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While Project 21 lacks the experience and charisma to be a threat to the liberal wing

of the Black leadership now, they loom as a rising storm that threatens not just

folk like Jesse but all progressive types within the Black Community.

 

 

Amin Sharif's Response 

to Project 21's Attack on Jesse

Peace!

Yes, I have heard about Project 21 and their bag of tricks. They are trying to find some traction by attacking traditional black leadership. Going after old war horses like Jesse is the first in a series of bigger steps. If Bush is re-elected then they will be in a perfect position to become the conservatives' black-faced attack dog. Because they are black, Project 21's attacks will be more palatable to the black masses.

The real problem is that in one sense they are right. Black middle-class leadership has rested too long on its laurels. We are in a time of economic crisis and if liberal black leadership is to be respected then it must look to the future and not dwell on the past. The real question is can these black conservatives deliver on any kind of program. Rhetoric is fine. But organizations like Project 21 have no understanding of how deep the crisis in the black community is.

Jesse was a part of an agenda of progress and change. What agenda does Project 21 have for progress and change at this juncture in our history? What gains have black conservatives made on behalf of the Black Community? I dare them to present one single, tangible gain that these lackeys of Bush and Chaney have gained for the average black man or woman. That is, besides getting other black conservatives in positions where they can kiss Bush's ass every day of the week and twice on Ronald Regan's birthday!

I recently heard a spokesman for Project 21 on WEAA's morning show. He was decrying the fact that the NAACP had given an Image Award to R. Kelly. And, while the spokesman for Project 21 had a perfect issue to push, he lacked the coherency and charisma to make this issue relevant to me and probably many other listeners.

But, here again, we have the problem of black liberal leadership making plunder after plunder. How do you give an award to an "alleged" rapist of young black women? It is these kinds of tactical mistakes that make folk scratch their heads and wonder about black liberal leadership. There is no way in the world that any clear headed leader of the black community would endorse giving such an award to some one who has R. Kelly's apparent background. It would have been more prudent to wait until Kelly's trial was completed. Now, if Kelly is found guilty the NAACP will look like, at the most, naïve opportunists and, at the least, an organization of fools.

While Project 21 lacks the experience and charisma to be a threat to the liberal wing of the Black leadership now, they loom as a rising storm that threatens not just folk like Jesse but all progressive types within the Black Community. They will get their act together somewhere down the line. The question is only a matter of when this will occur.

Right now, they are making a tactical error by going after Jesse. Nothing is to be gained by such attacks. A better tactic for them would be to appeal directly to the conservative base within the Black community—churches, etc. But, again, they will have to come up with some kind of agenda that will appeal to this conservative base. And by conservative, I speak of the black church's opposition to abortions and other social issues.

As for your defense of Jesse, it is most admirable and necessary. It lets Project 21 know that we on the center and far left are still alive and kicking. CBAJ is fulfilling its historic role as the educator of the masses and repository of the truth about the Civil Rights Movement when it comes to the aid of Jesse and others who have proven their value to our community.

Let all conservative house niggers beware—the spirit of Nat Turner lives!!!

Well, done!

amin sharif

1/17/04

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update 2 July 2008

 

 

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Related files: Jesse Jackson Scourged   Responses to Project 21  Black Bourgeoisie Defend Their Own in Chicago Tragedy  Baltimore Page