Why not? Elaborate, please.
This is my question. Has any athlete or entertainer been able to move the nation or start a successful movement within the black community? They have played supportive roles (Harry Belafonte for example during the Civil Rights movment), but the few that have been powerufl, left entertainment (Dick Gregory). Could Beyonce and Jay Z lead a successful movement AND still maintain their day job? Interesting question. Oprah is semi retired, so I think she could pull it off, but I have a few questions. 1. Is Oprah built like that? She's seen today by and large as part of the establishment. And she's lost a lot of street cred with the Michael Jackson attack piece as well as not talking about Harvey Weinstein. 2. She has a black male issue.
Here are the people I consider powerful.
Clarence Thomas: Yes, can't stand that bootlick coon but his leading to end abortion, which is HUGE, made him very, very powerful. He's also about to end the gay marriage thing. Remember, I said good or bad. I am not saying powerful only for people we like.
Tariq Nasheed: Don't laugh. Can you name one person the grassroots, the masses, who has more 'pull' with the masses? When ever he gets a project going it gets done. Could anyone else get a million in gofundme money in a month? Really? Obama was following him on twitter. The head of the DNC follows him.
Charlamagne tha God: Again, don't laugh. The Breakfast Club is now the one must go to place if you are running for President and want to reach the black vote. Again, I'm NOT saying I like him or dislike, I am looking at this objectively, good or bad or indifferent on who has power or influence. Every major Democratic candidate has been on The Breakfast Club. He and Tariq Nasheed are 'friends'.
Colin Kaepernick: He hasn't been in the spotlight as much. But if he wanted to start a movement it would immediately be front page news. Would blacks go along? I think he has enough street cred to pull it off. But that's me, some of y'all may differ. He and Tariq Nasheed are friendly as well. A
In my not now but 'watch this space' list of people who I think whose power/influence could get there in months or a few years but no quite there now:
Jason Black (also cool with Tariq Nasheed)
Marcel Dixon (also cool with Tariq Nasheed)
Dee Tubman, a little bit more ways to go than the above but could if she decided to come out more.
The only entertainer I can think of that if he wanted to, could be massive is Denzel Washington. He has both the love and respect of the black masses as well as the respect of whites and he's been ten toes down.
The reasons I would not include the Depart of Defense head, Lloyd Austin (who I didn't even know was head of DoD till it was mentioned) are, well, the average black person has never heard of him...and possibly the average white person. Also, he can be fired at anytime by Biden so his power is limited.
My borderline powerful person is retired General Colin Powell. He's a mixed bag. Outspoken against Trump, he has endorsed every Democratic presidential nominee since Obama, even though he's a Republican. He's got that weapons of mass destruction lie hanging over his head plus he's a Republican. If he went full black empowerment and for reparations he could.
