Source: Fraser, C. (1998). "The Man Who Could Be GOD" In Revolution, She Wrote (pp. 170-172). Seattle, WA: Red Letter Press.
First Published: Freedom Socialist, June 1988
Transcription/Markup: Philip Davis and Glenn Kirkindall
Copyleft: Internet Archive (marxists.org)
2015. Permission is granted to copy and/or distribute this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
A REAL RADICAL IS CAUGHT in a familiar quandary over the tumultuous Jesse Jackson Question.
It’s outrageous and obnoxious that the politicos and the establishment media incessantly trumpet his inelectability. One is sorely tempted to run out into the streets and recruit voters for Jackson to prove it just isn’t true, because it isn’t.
The right-on Reverend is the best, the only non-computerized candidate in the Bushkakis (Dukabush?) electoral slumber party.
Jesse alone addresses economic, social, cultural, and foreign policy issues of vital concern to the electorate. His program and his persona increasingly lure to his side the progressives, workers, ethnic minorities, women, gays, youth and elders, and intellectuals who yearn for a different kind of America.
HOWEVER, Jesse is running as a—you’ll pardon the expression— Democrat. He dreams of leading that disgusting party. And that shows us trenchantly where he’s wrong and misguided.
By playing the game of bourgeois politics, he sacrifices from the get-go the good things he says he stands for. The system cannot and will not reform itself by elevating good people to power and letting them stay good. No way. And JJ perpetuates lethal illusions when he proclaims his intention to bring about heaven on earth via clone party politics.
So what do we gain by proving we can elect a brilliant and talented Black spokesman if we and he lose our revolutionary soul and bearings in the process?
I believe there is something more important than beating the racists in an election, and that is to expose and eradicate the capitalist configuration that created and perpetuates racism—not to mention sex chauvinism, class advantage, war, famine, environmental plunder, drug epidemics, fascism and universal, enveloping ghastliness. Jackson might have chosen this better course.
IF HE WERE TRUE TO HIMSELF and his origins amidst the Southern civil rights turbulence, he would be a revolutionary figure today, committed to transforming the system. He could be a great and independent radical leader like Malcolm X or Frederick Douglass, and he could inspire the anxious masses in this country to detonate a real electoral turnaround.
But he has traded his heritage, and a universal historic role, for a place at the Democrats’ tawdry table. Because he wants so badly to be a member of that shotgun wedding called the Democratic Party, because he is so concerned about winning respect and acceptance from financial titans and corrupt politicians, he legitimizes the establishment, despite his pious criticism.
He says nothing about socialism, or domestic revolution, or the raging need for basic structural change. So how can he draw us forward, or do anything but succumb to the tremendous undertow of capitalist realpolitik?
We’d love to go for you, Jesse. But the harsh lessons of the past, and matters of principle, and the truth about life today for the majority of humanity, make this impossible for Marxists and other clear-eyed social critics. You’re admirable and superior in many respects and we wish you were one of us. But you have retreated into becoming one of them, and that’s your tragedy. Because they’re not good enough for you.
The vital question is: what role can you play in leading America’s submerged and abused millions into a thunderous challenge against your current political brethren?
I MET JESSE JACKSON ONCE—had lunch with him at an anti-poverty/job training agency where I was the community relations coordinator. That was 18 years ago but I cannot forget the dazzling impact of his unique personality and poetic conversation. He was a spellbinder surrounded with an aura of magic. His aides regarded him with awe, and a hushed, reverent ambience affected any group he was a part of.
He spoke of the pain he felt because of the anguish of his people, and the anger and contempt he felt for the ruling class. "You talk like a Bolshevik," I said. "Isn’t socialism the only answer?" He drifted off into a kind of trance for a long moment, his eyes raised to the ceiling. "Of course," he said softly. "You and I know that. But we have to use a different vocabulary." I guess I said something related to not caring about the words if the music was right, and he said, "I will lead and the people will be free," and then we had to visit classrooms or something.
JJ COULD BE ELECTED GOD IF HE CHOSE. He’d rather be president. I’d rather he were a rebel because I could never ever vote for a Democrat.