Time for New Black Leaders

The Reverend Jesse Jackson's very crude comment about wanting to cut off Barack Obama's testicles, breached a psychological levee in Black America. Yes, the remark was whispered, unbeknownst to Rev. Jackson, while his Fox News mic was live, but it was said nonetheless. And we know this is not the first time that Rev. Jackson has made a snide remark about Obama. I do not want to pretend to be inside the mind of Rev. Jackson, or any other Black political leader, but it has become evident to me, as a longtime community organizer, and as a current Democratic candidate for Congress, that Obama's campaign has brought the Civil Rights generation's chickens home to roost, finally.

It began as soon as Obama announced his candidacy. Was he Black and qualified enough to be a leader because a) he was biracial b) he was too young to have participated in the Civil Rights Movement and c) he was not a minister. Obama was an enigma to the old Black guard because they did not create him, and because they could not control him. This is the root of the generational split in Black America. The Civil Rights battles were fought to give future generations an opportunity to achieve the unthinkable just forty years ago. But now that many of us have the audacity to run for public office, to own businesses rather than spending our lives working for someone else, to become big-time donors in campaigns, there is a heavy resentment from the established Black gatekeepers. I hear it, often, as I run for Congress: that I didn't come through a political club; that I should wait my turn; that I didn't seek permission to run for office from the right Black leaders.

Frustrated and feeling powerless, some old school leaders have taken to chastising younger ones every opportunity they get. This, to me, is the crux of Jackson's comments, and the reason why so many Black politicians in New York City chose to support Hillary Clinton over Obama. It was not just a Black thing. It was a generational thing. A lack of political and moral courage thing. My opponent in Brooklyn, the 74-year-old Ed Towns, steadfastly supported Senator Clinton, even as nearly 60% of our Congressional district voted overwhelmingly for Obama back in February. Mr. Towns is so out of touch with the district that he did not see the waves of younger Blacks who moved to the district in the past decade, and who have, like me, bought property, and are here for the long haul. And we've been wondering why entrenched Black electeds like Mr. Towns are so disengaged from the community, to the point where many do not know his face nor can name three concrete things he's done in 25 years in office.

That sort of invisibility and do-nothingness, in Brooklyn, in Harlem, in the other parts of New York City where we have Black electeds is no longer acceptable. Neither is it acceptable for these old school leaders to treat their positions as a family business, to be passed to a family member or close friend when they are finally done. Neither is it acceptable for them to sit in office, unchallenged, year after year, while New York's Black communities continue to be mired in poverty, violence, crime, disease, terrible schools, and a sort of despair and hopelessness one would imagine in war-torn countries.

I certainly acknowledge and appreciate what the Civil Righters have done, but we younger African Americans are saying now, loudly, the jig is up and it is time for you to go, especially if you have not created hope and plans of action for our communities. The days of marching and protesting without a clear purpose are over. The days of voting for someone just because they are Black are over. Indeed, the multicultural legion of young Americans who've flocked to Obama's campaign suggest that we want leadership that builds bridges, not be stuck in the rhetoric and realities of the past. I have witnessed this as I've been campaigning. Yes, I must represent the concerns of Blacks and Latinos in East New York. But I cannot ignore the Hasidic Jews in Williamsburg or the young White professionals in Fort Greene. They are all my people. Until we have Black leaders who understand that the America we need now is one where an Obama can be president and a Nas can make a rap song like "Black President," both condemning Obama doubters and reminding everyone of the inequities that still exist, then we will continue to have leadership that is operating as if it is 1968 instead of 2008.

Kevin Powell, author of 8 books and Brooklyn community organizer, is a Democratic candidate for Congress in Brooklyn's 10th CD. He can be reached at [e-mail]

Comments

[BBackSoon]

Ok, I am going out here on a limb and it might get cut off but here goes.

As a white 40+ year old man, I simply have to ask, why each and every time there is an "Black" news story do we have to see Jesse on TV? I know there are other black people that can give us their views on these issues. And I know we do sometimes see other people but you always see the Rev. Jesse.

