Rev. Jesse Jackson Breaks His Silence, Addresses Controversial Remarks About Obama, His Response to His Son and the State of the Black Community in an Exclusive Interview With Essence.com!

    NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /EMWNews/ -- Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse

Jackson responds for the first time since footage of him making

controversial off-air comments about presidential candidate Barack Obama

caused a media firestorm. The remarks, in which Jackson used the "N-word"

and accused Obama of "talking down to Black people," sparked backlash and

strong criticism from the media, African-American community and even his

own son, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. In a candid interview with

essence.com Jackson shares his views on Obama, the state of the Black

community and being relevant in this generation:



    On Remarks About Obama: "It should not have happened. What was private

talk became public controversy, and I am embarrassed by that. There is no

virtue in that kind of talk, and it should always be discouraged. My appeal

even then was that responsibility is a significant message, but our needs

require real government intervention and private sector incentives to

address the issues of unemployment, building affordable housing and making

education more affordable, which really was my point. It was a very painful

period for me to have gone through that."



    On Son Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Response: " ... He's free to express

himself, and it does not bother our relationship as father and son at all.

He was taught to give his opinion in our household, and he did it in love.

He's tough, he's smart. He has a future in politics. He didn't want the

impression to be that that my faux pas was his faux pas, because it was

not. I respect his right to express himself."



    On Reaching the Younger Generation: "This "old guard, new guard" is an

unhealthy division. Politics must be inter-generational. You need Barack on

the one hand to talk, you need Charlie Rangel, chair of the House Ways and

Means [Committee], and John Conyers, chair of our House Judiciary

[Committee]. In politics you grow by adding and multiplying, not by

subtracting and dividing. So "old guard vs. new guard" is not a healthy

combination. The reality is that we achieved the right to vote, we achieved

freedom, but we didn't achieve equality, and that is the remaining civil

rights work."



    On Obama's Campaign: "I think we have an outstanding candidate. We have

the burden now to fully register and vote. There are still maybe 6 to 8

million Blacks unregistered who should not miss this hour, this

opportunity. Now that we have a who, let's focus on the what." ...



    For the full article, "Jesse Jackson, On the Road" log on to

http://www.essence.com!

    About Essence:



    Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and

communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a

multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence

brand is "Where Black Women Come First". The company's flagship

publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for

African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence

Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window

on Our Women (WOW I, II & III) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer

insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media

(mobile, television and VOD) via Essence Studios. For 38 years, ESSENCE

magazine, which has a readership of 8.5 million, has been the leading

source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of

African-American women's lives.



    Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at

essence.com.