was onboard for Obama’s presidential bid before Obama had any name recognition or the head of steam he has now…For too long we have sat in front of our TV’s and just accepted the information that was being spouted without a deeper grasp of the “game” that is the media. And for too long we as Black folk have watched as white-owned and operated and spearheaded media groups have fed us a very biased account. We know this and complain about it to ourselves and in barbershops and during family discussions over Thanksgiving dinner but in situations like this, where Jackson, admittedly, made some very crude and downright mean comments on a “hot mic” that were not meant for public consumption about a candidate that we as a people believe in and has our full support, Black leaders do not get the benefit of the doubt from Black people. (Unity btw that is rarely seen by Blacks on a mass scale in this country since before I was born). When I say we KNOW that the media is biased towards Blacks what I mean is…we KNOW that mainstream Black thought has no avenue to be heard on TV. We are not the headliner of any mainstream show (ie Olbermann, Chris Mathews, Bill-O, Sean “Insannity” Hannity and the like) and it is rare that you hear a Black person that is not giving their stamp of approval to the notion of white supremacy and nodding their head in concert with a more conservative way of thinking (ie Rev Eugene Rivers, Juan Williams, Lee Elder, Armstrong Williams, Rev Joe Watkins and the like) I know…I know…get to the point Bruce….OK here it is… How many of you have really thought about the fact that these comments were recorded on a “hot mic” on Fox News (a notoriously right-wing network that has been out to dismiss and defame Jackson for years) By no means am I excusing Jackson’s comments but I think a real critique must be levied on a news network that has consistently shown Blacks in a negative light. This same network (Fox News & Sean Hannity) got snippets of Jeremiah Wright’s speeches and looped it for 6 weeks straight and in the process really hurt Obama’s stance among white-americans and could have cost him the nomination or better yet the presidency that we want him to have so desparately. In that 6 week period Jeremiah Wright stood mute and without comment but where was the outrage in the Black community about how those, other-wise true statements by Wright, were used as a wedge to white-America? It was only after Wright stood up for himself, his community and his church did Blacks show any fury…and guess where they aimed their fury…at Jeremiah Wright…. for speaking his mind about this racist society…not the systematically racist media that refused to give Wright’s comments any context. So who is exhibiting the crabs in a barrel syndrome? How many of you have heard Jackson speak on the need for personal responsibility of Black fathers and the Black community? I have. How many of you have heard Jackson give his unwavering supprt to Obama before anyone including members of the Congressional Black Congress did? I did. How many of you understand his broader point which is…that Barack has spoken to Black constituencies ONLY on topics which placate white-america (i.e. the issue of responsibility of Black fathers but he is reticent to discuss how government should have a role in righting generational wrongs or governments role in creating an urban policy that will help big cities or governments role in affirmative action or reparations (whether it be free schooling, or a check or an entreprenuerial tax break for Black businesses)). My point is…in order for Obama to win the presidency he must be Black enough to get our support but not too Black to alienate whites (We all know this) The FACT that he has to walk this tightrope, to me, makes it clear that this country continues on its same racist trajectory. When have we ever asked white canidiates to not be too white as not to alienate us? We don’t. These same white candidates rarely speak to our issues or our interests but we vote for them anyway. Jackson understands this political game and is making the point that Obama needs to speak to our issues like he speaks to Latino issues, Jewish issues, white-working class issues, Gay issues etc.. Don’t we deserve that??I must say this too. There seems, to me, to be a more sinister work at play here. In every newscast I have heard there seems to be a running theme of how there is some rivalry or jealousy brewing in the Black community between Obama and Jackson. Old thinking vs new ideology. There seems to be a need to put us against each other whether it be Obama vs Jackson or Jackson vs Sharpton or Farakhan vs Obama or Bill Cosby vs Michael Eric Dyson etc.. Let me be the first to say there is no rivalry in Black America. There may be a difference of opinion ideologically but there is no rivalry. All of these leaders want the best for Black America. They all believe in Black responsibility, Black self-reliance and a higher moral standard but they also should believe in the role of government, to which you and I pay our tax dollars, to uplift our community socially and economically. BOTH/AND