This may be harsh but I really don"t like or trust him. I see him as a bit of a reverse bigot. Everything is always about race. Always Black and White.

I hate the fact that we still have racism in this country. I try to remember that there are assholes of all shapes, sizes, sexes and races. I have knows white trash that was as bad as any black gang banger you ever heard of.

[dct1999]

The MSM types love Jackson and Sharpton; they decide who gets airtime.

[edtastic]

I will tell you why you see Jesse Jackson. First of all he is famous. Second he has the weight of HISTORY. Yes some people like to forget history gives context to a situation. A lot of this talk of dumping the old for the new lacks a respect for history. You ought talk about the transition from old to new. How is it that the black community stopped worrying about its collective image, and began to accept social depravity as the new in thing to do? How did criminal and vulgar behavior become cool? Well we ought look at our history. In fact the young people popularized these things, then became upset that the image took hold. They listen to a song about "Throw Your Guns in the Air" then get mad when someone shoots up the party. If you grew up on Hip Hop you know exactly what I am talking about.

Jesse Jackson was there when Martin Luther King died, he marched with him, he has been a great eloquent spokesperson long before Barak Obama came on the scene. You don't need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Jesse Jackson is imperfect but still wise for he has the benefit of remembering the breath of the struggle not just the current state of affairs. He deserves respect, as do new young leaders with new ideas. Let no man lose sight of the context in which he makes his plans.

[tbone99]

I think the media has appointed him and Sharpton the go -to guys since it plays into their caricatures ( especially Sharpton) and those caricatures play into white reactions.

[MyNameIsJames]

I can understand your confusion. In order to clear up your confusion just do a little serious investigation in how African Americans are dealt with in the educational and economic systems of our nation. Then you will understand why Jesse Jackson comes off the way that he does. He has seen it all. The rhetoric, the games, the despair and the progress! I challenge you to investigate what is really going on in this nation.

[JJK]

As a white of European descent, I think the leadership of the black community is for blacks to determine. However, the author posted on an open board without addressing blacks exclusively, so I'll assume he's inviting broader feedback.

I think the black community's leadership debate isn't that different from what occurs when any community undergoes a transformation of ideas and generations. Tammany Hall comes to mind as a leadership of the Irish (mostly) immigrant community that benefited that community for decades but that ultimately became more enamored of itself and its power than of the transformational agenda and identity that the community needed by the mid-20th century.

The author's perspective is similar to mine. I have long thought, again externally, that blacks might distrust a leadership that seemed intent on perpetuating its own power through nepotism and adherence to a rigid orthodoxy (like Tammany). Like Tammany's, this leadership played a valuable role 40 years in its past. Four decades of progress, albeit bumpy and incomplete, require a new leadership model that engages rather than confronts "external" communities and that confronts rather than enables irresponsibility among its own members.

In the current economic crisis, where there is an increasing sense that "we're all in trouble together," whites and new immigrant communities will be more responsive to leadership that asks its members to assume increasing responsibility for their own situations rather than looking for others, who are likely only marginally better off themselves (if not worse off), to resolve their problems.

[Nommo]

Mayhap the "new" Black "leaders" will address the decades old economic disenfranchisement of Black communities across the nation. No one seems to have any issue with some mystical absence of social responsibility that has always been attributed to Black people while white America casually destroys communities of dark people all over the world.

Will the "new" Black leaders confront the banks and insurance companies that refused to do business in Black communities? Will they deal with the artificially depressed areas that keep schools without adequate financing and leave Black communities with the worse physical plants? Will they deal with inadequate health facilities? Will the "new" Black leaders have any impact on the issues regarding "law enforcement"? Will they comprehend the example of a Dr. Adam Clayton Powell? Or will they just fall back into the way it has become?

[BADEN]

You know, I've thought about this post for the last day.

How about this:

It's time for NEW LEADERS. Period.

No need to consider the flavor.

I just want young people to step forward.

Could care less what they look like.

I want to see young people empathize and realize they do own a piece of that community.

I want to see individuals willing to use their free will and act for the good of all. All.

