Old Heads should be Fired, New Leaders for Hire

The leaders of the 60s, lead in the 60s. Maybe it is time for the old guard to retire. Two old-time black civil rights leaders come to mind. Both are noteworthy in their own right, but even in their hey day they definitely shared the limelight with brighter stars of the movement.

One is former Mayor of Atlanta, the other is a former democratic presidential candidate. One is a former United Nations U.S. ambassador, the other a reverend.

You guessed it Andrew Young and Al Sharpton. They both ought to cash in their pensions and stop preaching to the masses.

WHY? Because instead of encouraging the next generation of political and social leaders, Young and Sharpton specialize in negatively criticizing them or downing projects that could help them.

Young made some misplaced remarks about Senator Barack Obama’s (D-IL) candidacy for president. The former ambassador said that Obama was not ready to become president. This is a valid opinion, but wouldn’t it make sense to mention what Obama or other politicians of color do have to offer.

Sharpton is even more disappointing. He is an ambulance chaser of civil rights spectacles. He seems more concerned with staying in the press than social progress. The “prolific” preacher speaks (or spews) metaphors and slick phrases that edify next to nothing.

With all his speaking out against everything from rap music (on the heels of Imus) to Chicago seeking the Olympics (because of the city’s police torture instances) he has missed the mark. And people are catching on Al.

Chicago’s Mayor, Daley responded: And the mayor shot a barb at [Sharpton], asking why no one raised questions when his hometown was vying for the 2012 Olympics.
"It's interesting, nobody opposed New York (in the 2012 Olympic bid) -- very, very interesting," the mayor said. "Why all of a sudden is it opposed here?"
(NOTE: New York has endured many cases of police torture)
(Chicago Tribune, Dec. 12)

Rap Mogul, Jay-Z responded: If Sharpton is speaking for me, Somebody get him the word and tell him I don’t approve, Tell him I’ll remove the curses, If our schools gonna be perfect, When Jena 6 don’t exist…
(American Gangster, “Say Hello”)

Majority Mind Question
Which political or social power players who influence today’s youth at large are going to have a significant impact on future generations? How do they impact youth, positively and negatively?