The discussion about Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton's complaints about the film "Barbershop" seems worth exploring on another level.

While many folks have pointed to Jackson's protests possibly being tied to an insult directed toward him in that movie's scene, there are others who say his opposition is more directly linked to a longtime desire of his to be seen as President of black America.

Under this assertion, Jackson would appear to be under the impression that he can "veto" or eradicate anything dealing with the civil rights struggle that displeases him, whether artistic or otherwise (i.e., wanting to delete that scene from Barbershop's dvd and vhs versions).

In this day and age of diversity of ethnicity and thought, is there such thing as a black leader? Or, expand it: Is there such thing as a black community? How would you define these terms?

Personally, I think anyone with such a shady history as Jackson's (his ultimately debunked claims concerning MLK's assassination, and his practice of blackmailing companies into supporting his corporation, for instance) has a lot of nerve to appoint themselves president of any group.
[This message was edited Wed Oct 2 11:40:32 PDT 2002 by ThreadBare]

Had this been 5 years ago, I might not have said it. But; Jesse Jackson is sickening.

Supernova said:

Ditto. I've lost a lot of respect for him AND Al (leaders in general 2 tell the truth). They seem more media hungry than anything else these dayz, and there are many reasons 4 my coming 2 this conclusion; the foremost being that there have been a lot of more recent issues that should have been addressed and probably could have been solved had there been a call 2 organize. The younger cats of the NAACP seem 2 have their heads more focused than those now trying to run 4 a higher office. That's positive, I suppose.
I'll try 2 come back later and expand. Good thread.
PEACE
[This message was edited Wed Oct 2 13:33:17 PDT 2002 by aspera773]

I guess I'm Staying True to My Blackness.while I don't agree with everything Jesse&Al do who else except Farrikhan is speaking on anything? these Rappers ain't saying Shit for the most Part.Jesse&Al ain't No Toms like alot of Cats out today.New Leadership ain't speaking enough IMHO.Johnny Cochraine brings the Real as well.don't be Dissing Two Important Black Leaders I take this Personal.

The truth is right now there are NO BLACK LEADERS.Every generation has had a black leader they believed in.Fifteen years ago i saw Jesse Jackson in a very different light than i do now.

4LOVE said:

Jesse is Still a Leader to me just like Al&Nelson Mandela.Minister Farrikhan,Johnny Cochraine.I'm Black&I'll Speak on this Topic because it's near&Dear to me.

mistermaxxx said:

what is important about Jesse? the only time he speaks up is when he smells some money. ask his family where they got their jobs. by Jesse shaking companies down and crying racism and then being appeased by installing someone in his family into a job at those places.

AaronForever said:

Rainbow/Push Foundation.why in the Hell is a Negroe Leader Held to Higher Standards than a White Leader by the Way in a Racist Ass Country? Can you Answer that One? get off Jesse&ask that of Bushy Boy,His Daddy&His Fixing Brother.but what you ask of Jesse or Al you wouldn't dare ask of His White Counterpart?

mistermaxxx said:

Don't get me wrong mistermaxxx.The people you stated above still have my respect.But talk to the black youth and see what they say.The Barbershop thing has aloy of kids disliking Jackson and there is no one to change their point of view.There are alot of strong black men.As for leaders take a survey and ask them what was the last inspirational thing they can remember them saying.Sometimes i think famous gets confused woth being a leader.

4LOVE said:

the Kids Today think of 2Pac along the lines of Malcolm X.the Million Man March was powerful&only 7 Years back.what happen with the Line from the "Barbershop" was just the icing on that Cake.but Jesse isn't that much different than Bill Clinton in reality but Held to the same President Standards without Ever getting in.that is what Pisses me off so much folks make Naked Statements about "Black Leaders" but what Power have we Had? like I said we are Held to Standards without ever getting the Power.tell me what Jesse has done so bad? why is He or other Black Leaders held to the standards of Bush,Reagan,Clinton on back? Nelson Mandela was a President use Him as a Example you can't use any Black Man or Woman as a Leader in the United States.Collin Powell ain't Declaring War Bushy Boy is.Case Closed.

mistermaxxx said:

That's exactly what i'm talking about.2pac is gone.Who else inspires them to take it to the ...MAXX.I agree about the double standard but i won't ever try to compare somebody i see as a leader with Dubyah.That would be an insult to the people i believe in.I grew up in a generation full of black leaders and that helped to give me a solid foundation and a sense of pride.Like i said we have a lot of strong black men who are leaders in their own way.But can you name one who if they said something it could move the young black males of today.Minister Farrikhan is really about all they have.Johnny Cochraine is more of a celebrity that i have respect for.

mistermaxxx said:

Nelson Mandela in the same breath as...oh, jeezzz...

Everyone in power, at the forefront is fallable and everyone does some shady dealings to get there and stay there and while theyre there...I remember when Jesse got those hostages back. They sure a shell werent complainin' about his past deeds or possible future ones. Im not saying people shouldnt be accountable but I also dont let any leaders speak for me completely black or white.

Supernova said:

what is wrong with saying that? what is your Knock this time?

To be honest there seems to be a shortage of leaders(black or white)at the present time in the U.S.

mistermaxxx said:

Don't particularly know what a "knock" is (oh yes I do, nevermind). All I know is that Sharpton, Cochran and Farrakook don't belong in the same grammar/written proximity as Nelson Mandela.


Cut moi...
[This message was edited Wed Oct 2 22:20:58 PDT 2002 by Supernova]

oops! I double-posted.
(see below)
[This message was edited Thu Oct 3 1:11:24 PDT 2002 by ThreadBare]

mistermaxxx said:

Jackson brings the scrutiny on himself. He's the one always calling press conferences. I applaud the humanitarian work he's done overseas to bring home captured servicemen. I wish all of his efforts were of that caliber, I really do.

But, he's just as apt to jump to the other end of the spectrum: Remember the high school hoodlums who'd started a riot at a school sporting event by fighting? He defended them as if *they'd* been victimized. All in the name of racism. He does a disservice to the true instances of racism, when he chases flimsy publicity-generating cases like that one.

And, like the one involving Barbershop. The more time passes, the less ol' Jesse seems to have to do. Next thing you know, he'll be boycotting "Boondocks" as a comic strip that promotes too much thought and analysis.

Supernova said:

Since I'm not black I might only be able to look at this issue from the outside. But I do have the feeling there is a lack of a black leader who brings music and racial issues together like James Brown did. Look at JB: He told the kids to "be cool, stay in school" and all the black kids followed his advice. He told the bums "If you dont work, you cant eat" and they all went out to go get a job. When Baltimore and D.C. were about to go up in flames after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King JB called people to stay home - and they did. Time magazine back in 1968 on their cover called the question "Is this the most important black man in America?" I'm sorry brothers and sisters, but you aint got nobody like James Brown these days... he even sampled Jesse Jackson:
"I may be unemployed... but I am sombody!"
"I may be unskilled... but I am somebody!"
"I may be uneducated... but I am somebody!"
"I may be in jail... but I am somebody!"
he even named an album after this... "Damn Right, I am somebody!"
no tell me, who would do that today?

soulpower said:

If he were alive, Tupac.