While the public reaction to the shooting death of Mario Hornsby, Jr. on May 17th was one of genuine outrage over the epidemic of violence in our community and of care and sympathy for the bereaved family and friends of Hornsby, the reaction of some has revealed much about the level people will stoop to in order to attract attention and to advance personal or political agendas.

As expected, there was intense coverage by the media and true to form, many quickly stepped up to comment on the incident and to use the tragedy to advance their agendas. Some unashamedly, used the Hornsby family’s tragedy to their own advantage. While those in public life need to utilize the media on occasion to advance a cause, some have become no more than media hounds with no underlying principled conviction to actually do the work of combating youth violence in our community.

At first public comments seemed genuine and empathetic toward the Hornsby family. However, some actions quickly became more political and calculating. I can’t help but wonder if those who made comments to the media, held press conferences, or announced initiatives in response to the tragedy will follow through on proposed actions and continue to regard violence in Springfield as an important issue once the glare of the camera lights have dimmed and funding opportunities are no longer available.

True activism continues long after the media cameras have been turned off and the reporters have moved on to the next issue. For example, a coalition of individuals and groups worked diligently to bring ward representation to the city in a hard fought battle that took twelve years and two lawsuits to come to fruition. Work continued on the issue after it ceased to be a hot media topic. I can’t help but wonder what would have become of the “Save Our Community Centers” project or the “Cosby” Initiative if they hadn’t fizzled out in less than a year? Remember COMMUNITY ’97 or the recent call for a “state of emergency” around youth violence? Each of these were altruistic initiative that were supposed to better our community, however, followed a predictable pattern of dying shortly after the press conference ended. Our community is weary of hearing leaders pontificate only to see no real action or measurable progress. As one young lady stated at a recent Community Conversation on Youth Violence Prevention held at the W.W. Johnson Life Center, “I’m tired of hearing y’all talk, why don’t y’all just be like Nike and JUST DO IT!”

As a city we must transcend “action,” which merely consist of holding press conferences, rallies and forums and get down to the nitty gritty of addressing the contextual factors that influence incidents of violence and reactions to it. It is imperative that we understand the circumstances under which violence, as a learned form of social behavior, has been construed as legitimate or even appropriate by young people.

It is my prayer that Mario Hornsby’s death will serve to raise our awareness of the causes of violent actions and result in more safety-conscious policies and practices. Our city must balance finite resources against validated problems and needs in order to direct resources to the actual problems. We must look past the headlines and the emotions, and focus on responses that will address immediate needs in a consistent and deliberate manner.

Article by Pamela Gentry, Black Entertainment Television Senior Political Producer

The Rev. Jesse Jackson is no stranger to controversy, media spotlight or the ground rules when speaking with the press. But if he had forgotten, his latest slip of the tongue will serve as a pungent reminder to remember past lessons.

On Sunday, while in the FOX News studio waiting to be interviewed, Jackson leaned over to another guest, Reed V. Tuckson, the former chief medical officer for the District of Columbia and President of the Charles Drew University in Los Angeles, and whispered, “Barack has been talking down to Black people. …I want to cut his nuts off.” In a rapid response, the founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition issued a statement denouncing the “crude” nature of his comments and apologized to the presumptive Democratic nominee.

“I apologize,” Rev. Jackson said Wednesday. “My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment. My appeal was for the moral content of his message, to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of Black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.”

Still, his actions brought swift rejection from the civil rights leader’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), the national co-chairman of Obama’s presidential campaign. In rallying behind his candidate, he proved that political alliances can be stronger than family ties. “I’m deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson’s reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee – and I believe the next president of the United States – contradict his inspiring and courageous career,” Jackson Jr. wrote in a statement.

Jackson said his comments were in reference to visits Obama has made to Black churches during his campaign, at which the 46-year-old senator has said Black folks are responsible for their families and their communities. While Jackson has also been outspoken about Black America’s responsibility to play an active role in improving its plight, he has been careful to highlight the government’s responsibility to provide equal opportunity and racial justice.

