Is Jesse Jackson Still Relevant?
July 11, 2008 – The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s comments that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) 
“was talking down” to Black folks has critics talking up the demise of the civil rights leader’s long-running power position in the Black community.
Newspaper and television reports asked if the civil rights leader is still relevant, influential and the dominate voice of Black America. Some went so far as to ask whether Jackson’s comments helped the Illinois senator distance himself from the man who walked side by side with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and later founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition – distance that would give him an advantage among White working-class voters he’s working to woo.
While it’s not really clear what it’s done for Jackson, it is clear what it has done for Obama. The 46-year-old senator already has surpassed President Bill Clinton’s popularity among Black voters and, judging from my readers’ comments, Jackson’s criticism of Obama did not sway his supporters; they were just disappointed he made them.
Take Blogger lsyss’ comments, for instance: “Reverend Jackson and other [B]lacks need to realize that Barack is a politician and not a civil rights leader. It is not his job to solve just African American problems, but America’s problems as a whole.”
…And those of Fahay, who thought the comments were part of a strategy: “Rev. Jackson is quite savvy and experienced with the media. I could be wrong, but nothing said while mic’d is for naught and he knows this. This was picked up, because he wanted it picked up!”
But the reaction to this recent slip of the tongue shows that the Black community can and will embrace “new” leadership.
“This moment only reinforces that we have to let the younger guys take the lead in politics, that they know the issues of today, that we live in a far different world than 20 years ago,” Michel Dukakis told The New York Times [WHEN????]. Dukakis and Jackson competed for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988.
Angelic777 writes in my blog, “Jesse we know it’s hard, bro, not being the chosen one to head up America; it was not your calling. Yours was to keep hope alive; Obama’s is to take us to a much needed change.”
Film producer Spike Lee, may have said it best. “I don’t think his (Jackson’s) comments help anybody; it’s just unfortunate,” Lee told The Associated Press following his participation on a panel at the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles.
Lee, an Obama supporter, predicted his candidate will win in the fall. “When that happens, it will change everything. … You’ll have to measure time by `Before Obama’ and `After Obama.’ It’s an exciting time to be alive now.”
It is an exciting time to live.
Here is a poem which reflects how exciting it is to be an African /Black American
If African American Speeches Did Not Exist
If African American Speeches did not exist.
Then the speech I have a dream
By Rev. Martin Luther King
Would not have become Americas civil rights theme
or
What Frederick Douglass stated
Which would have been a lost
Stand by those princple
Be true to them, On all occasions
In all places, Against all foes
at whatever cost
If African American Speeches did not exist
Booker T. Washington Could not insist
That the laws of changeless justice
Bind oppressor with oppressed
And close as sin and suffering joined
We march to fate abreast
or
Sojourner Truth Ain’t I a woman
Would not have been heard
nor Shirley Chisholm or Rosa Parks
Most eloquent famous words
If African American Speeches did not exist
The different cultures in the world, would not have met
Langston Hughes or Mary Mcleod Bethune,
WEB Du Bois, just to name a few
Thurgood Marshall against the Supreme Court Judges
And now Barack O’bama’s Speech
when he accepted the Democratic endorsement
If African American Speeches did not exist
Where would we be as a society
This poem could not even fit
Because this is an African American Speech
Through the art of poetry
whatever… of course nobody is commenting on this one.. oops. i think he did it again!!lol!
It depends on who is asked, and relevant to what ?
I still commend him for stepping up to the plate more so than so-called Black consevatives who do and say nothing no matter what the situation.It’s no wonder why Black consevatives seem too always lose elections: they don’t receive the Black vote as well as a majority of White conservative votes,just look at the elections for Gov. in Ohio and Maryland.
jfffnn,
What exactly does Black conservatives don’t do. The problem is black conservatives, like me, don’t need Jesse or Obama to save us when we make a bad decision or make decision for us period. We live; we work; we take on challenges. We don’t blame society for our problems; we don’t have time to. We don’t blame the white man; we don’t have time to. We have families and jobs to manage.
Yes Sir!
