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Published: 2 Dec, 2005

Rosa Parks---What A Shame
By Raynard Jackson, Guest Columnist
 
 
What a shame that Black & white people desecrated your memory during your funeral.

What a shame that Joseph Lowery, president emeritus, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaking at the funeral of Rosa Parks at the Greater Grace Temple, lambasted President Bush for not nominating a Black to the U.S. Supreme Court. He went on to rebuke Bush for a whole litany of pathologies in the Black community: low minimum wage, homelessness, drug addition, etc. I found his comments totally inappropriate and insulting to the legacy of Ms. Parks. Unlike Lowery, Parks took responsibility for her actions, she went to jail. Also, isn’t it ironic that Bill Clinton had the opportunity to put a Black on the Supreme Court and declined. Doesn’t that make Bill Clinton a racist also?

What a shame that Al Sharpton went on a tirade about “Jim Crow’s” son and how this mythical figure keeps Blacks from going to school (because of opposition to affirmative action). Sharpton went on to blame white folks (and racism) for Katrina and the war in Iraq. “You have a nation looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that are not there, but can’t see a hurricane in Louisiana that is there,” according to him. The audience gave him a thunderous ovation. But, can anyone tell me what this has to do with the legacy of Rosa Parks?

What a shame that Bill Clinton related the story about him and two of his friends. At the age of 9, they all decided to sit in the back of the bus because they were so moved by what Rosa Parks did in 1955. Do you really think this event happened? Do you really believe that at the age of 9, they were able to demonstrate that level of sophistication and maturity, especially given the way children were raised in the south at that time? Black people, stop being played.

What a shame that Jesse Jackson accused Bush of “on yesterday Bush paid homage to Rosa Parks, then put forth to the nation an extreme right wing judge anti-thetical to everything Rosa Parks stood for. He [Bush] put forth an anti Rosa Parks judge.” Of course, he never defined what this means.

What a shame that Louis Farrakhan stated that America can’t be good “as long as there are children dying in the streets of America from poverty.” I would very much appreciate anyone who can point to 1 child that has died in the streets from poverty in the U.S.

How ironic that Jennifer Granholm, the “white” governor of the state of Michigan, gave the best speech. She actually spoke and paid homage to Rosa Parks. Her words were very moving and befitting the occasion. She didn’t pimp the occasion to blast the White House or Republicans. Nor did she attempt to bring up a litany of heated political issues that somehow were the fault of Republicans.

This funeral was eerily reminiscent of former Democratic senator from Minnesota Paul Wellston’s funeral. Wellstone was killed in a plane crash on October 25, 2002, 11 days before his possible re-election. His family along with the Democratic National Committee, turned his funeral into a very partisan political event. As a result, Wellstone’s seat was won by a Republican, the now Senator Norm Coleman. The Democrat’s lose of this seat was a direct result of the family allowing the Democrats to use the funeral as a political platform.

What a shame that these same radical liberals have once again elevated politics above dignity.

What a shame that this graceful woman, full of dignity and kindness was used as a pawn for political purposes. But even in death, her beauty still showed forth like a bright shinning star.

These speakers were a total embarrassment and their theatrics were shameful. What I found ironic was that Ms. Parks was not a political person at all. She wanted to make a difference, not political a statement. What a shame that people ascribed to her and her funeral that which was never a part of her.

I must admit, that Rosa Park’s funeral was theatrics at it best. And my God, did they give the world a show. Most of the speeches had nothing to do with her. She was just bit player on the stage they set up to promote themselves and their political objectives.

Despite the political desecration of Parks’ name and legacy, her strength, courage and sweet spirit still came through. Even in death, she brought America together once more. America came together at each service in her honor. America honored her when she laid in state at the capitol and flags flew at half staff. Young children were being taught about her courageous actions. For one moment in time, there was no Scooter Libby, no Karl Rove, no Monica Lewinsky, no KKK, or no Terrell Owens. There was just talk about how a little lady gave rebirth to a nation in one of our darkest periods. There was talk about how she didn’t trade on her fame for wealth, but yet she was indeed very rich. There was talk about how far our nation had come.

What a shame that most of the speakers at her funeral traded on her fame for political gain. What a shame that Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, Bill Clinton, etc., used the occasion of her death to further divide an already divided country. What a shame that the audience allowed themselves to be played like a yo-yo. What a shame that the audience came not to honor Parks, but to be entertained by those who only wanted an additional “15 minutes” of her fame, by invoking Parks’ name.

WHAT A SHAME!


About the Author

Raynard Jackson is president and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, Inc., a political consulting/government affairs firm in Washington, D.C. RJA provides strategic advice and counsel to elected officials (White House, Congress), corporations and entrepreneurs.