I had a hunch that Jesse's comments had a bit of jealousy in them...however, that was hard to accept considering how close the Obamas are to his own family. I was watching CNN and it was clear that Jesse Jr. was hurt by the comments. He is currently leading one of Sen. Obama's national committees. They even live in the same neighborhood.
Most importantly, my hunch was correct, but not in the way I thought. Jesse pointed out to Don Lemon, CNN anchor, that a Barack Obama would not exist if not for "so many who paid such great prices..." He referred to the Civil Rights Movement (his identity) as the steps it took for Barack Obama to see over the horizon (my words not his). I think Jesse just got caught struggling with the inevitable passing of the torch. He also lost sight of the real enemy…hate and prejudice, lack of justice for people of color. Forty years of putting yourself on the line, holding the torch, and now having to give it up to the next phase of the movement...that has to be tough. It's easy to say that he shouldn't have given in to it, still its hard to change. Anyway, Jesse and all of our 'fathers' had a role in helping us grow as a people and we should never forget how much sacrifice it has taken so that we could see Sen. Obama reach the most powerful office in the world. In this environment, Sen. Obama cannot give the Civil Rights Movement or it's leaders the kind of due they have earned. It would come of as a sort of pandering to a particular group...too easy to attack and cause distractions from the goal.
Watch out for the media! I'll say it again...WATCH OUT FOR THE MEDIA! They will get us choosing whom we respect more. They will get us to tear down one black man in favor of another (if we do that, we tear ourselves down). They will drive a wedge into our hearts between Jesse and Barack...what I really think the media is trying to do is cut the "cord" to the Civil Rights Movement and get Barack out on an island.
As for Sen. Barack's comments at my church, funny how easy it was to come in and talk about, among other things, how SOME of our men have particular struggles that contribute to the breakdown of the families in our communities. Funny how that is NOT exclusive to the African-American family structure. Isn't it true that divorce rates cut across racial lines? Isn't it true that other races leave their families and choose not to support them? Why aren't other races vilified...in their own houses of worship mind you..by Sen. Obama? Scared? He couldn't get away with that garbage anywhere else now could he? Clearly, we need to help Sen. Obama (who most definitely has my vote, by the way) understand that he was speaking from a stage of BLACK MEN who were taking care of their families, who were raising their children, who do respect, listen to, and love their better halves. Why flog us in front of the camera, no doubt? Who told him that that was the way to ENCOURAGE better behavior? Doesn't work. Period. Give people something to reach for and they will reach. Put them down...publicly...and they will rebel or at least cut ties to you as just another mouthpiece who doesn't really care about them. Once again we are forced to choose between the 'good' men and the 'bad' men. We are all men and ALL necessary to our community. Once we ALL get the vision we will once again grow our communities. We need EVERY man in our community. So to Sen. Obama, don't dog the brothers out, encourage them and befriend them. We live with them...let us tell them the truth.
It’s the nature of media to feed its audience. And what does the audience LOVE? Drama, especially when it involves tearing down the latest hope to end this crazy system of so-called justice for people of color! Hopefully, Senator Obama is too grounded to let that happen (and if HE’S not, I'm sure Michelle is!). Peace.
Good blog. Divide and conquer won't work this time.
