Jesse Jackson Says Edwards is the Only Democrat Paying Attention to African-Americans
Jesse Jackson, the former presidential candidate and President/Founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, has an interesting column in the Chicago Sun-Times entitled, “Most Democratic Candidates are Ignoring African Americans.”
Jackson thinks the candidates are ignoring the important votes of the African-American community because the contenders assume that black voters will cast their ballots for the Democratic candidate over a Republican.
But as I was reading, I had to raise my eyebrows in surprise, because he saved some praise for one candidate and not the one I would have guessed. There is only one Democratic candidate who is the exception, in Jackson’s mind, and that candidate is John Edwards.
“… [T]he Democratic candidates — with the exception of John Edwards,
who opened his campaign in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward and has made
addressing poverty central to his campaign — have virtually ignored
the plight of African Americans in this country. The catastrophic
crisis that engulfs the African-American community goes without
mention. No urban agenda is given priority.”
Jackson’s commentary is a grim reminder of the challenges many in the African-American community in our country face — historic and institutionalized patterns of discrimination, discrepancies between inner city schools and those in the suburbs, and inequities in the criminal justice system, just to name a few.
While Jackson is not giving any of the Democrats a pass, John Edwards is the only Democratic candidate he mentions by name as having made issues important to African-Americans central to his presidential campaign. The absence of the names of any other Democrats is, quite frankly, shocking to me, since Jackson is on the record as endorsing Barack Obama and his son, Jesse Jackson, Jr., has recorded radio spots for Obama.
So one has to ask — where do the others stand on these issues? And if they haven’t been answered to the satisfaction of one of the leaders of the civil rights movement, isn’t it time they got started?
You can also find Joanne thinking about politics over at her place, PunditMom.
Related Posts
-
Who Better to Help Women at the Department of Labor Than NOW President Kim Gandy?
Posted on Feb 9, 2009
-
Obama Steps Out As the Environmental Candidate
Posted on Jun 26, 2008
-
How Long Will it Be Until the Next “Viable Woman Presidential Candidate?”
Posted on Jun 3, 2008
-
Evolution of a MOMocrat
Posted on Apr 14, 2008
Tags
Share This
Brilliant, LM. Am so glad you posted about this as i didn't have time. Bravo!
Though parents concentrate more on their careers, they must show concern about searching for a right day care to mold their kid in a right way..
The idea that a video such as this one, which very simply and eloquently presents the most important gift of mothering and nurturing a young child could be portrayed as offensive is a sad statement about how very little parenthood and motherhood is valued in the U.S.
Wow, it's really ridiculous to ban that kind of video.
However, if there's a breastfeeding topic to get righteously pissed off about, it's this one:
"Jail denies mom right to feed her child"
http://vivirlatino.com/2007/11/27/jail-denies-mom-right-to-feed-her-child.php
I agree that it was ridiculous for YouTube to ban a video of a mom breastfeeding. But personally, I don't understand why women feel an entitlement to breastfeed in public or why breastfeeding is a political issue. If women feel that breastfeeding is important, they should find a way to make it work and not expect others to make it work for them.
I have two daughters aged 11 and 8. I breastfed my older daughter until she was 13 months old and the younger one until she was 3 yrs. old (this was not intentional, I just wanted her to self wean and it took a LONG time). I have my own law firm and I set my schedule so that I was able to do this. However, I had offers for other jobs, but I chose to continue working for myself because I wanted to be around for my girls. I also breastfed in public or restaurants, but if I felt that it was not appropriate, I went to a restroom or out to the car. And if I had been asked by someone to stop, nursing in public, I would not have been offended. Some people are simply not comfortable around women who breastfeed (my dad included, who routinely left the room if I was feeding my daughters). They're not necessarily backwards or chauvinist, but just uncomfortable or overly modest. So what's the big deal about moving elsewhere to accomodate them?
Also, in response to the post, I wanted to add that I was not stuck at home while I breastfed my daughters. I went to restaurants weekly, took them to the parks, the mall, the bookstore, the museum, the zoo, etc…I never felt any stares or recrimination when I nursed in a "kid friendly" place (in fact, when I was nursing my 2 year old in the park, one woman complimented me for being a role model for nursing an older child…little did she know that I wanted my daughter to wean and she wouldn't!) And I didn't have a problem nursing in the bathroom, the car or between the bookshelves in the bookstore if I didn't think it was appropriate to be in public.
