JESSE

Soon after Dan Gilbert unleashed his venomous wrath upon Lebron James in a media tirade last month, many people were quick to criticize the Cavs owner. Among them were former players, the commissioner (*I find it somewhat troubling that David Stern only fined Gilbert $100k for his outburst yet threatened to fine several teams $5 mill for possible tampering infractions)current players, and even figures outside of the NBA. Most notably was the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

You're familiar with his comments. To paraphrase, he likened the Dan Gilbert/Lebron dynamic to that of a relationship between slave/slave-owner. If you read my blog following the situation, you'd know I share the same sentiment. When I saw the Reverend voice his opinion on television, I felt proud. It was empowering to know that a figure of Jesse Jackson's magnitude shared my vision while simultaneously re-assuring that my militant-minded, civil rights and justice radar was up to speed.

That personal sense of fulfillment quickly turned to me pessimistically re-evaluating the worth of said Jesse Jackson pride, if not from a national lens of the civil rights leader. Throughout the years it seems as if aligning yourself with the Jesse Jackson movement was like rocking with Puffy during the "shiny suit-man" era or bumping Hammer post-mansion eviction era.

Then the next question that arose from my train of thought was 'Why is this?' From a national standpoint, I examined his most recent transgressions that put him in hot water. Of course there's the infamous "Ambitions to Castrate Obama" fiasco. And before that he caught flack for a baby scandal.

When I listen to the people, the criticism is even pettier. Friends of mine say he's verbose when I believe he's outspoken and passionate. They say he's always fighting for the spotlight and jealous of his peers. But to combat both perceptions (National and Neighborhood) of the Reverend, it's easy.

For the most part people are probably just tired of seeing him. He's endured and made himself relevant for so long, that sometimes people just want a change of scenery and voice. But all that Jesse Jackson has done his career is help people and manifest service. Besides walking and being a right-hand man to the great Dr. King, Jesse has a very impressive and extensive resume.

Would President Obama be in office if there wasn't precedence of a black man being so audacious to run and campaign? Before your liberal and progressive minded white friends were chanting "Yes We Can," their parents were chanting "Keep Hope Alive" in the '80s. Well maybe not, but the point is Jackson warmed white America to the idea of a black President.

And despite having a strained relationship with the American Government, who went into foreign land a few years back to successfully bring American hostages back home? Rhetorical question but let's shift the focus back to sports. Besides the Lebron issue, when Terrell Owens was ostracized by the Philadelphia Eagles and was suspended by the NFL, Jackson quickly supported him. His range of help is very available to all and any who are underprivileged or mis-treated.

Yet he continues to persevere and do what comes natural: stay active in the issues of the world and the country. Obviously he isn't doing this to be popular. In no way am I trying to convert any anti-Jesse Jackson people or critics, I just hate when people don't get a fair rap. If there's one thing that irritates me, it's when people are treated unfairly. One of the biggest formulas for injustice is hypocrisy and inconsistencies. And because I've had a chance to be around the man for an elongated amount of time, I believe the man to be genuine.

My father and I was fortunate enough to have been invited by the Jackson family to spend time with them in the summer of 1990. The plan was for my dad to co-write a project with the Reverend that ended up being scrapped. For up to three weeks all I recall was this man waking up living, breathing, and manifesting plans of action. His mentality was that of a leader and he took it very serious. Every problem he mentioned had nothing to do with him, but rather the problems of America and the underprivileged. Every story he reminisced at the dinner table or philosophical point he made was accompanied by a sense of history being made. Those scenes were definitely out of a movie, and you definitely felt the tension and pressure he had to deal with.

Considering this isn't that project my old man was working on and in fact my blog, I'll end now. I just felt compelled to shout out and recognize a person who I felt is unfairly vilified. One of my favorite lines from a movie comes from Christian Bale in "Batman Begins." He says, "It's not who I am but what I do that defines me." If we apply that quote to the Reverend, then he would be defined as a man of action and results.