I am a white republican and my friends and I have always wondered what blacks get from our party,we do not need black people to polute our party,unlike the democrats we can win elections without that dirty black vote!!The party tolerates you but we would never treat you like one of us coz you are not!!Go back to Africa and clean up your people’s mess.
From Blacks4Barack…
Rev. Jesse Jackson Makes
B4B Official ‘Obama Hater List’
Thanks to the now infamous ‘Nut-Gate’ comment made by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Blacks4Barack has received numerous requests to have Jackson placed on the Obama Hater Watch List. In order to comply with the overwhelming requests we have chosen to add the Rev. on a temporary basis (still being respectful).
Visit http://www.Blacks4Barack.org to see the complete Official Obama Hater List.
Blacks4Barack.org: Obama news updates, photos, Celebs 4 Obama, volunteer info, videos, voter registration, Create-Your-Own Obama Logo (FREE), SpeakOut4Obama, Join B4B, Media Lies of the Week and Much More !
Blacks4Barack !
A Multi-Racial, Net/Grassroots Org…
Dedicated To Truth !
Nice try “Ben”
ben.. really you could do so much better than that jessie gate is going down!!!lol!
as for black america, on the whole they dont want to hear what obama has to say to them.. ( less baby daddy, more responsible parenthood, less absentee sperm donor, more present husband material, less criminal, more working tax payer, less drug dealer/pusher more decent members of society) of course if you believe in any of these values, you must be an “oreo” as blacks cant possibly be black if they believe that they can take control of their own lives without rent a jessie band wagon getting paid to scream in front of them.
That question has been asked for the past 40 years! The Rev. once said, “from the out-house, to the court-house, to the state-house, to the White-house, don’t surrender.” The real question is, “Are African-American’s, young Black men, Hip Hop (no more B@#$%hes, H#oes, or Sl#ts), truly ready for the promise land and ready to take responsibility. If not, then the Rev. will continue to be relevant!
From Blacks4Barack…
MUST READ New Article !
Is This Why Jesse Hates Obama ?
An Open Letter From Najee Ali
To read visit:
http://www.Blacks4Barack.org
A Multi-Racial, Net/Grassroots Org…
Dedicated To Truth !
It has just been proven to me that no matter how far up the ladder one goes, there still are those that will continue to be a crab. If I can’t get out I will not let you get out. On the street it is called “hating.” Stop the hating, it is truly an exciting time to be alive.
Is he still relevant? Of course! Did he make a serious mistake? Obviously!! Do we hold him accountable? For him and all of us its important that we do. That way when “others” try whatever diabolical schemes against as individuals or as a people we can challenge them in earnest!!! We hold our own accountable yet we’re still merciful, forgiving and compassionate people so that destroys any would be sterotypical offenses! If we take care of our own then that has to be respected and those that don’t are in the wrong!!! Thats what coming full circle is all about.
NO! HE’S NOT RELEVANT! AS FOR A REV MAKING A COMMENT LIKE THAT ABOUT OUR FIRST BLACK CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, THERE’S NO EXCUSE! PURE JEALOUSY! AS IF THIS ISN’T BAD ENOUGH OF ALL NETWORKS TO HAVE IT HAPPEN, FOX? JACKSON AND SHARPTON WHO HAVE JUMPED ALL OVER OTHERS FOR THEIR HATEFUL AND RACIST REMARKS CONTINUOUSLY KEEP APPEARING ON A NETWORK WHO CONSTANTLY DEMEEN AND SLANDER BLACKS WITH THEIR HATEFUL REMARKS! FOX ONLY PANDERS TO BIGOTS AND RACISTS AND THIS IS THE SHOW WHICH THESE TWO CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF! FIGURE IT OUT! JACKSON AND SHARPTON=UNCLE TOM!!!
Alex and all the so called black republicans,you do not get it black is black no matter what political title you cover them with,within our party we know that only a few blacks have really earned respect of the white community,people like Colin Powell and Condi,the rest of them are welfare seekers hoping to get a slice of the party’s riches and this will not happen!!
