I'm interested in answers from African-Americans on this question.?

Question

I'm curious about how you view Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. For example, do you think their politics are too reminiscent of the 60's and 70's or do you think they have a grip on current race problems? Are there other black leaders you admire more, and why? I don't necessarily want an answer strictly to those questions, they were just an example. Also, it would really help if you could list your age as well. Thank you!

Answer 1

Yes. I feel the entire approach should have an overhaul. i also feel as a black American that we pay too much attention on the negative parts of our past. Please do not misunderstand me, Slavery was an injustice to our race. God however dealt us this hand. We have to stop blaming and become more proactive. I feel these leaders are constantly telling Americans that they owe us. No one in their right mind will hand power to you. Clearly if the shoe were on the other foot, we would respond the same.
The best help from these black leaders, would be to empower financial knowledge within the
black communities. Education is the key. Knowledge is power. Putting programs in place for public schools and black colleges, making this attractive to big business for aid. maybe I am crazy,Not!!!! I am sick of them crying constantly. The black leaders in my opinion run on emotion as oppose to a smarter approach.

Answer 2

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have a grip on current racial problems. Here is the problem: Racism used to be so overt. People could go around in the early Twentieth Century and be racist towards minorities without repercussion. Now racism is coverted, so it is very hard to tell who is racist and who isn't. Sharpton and Jackson have been ridiculed due to the Imus situation. What he said was racist, but they did not get him fired. Imus was fired because companies pulled their sponsors and money. If companies stayed with Imus' show, he would have been suspended, and that's it.

Stating that, I do not admire any black leaders right now. At 39 years, I am not in the admiring stage right now. I do want to state that Obama has been a good government official, and he speaks of something more than terrorism and terrorists will be at our home if we don't "win" this war. He talks about hope and wanting to look positively towards the future. No one believes there is a Utopia out there, but there is more than "the terrorists are going to kill us".

EDIT: All of that being said, I don't always agree with Sharpton and Jackson. They do need to start helping us make changes from within...

Answer 3

There are similar people in the making as for example one of the presidential candidates in the field!