Eleanor Roosevelt had a great comment:

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

Just do it, kids.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

As a white 60 yr old woman I admire Obama because he transcends race. What he says can be said about any race. When I look at Obama I don't see black or white. He is both and a good example for everyone to follow.

[tbone99]

Yes , what he says can be said about any race, but interesting in his criticism of missing fathers he addresses blacks as if this is not a concern for every sector of the electorate.

[SeanGardner]

I am aware that you are running for Congress Mr. Powell, and that currently you are in run-off with incumbent Edolphus Towns.

I am certainly pulling for you, because I agree that we need lots and lots of New Black leaders, and I believe your election to Congress can help create that reality.

I've watched your career from MTV reality star, to best-selling author (I have all of your books) to burgeoning political leader.

I'd rather eat a brown bag lunch with you than dine in a fancy restaurant with Mr. Jackson who is is apart of the OLD GUARD Black Leadership that has controlled black politics for four decades, and has grown used to determining which black will walk through "the doors they helped knock open". But as Obama made clear, if I can't walk through "your doors", I build one, and walk through mine.

You have Obama's spirit. I know you do. I've met you many times.

Much success in your political endeavors. We need you in Congress, helping Obama push through much needed legislation.

[Heru1]

What Jesse Jackson said had nothing to do with his age it had to do with lapse of judgment and evidence of internalization of oppression. And lets stop pretending Obama is some kind of 'youth', he is in his late forties for godsake.

What you are failing to see is the difference between electoral politics and movement politics; and the continuing need for representatives in both kinds of politics. Civil rights leadership and protests are not anachronistic. Ask the Jena 6 if they are still relevant or not. Didn't see Obama go down there or even mention it. Why not? Civil rights leaders did.

The answer is that we need both electoral politicians and movement leadership. We don't need to vilify one for not being the other. We also don't need to indulge in simple age discrimination. If a leader isn't serving the interests of his community, he should be dethroned whether he is 35 or 70.

[NTO08]

Meanwhile, Obama's campaign not helping race relations:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25696726/

[mypov123]

Obama is just one person, one human being. He can't 'cure' everyone in this country of their racist mindset, people can think for themselves. There's also the perception among some Whites that he is a 'racist' because of the Rev. Wright clips that were plastered all over the MSM over and over.

[StillIRise]

Senator Obama alone can neither ease the racial fears of many Americans nor eradicate racism. Racist attitudes are deeply entrenched in the minds and hearts of the individual, and the only one who can penetrate the mind and heart of that individual is the individual himself. The greatest obstacle to healing the racial divide, in my opinion, is white America's unwillingness to examine themselves and to face the harsh reality of racism in our society, a reality that blacks live with daily, which accounts for the differing perspectives in which whites and blacks see racism in America. The very fact that race is an underlining factor in this election indicates that it is white American who have made this a factor, not black America. Blacks have voted for white candidates in the past, even when we had a choice to vote for a black candidate, so our voting behavior has not changed. What's changed is the voting behavior of whites, and it's changed solely because the nominee for president happens to be a black man. Senator Obama, and black Americans in general, can try to help to heal this rift, as Senator Obama has tried to do, but we do not have the power to fix it. The heading of this article should read, "Race relations are not heping Senator Obama's campaign," thereby placing the burden of responsibility, not on Senator Obama, but on our relationship with one another and with ourselves.

[Maanu]

I'm a big fan of Kevin and he's on point again. As a rap musician, I see the parallels between r&b's initial cold shoulder to younger rap artists and the disconnect between the older generation of black community political and business leaders (on local and global levels) and the next generation waiting for some playing time.

[Waitaminute]

As i recall, my grandparents did the samething to us. I am in my late 50s. I remember them telling us to 'turn that rackit (noise) down" when we played our R&B. People have to remember, we can do more then one kind of music. It doesn't matter what kind of music it is to me. If you do it right. I mean if you really get down, i like it. Just stop grabbing your croaches. Even the females are doing it.

