Griffin Speaks

"IT MADE ME WANT TO HOLLER"

Before I saw the light and became a black conservative, I was a huge follower of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. In fact for years I went along with Martin Luther King III when he would tell people that I was Jesse Jackson's first cousin. During my Morehouse College Afro wearing years I resembled Jesse. However, Martin's principal reason for telling people that I was Jesse's cousin was to retaliate for my frequent revelation to strangers that he was the son of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. I couldn't resist the reaction people would have when they realized they were in the company of Dr. King's son. In the seventies Martin III was not yet famous.

I enjoyed pretending to be Jesse's cousin, especially since so many of my fellow classmates had ties to famous people. My secretary when I was sophomore class president and student body president was David Haley, the nephew of Alex Haley the author of "Roots." Well I enjoyed the cousin routine until 1984. I was matriculating at Boston University School of Law (Tax Program). Boston University (BU) is a predominantly Jewish school. Many of the students were from New York. There I was pretending to be Jesse's cousin when suddenly Jesse became the most hated man on campus. He had referred to New York City as "Hymie Town." That remark was the equivalent of calling Washington, D.C. "Nigger Town." I wanted to crawl under a rock.

I ceased my claims of kinship to Jesse even though there were many similarities in our backgrounds. Jesse was student body president at North Carolina A&T University, I was student body president at Morehouse College; Jesse was a friend of Martin Luther King, Jr.; I am a friend of Martin Luther King III; Jesse's mom and my mom looked like sisters.

When the media reported that Jesse had fathered a child outside his marriage, it made me want to holler! Another brother has bitten the dust! I could hear Jesse's racist detractors saying: It doesn't matter how much education, money, fame and power a black man attains, he is still just another "nigger!"

My heart is broken! My spirit is drenched in sorrow! Jesse was the role model for so many of our kids. Jesse, my hero is done! Or is he? Are we really ready to stick a fork into Jesse? Can we as a people forgive Jesse the way many black folks in Alabama forgave Governor George Wallace?

I was one of those Alabamians that forgave Governor Wallace for the atrocious things that he did before he saw the light and repented. In fact when my kids passed by his casket at the Capitol I noticed a tear roll down my daughter, Alexis' cheek. On several occasions we would visit Governor Wallace at his home. I can still visualize the kids standing around the Governor's bed having a good time. I can still see the glow in the Governor's eyes as he would point to Alexis and say in a southern drawl: "a putty girl, putty girl." I have it all on video. We sometimes roll the tapes and remember the changed Governor Wallace.

Governor Wallace's office just prior to his death was in the same building as my office. I visited him often. Upon my entering his office he would light up like a Christmas tree. He knew that I had forgiven him. I owe a great deal to my good friend Steve Dodd, the man who made it possible for me and my kids to personally know one of the most incredible figures in world history. Many people believe Martin Luther King, Jr. may have very well been a footnote in history if there had not been a George Wallace. Could it be that both men were sent by God?

So I figure Jesse is due forgiveness for embarrassing the hell out of the entire race. Why I might even let him be my "cuz " again.

Greg Griffin is a columnist for the historic Montgomery-Tuskegee Times.

He may be contacted at www.greggriffin.com