I commented yesterday, but it wasn’t posted. I can’t figure out why some are and some aren’t, especially when I was the first to submit a comment on this article at the time?? Anyway..Jackson’s relevance has long been in question. He, Al Sjarpton and Andrew Young have long since lost the pulse of black America and equally important America as a whole. For years I have said that what we lack as a people has been a Joshua or Caleb to take us to the next level. Dr. King took blacks to the Jordan and told us of his “dream.” Since that time there has been no visionary on the scene that knew what to do with King’s vision or how to implement it.
Senator Barack Obama came along and for the first time since Dr. King blacks were feeling hopeful again. He also added the missing part by exciting and inspiring the whole nation, not just blacks to believe in our future as a country. Dr. King’s dream not only seems possible, it now seems probable. This brings me to my point: Jessie Jackson’s behavior on national TV. Surely he knew that he was miked and was on a conservative network that would love nothing better than to capture something to use against Obama. Jackson provided that and now he acts as if he never heard of a “hot mike” situation. Come on people. I believe that Jackson feels slighted by Barack because Barack doesn’t worship Jackson in the manner that Jackson is use to by most black leaders.
The jealousy Jackson displayed and the hateful comments are the results of feeling irrelevant. One of the reasons I believe we as a people haven’t made the advances we should have by now is because of Jackson’s victim mentality regarding black folks. Blaming white folks for everything from drug use among our people to gun violence has kept us from taking responsibility for our own behavior, thus leaving us somewhat powerless to make the changes needed in our communities.
Oama has dared to challenge us (along with Dr. Bill Cosby, a giant in black leadership, mentoring and role modeling)to take responsibility as parents and for our children’s value systems. Just like Cosby, he is met with disapproval from (of all people, black folks and black leaders at that). Andrew Young is another one that during Obama’s early campaign was sided with Hillary over a competent, educated black man.
So, I’m not shocked at all at Rev. Jackson’s reaction to a black leader that not only wants to move blacks to the next level, but the country as a whole. Contrary to popular belief, we must include whites if we are to move forward. Dr. King’s Dream was for all Americans, “.. black men and white men; Jews and Gentiles.”
Barack Obama is the culmination of King’s prophetic promise to this nation and Rev. Jackson, Andrew Young, uneducated whites, blue collar workers in Pennsylvannia, West Vrginia, or Kentucky can stop it from coming to fruition. Our time has come not only as blacks, but as a nation. Yes We Can!
Jesse Jackson as I have been saying about so called Black leaders for years are a creation of the White media.The media chooses these men even Martin and Malcolm X was was not exempt from this.The idea is to a a single voice to deal with instead of dealing with the community on the whole.Jesse has a massed a fortune to the tune of 60 million dollars exploiting race and poverty in America.He showed what an evil self serving man he is.This is show business for him a career talking about Black misery and White racism.
Why are there white people commenting? Yes Jesse Jackson is relevant. When Bush is held accountable and congress takes personal responsibility for war crimes, torture and the Iraqi war then Jesse won’t be relevant. When there are not a lot of black men in prison, then Jesse won’t be relevant. When the police stops shooting black men in the streets, then Jesse won’t be relevant. When rappers are not talking about pimps and hoes then Jesse won’t be relevant. BUT until then, we need leaders like Jesse to speak up when others won’t. Obama is a presidential candidate. I don’t expect him to speak up for civil rights. That’s why we have Jesse who does. For those who want to throw him under the bus, read your history. They said the same thing about Malcolm X.
Alex
Aside from losing elections and kissing ass what do black republicans do? they don’t confront racial injustices,they don’t speak up for black folks one iota,so your question is mute.
Not anymore.
CASTRATE? THAT COULD’NT HAVE BEEN WHAT HE WAS IMPLYING. YET WHEN I SEE THE THE VIDEO OF HIM AND THE GESTURE HE MADE I WAS APPALLED.
JESSIE YOU KNOW BETTER!!!! YOU HAD NERVE TODAY TO PREACH ON CAHNGES. YOU EVEN MADE REFERENCE TO EMMETT TIL. I AM PRAYING FOR US. WE STILL HAVE’NT MADE IT.
