The Unkindest Cut

This whole thing is silly.

It brings to mind what Marion Barry famously said when told that Jackson was thinking about running for D.C. mayor. Proclaimed Barry: "Jesse don't wanna run nothing but his mouth."

Whatever else may be said about Jackson's remarks before that hot mic -- and setting aside all of the highbrow speculation about the deeper meaning of his words -- this much is considered an article of faith in the 'hood: The reverend brother was simply fat-mouthing.

That's right.

Jesse Jackson was sitting on the TV set next to a brother talking trash, selling wolf tickets, being verbally aggressive when he knew full well that he wasn't about to do anything but dis Obama (presumably) behind his back.

Which would make this an incident of little moment except that the media have made it a signal event in the life of the nation.

It's being billed as a fissure in the united black front; the eruption of a smoldering volcano lying just beneath the surface in the black community; the outbreak of black class warfare; the aging black warrior going up against the young, black upstart.

In short, it makes for good ratings.

Jackson's disparaging comments led network evening newscasts and dominated talk shows Wednesday night.

NBC's "Today Show" kicked off Thursday's broadcast with a Jackson segment.

If that weren't enough, the question posed repeatedly after Jackson's remarks were aired, heard on channel after channel, from breathless anchor to breathless anchor: "Now, what does the black community think?"

And, quite hilariously, black notables regarded as experts on black people (because white producers don't know any better) popped up all over TV Land trying their best to answer that stupid question.