Jesse Jackson and Black Politics: What Is His True Role in American Politics?

Jesse Jackson and Black Politics: What Is His True Role in American Politics?

Jesse Jackson as a leading left-of-center political force is again receiving a lot of attention. There are numerous concerns about Jackson: Does he have a legitimate function in black American politics? A legitimate function in American politics? Given his deployment of a black ethnic appeal, does he not weaken the mainstream Democratic alliance which, to win elections, must attract moderate whites? Does his private (self-serving) agenda contradict his public (other-serving) agenda?