[tbone99]

Well, then it's your generation who bears responsibility for the degradation of women , violence.and the pushing of consumerism over more helpful values.

Hypocrites- these musical lyrics has done more damage over more years than Jackson's little snide remark.

[Waitaminute]

Barack is saying the same thing i say to family members, my children and many blacks i meet everyday, when we act irresponsible. All of us know the ones i am talking about. Many of them are in our families. The things we should be ashame of, we tolerate. Its time to tell it like it is, straighten up or ship out. I stopped giving, lending to any of them. Some straigtened up, some went to other enablers.

[madprogressive]

Kevin, where are the young leaders and what have they done to appreciably improve the lives of African Americans and for that matter all Americans. Supporters of Obama's condemnation and use of this Reagan meme of "Personal Responsibility" cheer his words, and call for older leaders to move on, but the question still remains, where the hell are you. And what is the evidence Blacks do not take personal responsibility in their personal lives.

Obama is not a civil rights leaders, he is a politician running for a political office. He has done some organizing in Chicago, but that in itself, does not qualify him as a civil rights or Black leader. Now, don't get me wrong, Obama being elected President will send a huge signal to young African Americans and the international world at large. Rob X is right, these problems exist in all communities, and the real problems facing these communities is the Corporate Government destroying middle class families and communities. Obama needs to deal with these larger issues instead of preaching to Black Americans about their so-called failings.

When Obama mentioned problems in White lower and working class communities, he got attacked and hit his knees begging for forgiveness. But he goes to the NAACP convention and tells us he will not shut up, no matter how we feel. So, I guess this clarifies Obama's true mission here, this is his "Sista Soulja" moment.; i.e I'm not like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.

[Daly]

Waitaminute (above) is spot on.

"Kevin, where are the young leaders" ask NAACP this is another blunder of the old guard; every successful corporation does succession planning and knowledge sharing. But these tight fist ego manic have not.

They did not say the things that needed to be said:
For example - you cannot demand college admittance if you cannot pass the test.

It amazes me how non American/non English speaking BLACK students come here and next thing you know they are graduating valedictorians. How does this happen?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/30/BA3E10U9D2.DTL&hw=scholarship+2008+davis&sn=006&sc=608

How is it that many black homes all have TV but no PC?

In the year 2008 as Obama has said, honor students are taunted as "acting white"

There are many challenges in life and YES racisim is alive and well but if one views live like the real McCoy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_McCoy

When you are the best; most will get past their racist views; and the ones that don't - well they do not get "the real McCoy".

Africans have the highest educational attainment rates of any immigrant group in the United States with higher levels of completion than the stereotyped Asian American model minority.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_immigration_to_the_United_States

[MyNameIsJames]

I agree with you Rob X

Obama seems to grow a spine whenever he wants to lecture Black Americans for public consumption. I would like to see this same spine when he goes to Wall Street and K Street and gives responsibility lectures to the people who are bankrupting our nation and exploiting our political system.

Furthermore, it seems to me that Obama is SIGNALING to White America that he is independent of the African American political agenda. This is indeed the primary concern that White America has with his candidacy. Their primary question being, "Is he safe enough for us?"

Open criticism of Black Americans is one way that he can show that he will continue to prioritize White interests at the top of his political agenda.

One final word Barack Obama is not a Black Leader! He happens to be an "African American" elected official who is running for President.

[manan01]

Brother:

Cure yourself from the idiocy of the corporate racist media. Here is the full text of Obama"s speech to NAACP. As you may noticed it involved far more than the stupid MSM made it out to be.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/obama_speaks_to_naacp_reiterat.php

[robXdion]

This is about the Jesse Jackson comments and Obama's Father's Day speech that led to them. smh

[MariaHopeful]

Now we know that you didn't take the time to read the actual speech. You simply sat back and waited for the unfair and imbalanced MSM to frame and interpret the speech so that you can regurgitate the mess they fed you. He had a spine when he spoke out about the Iraq war. He had a spine when he spoke out about government and its inadequacy. He had a spine when he went in front of automobile makers in Detroit and spoke out about their practices. He has an even bigger and sturdier spine when he addresses the problems in our community and seeks to effect change in a fundamental way. He has already done more for our community than you and all the haters combined a million times over.

