Please, No More Black Leaders

Let me say this up front. I have never been a fan of "Reverend" Jesse Jackson. Also I have never understood how he became MY black leader. When did we have that election? No one ever came up to me and asked if I'm going to vote for Mr. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. as the next black leader. Now that I've gotten that off my chest. Let's talk about Mr. Jackson's recent comments against Senator Obama.

Mr. Jackson stated that Senator Obama was talking down to blacks and that "I wanna cut his (Obama) nuts off." This childish remark stems from statements made by Obama, in several predominantly black churches, that black males must take greater responsibility for their behavior. Mr. Jackson just adds to his list of irresponsible comments and actions. From calling Jews "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown," to breaking his wedding vows and having an affair with a staffer, Karin Stanford, that resulted in the birth of a daughter. Mr. Jackson has in my view never been an example of a leader. He is a self promoter that often treat black Americans as nothing more than a backdrop as he enriches himself. His view of blacks as helpless victims whose destructive actions are not their fault but ONLY the fault of society is misleading and damaging.

Jackson is seeing his light fading in the brightness of a new generation of African Americans. A generation that is calling for greater responsibility within the black community. The data on the status on African Americans is sobering.

* More than half of all black men in the nation's inner cities drop out of high school.

* More than 70 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20s were out of work in 2004.

* By their mid-30s, 60 percent of high school dropouts have served time in jail.

* 70% of black women are single.

* 62% of black families with children are headed by a single parent.

* 85% of black children DO NOT live in a home with their fathers.

* 70% of African American boys in the criminal justice system come from single parent homes.

* 2 MILLION black males are either currently in a state or federal prison or have been in one.

We can argue over the reasons: bad schools, absent parents, racism, structural changes in the economy and/or a subculture that glorifies gangsterism. All have an impact, but in the end we must demand a greater level of personal responsibility.

Perhaps the most distressing implication is the growing gender imbalance between black men and black women.

The impact of inner-city life has depleted many black communities of its men. From homicide, to drugs, to prison the African American male is an endangered species.

This has left a gap between our black males and black females that threatens to destroy the black community in ways no outside force has managed to in the entire history of African Americans.

We are witnessing black men being left behind by black females in education, jobs, and even maturity. It is time to stop finding excuses for this anti-social behavior and demand greater accountability.

In his comments Mr. Jackson has made a jackass of himself. The time of black leaders has passed. It is time that all black men and women become leading blacks in moving our people forward.

This is my view, what's yours?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reginald,
That is a great post that moved me to a better understanding of some of the problems in the community.

The gap between males and females is very apparent. Responsibility and accountability begins with the individual and it is important to realize that it does "take a village" to instill the strong values, skills and morals necessary to becoming a productive member of society.

I admire your courage for saying what needs to be said about Jesse Jackson. I would have chosen a snake for the body and not the innocent and gentle donkey.

Keep writing!

Anonymous said...

Mr. Milton I agree with everything you said. Amen

Anonymous said...

Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton should shut their big mouths. They have made a living off of using black people.

When will we get the message that we are FREE and stop acting like slaves.

You're doing a good job Mr. Milton please keep being that honest voice among these dishonest lairs.

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha Ha, funny. Jesse and Al have become jokes. They are self promoters.

Anonymous said...

Got two children and their father is no where in the picture, but I knew he wouldn't hang around. I just wanted children and not a man to be living off me or beating me. Mr. Milton these black men out here are dogs. Tried to find a good man but it was a waste of time. I wanted children before getting too old so I let one of these dogs in my life. Got what I wanted and he got what he wanted. It just the way it is.

Anonymous said...

Jackson said, Obama has urged greater emphasis on fatherhood, advised parents to choose reading books over playing video games and most recently told young students to stick with school and forget about a career as a rap star or professional basketball player.

Jackson said that in doing so Obama was hurting his relationship with black voters.

Let me get this straight Mr. Jackson. By telling black people to be more responsible, read more and stay in school he is hurting his relationship with blacks? Well this let's me know what you think about black people, and it's not good.

Don't listen to him Obama be your own man. Don't turn out to be like this dried out fool Jesse Jackson.

Brad Watkins said...

Great post,great blog...I'm glad to see other bloggers with a more local view.

Anonymous said...

Could not have said it better. Young black men you need to listen to people like Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey and not to people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

You give me hope for our people Mr. Milton God bless you.

Anonymous said...

Reverend Jackson has helped a lot of people. It is strange that he would say those things about Senator Obama. He did apologize and we should learn to forgive.

Anonymous said...

I truly agree with all the bloggers, i have 3 boys and i am trying to teach them that there is more to life than running with a ball. Get an education, there r worlds of knowledge out there just waiting to be discovered, always try more than just one door.

Reginald Milton said...

To 7:11 A.M.
You had me rolling on the floor. You are correct. Why pick on the donkey, and me being a democrat.

You are right and I was wrong. From this point forward I will never again use the donkey in such a manner.

Thank you! LOL

To 7:16 A.M. & 2:12 P.M.
Thank you for the nice remarks. I'm still getting my feet wet as far as being a journalist. This site is growing and I am determined to make sure it stays positive and provides you, the viewers, with useful information.

To Brad Watkins.
I'm honored! For those of you that have not visited Brad's Blog yet it's called "Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal..." Brad has writers such as Desi Franklin and John Marek giving comments. It's a great site.
You can find it on my blog list or type in http://westtennessee.blogspot.com.

To 10:13 A.M.
I can't honestly say I agree with your method, but I must acknowledge it is a challenge to find a male or female for that matter these days that you would consider marriage material. I still believe we do a disservice to a child when we bring them into this world with only one parent. Times are just too hard to raise a child alone. Not judging, just my view.

To 10:27 A.M. & 12:34 A.M.
I with you!

Anonymous said...

THIS IS SO SAD. SLAVERY, JIM CROW, SHARE CROPPING, SEGREGATION. NO WONDER AFRO-AMERICANS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME MOVING UP.