We as black Americans have a tradition of “call and response” leadership. We don't vote on our black leaders; they're not assigned to us or ordained through someone's blessing . . . we respond to their message.

Sadly, we also have a substantial history of not wanting to pass the baton. Many from the civil rights era met resistance from their elders for “rocking the boat” when they tried to register african-americans to vote during Jim Crow segregation. The SNCC crowd met resistance from the SCLC crowd. And so on.

As someone who's worked in these types of organizations, one constant you'll find is a very low turnover rate at the top. That's not a good thing. Ideas, tactics and passions live and die with their creators; with no legacy to pass on to the next generation. People tend to carve out their niche and stay there. And some of these groups forget why they were created in the first place. They become tiny HNIC kingdoms pitted against other tiny HNIC kingdoms over an ever-decreasing slice of the pie . . . fighting over crumbs.

I appreciate and respect those that have come before. But I also acknowledge that our tactics and vision as civil rights organizations have grown stale and need fresh new blood. Younger leaders should honor those who have paved the way. But older leaders need to respect the desire from their younger counterparts for change. That has not been shown in this election cycle. Some of our older leaders took a big hit this past year by their unyielding support for Clinton and her actions. Some act as though they hold the key to the rights to the civil rights banner. They do not.

Others act as though they hold the rights to black angst. They define “blackness” through struggle and shun anyone who wishes to take a different, if not more optimistic, approach. And it gets to a point where some in that group see black success as an inherent threat because of the fact that it may change how other groups perceive us. So they call forward, aspirational leaders, “accomodationists.” This same approach would have been attacked (and, indeed, was attacked) when MLK spoke of similar aspirations. It's not a matter of “transcending race” but of reminding african-americans that we struggle for progress, not for the sake of struggling alone. . . and that part of an affective movement is always having a flexible, aspirational, definition of success.

Personally, I'd rather take that route than continue to wait on the whims of white guilt and altruism to change attack “institutional racism.” Which is why I never bought into the fear of losing a battle against institutional racism by electing Obama. We call it, “institutional racism” because those “institutions” are racist . . . those institutions already know about black struggle and suffering . . . they helped put us there in the first place. Focusing on institutional racism at the expense of black self-empowerment vests all power and decision making in the hands of said institutions. They will change when they are ready . . . in the meantime, they'll continue to pacify us with symbolic gestures.

I have no problem with keeping pressure on the institutions. It is imperative that we force accountability. But notice I said “force” accountability. There's no reason to believe such institutions will ever surrender such power on their own. Power responds to power. It is our obligation as african-americans to do everything we can to build said power.

We should put equal, if not more, energy into raising new forms of black leadership. Hearing new voices. Encouraging new/unorthodox perspectives. Stop worrying about who said what or whether black folk are getting duped (trust in the intellect of your brothas and sistas to know that we're smarter than that). We, like any other group, will respond to what we think is best.

This is a beautiful time in our history. Millions of people are tuning in to the process. They're beginning to speak their minds. Young black men and women see that they can be president one day. All of this creates a great OPPORTUNITY to capture this excitement and cultivate a new movement. This is not a time to mourn the passing of the civil rights generation . . . it's a time to celebrate the birth of a renewed consciousness. That's bigger than Obama . . . bigger than Jesse or Al or Farrakhan. It's about us!

That's why some get upset when they hear nothing but negativity about this election cycle. People want action and results. And I think a lot of blacks look at people like Jesse and Tavis and question how they could hate on a guy like Obama who's very run is raising awareness and interest in the political system; registering millions of new voters; and putting his neck on the line for something he believes in. So people say, ok . . . if Tavis and Jesse have something better, then let's see it. They've had the spotlight for the past 20-30 years . . . . where are the results? But, unless and until they get a satisfactory answer, they're willing to see just where this Obama train takes them. Obama isn't perfect, but he has sent out a call . . . black folk (indeed, people of all races) are responding.

And it's not limited to Obama. That willingness for change in black leadership extends to any brotha or sista who is willing to put their neck on the line for something they beleive in. . . for anyone willing to face the doubters. If we like it, we'll respond. Call and response.

Call and response. It's the same as it's always been. Only now, people are responding to a different message from a different group of leadership. That's a good thing.

First of all, my generation, despite being lumped in the hip hop generation, I still consider myself inbetween the hip hop generation and this Soulja Boy generation and frankly, I think that my generation hasn't done the best job of listening. Granted I think the older generation could have done a better job of teaching, but we're not let off the hook so easily. Let the record show, the original hip hop generation, when they were in college in 1984 and forward and entering the work force, Jesse Jackson was the Barack Obama equivalent. It's this Soulja Boy generation who's going off about Jackson–I'm convinced that it's more a battle of anti-intelligence than anything else.