[Jamchinadian]

Amen, amen, amen, amen, ...

[mypov123]

Well said.

[robXdion]

Exactly. Obama, like all the candidates before him, has found a way to get that "hard working white" vote he wants so badly: criticize blacks. His comments aren't wrong. But why is he, as a presidential candidate giving us lectures NOW? He wasn't doing that when he needed to win the primary. I'm just saying.

[mypov123]

You're mistaken. He WAS discussing these issues in front of African American audiences even before the primary election began. And he was talking about these issues during the primary, but the MSM just didn't take notice of it then the way they are now.

[Daly]

January 20 2008 Obama spoke at Ebenezer Baptist Church saying much the same.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris

[Waitaminute]

He did it as a community organizer. I know this to be true, because i heard him. One of the biggest things when you talk to the youths and their parents, involves taking resposibility.

[StillIRise]

Senator Obama indeed spoke on these issues during the primary, and has spoken on these issues even before he announced his candidacy for the president. As you said, his comments are not wrong; and as he said to the NAACP, he isn't going to stop talking about this. As an African American myself, I do not hear criticism in his message; I hear concern and a sense of urgency to responsibly address the problems that are hurting our community and damaging our children. I also hear a universal call for all Americans to be committed to the welfare of our families and our communities. I doubt if white Americans appreciate his comments any more than black Americans do, because he is speaking to concerns that impact all Americans, black and white. But even if he was talking about this NOW as opposed to before now, why should that make a difference? And why would you be critical of him for trying to appeal to the "hard working white" voter? He wants to be the president of ALL Americans, not just black Americans, and his outreach to ALL Americans has been consistent with this. Why should it end simply because he's no longer in the primary, but now in the general? His objective hasn't changed. He still wants to win.

[mypov123]

To those people who say that 'Obama isn't a Black leader'...I want to ask them, what have you done to combat any of the issues that exist in the Black community??

Running on a "Jesse Jackson" platform of "black civil rights activist" is a recipe for losing an election, that's why Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton did not get very far when they ran for President unfortunately. I hate to be blunt about it but it's the truth. America is not ready for such a presidential candidate. I believe that Obama's intentions are good and that, if elected, he would try to do things that would benefit not only Black people but all people in this country. It's easy to look from the outside and label someone a "sellout" for appearing to cater to White voters, but he cannot win this election on the support of Blacks alone, I'm sure you know that.

[tbone99]

I am so tired of the equation of J.Jackson't presidential campaign with Sharpton.Jackson came in THIRD in the primaries with 7 million votes ( like Edwards.) . His campaign was not only inclusive but much more progressive, including Universal health care...

I am not sure Obama thinks he can afford politically to do benefit the black community , if pandering to whites before the election is required , that necessity won't disappear after he's elected and immediately starts posturing for 2012.People are going to have to be content with the reflected glory , which actually could be energizing and may give a huge boost in confidence to youth.

I think that the huge difference in growing up in a white middle clas family vs growing up in poverty is showing up in these "morality lectures". If you haven't been there, it always seems much easier to just "grab those bootstraps".

[MyNameIsJames]

No one is suggesting that Obama run as a Black candidate. The problem is Obama lecturing Black Americans in a way that sends a signal to Whites that he is NOT beholden to Black interests!

[Jazzylady26]

And while you're at it, you need to address the fact of unwanted teen pregnancies, the need for our people to be off welfare, (forget that whites are the ones populating the rolls, not us), address and stress the need for education, education, education. By the way, with all your talk, have you been to college? You should not have come to this blog just to tell us old heads that we are no longer wanted or needed by you young guns. You should have come here telling us what you have been doing along these lines, what the heck you have accomplished so far in you war on the movement, have you done anything with the NAACP? Have you stopped all those bogus butt awards? Have you helped them move in a new direction? Are you urging young brothers to use condoms when having sex? Not become absent fathers? To take on the responsibility of parenthood? Young man, come back when you have something more constructive to tell us than what you're going to do. TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE DON E!