But, Jackson knows that everything one says while wearing a microphone in a television studio is on the record. He also knows that a careless remark – even one he thought was off the record – can be costly. After all, it was his clumsy reference to Jews as “Hymies” and New York as “Hymietown” during his 1984 presidential bid that nearly destroyed his lifelong work within the Jewish community. And his gaffe late last year about Obama “acting White” perhaps revealed Jackson’s latent belief that the Illinois senator’s political perspective was out of line with that of the traditional civil rights establishment.

Granted, this was a careless move on Jackson’s part, but I also know it was not intended to do harm to the Obama’s shot at being commander and chief. After hearing his comments had been recorded, Jackson appeared on CNN to publicly apologize, issued a statement to the press and called the senator’s office with his apology.

His immediate actions may slow his roll on political chatter, but what it won’t stop speculation about some underlying dissention among old-school Black leadership regarding Obama’s candidacy. The topic wasn’t on the radar before this and support for Obama appeared unwavering.

Bill Burton, spokesman for the Obama campaign, suggested that the brouhaha was being blown out of proportion. “Of course” the senator accepts the reverends apology, he said. Jackson’s son’s wasn’t so forgiving. “Reverend Jackson is my dad and I’ll always love him,” he said But, “he should know how hard that I’ve worked for the last year and a half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself.” Whew, I bet the next family dinner will be a bit tense at the Jackson’s house.

African Americans Should Be Outraged

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 On Thursday, June 11th, Megyn Kelly and Michelle Malkin appeared on FOX News’ Election HQ, to discuss Michelle Obama and whether or not attacks against her would lead to a backlash. A chyron under Kelly said "Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking On Obama's Baby Mama" and one under Malkin read "Obama's Bitter Half". I am no fan of FOX News. As a matter of fact, I agree with the notion that FOX is the White Supremacist News Network. With bigots like Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly, it is no surprise that another known bigot, Michelle Malkin was on the program while slurs of a racist nature were lodged against the future First Lady of the nation. It goes without saying that the wife of Senator John McCain would never be treated in such a manner. FOX’s treatment of Mrs. Obama was both racis and sexist and it demonstrates how low the network will sink in order to prevent the ascendancy of a black man to the presidency. I wonder if John McCain will criticize the network for its mistreatment of his rival’s wife or if he will pretend the issue simply got by him. Mrs. Obama is a sitting senator’s wife and an accomplished attorney who was married to Senator Obama six years before their first child was born. They have been married for sixteen years and have a strong family. Why in the world would she be referred to as a “babies mama?” I’ll tell you why, because she’s black. Yes, I said it, she’s black. And no, I didn’t play the race card on this one. FOX News plays the race card each and every day and this time their whole deck was filled with race cards. The actions of FOX were outrageous and there is NO DEFENSE! However, I’m sure there will be plenty of people claiming that those of us outraged by these shenanigans are just being sensitive and that its “no big deal.” If FOX calls this journalism, they should be ashamed of themselves. Yes, I’m aware that a senior FOX executive stated that someone “exercised poor judgment” in this case, however, an acknowledgment is hardly enough. How about an apology to Senator Obama and his wife? How about some disciplinary action? “Poor judgment,” is that the best they can do? It is an insult to the entire African American population specifically and the American people generally.

Message to Senator Clinton

Comments About Obama

While the nation was fixated on the sermons of Rev. Jeremiah Wright during the past few months, the comments of Rev. James David Manning of Harlem, NY have been ignored by the media and gone unnoticed by most Americans. Manning, who professes not to support any presidential candidate, has an obvious bias for Senator Hillary Clinton and has spent the better part of his time castigating Senator Barack Obama. He has stated that Senator Obama was "born trash" and that his mother was a "trashy white woman," The good reverend's ignorance knows no bounds and he is an embarassment to all of us who preach the Gospel.