not EITHER/OR. Just becasue we went to Howard and we root against Morehouse at Homecoming doesn’t mean we don’t have love for them on the Yard, right? The idea that some of you are “tired of the old school “so-called” civil rights leaders of yesterday who are full of $%^&” is frankly demeaning and mean spirited. If you don’t agree that Jackson should have made the comments then say that (I agree by the way) but to defame his character goes a bit too far. This is the same man who has continually spoken out for our community and like it or not we stand on his shoulders. It is precisely because of the “old civil rights leaders” that you and I have the positions that we have today. And just like we stand on their shoulders, Obama stands on Frederick Douglas’ and Shirley Chisolm’s and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton’s collective shoulders. If there is any jealousy on Jackson’s part he should be ashamed. But the fact remains, I don’t see that as a reality considering his very early and steadfast support of the campaign from its inception. These are the same folk that marched, bled, died and saw their counterparts assasinated for the specific purpose of uplifting Black people. I will always LISTEN to my elders even if, in the end, we disagree. We atleast owe them that.I think it is clear that we must look for media that tells our stories from our unique point of view and that has not been historically negligent and biased to our history. I urge all of you seek out Black talk radio like Sharpton’s nationally syndicated show, Warren Ballentine’s and Joe Madison’s nationally syndicated shows. All of these shows can be heard on XM radio and Sirius is another good option as well.I love the discussion and I think it is our duty to bounce ideas off of each other. The discussion is the main thing. Let me know what you think…. Much love Black people…

Rev Jeremiah Wright Had No Choice... (written April 30, 2008)

I am a strong Obama supporter and have donated to his campaign. A first for me for any political campaign. I am not saying that Wright SHOULD have come now or that I disagree that he may hurt Obama in the eyes of power hungry or fear-filled whites. Or that I don't see how the "game" of politics is played. I see it quite clearly. But as an Obama supporter it strikes me as weird that WE have accepted the talking points of the Right and Hil herself. WE are blaming Wright for an attack that he did NOT start nor will he finish. It didn't matter if Wright came out now or later...the damage to Obama had already been done by the Right and Hil as evidenced by soundbites they created, the month long controversy that did not go away and was not going away as evidenced by the RNC in NC and the statements that the Right was making as to how they were going to use Wright in the general election against Obama. And this was BEFORE Wright came out to defend himself. And WE have no righteous indignation against the starters of this controversy rather WE would instead blame the Black man for defending himself. I call that self-hate. What about you? I guess they got us playing their game...on their terms. And by definition we can't win that game...they won't let us!Why is it that the Black man (Wright) has to make some political calculation when he is not a politician. He is a Pastor motivated and held accountable by God. Why should the Black man (Obama) have to cajole and equivocate to appease the masses of "fear-driven" whites by distancing himself from Wright when this country does not ask its white presidential candidates to do the same (ie McCain & Hagee or Clinton and her pastor who has publicly supported Wright). I laugh when I hear these commentators now (both Right wing zealots and proposed Left wing progressives who played those out of context loops of Wright's sermon ad nauseum for the last month constantly) ask what is Wright’s motivation for coming out now and speaking. As if he enjoys the spotlight or is trying to get sales for a proposed book deal, as if MONEY is this guys motivation or as if he is jealous of Obama's standing in the world and wants to ruin his campaign like we as Black folk can't be happy for one of our own's success. No... Why isn't Wright's motivation based on the media's incessant playing of those sound bites and their ability to stir up the fear-filled white electorate? Or that Wright felt the need to "defend" his church, his character, OUR religious traditions and our community. Instead of speaking to Wright's points (which most agree are based in TRUTH) we have Black pundits (Johnathon Capehart, Eugene Robinson, Juan Williams and the like) making nice (shuckin' & jivin') with the white-owned media that pays their salaries and is outside the purview, and therefore cannot be held accountable by, the Black community that they speak on behalf of. No Black person in the media, that I have seen, makes a case for the truths that Wright speaks. Rather they discuss his motives, or his ARROGANCE (white folk hate arrogant Black folk...I call it confidence) or his showmanship or the political fallout as it relates to white