Jesse Jackson... Just Shut Up

[freckles and boo]

Could not have said it any better myself. (Except I'm not liberal )

Common ground is nice, isn't it?

 

[OceanAnnie]

There does seem to be some double standards to me. There's BET (Black Entertainment Network). If there was a WET (White Entertainment Network) all heck would break loose.

It's like getting it both ways. It appears people want inclusion but they want segregation too.

 

[Fitswimmer]

There does seem to be some double standards to me. There's BET (Black Entertainment Network). If there was a WET (White Entertainment Network) all heck would break loose.

It's like getting it both ways. It appears people want inclusion but they want segregation too.

We were just talking about this in my office this morning. There are the Essence awards, there are awards for Hispanic performers-but can you imagine if someone suggested the White Performers awards??

 

[SwedishMeatball]

We were just talking about this in my office this morning. There are the Essence awards, there are awards for Hispanic performers-but can you imagine if someone suggested the White Performers awards??

I see your point, but I also see it from their perspective. As groups of people that have been discriminated against, it seems natural that they would want to celebrate their distinct achievements. Maybe it won't be such an issue a hundred years from now.

 

[MareQ]

Whenever I see Sharpton or Jackson in the news, I'm always very suspicious of what they are actually aiming to accomplish. They are more concerned about themselves than advancing any civil rights issues. The Sean Bell case from last month (the groom who was shot 13 or so times in NYC) was really tragic, but I really doubt Sharpton cared on iota about that family. He was more concerned about getting his face on television, without adding an ounce of credibility to the case.

Tawanna Brawley - I seriously doubt many people other than Al himself - have taken him seriously since that disaster. He lost ALL credibility since then.

He is NOTHING but a trouble maker!

 

[disneyfan67]

Jesse Jackson cares about what effects him, first and foremost.

He has done quite well for himself and this is just another chance to get face time on tv and keep his name in the press. Everyone has done a fine job here bringing up points on how he ends up hurting causes, more than he helps. I've lived in the Chicagoland area for almost 40 years and I've seen everything he's about.

A lot of people might not remember him threatening Anheuser Busch with boycotts and lawsuits because there wasn't enough minority owned beer distributors. Not only did his sons get three distributorships, they got them in prime locations in Chicago and for a bargain at that. They control Wrigley Field area which is a gold mine for anything beer related. Here is part of an article I saw by just putting in Jesse Jackson and Budweiser.


Let’s first look at Jackson’s sons, Yusef and Jonathan. They are the owners of River North Sales & Service, one of three distributorships in the Chicago area. It has the exclusive right to sell Budweiser, Michelob and other Anheuser-Busch products over a wide area.

When they bought the distributorship in 1998, Yusef was 28 years old, and Jonathan 32. Neither had any experience in the beer business, or in running a company the size of River North. Yusef became a 67% owner, and Jonathan 23%. The remaining 10% went to a white Chicagoan named Donald Niestrom, Jr. who already had 10 years experience at the distributorship, and was vice-president of operations.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Jacksons refused to say how much they paid for the distributorship, but public records show they received a $6.7 million loan from NationsBank to pay Anheuser-Busch for the distributorship’s assets, equipment, land and buildings. Anheuser-Busch, however, had spent $10.5 million seven years earlier to buy just the distributorship’s land and buildings.
This partnership between the Jackson and Busch families is a far cry from the early eighties when Jesse Jackson organized a boycott whose slogan was “This Bud is a Dud.”

http://www.nlpc.org/view.asp?action=viewArticle&aid=1263

 

[wvrevy]

Black Population of the US: About 13%

Black Membership of the Academy: 110 of 5,830 (about 1.9%)

In the rush to bash Jesse (and don't let me stand in your way, as I'm no fan of his either), it seems to me that he has a bit of a point. Unless, of course, you can back up the argument that a smaller percentage of actors, writers, and other behind-the-scenes people in Hollywood are black than in the general population.

I mean...Halle Barry was the first black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar...and it only happened about 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but that is an indication that there might be some bias there...unless you honestly think there were no female performances prior to then that deserved to win (unlikely).

So...bash away at Jesse and Reverand Al...I won't argue in their favor on much. But looked at as an argument rather than from that particular source, there seems to be some merit to the idea.

 

[cardaway]

IMO what Jesse, and anybody who agrees with him, are ignoring is there now a sizable population of minorties making movies now. If Jessie has an issue with them not being up worthy of Acedemy Awards he should take it up with the people making these movies not the entire Acedemy.

There is plenty of "color" on American screens.

 

[DISUNC]

Why does Jesse Jackson have soooooooooo much clout with the News agencies?
Do they use him as a "entertaining laugh'?
Do they 'think' that people give a hoot as too what he says?



I honestly dont know anyone of any color who REALLY gives a frig what he has to say!

The news agencies might as well interview Joe Blow or Jane Doe!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

that man make me just change the channel and

 

[TeresaNJ]

Black Population of the US: About 13%

Black Membership of the Academy: 110 of 5,830 (about 1.9%)

In the rush to bash Jesse (and don't let me stand in your way, as I'm no fan of his either), it seems to me that he has a bit of a point. Unless, of course, you can back up the argument that a smaller percentage of actors, writers, and other behind-the-scenes people in Hollywood are black than in the general population.

I mean...Halle Barry was the first black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar...and it only happened about 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but that is an indication that there might be some bias there...unless you honestly think there were no female performances prior to then that deserved to win (unlikely).

