No, Jesse Is Not My Cousin

Here we go again: Kerry Makes Push for Hispanic, Black Votes

Why is it that every time I hear about a candidate pandering for the "black vote", Jesse Jackson's name is almost invariably involved? This is where I start to get irritated about the subtle type of racism that minorities go through on a daily basis. Is Jesse Jackson the only black person these people think of? They only know of ONE black person to approach about getting out the black vote? Do they understand that a WHOLE lot of educated, politically active, registered voting black folks do not give a bleep about Jesse Jackson or anything he has to say? There are a lot of votes in the broad spectrum between Jesse Jackson and Condi Rice.

I personally maxed out on Jesse a couple of decades ago. I am on the verge of declaring that any white politician that I see grinning and shaking hands with Jesse Jackson will not get my vote. These folks need to realize how many savvy blacks are declaring themselves as "Independent" (as have I) and what a force the so called 'hip hop' vote is becoming. My just-turned-nineteen-year-old niece registered to vote as soon as she turned 18. She is fired up and ready to vote this year and, trust, she is no pushover or follower of the masses.

Some blacks complain that he doesn't have any/many blacks in his inner circle. Well, neither do most white folks (remember, no black friends on Friends) and given the perpetually segregated nature of our society, I don't expect otherwise. But, at least LEARN enough to know that Jesse Jackson is not the only black man in this country and that every single black person in this country does not know, like or look to him for leadership!

Lurch is lucky that my primary goal in November is to put that little monkey on his toy horse and send him back to Crawford, TX ... 'cause the Green Party is starting to look very good to me. (More on that later)