Manning has praised both Senator Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton for revitalizing Harlem and for initiatives that were favorable to African Americans during the Clinton presidency. He has scolded the black community for what he calls "turning on" the Clintons in support of Senator Obama. Much of his Sunday sermons have centered around assasinating Obama's character. These sermons have been posted on Youtube and have literally been viewed by millions. Some of his comments about the Illinois Senator, who will become the first presidential nominee of a major political party when the democrats hold their convention later this year, include:

"Obama is a long-legged Mack-Daddy. Obama pimps black women and white women"

"Obama got a white mamma"

"Obama is a long-legged freak"

Claiming to have a congregation that exceeds 1200 members and a Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary, one would assume that Rev. Manning is a man of wisdom, knowledge and good common sense. However, it is apparent that Manning knows nothing about the proper application of Scripture and that he is a man that is truly disturbed. As a convicted felon, Manning states that black leaders who have never gone to jail cannot be trusted. He maintains that God has forgiven him of his past crimes, yet continues to condemn others to the fiery pit of hell on the basis of his own judgments. It is impossible for a sane person to listen to this man without concluding that he is a complete nut.

Pastor Manning is obsessed with destroying the presidential bid of Senator Obama, which I believe speaks to a larger issue of his own self-hatred. He continuously spreads vicious lies, such as his Youtube video, which claimed that Obama got his campaign started by
parading a "54-double-D, big chested white woman" and that he first saw the name Obama on "two great big-old tits." Manning is one of the most ignorant, distasteful and disrespectful pastors in the country. He is also one of the most confused. Manning shows bias toward white people as he calls white women "trash" and "big chested whores" while lauding the Clintons as white saviors with the ability to save black people. He urges American not to "turn over the White House to the black race, they're not ready yet."

While America has been focused on what has been preached from the pulpit of Trinity Church in Chicago, she has missed the vitriol coming from an idiot in a New York pulpit, who now refers to Hillary Clinton as "Madam President," because, in Mannings words, the election was "highjacked" from her. Manning is a knucklehead in a clergy robe who deceives his followers with inflammatory rhetoric and meaningless diatribes. He would make a better Klansman than a preacher of the Gospel.

Below is an email sent by Senator Clinton to her supporters today:

I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you. On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans. I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise. When I decided to run for president, I knew exactly why I was getting into this race: to work hard every day for the millions of Americans who need a voice in the White House. I made you -- and everyone who supported me -- a promise: to stand up for our shared values and to never back down. I'm going to keep that promise today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise. I know as I continue my lifelong work for a stronger America and a better world, I will turn to you for the support, the strength, and the commitment that you have shown me in the past 16 months. And I will always keep faith with the issues and causes that are important to you. In the past few days, you have shown that support once again with hundreds of thousands of messages to the campaign, and again, I am touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness. I can never possibly express my gratitude, so let me say simply, thank you. Sincerely, Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Clinton just doesn’t get it! She lost, plain and simple. Tonight Senator Barack Obama went over the threshold of 2,118 delegates and clinched the Democratic nomination for president of the United States. Everyone in the nation understands that except Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Father Michael Pfleger was ostracized by stating that Senator Clinton fekt a sense of entitlement to the nomination. It looks like the good Father was right. On the very night Barack Obama made history by becoming the first African American to win the nomination of a major party, Senator Clinton gave a speech where she refused to concede the nomination and had the audacity to suggest that she would consult with her advisors and seek the input of her supporters before deciding her next steps.  

It is obvious that Senator Clinton is continuing her campaign in order to either fight a personal battle for the Clinton legacy or to force Senator Obama to put her on the ticket as Vice President. Senator Obama cannot allow the Clintons to hold a gun to his head and force him to accept Hillary and Bill Clinton on their terms. The Clintons have adopted a very confrontational and elitist tone in promoting their campaign for the White House. Clinton should be ashamed of herself for making Senator Obama’s historic night all about her.