As I stated before, Obama is a universal thinker and that type of thinking is not new to some of us, but it is now given a platform on a higher level, and that is a presidential level. Therefore, we will hear all types of statements that will be outlandish and some even comical, because America have not dealt with this type of situation before.
For Nas’s comment on Jesse Jackson. When they list the most influential African American’s of all time, I’m very certain that Nas will not be listed even in the glossary section! Dude, lay off the cristal and marijuana, and stick to music. Oh yea, We are NOT N@ggers!
Just trying to figure out when he was ever relevant. Jesse never did anything for me, except become a millionaire by crying racism and getting contracts for his friends.
Really? hard to believe.i heard this news times from many friends playing on a tall dating site :” Tallmingle.com “,i did not believe, i think that they are know nothing but dating and love.
i am wrong.
PLEASE , EVERYONE , HELP PUT A STOP TO WHAT THE ” NEW YORKER” MAGAZINE IS DOING TO THE OBAMA’S ….O.M.G. I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS , BUT YOU KNOW WHAT , MY GOD SAYS , NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU ( AND THIS INCLUDES THE OBAMA’S ) SHALL PROSPER. SORRY , BUT I HAD TO LET THIS WORD OUT SO EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING …O.M.G.
Yikes! Controversial New Yorker Cover Shows Muslim, Flag-Burning, Osama-Loving, Fist-Bumping Obama
——————————————————————————–
Who knows if they’ll get this in Dubuque, but they sure aren’t going to like it in Chicago: This week’s New Yorker cover features an image of Michelle and Barack Obama that combines every smeary right-wing stereotype imaginable: An image of Obama in a turban and robes fist-bumping his be-afro’d wife, dressed in the military fatigues of a revolutionary and packing a machine gun and some serious ammo. Oh yes, this quaint little scene takes place in the Oval Office, under a picture of Osama bin Laden above a roaring fireplace, in which burns an American flag. All that’s missing is a token sprig of arugula.
The illustration, by Barry Blitt,is called “The Politics of Fear” and, according to the NYer press release, “satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the Presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.” Uh-huh. What’s that they say about repeating a rumor?
Presumably the New Yorker readership is sophisticated enough to get the joke, but still: this is going to upset a lot of people, probably for the same reason it’s going to delight a lot of other people, namely those on the right: Because it’s got all the scare tactics and misinformation that has so far been used to derail Barack Obama’s campaign — all in one handy illustration. Anyone who’s tried to paint Obama as a Muslim, anyone who’s tried to portray Michelle as angry or a secret revolutionary out to get Whitey, anyone who has questioned their patriotism— well, here’s your image.
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton called it “tasteless and offensive” and, according to Jake Tapper at ABC, another high-profile Obama supporter called it “as offensive a caricature as any magazine could publish.”
The companion article by Ryan Lizza, who has written extensively about the campaign, traces Obama’s early career and rise through Chicago politics. It’s very long (18 pages!) and probably won’t thrill a lot of Democratic party faithful, either, since it advances the image of Obama as a skilled and calculating politician who rose by becoming a master of the game:
“[P]erhaps the greatest misconception about Barack Obama is that he is some sort of anti-establishment revolutionary. Rather, every stage of his political career has been marked by an eagerness to accommodate himself to existing institutions rather than tear them down or replace them….he has always played politics by the rules as they exist, not as he would like them to exist. He runs as an outsider, but he has succeeded by mastering the inside game.”
Is it the New Yorker’s job to write uniformly flattering profiles of Obama? Do they have a duty to avoid controversial imagery that plays off the most dogged and damaging campaign smears? Of course not. Still, as Tapper says, there are probably “some angry, angry people in Chicago right now.” Not to mention Washington, New York, and maybe even Dubuque.
Update: Artist Barry Blitt defends the cover, saying that “It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is.” See his full statement (and previous covers) here.
