What if it weren't Jesse or Al

[butterfly77]

who spoke up about the controversy about Imus...What makes whites or others think that these two are the spokepeople for blacks. Do you really believe that most blacks agree with everything that they say? They may agree with them on some issues but all blacks are not monolithic.


When did anyone appoint them as their leaders, anyone in the black community can speak up about issues. The networks call on these two everytime there is a controversy as THEIR self appointed spokespersons for blacks.

[jody]

1. IMO because they speak out more frequently with messages with which the black community agrees than

anyone else.

[butterfly77]

4. Not necessarily...

They aren't asking anyone else...

[jody]

9. I said IMO so your opinion is different! Have a nice day. n/t

[butterfly77]

12. And toodles to you!

[valerief]

2. They get air time. nt

[butterfly77]

3. Because that's who the networks want...

because they think that the issue will get less credibility if they bring these two on...

[valerief]

5. Hey, it's all a big club and we're on the outside looking in. nt

[damntexdem]

6. Who gets the face time in the media?

The media doesn't care what most African-Americans think, they only care that enough viewers will love OR HATE the faces they put on that viewership is assured.

[butterfly77]

7. My point exactly...

[NormanYorkstein]

8. they are the corporate media's "offical blacks"

Both are basically media creations. Jackson didn't start out that way but he is now.

[TahitiNut]

10. I was far more interested in what the Rutgers coach and players had to say.

I refuse to view anyone as a spokesperson for a race ... the very paradigm smacks of racism to me - viewing human beings as 'types' instead of individuals. I steadfastly refuse to think that ANYONE can speak for others except in the most specific and limited sense where such people are elected and replaced continuously, and even then I'm leery.

Indeed, what blew me away about MLKJr. was that he served MY interests - the health and vigor of MY conscience. He spoke TO my heart and FROM his own experience. Even then, I did and still regard him as EVERYONE'S voice of conscience. That's what made him great, imho. (I don't see anyone like him today. Sadly.)

[butterfly77]

14. Hannity and O'lielly use them...

as though they speak for all Democrats or liberals. I think that are men like MLK but they never get the air time because the media always runs to them.

[Connie_Corleone]

11. It drives me nuts!

We didn't take a vote and elect them as our official spokesmen.

They love the camera. They love the attention. Sharpton hasn't even met with the young women of the Rutgers basketball team. He's doing this for himself.

And the media is at fault too. They invite the "unofficial" spokesmen like Sharpton, Jackson, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson onto their shows to speak for black people and Christians.

[butterfly77]

13. My main point is ..

the media chooses them every time there is an issue as though they were chosen to be the offical spokesmen for black people. Plus the fact that some people use them to not talk about the issue.