Friday, July 11th 2008 at 6:57PM
Alduan Tartt
Barack Obama scared? hahahahahahaha..Idon't THINK so!! It takes tremendous balls, yeah I said it to lead a country of 136 million whites who think all men who are Black are "inadequate black males." As a Hillary supporter blared, furious at her loss. Oh did you forget the 1/8 th of a man belief? Well a lot of "whites" haven't. Since I am a foreigner, who passes for "Black American" how do you like that! Thereby at times denying..my own culture..I still get to step back and watch American Culture. This is not Cuban politics, which I also understand. I have lived amongst you, married into your culture and worked defended and supported my brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. I am getting impatient with your myopic, small minded microcospic view of this election in particular.To imitate your word patterns..What part of the enormity, of his successful rise to be nominated by the Majority of the same racist whites we complain about to stand a 50/50 chance in the worst case scenario of leading one of the few super-power countries in the world ? Do YOU not understand???? Now in all my readings about the slavery and subsequent civil rights movement in America, "White" men have always seen the Black man as "childish" 'Immature" "unable to dominate others",why don't you help me here Black Man ,'cause I feel a surge coming on..Now don't get it twisted ..I celebrate my African Ancestry as do so many "white "Cubans with spiritual ties to the Yoruba practice. I have always loved my copper brown skin in a sea of white relatives, our songs are about brown skinned women, not blue eyed blondes. My formative years are filled with self-esteem. I am getting tired after 52-years of defending the thinking, stance and ability of "Blacks" in the Diaspora. Notice I said in the "Diaspora, because if you hear Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe talk, as he did recently on an old clip that Gil Noble (ABC New york, New Jersey), ran on his regular Sunday show "Like It Is" when he was 1st elected to power, it is clear , WE BLACKS know who we are, and know where we come from and most importantly know damn well how the hegemonic White man thinks, we kick ass and take no damn prisoners. We do it with intellect. No don't tell me about the recent elections, becasue if you see what he had todo against the vicious British Colonialists who he kicked out of the coutry you may understand ,since you are so forgiving of the Jesse Jackson, of why Mugabe feels he has to maintain control. Brilliant, well spoken supremely, intelligent speaking before the UN. I do not condone, chopping little kids limbs off, That I am rabidly against. Those of us who are Cubans, we carry in our hearts, how Castro's government, right,wrong or indifferenct,told the United States of America..Kiss it..then protected Assata Shakur, who was accused (I believe politcally ) of killing a New Jersey cop..when she was Joanne Chesimard of the Black Panthers from being executed here in America. You know what? "you'd better ask somebody..?" Black People wake up, you do not have the privilege of undressing this man Barack Obama in public. Stop it. You are not free. About the only free Blacks I know in this country are the ones who have heard the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Damn handerkerchief heads! Just like Justice Thomas with a Crips style bandanna on his head on the cover of EMERGE magazine, Circa early 1990's. No you cannot criticize him. Help him , plantations in-house thinking, uninformed, unsophisticated, unwordly, geographically challenged Americans, both white and black.! I don't care what you think anymore. Support this man he is an image of us, not our twin brother! Stop sitting there saying all kinds of stupid, silly,childish stuff..because you are so accustomed to being powerless...WAKE UP! your claim that you know yourselves so well..that you can interpret Jesse's comments should expand to include the knowledge that this brother would not hurt us, but of course you don't trust yourselves!! hence the game. As far as that magazine cover? his greatest pain is watching the love of his life being dragged through the fire..so for the person who thought about ..even voting for McCain, Michelle Obama is your sister. Sistah!!! or is it Sistuh! I am so going to disconnect from this site. Build my own.My last teaching moment: FYI. White people's instincts is to cover for their own, When the enemy attacks...and when one of their own does it? they jump all over that person.. How long is it going to take for you to get it! Go find a Mosque NOI and go there just so you can learn something. I am a Christian and Mormon at that..What!!!!l Go read a book!
Wednesday, July 16th 2008 at 3:03PM
Marta Fernandez
Hey Rob man, you are really doing some deep thought provocative relevant, need I go on? I was shocked when I heard the comments and so I looked them up on the internet for myself. I felt Jessee was jealous and I voted for Jessee back in the day and looked up to him when he was running for President in I recall 84 and 88. With some new things that have came out about Jessee, lets just say even though human, I'm not impressed from the baby out of wedlock, accusations of misusing funds and stating Michael Jackson was a spiritual man during his latest molestation trial after various other trials for the same. Also I have read that Jessee was not all that tight with MLK and was an opportunist. I guess I say all this to make the point that I don't know the whole story, not personally knowing the person or the total truth, but the one thing I know is true; Jessee did say the "N" word and cutting off body part which shows a lot of emotion, anger etc. My question is, How can someone claim to be my friend and so cool and supportive of me and say such things? Proverbs 26:25 "When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart". Hey I don't carry the title of Rev.
Sunday, July 27th 2008 at 6:08AM
WILLIAM W. HEMMANS III
