Black Leaders Feeling Eclipsed In Obama Era

Newsweek:

Jesse Jackson can still get a crowd going--when he can find one. He appeared at a Los Angeles restaurant this fall, primed to discuss school dropout rates and home foreclosures. But only eight people showed up, mostly reporters. It's no longer Reverend Jackson's day in the sun, or any other black leader's whose name isn't Barack Obama. So where does that leave the leaders to whom black America has long turned in times of crisis--Jackson, and the Revs. Andrew Young and Al Sharpton? At times they can seem like jealous, cranky old men, as in December when Young suggested Bill Clinton was "every bit as black as Barack." Or when Jackson said Obama was "acting white'' by skipping a giant rally for the Jena Six.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[knixphan]

Barack is running for President of the entire United States. The entire country.

If Dr. King were alive, he would certainly endorse him.

On a smaller, more community-level, there will always be the need for justice advocates. Obama is playing at the fed level now, Jesse and Al can play at the local levels.

[Nommo]

Hey, Huffpo, did I offend? Am I, on this most holy day, a transgressor? What happened to my posts?

[Dailyfare]

African Americans did not choose Jackson or Sharpton. They were (are) self-appointed, and then anointed by the MSM. Their day and style of politics are over.

[scorchedearthrepug]

Senator Obama is a real leader, jackson young and sharpton are self centered blow hards (not the real deal) and I think people are turned off by them. I am not an Obama fan but you cant deny he's the real thing and he's got the country's ears and people like what they hear

[Edmonsky]

One has to understand the circumstances that informed the mindset that molded the personalities as expressed by Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Andrew Young. Under Jim Crow or legal segregation, the strategies and tactics deployed by these men in reference to race relations are without question, most appropriate. But under socio-political multi-culturalism, such aforementioned strategies and tactics as employed by the likes of Jesse Jackson and co are hopelessly obsolete. Hence, Jesse Jackson and his peers are caught in strait-jacket of double bind defined by segregationist mindset and multi-culturalism and unfortunately, they are not self-conscious of their predicament and they see themselves to be on the right side of history. Senator Obama is exemplar of multi-cultural product that places high premium on tolerance, cooperation, negotiation and the whole nine yard of transcendent personality. Senator Obama and his peers such of Gov. Deval Patrick, Oprah etc are the new generation of inspiring leaders that would most probably, lead blacks into the mainstream of American citizenship as defined by multi-culturalism.
It is law of nature that the old must die in order to give birth to new child. That is how to view Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton on one hand and Obama on the other.

[nomobull]

These people have never represented me. Andrew Young of the three should be ashamed because he was considdered a friend of Martins and he obviously learned nothing from him.

[stillfresh]

Hallelujah. Just look at these two fools in the photo posted! They are yesterday's nobodys. Barack Obama would do well to avoid them. The insult that he doesn't have a civil rights experience is precisely why Barack Obama is viable today. He's a beneficiary of that struggle. So get out of the way and let the future come forward.

[nihilon x]

"I don’t owe a debt to any of them’

Jackson has a long history with one of Obama’s chief rivals, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband former President Clinton. He counseled the two when the president’s affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky became public.

But Jackson said his history with the Clintons doesn’t complicate his decision to back his home state senator, calling Obama Illinois’ “favorite son.”

“It’s not awkward at all,” he said, adding, “I don’t owe a debt to any of them.”It’s not awkward at all,” he said, adding, “I don’t owe a debt to any of them.”

Jackson said he will support the winner of the Democratic nomination, whether it’s Obama or not, and he is talking to other candidates because of his agenda that includes the war on poverty and voter protection.

Although Jackson failed in his bids for the White House in 1984 and 1988, he said that helped make it easier for not only blacks, but women and other minorities to run for president and function at the highest levels of government.

“We broke down barriers,” Jackson said.

Jackson said Obama has not asked him to campaign for him and he is not in Obama’s inner circle of advisers and fundraisers.

“I just have an appreciation of him,” Jackson said."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17869051/

[nihilon x]

"CHICAGO - Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said Thursday he’s backing Democrat Barack Obama in his presidential bid, giving his support to a new generation of black politicians. “He has my vote,” the Rev. Jackson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, winning 13 primaries and caucuses in 1988. His son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, has already endorsed Obama.

Jackson represents a different era of black politician, battle-tested by the civil rights struggles of the 1960s with Martin Luther King Jr.

Obama, 45, is biracial _ his white mother was from Kansas, his father Kenyan _ and educated at Ivy League universities.

In his best-selling memoir, “Dreams From My Father,” Obama said he couldn’t even get in the door at national civil rights groups when he was younger. He wrote letters to them after graduating from Columbia University but said none responded.

In a statement responding to Jackson’s support, Obama said, “This campaign has been about giving hope since Day One and I am proud to have the support of my friend Jesse Jackson. It is because people like Jesse ran that I have this opportunity to run for president today.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17869051/

[OhgReaTone]

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton date themselves with their rhetoric. They are black men who happen to live in America. Barack Obama is a Black man who is also an American - his success is that he has truly integrated his 'two-ness,' he is the incarnation of W.E.B. DuBois dream.
Ohg
http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/10/11/obama-the-soul-of-black-folk-incarnated/

[nihilon x]

"It's important to point out, they started this," Sharpton said. "I mean, I wake up yesterday morning with no warning and [read] 'Is he jealous because he won't endorse?' I've never heard anything like that in my life in politics.

"This is one time I didn't start the fight," he said.

The Post article, citing an unidentified black Democratic activist, said, "It's driving Al crazy that Obama is as impressive and popular as he is, and he's not happy about it."

"Sharpton is just terrified of being overshadowed by someone of Obama's class and character," the activist said, according to the article.

Sharpton denied the claims and said he wants to know more about where Obama and the rest of the Democratic field stand on civil rights issues before he offers support.

"I want to talk about a civil rights agenda as a priority, and the answer to that is not, 'Oh if you want to talk about issues you must be jealous,' " he said. "This is what we have always done."

Sharpton said Monday in an interview on New York City's WCBS radio that he was not ready to support Obama's White House bid and suggested that the country's only African-American senator was taking the black community's support for granted.

"Why shouldn't the black community ask questions? Are we now being told, 'You all just shut up?' " Sharpton said.

"Sen. Obama and I agree that the war is wrong, but then I want to know why he went to Connecticut and helped [Sen. Joe] Lieberman, the biggest supporter of the war," he added.

"I want to say to him he's a very impressive candidate, he has a lot to offer, but he must answer substantive questions in his own African-American community as he does in other communities," Sharpton said.

Obama's campaign said there is no rift between the senator and Sharpton and said.

[nihilon x]

"I reaffirm my commitment to vote for Sen. Barack Obama," Jackson said in a statement. "I think Jena is another defining moment of the issue of race and the criminal justice system. This issue requires direct and bold leadership. I commend Sen. Obama for speaking out and demanding fairness on this defining issue."

"Any attempt to dilute my support for Sen. Obama will not succeed."

[Northlite]

Sharpton is a self-serving buffoon. Jesse's day has past and his credibility damaged by his philandering. If these are the best men that the black community can find to be their spokesmen, they are in terrible shape. Andy Young at least has more gravitas, but his day has past too.

[thankulord13]

The reality of it all is that Blacks in America have become just like everyone else... Apathetic... as long as I got mine it doesn't matter but when trouble creeps up on my door step that is whenit is a problem... we as a country have to get out of that mentality before it gets to late...

[Qbear]

If Obama had Rev Sharpton or Rev Jackson speak for him instead, of closet case Donnie McClurkin, he would still have the overwhelming support of the LGBT community.