So...bash away at Jesse and Reverand Al...I won't argue in their favor on much. But looked at as an argument rather than from that particular source, there seems to be some merit to the idea.

Can someone explain to me why Halle Berry is considered the first "black" woman to win a Best Actress Oscar when her mother is caucasion?

 

[Reflection]

Can someone explain to me why Halle Berry is considered the first "black" woman to win a Best Actress Oscar when her mother is caucasion?

It would be explained by the one-drop rule, of which many people still believe today. The rule: if you have even a drop of black blood in you, then you are black. This view was legalized in state law in Virginia (until it was abolished) and perhaps in other southern states as well.

 

[freckles and boo]

Black Population of the US: About 13%

Black Membership of the Academy: 110 of 5,830 (about 1.9%)

In the rush to bash Jesse (and don't let me stand in your way, as I'm no fan of his either), it seems to me that he has a bit of a point. Unless, of course, you can back up the argument that a smaller percentage of actors, writers, and other behind-the-scenes people in Hollywood are black than in the general population.

I mean...Halle Barry was the first black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar...and it only happened about 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but that is an indication that there might be some bias there...unless you honestly think there were no female performances prior to then that deserved to win (unlikely).

So...bash away at Jesse and Reverand Al...I won't argue in their favor on much. But looked at as an argument rather than from that particular source, there seems to be some merit to the idea.

I would love to be able to tell you how many black writers or producers there are in Hollywood but I don't have any idea. My evidence is anecdotal. I have already stated that there were few black students studying theatre when I was an undergrad. One of them, Reggie Hayes, has had success in film and on television (a cast member on CWs Girlfriends). At Northwestern, where I was a grad student, there were even fewer black theatre students. I live near, and work in, Chicago - a city where you can't walk down a street without tripping over a storefront theatre. There are over 190 producing organizations on the League of Chicago Theatres website alone www.chicagoplays.com and many more organizations that aren't League members. Click on What's Playing tonight and you can choose from thirty of forty shows on a given day. Of those companies, there are only three whose mission is theatre for, by, and about African-Americans. Other companies, like the Goodman or Steppenwolf will include pieces for and about the black experience in their production season, but that isn't their primary focus. This is in a city that is 38% black. Black folks just aren't producing or seeing theatre in great numbers. They aren't studying acting in great numbers either.

And if you look at our really great actors (of all races), all of them have seriously studied acting or have come at it from a parallel performance career. Jennifer Hudson was on American Idol. I will also bet that as soon as she was cast in Dreamgirls she hired an acting coach. Eddie Murphy is a comedian with a lot of stage experience. Halle Berry has an associates degree in broadcasting and was a model. Forest Whitaker studied at the Music Conservatory at USC and the Drama Studio in London. Samuel L. Jackson studied drama at Morehouse and became a member of the Negro Ensemble Theatre and NYShakes. Denzel Washington studied journalism and later acting. My point - the competition for roles is fierce and many actors are simply mediocre. If there are fewer black people studying acting overall, there will be fewer talents that rise to the top. I can only assume that is true for other creative disciplines like producing and writing as well.

 

[rockbottomsound]

This guys one of the biggest frauds on the planet. He is famous for literally blackmailing companies by using the race card. If he hears of some worker or something that has been discriminated against, he'll approach the company and threaten that he's going to go public and create a scandal, then he gladly takes cash $$$$ to go away when it is offered.

He uses racial discrimination as a form of blackmail to line his own pockets. I think they tried this with the Busch Beer company, they were successful, his son was given a distributorship to not pursue some alleged racial discrimination claim.

 

[Reflection]

There does seem to be some double standards to me. There's BET (Black Entertainment Network). If there was a WET (White Entertainment Network) all heck would break loose.

It's like getting it both ways. It appears people want inclusion but they want segregation too.

If there were truly a need for a WET, I'm sure someone would have launched that network by now. In my view, it is not needed because the majority of characters in network or cable television (even when considering the black-targeted sit coms on the former WB) or in film are white characters.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Why does Jesse Jackson have soooooooooo much clout with the News agencies?
Do they use him as a "entertaining laugh'?
Do they 'think' that people give a hoot as too what he says?



I honestly dont know anyone of any color who REALLY gives a frig what he has to say!

The news agencies might as well interview Joe Blow or Jane Doe!

I work with a few African American girls that will be the first to say that he's an embarassment to their race. The issue of equality takes two steps backwards everytime he opens his mouth.

 

[JadenLayne]

I didn't read the entire thread, all I had to see was his name. He has taken what MLK wanted and made a mockery. He is an ENABLER instead of a helper. I can't stand him! He is not looking for peace, like MLK, he is looking for trouble and disharmony!

 

[Kim&Chris]

If there were truly a need for a WET, I'm sure someone would have launched that network by now. In my view, it is not needed because the majority of characters in network or cable television (even when considering the black-targeted sit coms on the former WB) or in film are white characters.

But can you explain the need for BET? Sorry, but I just don't know the answer.

 

[OceanAnnie]

If there were truly a need for a WET, I'm sure someone would have launched that network by now. In my view, it is not needed because the majority of characters in network or cable television (even when considering the black-targeted sit coms on the former WB) or in film are white characters.

It would never happen because of the NAACP. Again, double standard.

 

[freckles and boo]

But can you explain the need for BET? Sorry, but I just don't know the answer.

Can you explain the need for the Golf Channel? Or ESPN2? I don't watch any of them. I don't watch NASCAR either. Does that mean it shouldn't exist?