Jesse Jackson's recent apology regarding his off air but over heard comments stating that the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party nomination, Senator Barack Obama was talking down to Black people reminds us once again of the often quoted title phrase from Cornell West's Book that "race matters"
I am not quite sure of course of what Rev Jackson meant about talking down to Black people at that particular moment. And the apology only reinforces the conundrum that we are in when it comes to political discourse.
I for one continue to be dissatisfied and disappointed when public actors continue to trot out the shop worn script. This painting with one stereotypical and categorical brush of humanity with phrases such as black people or white people is intellectually lazy and inaccurate. Political marketing and mobilization phrases such as straight talk and yes we can, remember the alamo, 54-40 or fight, do not shoot until you see the whites of their eyes, give me liberty or give me death stay in our memory. And rightly so. But we must exorcise the putrid , stinking and rotten reliance upon catch all analysis. Although off air comments are hot air comments, they do not evaporate quickly enough for my liking.
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/upload/2008/07/OFF%20AIR%20HOT%20AIR.mp3
http://www.hulu.com/watch/26323/late-night-with-conan-obrien-more-jesse-jackson-71108
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