I am extremely excited about the unfolding of the race between Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton for nomination by the Democratic party as its presidential candidate for the November 2008 elections.  

As of today, American political history was made with Obama becoming the first African-American nominee or the Democratic Party. The excitement generated by Obama’s historic race for the presidency went far beyond the shores of the United States as the networks spent plenty of resources to cover the long and hard fought Democratic primary.

Senator Obama has emerged as a phenomenon, inspiring millions and drawing enormous crowds to his rallies while raising millions of dollars through a grass roots campaign His dynamic campaign inspired countless youth and people who were otherwise apathetic to join any campaign.

Before Senator Obama, Rev. Jesse Jackson was the only African American to make a credible run for the nomination and, even he came nowhere close to accomplishing what Obama has. The junior Senator from Illinois was able to energize people from all racial and socio-economic backgrounds with his message of hope and change.

I am excited about the prospects of another historic run through the general election season and hope to make a trip to Washington D.C. in January 2009 to witness the swearing in of the first African American president in this nation’s history.

I know all of the Hillary Clinton supporters are outraged with with What Father Michael Pfleger had to say at the Trinity Church in Chaicago, however, hasn't she acted like the nomination belonged to her from the beginning? I mean, let's be real, she predicted that it would be over by February 5th. She was sooooo sure that she would knock Senator Obama and everyone else out of the race and claim what "rightfully" belonged to her a loooong time ago. The points made by Father Pfleger are worth examining, even if you don't like the way he made them. 

In order to be up front about my bias and in the interest of full disclosure let me state for the record, I hate FOX News. Rupert Murdoch has successfully put together a conservative news network that not only attacks all liberal and progressive causes, but spends a great deal of its time attacking Black America. That being said, it was refreshing to see a FOX News correspondent get his behind handed to him by Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church in Chicago. FOX was attempting to put the Rev. on the spot for controversial comments he made at the Trinity United Church of Christ and for his support of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Minister Louis Farrakhan. Faither Pfleger stood his ground and did not back down to the FOX News sneak attack. Preach on Father Pfleger!!!

Comments at Trinity Church

Fox News Surprise Interview

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    I have made no secret of the fact that I support Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy for President of the United States. What I am clearly concerned about is the possibility that Obama may be denied the Democratic presidential nomination that is rightfully his. If this happens, I may stay home in November and not vote for the first time since I was legally able to do so. If I do go to the polls, I will probably leave the presidential box on my ballot blank if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee.

    African Americans have been the Democratic Party's most reliable bloc since Martin Luther King, Jr., a lifelong Republican, threw his support behind John F. Kennedy for President. We gave about 90 percent of our votes to former Vice President Al Gore and Senator John Kerry in the last two presidential elections.

    If this year’s presidential election is close, an African American exodus from the voting booth would be extremely costly to Democrats, particularly in the South, where blacks are a large proportion of the electorate.

    I am convinced that If Obama isn't the nominee after winning the popular vote and the most pledged delegates, a significant number o African Americans will, like me, feel compelled to stay home. The Democratic party should be able to see the groundswell of African American disenchantment with both Bill and Hillary Clinton. We're particularly annoyed by Bill Clinton's performance during the South Carolina primary and by Clinton supporter James Carville's description of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Latino, as "Judas" for endorsing Obama over Hillary Clinton.

    Inflammatory comments such as these play very badly with African Americans and Latinos. They remind us of “Look what we've done for you; you should stay in line.” That doesn't sit well with voters of color and we view it as similar to the Old South boss politics.

    Furthermore, there's a sentiment among African Americans that we've been taken for granted by the Democratic Party. If super delegates wrest the nomination from Obama, in essence, stealing the election, we will view it as our candidate's victory being overturned. It would easily be seen as another effort by the white establishment to crush any African American who's earned a powerful position.