[Jazzylady26]

OK then, new young leader, let an old head tell you a thing or two. First off, get the word out that as blacks we should not be voting for Obama. If you are half the leader you say and think you are, you need to let blacks know that this man is not for them, or anyone for that matter, and you need to expose his background in Chicago as one who helped keep his own people in the slums of the inner city by funneling money through the government to the slumlords he spoke against. You need to also speak out about this man's disenfranchisement of his own people. Next, you so big and bad, you need to take care of those deadenders called hip hop "artists" and their propensity for calling black women b***hs and whores and whole slew of other names for want of a dime gotten from young whites.

[Daly]

blacks we should not be voting for Obama and you are saying vote for McCain?

McCain has virtually ensured that he will have a draft and history (Vietnam) tells us that Blacks will be used in all the most dangerous assignments.

Between Obama and McCain there the choice is clear.

[mypov123]

So, which New York Times article did you get your information about Obama's "background" in Chicago?? I'm anxiously awaiting their endorsement of John McCain after the conventions are over. Anyway, publications like the NYT represent "corporate America", and "corporate America" doesn't want to see a Democrat in the White House. And let's not forget those who REALLY don't want to see a Black man become President of the United States. First, they tried to destroy his support among White voters w/ the Rev. Wright tapes, allegations of "radical" and "terrorist" ties, rumors that he's really a Muslim, etc. When they couldn't entirely break his support among Whites and he became the presumptive Democratic nominee, now the plan is to "divide and conquer" by portraying Obama as nothing more than a calculating politician who will use the support of Black people to obtain power, that he doesn't really care about the issues in the Black community. I see you're one of those people who's falling right into their plans.

[bazokbros]

There are so many issues that are obstacles in the black community. There is a resistance of the older guard wanting to give up their influence and political clout to a younger generation, however the message of the older black leadership isn't evolving with the times.

The reality is there aren't many Barack Obamas out there to be part of the black leadership. I know this sounds crass but with 75% of AAs being born out of wedlock and less than 6% of most American colleges represented by AA students, Black leadership is becoming an oxymoron.

Kevin's comment "old school leaders are criticizing younger leaders every chance they get" goes both ways.

[robXdion]

The "jealousy" angle is an almost self-serving way to look at this Kevin, since you tied your own political campaign experience into this. But the real issue is why does Obama selectively singles out black men for criticism when he's campaigning to lead ALL Americans? Obama tippy-toes around the failings of other ethnicities but he has to lecture blacks specifically on Father's Day? A day for ALL bad fathers? What Obama said wasn't wrong, but his timing, motivation, and exclusive targeting is definitely suspect. His lectures on black responsibility has every Archie Bunker-type cheering as if that's America's ONLY societal problem. You should look at it from that angle before your own experiences tied up in it. Rev. Jackson was wrong in his language, but his concern is valid. And besides, he's was giving those same lectures when Obama was in still in Hawaii, toking it up in high school.

[MariaHopeful]

He doesn't single out Black men. He has been speaking to all communities. Did you come to his defense when the "bitter" comments were made in the biggest issue ever? Did you read his Philadelphia speech. Did you even read the speech you are criticizing? All of half a paragraph was directed to that topic. I challenge you to tell me what else he spoke about. And without first googling it.

[robXdion]

He DID single out black men. Or did you not hear the speech where specifically generalized ALL of them as acting like "boys". Since he was in a BLACK church he spoke to his audience and black men were the target. And I don't need to meet your lame challenge. I defended his bitter comments. I saw the Philadelphia speech over and over. I heard and read the speech he gave on Father's Day. Actually LOUIS FARRAKHAN has given much harsher speeches aimed at black men. But Farrakhan isn't running to lead ALL American men. Obama is. My problem is NOT the substance of Obama's speech (did you not read that above???) My problem is is motivation behind giving it, and why it's targeted specifically at black men. Before issuing a challenge about reading something, you should first read MY comments and comprehend better.