About the time I was writing Thursday’s blog citing Rev. Jesse Jackson’s criticism of Barack Obama and all but one of the other Democratic hopefuls for ignoring the plight of African American, the Illinois senator was busy show timing at the Apollo.
In his first visit to Harlem since announcing his presidential candidacy, Obama talked the talk that is expected and necessary for any African American candidate seeking any political office of significance.
"I’m in this race because I’m tired of reading about Jena," Obama, who was greeted with a standing ovation during his introduction, said to the full house. "Tired of reading about nooses. I’m tired of hearing about a justice department that doesn’t understand justice. We will have a civil rights division that actually investigates crimes; you will have a civil rights division that believes in justice and equality for all Americans."
I doubt if Obama’s speech at the Apollo Theater went as far and deep as Rev. Jackson would have liked. After all, the driving force behind the civil rights leader’s 1984 and 1988 presidential bids was black voter registration and injecting the concerns of Africa America into the national political dialogue. But at least it was a start.
Obama will have to do more. At the same time, he has a tightrope to walk. When Jackson made his move in the 1980s, he was defined as the candidate running for president of black America. Obama is a serious candidate for the real thing. So while he must add the interests and concerns of African Americans to the mix, he has to be careful not to make that them the centerpiece of his campaign.
Ironically, Obama was escorted to Sylvia’s, the legendary soul food restaurant, by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is still walking the line between the black man and the white woman contenders.
On stage at the Apollo was Professor Cornel West and comedian Chris Rock. "How does it feel to be on the right side of history?" West asked the crowd.
"You’d be really embarrassed if he won and you wasn’t with him," Rock said, who added as he went into his comedic voice: "‘I had that white lady. What was I thinking? What was I thinking?’"
I’m hoping Rev. Al heard that.
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