Question for African Americans: Does Jesse Jackson speak for you?

[XemaSab]

Jesse Jackson is often treated in the media as the voice of the Black community, but how much of that is self appointed? Is he really that respected? Who are some other real leaders of the Black community, or is it a leaderless group?

Thanks for educating me about this.

[zanne]

1. I'm white, but he speaks for me. nt

[wake.up.america]

2. The same for me. He spoke for all people who wish a world free from oppression

[XemaSab]

3. Even his involvement in the Terri Schiavo fiasco?

:shrug:

[Rosemary2205]

4. I'm the only one who speaks for me.

IMHO Jesse Jackson speaks for himself. Not anyone else.

[XemaSab]

5. Thanks.

:hi:

[HamdenRice]

6. Is George Bush "the" leader of the white community?

I think it is insane that white America needs to annoint a single person to "speak" for African Americans as our "leader". Does one person lead or speak for the white community? The Italian-American community? The Jewish American or Irish American community?

Jesse Jackson has a lot of good ideas, and I think most black Americans like him and respect him. But he is not "the" leader of or speaker for Black America.

There are thousands upon thousands of leaders of communities, churches and interest groups in Black America.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. He's An Influential Voice

But it's a bit condescending to say a group needs one person to speak for them...

[Connie_Corleone]

8. No he doesn't. I speak for myself.

The black community is not some monolithic thinking group.