You are right. The media does contribute to the problem by not airing an alternate black viewpoint. It also doesn't help when many, especially whites whose day-to-day contact with a cross-section of black folks is limited, come away assuming that all blacks agree with JJ or let JJ speak for them.
Part of the problem here is the tendency of many to believe that there is or should be one "black leader." A lot of people don't take time to examine the differences even among some black "leaders" like JJ, Sharpton, Farrakhan, the NAACP, etc.
IMO, the best thing is to not assume that a black person accepts any particular person as a leader unless he or she sends a clear signal that it is so.
One reason why so many of your students may not have heard of Condi is because she mostly appears on the news or on news shows and your students may not be watching them. I think she should do what Colin Powell has done and seek/accept speaking engagements in the schools.
Again, I think the media contributes heavily to that problem - when a diversity of black opinions isn't presented - and when people continually hear that black people tend to vote 90% Democratic, I think people who aren't around many black people tend to think they all think alike.
IMO, the best thing is to not assume that a black person accepts any particular person as a leader unless he or she sends a clear signal that it is so.
You're correct of course.
I think [Condi Rice] should do what Colin Powell has done and seek/accept speaking engagements in the schools.
That's a great idea! I wonder if she'd come if she were invited?? (I intend to find out if our school will invite her!)