baratunde.com - Latest Comments in Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

Cara Lisa Powers — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:47:08 -0000

applause.

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

Tricia — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:09:42 -0000

Well put Baratunde. The "acting like he's white" comment is ignorant on so many levels. Obama was on the radio here in NYC this morning and says that he and Jackson have come to terms about his sentiments regarding how Obama has addressed the Jena 6 situation and that when Jesse made the statement, he made it without really knowing what Obama was doing to address the situation.

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

ms — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:39:37 -0000

I think Sharpton gained a lot of creditability during that campaign, at least to me. He spoke at the DNC. Traditionally, the media only asked Sharpton about the poor and African-American based issues. When he was in the mix they had to include him (in a Kucinich way) in with all the questions.

Regardless, I wish Larry Wilmore could do just 1 story on the Daly Show that doesn't involve race. (But that's a whole other issue)

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

littleB — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:32:48 -0000

Call him what you will. Black dad, white mom. I think he's seen enough of both sides to give a legitimate perspective.

While I agree that the principle upon which Sharpton ran in 2004 was great, implementation was lacking. His comments quickly became more of a circus show. You always knew what his response would be and he never was really open to the whole picture, just his limited view. I will admit that he brought up issues that people would prefer to ignore, but by and large most people considered him as entertainment.

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

ms — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:10:02 -0000

Also, isn't Obama white anyway?

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

ms — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:08:29 -0000

I am not really sure about what Rev. Jackson has been doing lately. But I am not completely on-board when people bash Sharpton. I still think his running in 2004 was great because his admitted role was to be in the mix with the candidates to bring up issues that wouldn't be talked about otherwise. I thought that was a great thing even if he only got limited exposure.

Re: Jesse Jackson Must Be Ecstatic about Jena

littleB — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:22:56 -0000

It is interesting to read your take on Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. I feel they really haven't done anything of significance for bettering race relationships for some time, yet somehow they are looked at as leaders. I think I like your term better, "spokesmen." It seems that those two will take any situation they can to try to keep themselves in the spotlight and pretend to still be relevant. I have more thoughts on this, but don't know what quite to write at the moment. In any case, thanks for your viewpoint. It is appreciated.