Oh, how quickly we forget … when and if only we were allowed. We should be so lucky in the case of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a self-proclaimed “ black leader” and civil rights activist. As political campaigns heat up for 2004, Mr. Jackson has began to make his rounds around the country to rally support for the Democratic Party and of course to stir the pot on hot issues concerning African-Americans and other minorities in the cities he visits. Officially here to make a speech to the African American Chambers of Commerce, Jackson crammed more into this visit than a simple speech on business in the African-American community. As usual much hype and controversy surrounds his visits as he continues to proclaim his stance as the voice of equality for minorities. In this way, I say his departure (and others like him) in this capacity is long overdue.
Not only is it amiss to insinuate that black people need a leader for reasons beyond the pages this editorial will allow, but it is definitely an insult that we are paired with the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton who insert themselves into the role without majority consensus from anyone. Besides the issue that we should be led, is the issue of character and dignity in the representation. If our aim is to increase education in our communities, why not have a leader with a solid education or background in teaching and making progress in our schools. If we want our young black men to respect women and stop having children out of wedlock, is it too much to ask that the man leading us not have fathered a child out of wedlock while married. And, if it is respect we desire from the police in this country, should not our leaders support the police in their fight against crime (even against our own) instead of coming to the aid of scandal for publicity’s sake?
During Mr. Jackson’s visit he mentioned that our children must be able to “live together in a multiracial, multicultural society.” In accomplishing this Mr. Jackson may want to cease the archaic talk of the “fight for equal opportunity” to our young people and let them know that equal opportunity has arrived and is theirs for the taking when they respect their teachers, other adults around them, and study their best in schools, and make abstinence a priority. Mr. Jackson might tell our police officers that we will stop standing behind black criminals who break the law so that racial profiling will die along with black on black crime.
The role of the black leader is at least as outdated today as it is unproductive. Should these leaders be inclined to promote racial healing instead of continually fueling its fire, we might be on to something. Have we ever asked ourselves why in their 40 years of leadership and fight for equality they are still preaching the same stories of discontent and despair awaiting us. If they were indeed leaders, could we by now expect to see light at the end of the tunnel? What is really going on is that Americans are so desperate for racial cohesiveness in our country that these leaders have been able to move in on a societal cash cow and that they are unwilling to abandon.
Jesse Jackson, the CEO of Rainbow/PUSH and his fellow cohorts, have made very lucrative careers out of fighting on the behalf of the underdogs he so portrays us. Without this portrait and position of leadership, Mr. Jackson goes away. Never officially elected to any office by the people, how is it that he is allowed to wholly represent us? He is allowed because just as he preaches that we are unequal in the eyes of discrimination, he is holding the belief firm by speaking for us as an entirety. Not until he and the likes of him move on, will blacks receive equity in thinking and representation. As long as they continue to “lead” we are will be seen as followers – a monolithic race that depends on the shaking down, threats, and tirades of these un-elected and at best shifty black men to rally our cause. If we are to ever move along as individuals and thrive in this multi-culturalist world that Mr. Jackson has so acknowledged, the first step is to move it along without the usual representatives who continually discredit our ability to think and speak for ourselves.