George E. Curry, NNPA Columnist
- As Barack Obama officially becomes his party’s presidential nominee, a great disservice to him – and to national civil rights leaders – is the notion that Obama is somehow in competition with the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.
In most instances, this is couched as young Barack Obama has surpassed the outdated race-based politics of the modern Civil Rights Movement. For example, the Chicago Tribune published a front-page story a week ago under the headline: “Jackson eclipsed in the age of Obama.”
The story, written by David Greising, said, “Obama’s nomination will cap a period of striking change in leadership of the African-American community. And Jackson must adjust in order to remain relevant in the age of Obama.”
