Jesse Was Right!!
Ok...this is my last comment on this.
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.
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.
RIGHT ON POINT.