I mean really, has anyone ever heard Jesse Jackson say, "I am a leader in/of Black America"? If yes, then the first question to him should have been, "And who (s) elected you, Jesse, to this position?" If no, then why all the hullabaloo over the media's portrayal of him as such?

Why do we take out our anger and frustration on him and his kind when in truth, he is not really responsible for creating that image? Once again, we have fallen for the okidoke, and when I say 'we' I mean me too. Shame on me.

I realized that I had been guilty of holding Jesse, and when I say 'Jesse' I mean all those like him, i.e., Al Sharpton, Minister Louis Farakhan, Mark Morial, Cornell West, Michael Eric Dyson, et al, responsible for satisfying my expectations of them. I realized too, that no one could lead unless there is someone to follow.

Is Jesse a leader because we, black people in America, follow him? Or, is Jesse a leader because we say he is a leader? Did Jesse have any say in this matter, or was he merely drafted because he dared to open his mouth one day and say, "I am somebody!"

I recently did a telephone interview (May 20, 2005) with Jesse Lee Peterson of The Jesse Lee Peterson Show in Los Angeles. I was invited to be on his show because of comments I made in response to comments he made about Jesse (www.bondinfo.org, once there, click on his picture and follow the links to the archives to hear the broadcast).

In his comments, he said Jesse was no black leader, and called Jesse racially divisive. I took issue with the racially divisive part, calling it an unfair characterization of Jesse. One may disagree with Jesse on any of the myriad of issues he has addressed, but one cannot call Jesse racially divisive, for he clearly is not.

Jesse Lee has failed to realize his own contradiction. One cannot say that someone is not a leader, and then say he is racially divisive, because the latter completely cancels out the former. The term 'racially divisive' implies a followership, and followership mandates leadership.

Who is it that Jesse Lee sees Jesse as racially dividing? Jesse Lee touts himself as one who speaks the truth to unite the races. I wonder if he is aware of the implications of that statement? Surely, he must know that he is insinuating he, too, has a followership, being the listener who agrees with his points of view.

Jesse Lee could easily remedy this contradiction, if he were not so busy trying to condemn and demonize Jesse. Obviously, at least according to Jesse Lee's accusation of racial divisibility (I made that up), Jesse is indeed a leader. Be that as it may, that is not the crux of this problem. It goes much deeper.

Who says Jesse is a leader? Well, as always, it is neither the one who is the object of this misguided finger pointing, nor those pointing the finger. It is the same phantom that lurks in the shadows of the black community. The same one who makes guns and drugs available in the black community.

The white media coined the term 'black leaders' in reference to persons like Jesse Jackson by projecting their own 'Messiah Complex' onto us. Our problem is, we have bought into it, and thus the okidoke I spoke of earlier.

Neither Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., nor El Hajj Malik El Shabaaz (Malcolm X) even claimed to be a 'black leader', yet the white media presented them as such, and we went right along with it. That is not to say that many did not gladly follow them, for they truly did, and they proved themselves worthy to lead.

Further, we have insisted that anyone who showed any similar signs of strength and courage also be touted as a leader. And when these persons failed to live up to our expectations, that we got from the white media, we crucified them, being egged on by the same white media that created this dilemma in the first place. Shame, shame, shame.

Today, I therefore pronounce and declare Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Minister Louis Farakhan, et. al., free, to the degree and extent they so choose, of the title of 'black leader', and completely exonerated of any and all obligations, expectations, and responsibilities associated therewith.

They shall be, from this day forth, enabled, to the degree and extent they so choose, to live their lives as they see fit unfettered by the encumbers brought on by the title 'black leader'. Anyone found misapplying the title 'black leader' to any of the above-named individuals, or anyone formerly classified as such, or to anyone who has not given their express consent to be called a 'black leader' shall be immediately and summarily subjected to excommunication from the black community.

Furthermore, be it known, that anyone who is (s)elected as a black leader shall be required to carry on their person at all times an authentic, certified copy of the following:

Black Leader elections TBA. That is all….

Part 2

© June 2005 By Dan Hardman

Brother Dan Hardman will be keeping the Black community informed on issues concerning the church and righteous living. Visit regularly for new information that could help you overcome and make the best of your everyday experiences.

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