I also breast fed all of my children and I did it where ever I wanted! If someone is uncomfortable with a mother who is feeding their child then DON'T WATCH! It's simple as that. In a mall, a resteraunt, any other public place, maybe those people should try minding their own business instead of looking in on others lives. I don't think I should be the one to have to get up and find a place to nurse my child that is "more appropriate" for people around me. So once again-IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, TURN YOUR HEAD!!
As for maternity leave in the U.S., I really hope something can be done about that. I must say that I love living in Canada and have the opportunity to have 1 year paid maternity leave.
Wow, a post about breastfeeding always brings up strong feelings. Damia – Thank you for the link to the NC story. I'm appalled but, unfortunately, not all that surprised.
Carolyn – Thank you so much for your comment. I can certainly understand where you're coming from but, as a lawyer, I'm sure you do know that a woman's right to breastfeed in public is protected in most states in this country. I understand why some people are uncomfortable with it. Hell, once my son started ripping the blanket off with glee it made *me* uncomfortable. But sometimes you just have to do it. Particularly when you're traveling or out of town and you don't have the luxury of heading back to your car or a nearby home or hotel room. (Speaking from experience here.)
I have been asked to breastfeed in the bathroom before and I've tried it. Ick. Never doing it again.
Wow. That is a bit shocking to me too. I have to admit that one of my main reasons for supporting Edwards is his focus on poverty. It's not a popular issue.
you tube?!?!?!
this breaks my heart.
great post.
Great post!
I am always amazed when I read or comments or hear stories of mothers breastfeeding in restrooms. I nursed all 4 of my babies for the first year and would have never nursed in a restroom unless it had a couch or chair. Are these mothers really sitting on the toilet nursing? And they think that's where they should feed their baby so that they don't make someone feel uncomfortable? You've got to be kidding me? I guess I was fortunate that I didn't have any negative experiences. I nursed in public discreetly and mostly without a blanket and confidently with all my babies and was never asked to nurse somewhere else. If I made anyone uncomfortable and I'm sure I did then they must have looked away or walked away like they should. In my opinion, a nursing mother deserves privacy not the other way around.
Great post!
I am always amazed when I read or comments or hear stories of mothers breastfeeding in restrooms. I nursed all 4 of my babies for the first year and would have never nursed in a restroom unless it had a couch or chair. Are these mothers really sitting on the toilet nursing? And they think that's where they should feed their baby so that they don't make someone feel uncomfortable? You've got to be kidding me? I guess I was fortunate that I didn't have any negative experiences. I nursed in public discreetly and mostly without a blanket and confidently with all my babies and was never asked to nurse somewhere else. If I made anyone uncomfortable and I'm sure I did then they must have looked away or walked away like they should. In my opinion, a nursing mother deserves privacy not the other way around.
Interesting read. I breastfed my daughter in public and ironically found the only place I ever really got rude glances was in San Francisco. I got some REALLY rude glaces and indirect comments while at the DeYoung Museum. I purchased a Hooter Hider and loved it because my daughter couldn't rip it off while nursing and I could look down at her while nursing. I agree with Amanda; if you don't like it, then LOOK AWAY.
People don't give dirty glances to babies using bottles. They don't usually oogle either when someone does it. When I was nursing, I always tried to be discreet for everyone's comfort. Sometimes, you just can't help being out in a public place and a baby being hungry (especially when they are cluster feeding!).
If people had meals prepared for them in public restrooms rather than sanitized kitchens, I'm sure they would takes issue then. Would they like to eat their food surrounded by flushing toilets? And a note to commercial developers and property managers: try adding a few mother's rooms to your buildings!
Is this still an on-going problem, people taking issue with women breast-feeding in public? I suppose they'd rather hear the baby crying like a siren instead?
I hated breast-feeding in bathrooms, the noise would disturb my son, who was already difficult to feed. We had a Maya wrap, which helped some, but really it was still difficult finding a changing table in someplaces, so I take what I can get.
I think I should feel grateful, then, that my son weaned himself at only 5 months (all his toddler teeth were in by then…ouch). He was happier with a bottle by that point, which he was magically able to hold himself at 5 months too, but I have complete sympathy with anyone who is given trouble for nursing in public, because I know our case was pretty rare.
Clearly, John Edwards is not the man you thought he was, huh. Working hard for mothers should probably include not fooling around on his cancer-stricken wife and mother of HIS children and acknowledging the child he fathered as a result of that affair. Only then can he be a credible proponent for women's rights. In my opinion.