Published: July 28, 2008 01:58 pm            

HAMILTON: Jackson, Obama and the public N-word

As Ronald Reagan often said, “Here we go again.”

This time, it’s over Jackson’s cold and stupid use of the “N-word” during a break in a broadcast of “Fox and Friends,” on a hot and hostile microphone in reference to Obama’s Father’s Day sermon about African-American fathers.  

Jackson was undoubtedly wrong in the content of his remarks. But our consternation about it kind of reminds me of an event that I saw in the supermarket some years ago. A kid, about 5 years old, wanted something from the eye-level rows of sweets that marketers place at the checkout stands to entice the young and to frustrate their parents. His mom properly told him that he could not have it and the child immediately threw a temper tantrum in hopes of turning the tide. In his tirade, he asked his mother again, and again she firmly said, “No.”

Up until then, I was proud of the mother for her mild and measured discipline of the child. But, then all hell broke loose. The little “b-word” hauled off and kicked his mom in the back of the leg and insisted upon having the candy. Horrified, his mom spun around and placed her pointed finger at the kid’s nose, firmly chastising him, and saying, “Don’t you ever do that again — in public.”

In public?

Had I did that to my mom, she would not only have slapped the taste buds out of my mouth, along with any desire for chocolate, but my apology to her would have came the day before I did something that stupid. That’s because she would have also knocked me back into yesterday.  

It became evident to me that during his private tirades, the child habitually kicked his mother, but she just let it go because it was the non-self-esteem stealing, politically correct thing to do. The child likely grew up to be one of those abusive kids who have learned that, in public, there are things that are better left undone, as well as unsaid. If only Jackson had learned.

Privately, many others like and unlike that kid, grew up to use of the “N-word.” Some more than others. Today, had the child been black, his young mother may have called him that word publicly But that candy counter kid wasn’t black.  

There has been an unfortunate culture shift in our society that is dragging down everyone. Unlike their fathers, white youth are not yet saying that word publicly as often as they have listened to it being played on their MP3-players and car music systems. Those are the lyrics that black rappers sell to them as those same rappers move up and out of their ghettos and become their biggest customer base’s neighbors. Comedian Bernie Mack jokingly admonished Snoop Doggy Dog about the disassociative music that he puts out, and all the while having a nanny for his kids. 

While there are those who want to escape the ghettos, as Jackson, Snoop and others, even locals, have done, they seemingly want to join those who profit from those who are left behind. If progress is our goal in America, then I guess that the use of the “N-word,” by those who can profit from it in all of its squeamish applications and subsequent acceptance, could logically consider it to be just one of the roads that they take to get to “there” from “here.” The problem is that once “there,” they make sure that those that they used to get there remain where “they” are.

While Jackson’s words were indeed insensitive, so much more were Obama’s statements that preceded Jackson’s. Obama did talk down to African-Americans, and especially black men. If he had included in his Father’s Day speech the contents that his campaign spokesperson, Bill Burton, replied to Jackson, then Jackson’s thoughts, though there, may not have needed expressing.  

Burton wrote, “As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children’s lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson’s apology.”

If society did indeed provide “jobs, justice and opportunity for all,” then the N-word would die a natural death in politics, music and in the private conversations of all Americans, white, black and others. But for now, as demonstrated in this case by Fox and Friends, Jackson, Obama, rappers and others, the uttering of the “N-word” logically provides “jobs, justice and opportunity,” but just for some.

Ken Hamilton is a Niagara Falls resident. Contact him at kenhamilton930@aol.com.

        

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