The Street Taketh Away

The Rev. Jesse Jackson's use of the "N word" during that off mic conversation the other week shouldn't surprise those who know him. Sad to say, for once, Bill O'Reilly was right. He really did have something else on that tape. Rev. Jackson has apologized, again. No word yet from the Obama camp, which one would guess has other fish to fry.

Talk to black folks about Jesse's faux pas, and reactions run the gamut. some say it's jealousy, pure and simple. Others, as we've mentioned before, go back to his out of wedlock child to trace his fall. Yet what surprises is not what people say about Jesse Jackson, but the eagerness with which many black folks embrace the message Jesse was dogging in the first place.

Back in the day, black folks had little tolerance for those among us who "aired our dirty laundry in public". It was considered giving those operating against black interests just the ammunition they needed to promote their agenda. Indeed, when Jesse Jackson uttered his ill advised "Hymietown" remarks back in '84, many blacks were critical of the messenger, a black reporter. 

In 2008, things have changed. Not only do many blacks embrace Obama's message of personal responsibility, a good number have no problem venting their feelings about Jesse Jackson. Suffice to say Jesse went "street" on Obama, saying the kind of thing regular black folks might say in a barber shop or local bar.

Somebody should remind Jesse Jackson those places don't have microphones.