fears. Another reason why we need our own media outlets including TV, newspaper, internet and radio and why we should be supporting Black owned media with our advertising dollars. Our analysis can't stop at "why is he coming out now...he should wait til after NC and IND" because it really doesn't matter. Obama is ahead in delegates and Hil has muddied the waters by switching the debate from issues to his electability which again is code for white folk will not vote for a Black man. She and the Right wing pundits started us down this road, not Wright...so who is really to blame here?We, as a country, are talking about white fears (swing voters) as it relates to Wright, but I don't hear this critique for McCain as it relates to Hagee and Catholics. Or Clinton and her pastor that publicly supported Wright. The double standard is mind-boggling!!!! Shouldn't there be a big media storm surrounding Clinton and whether she should denounce and reject her pastor for supporting Wright (ie.. Wright and Farrakhan)? These issues stick to Obama for one reason....He Is Black. Period. By pointing out this double standard with fierce virility we as Blacks could help Obama. Instead we (shuck & jive) get paid by towing the company line. Is this why we have degrees from Howard? So we can just assimilate into the dominant culture devoid of our Blackness? Is this what we are teaching our boys? We complain about what others aren't doing....but WE are doing it EVERYDAY!!!!! Where are the real BLACK MEN? I don't mean that in a separatist way. I mean why do WE have to associate Blackness with "deficient"? My culture is just as good, just as learned, just as wholesome as the dominant white culture. Why can't we just be us? That’s what true diversity is...isn't it?This media firestorm is purposefully done to rev up fear-stricken whites. Obama had already said that Wright does not speak for him or the campaign. Why is his name sticking to Obama other than that Obama is Black and racism is at play. No firestorm with McCain & Hagee. No Firestorm with Clinton and her pastor that supported Wright. What's up here? I blame us too. Our self-hatred is so complete that we can't even see ourselves. We have no idea where our center is or where a Black man in his "righteous mind", devoid of a society that hates and has marginalized him for 400 years via racism and white supremacy, should stand on our issues.How many elected officials have we had since Reconstruction? How many elected mayors, governors or presidential cabinet members do we have currently? Has it changed the construct of how white political power has viewed Blacks as a whole in this country? The answer is an emphatic NO! My eyes are wide open here. This myth about changing things from the inside is a fairy tale. The only real civil rights advancements were made after non-political figures teamed with political figures to change the laws but changing laws has not done anything to change the minds of fear-stricken white folk. What some of us are saying is that this Black man has to pull a bait and switch on people. Tell them one thing to make them comfortable and then do another. Do you really think that having a Black man as President will change the construct that is America? That is a myth too. If only we had a Black mayor, or Black alderman, or Black congressmen or Black supreme court justices or black journalists or Black pundits. These guys are being paid inside of a construct that says you have to deny your Blackness in order to elevate yourself. And we buy it hook line and sinker. Why is it that Barack has to, as the pundits put it, find a way to reach out to white working class voters or he won't win the nomination but Hil doesn't have to explain how by being given the nomination by superdelegates Black voters will feel disenfranchised and will not vote for her and thus she will lose the nomination? Unless our vote and our opinion and our candidate have been so marginalized that the Dems take our vote for granted. We keep acting like Wright started this. He didn't. Hil and the Right wing pundits and some Left wing racist pundits did this by looping those out of context soundbites for well over a month prior. Now a Black man can't even defend his honor? I have a problem with that. We sit here blaming the Black man (Wright) when he didn't throw the first punch. They did. That's like blaming the innocent victim of a shooting for the shooting itself and letting the guilty gunmen off. Ooooh...I guess that did just happen in NY... Where is our outrage?I don't mean this skeptically but do we believe that God's truth only applies to those topics unrelated to politics? Is truth not truth as it relates to politics? You see, I believe that true character resides where your spiritual self and your secular self are as one. There is no, or thereshould be no, gap between your stances inside or outside of the church. My point is...Truth should not, and I assert, will not hurt Obama's candidacy. Wright strikes me as an uncompromised man (like King) who will not hesitate to speak truth-to-power. This type of advocacy should be supported in our community.