OK, so for Father’s Day, Sen. Barack Obama visited an African American church to preach the gospel of responsibility to Black fathers.
From what I’ve seen of his speech, his words were pretty much identical to the message poor Bill Cosby has been spouting for a few years now. The difference is, nobody is taking Bill very seriously (though he recently came out with a book titled “Come On People,” to share his views in another format.)
A July 14 Associated Press story reports that “the presumptive Democratic nominee” preached an expanded version of same message to the annual NAACP convention in Cincinnati. “The man who could become the first black president said Washington must provide greater education and economic assistance, but that blacks must demand more of themselves.”
Days earlier, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, who derailed his own 1984 presidential campaign with “off the record” remarks in which he famously called Jews “Hymies” and New York City “Hymietown,” had another recent lapse of judgment on the mic. During an interview with Fox News (you know, the network that decided a pound was a “terroristic fist bump”), the Rev. Jackson expressed his anger at Obama’s Father’s Day tirade, then said he wanted to uh, remove his gonads through non-medical surgery.
Of course the Rev. Jackson immediately apologized and expressed his regret for said remark, which had been instantly heard ‘round the world.
Which prompted the Rev. Jackson’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill), and Obama campaign co-chairman to issue a public statement rebuking his daddy quite publicly. “I’m deeply outraged and disappointed in Rev. Jackson’s reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama,” the20Junior Jackson said, then went on to elaborate.
I guess that’s more appropriate then saying, “My Daddy, God bless him, has obviously lost his mind and needs to stop speaking in public yesterday.”
Where is the love, the respect, or at least a genuine attempt at constructive conversation between our high-profile brethren?
Wouldn’t it be nice if Cosby, both Jacksons and Obama sat down to a nice soul food dinner to have an old-fashioned convo? Other public brothahs whose comments have become part of the public discourse should join them as well: Tavis Smiley, Michael Eric Dyson, Will i am, and so on.
Maybe Jay-Z and Nas could co-host, and share tips on overcoming legendary public beef to man up and join forces.
It seems that we as a people have forgotten all about the “united we stand, divided we fall” concept. I’m not against disagreeing, but we’re not gaining anything from public sniping and statement-making, where every word, nuance and gesture becomes tran smitted and open for interpretation, always out of context, always out of grace.
We learn the most from people who think and see things differently from us, and it would be not only smart, but beneficial for Sen. Barack Obama to avail himself of varying perspectives and learn to work out “beef” outside the spotlight. Even in this era where the craving for privacy has replaced the craving for fame, it’s easy to see how the situation with Obama and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright might have become a much more potent asset in his campaign.
I’m not letting Obama off the hook in this instance because he’s biracial and didn’t grow up part of a cohesive community or tradition. I, too, am biracial. But I understand unity. I understand politics. And I understand the incomparable value of joining forces rather than wasting valuable time, energy and political ammunition on sniping over he-say he-say comments. I prefer the raw honesty and competitive spirit of the street-corner “dozens” we grew up with in the ‘hood to this public bitch-slapping.
It’s immature, divisive and counter-productive.
And most importantly, each of these men is capable of so much more.
