zorg wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 6:10 pm Are we in 2026 no longer allowed to talk about Jesse Jackson's "complicated" legacy?

You may talk about anything you wish. I'm curious about your grifter accusation as I have never read or heard anything about Rev Jackson misappropriating funds, being a con artist, etc. And next to your spitting in honky's food observation it reads as being dishonest. I'm sure if I was alive back then I'd do a lot more than spitting.

Wood Goblin wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 3:16 pm Zorg, the shirt story is bullshit:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/08/ ... n-slaying/

That's behind a paywall, would be curious what it says or shows, because his appearance on TV the day after with a bloodied shirt to position himself as heir apparent is historical record, as is his fanciful recollection of holding his mentor in his arms during King's final moments.

rsmurphy wrote:

zorg wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 6:10 pm Are we in 2026 no longer allowed to talk about Jesse Jackson's "complicated" legacy?

You may talk about anything you wish. I'm curious about your grifter accusation as I have never read or heard anything about Rev Jackson misappropriating funds, being a con artist, etc. And next to your spitting in honky's food observation it reads as being dishonest. I'm sure if I was alive back then I'd do a lot more than spitting.

He's been out of the spotlight for a while, and in terms of financial indiscretions I remember only that he got caught out paying child support for his illegitimate child from his non-for-profit's funds. To be fair he was a smart guy and famously a good negotiator and orator, and much like any good politician he had support from enough people to make millions of dollars "legally". But his self-aggrandizing and sanctimony was not what I would consider in line with King's mission, or for that matter Christian charity. Similarly his spitting in food story, while perhaps understandable coming from an angry young man, was unbecoming of a civil rights crusader guided by Jesus' teachings.

Jesse Jackson was controversial, flawed, and all that, but it's delusional to hold him to 2026 standards when the majority of things people say about him happened before most people were born. He is an icon of Black sociopolitical activism and unless (even?) if he literally set Dr. King up to be assassinated, his overall mission and message mean something far more significant than the sins of an individual. Like, I am thoroughly disappointed in Obama, but I will never regret that we had a Black president because of what that meant to black children. I would have felt the same if Kamala Harris won, and even Hillary Clinton would have been a win for girls' self-esteem as much as I despise both those losing candidates. So yeah unless Jackson was slinging heron to gradeschoolers long after he got his AARP card, then I'm not gonna trip over whether he was a fucked up dude.

zorg wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 7:26 pmSimilarly his spitting in food story, while perhaps understandable coming from an angry young man, was unbecoming of a civil rights crusader guided by Jesus' teachings.

Maaaan, I will never repent for spitting in Morrissey's sandwich, and me and Jesus get along just fine.

rsmurphy wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 6:36 pmI'm sure if I was alive back then I'd do a lot more than spitting.

this forum needs better emojis so I can respond to this properly

zorg wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 7:26 pm Similarly his spitting in food story, while perhaps understandable coming from an angry young man, was unbecoming of a civil rights crusader guided by Jesus' teachings.

Of course you would think it's unbecoming. That's not shade, mind you, just reality.

Why did you come in so hot?

rsmurphy wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 7:56 pmWhy did you come in so hot?

Speaking of coming in hot...

Errbody talmbout unbecoming, meanwhile unc be cumming in yo MUTHAFUKKKIN SOUP

Gramsci wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 4:19 pm Americans seem to really care about politicians sexual indiscretions. In the UK not a career ender at all. France, I’m not sure they trust politicians that haven’t had affairs.

I get what you're saying. Normalizing it just doesn't seem right with me, though.

Anyway, I shouldn't have brought it up. Sorry.

zorg wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 6:10 pm

Frankie99 wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 5:40 pm

rsmurphy wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 3:19 pm

Please continue.

Are we in 2026 no longer allowed to talk about Jesse Jackson's "complicated" legacy? I'm not coming up with this shit, his own allies regularly questioned his methods and motivations throughout the years, including the King family. I never found him conscionable, and don't feel like I'm going to start now. He fit in well in Chicago, where we had gangsters, gangster cops, and gangster mayors. I will apologize for voicing this opinion at his death, but I don't think I'm being wildly controversial otherwise.

Maybe "Let's see your civil rights defining legacy, cocksocket*" would have been funnier and harkened to a simpler, though more wheels off time, but it seemed a little too much.

All I did was post a meme in reply to FMrsmurphy.

*is this term out of bounds since I saw its original use?

Frankie99 wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 10:35 pmMaybe "Let's see your civil rights defining legacy, cocksocket*" would have been funnier and harkened to a simpler, though more wheels off time, but it seemed a little too much.

Dammit dude I had that one in the quiver waiting for the right moment to let it loose but I guess I waited too long

jfv wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 10:26 pm

Gramsci wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 4:19 pm Americans seem to really care about politicians sexual indiscretions. In the UK not a career ender at all. France, I’m not sure they trust politicians that haven’t had affairs.

I get what you're saying. Normalizing it just doesn't seem right with me, though.

Anyway, I shouldn't have brought it up. Sorry.

I was just making an observation. In general I’ve always found the US has a very moralistic baseline compared to a lot of other countries. The UK Prime Minister is openly atheist. Not an eyebrow raised. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wasn’t married when she had her baby in office. Only weirdos cared.

I guess it’s like the attitude to alcohol in the US, which to me always feels like “well, guess if you have to.”

Not judging, everywhere is different.

jfv wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 10:26 pm

Gramsci wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 4:19 pm Americans seem to really care about politicians sexual indiscretions. In the UK not a career ender at all. France, I’m not sure they trust politicians that haven’t had affairs.

I get what you're saying. Normalizing it just doesn't seem right with me, though.

Anyway, I shouldn't have brought it up. Sorry.

its fine. You were clearly referring to him as Clergy, not a politician
Because we never criticize dead politicians here at the prf.