People don't read and people don't listen. This Soulja Boy generation, I can almost guarantee (white and black teenagers) get their news from Jon Stewart or else from the news clips that are on MTV or BET–and they're not reading. So, all they see on television is Jesse Jackson threatening to castrate Obama because that was soundbyte worthy. I mean these kids don't know Jackson went over to the Middle East and negotiated a hostage release.

Hell, with the number of unwed daddies running around here, seems like they should be flocking to Jessie, since that's what everyone seems to like to point out–I mean to all those sitting in the seat of judgment, just be happy you aint famous and then all your dirty laundry would be sitting out on the front porch. Build a bridge and get over it.

My only advice is that the elders DO need to find a new method of communication–the current method, preaching from pulpits and waxing poetic at numerous forums is old and tired–they're using 45s in an mp3 world. And not Jesse, but others, I'm just sick and tired of them going on about guys saggin and girls wearing thongs–I think we have way more important ish to worry about.

Above all, I think this younger generation is using the “Lead, Follow or Get the Hell out of the way” as an excuse and a scapegoat for our own inaction and passivity.

I have no one to blame but myself.

Revs. Jackson and Sharpton are driving a '68 Ford Falcon, in the fast lane, and they refuse to move over.

What I appreciate about what you're saying here is that many of the issues you raise aren't “about” race — energy independence and torture affect all of us, as global and American citizens.

I'm more tired of listening to young people whose only contribution is criticizing the older generation. Notice I said ONLY contribution. I didnt say you can't disagree with or criticize.

America is not innocent in this. Its policies were designed to keep a certain group subordinated and thus helped to destroy the family unit and hope in those who recognize that meritocracy is by and large a myth for them. That is not at all to deny personal responsibility or to excuse senseless irresponsibility. But it is to explain it and if you talk about exploitation of those left behind, you must also talk about how this nation became and continues to be prosperous exploiting free labor or African Americans whom they dehumanized and keep subjugated today in order to maintain its privilegedness.

Who says he has the steering wheel? Where in the Constitution is the position, “Leader of the Black People.” He doesn't need to go anywhere. He doesn't need to mentor anybody. If someone wants to lead, they don't need Jesse Jackson's permission. They should just lead.

Jesse speaks to a lot of issues that need airing in this country. He knows his stuff, and he knows how to communicate issues in a cogent, impactful way. I enjoy listening to him. He may not have the same kind of clout as he used to, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't bring relevant issues to the table or that he doesn't understand them.

I don't understand this feeling that we have to shove the old guard out of the way. Just do your own damn thing. If you think there are things that haven't been said, SAY them. If there are avenues that haven't been taken, TAKE them. You don't need anyone's permission if there is a way forward that makes better sense to you.

Look at Tavis Smiley (he is not my favorite person right now, but whatever). He wrote books and created the annual Black forum because he thought it was necessary. He didn't ask for the permission of the old guard, but he did ask for their support. And support them they did. Obama, too, is not asking for their permission, and he has a style, vision, and approach that are entirely unlike the old guard's. However, he is certainly not asking them to shut up. The old guard's support for Obama has been strong and will get stronger. In spite of some past misgivings and missteps, they certainly support him now. Obama wouldn't throw the old guard [need better metaphor than "under the bus"] because he needs them.

As someone said upthread, let's add to, not subtract from.

Furthermore, I don't get bent out of shape about him fathering some kid outside his marriage. He's a man, and men often do stupid things with their penises. He's never asked anyone, as far as I know, to look to him as an example of exemplary marriage or penis control.

It seems to me that people were content to have Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton doing the heavy lifting for them until they got tired of them, now suddenly there's something wrong with Jackson and Sharpton. No, there is something wrong with you. Not for wanting new voices in the struggle, but for wanting to disappear the old voices simply for being old.

We need both the old and the new guard. The old guard KNOW intimately the struggle we've been through. They were the victims and the conquerors of it. What does Kevin Powell know? The injustices of being thrown off The Real World? Ha.

Certainly, new voices should be heard. In fact, they should take the helm. But it is foolhardy to think that we can go forward without the old guard– the people with the connections and the money.

Jesse Jackson is correct… older people vote. There has to be some sort of cooperation to get ahead, but it is unfortunate that he isn't actively mentoring the younger generation and teaching them about some of the successes and failures that he and his counterparts encountered.

And that whole love child thing bothered me too. He's supposed to be a man of God.

But I love it when he reads Dr. Suess. Ha!