See the full cover below:
First of all it was the news media that labeled Jesse and Al. “Black leaders” as if Blacks held an election picking them as our leaders.Everytime I heard someone say that my question was and still is:What or where are they leading us to ? It is true that both of them step up to the plate in the face of racial problems and that is why both of them are accused of “racial politics”.I do admire some of the things they do but I don’t see them as leaders because we are not monolithic and there is no such thing as a “Black leader”
You know there’s far to much hating within our own race. Jackson was wrong for what he said because it is not of God. We as black people forget who really is in charge and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. We hate more than we help and we hender the blessings that God has allowed us have. Every person black and white have there own opinion which we are intitled too. We must be mindful this what America is based on freedom. And as for that guy Ben get a clue of “Class” and use it. Stop the hating and just vote for who you think is best for the Job of President who’s cares about what party you belong to. It doesn’t not make you any better from anyone else. You still are only flesh and blood and it can not and will not enter the kingdom of God.
Well Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. has done it again. I was done with him when he committed adultery and had a daughter out of wedlock. Rev. Jackson doesn’t not speak for me and I believe many other people will agree that he does not speak for all black people as well. Barack Obama is for uplifting the black people and the black community. Rev. Jessie Jackson Sr. had his chance to shine and it didn’t work. So Rev. Jackson Sr.you need to sit down somewhere and shut your mouth.
Well Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. has done it again. I was done with him when he committed adultery and had a daughter out of wedlock. Rev. Jackson doesn’t not speak for me and I believe many other people will agree that he does not speak for all black people as well. Barack Obama is for uplifting the black people and the black community. Rev. Jessie Jackson Sr. had his chance to shine and it didn’t work. So Rev. Jackson Sr.you need to sit down somewhere and shut your mouth.
Jesse Jackson needs to go somewhere SHUT UP and SIT DOWN!!
BEN…YOU’VE BEEN IN THE HOUSE TOO LONG BROTHER!
Jesse Jackson is not relevant for my life.
In the annals of history, Jesse Jackson will be just a footnote.
You know we all make mistakes and a reputable news station would not have allowed those statements made on a hot mike. That being said, I was a classmate of Rev. Jackson at A&T University when most of you were not even born and he has been quite and still is quite relevant. I have seen, first hand, the things that he has done. We don’t dismiss persons when we get a newer image, we cherish them for bringing us to this point. He has made his mistakes because he is human and we must always remember that to be human is to err. What he said was wrong and he’s apologized so let’s move on. Sen. Obama has. We’re better than this. There’s a lot of business out here to take care of and Rev. Jackson will always do his part. We don’t need leaders….we need people who can get jobs done and Rev. Jackson, believe it or not, can get jobs done. A footnote? I think he’ll be much more than that…you should have been there to see what I saw. And for the Whites who don’t want Blacks mudding up their party…..tell them, I’m only associated with the party who has a candidate that I feel can speak for the best interest of me and my people.
Jesse Jackson is a jealous hypocrite. He had the balls to be providing spiritual counseling to fellow adulterer Bill Clinton while he was conducting a full fledged affair of his own. He burned his britches back then and has never recovered. He’s jealous of Barack Obama and it’s unfortunate because he should be trying to help Barack.
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Jesse who???
Yes, Jessie is relevant. After all, if it wasn’t for the efforts of men and women like the Rev. Jessie Jackson back in the day, Sen. Obama would not have the great opportunity he has today.
Co-sign
Yes, Jessie is relevant. After all, if it wasn’t for the efforts of men and women like the Rev. Jessie Jackson back in the day, Sen. Obama would not have the great opportunity he has today.
I agree!
Jessie Jackson will always be relevant! He helped to get Black people where they are today by challenging the system. Yes, he is human and will make mistakes like all of us. Now to NAS, THE GAME and any other person who disrespects people who helped break down barriers for us to have the freedom we do. YOUNG PEOPLE…NEVER FORGET YOUR HISTORY. The Game has STUPID LYRICS in his new song saying F Rev. Jackson. Game/Nas you two are FOOLS. Go sit down, get educated and quit calling Black people N#gga#, B’s and Hoes before you say a Great American leader like Jackson is not relevant. I used to like Nas/Game now I will NOT support anything they do until they get educated and clean up their acts!!
Amen, Jazmine, also Lil’ Wayne has a song on his latest album dissing Al Sharpton, it is a disgrace!!!!
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