I have to agree with the columnist. You have to look at the joke in it's proper context. Overall, the film illustrates what a pivotal role the barbershop plays and has played in our (the African American) community throughout the years. The Barbershop is not only a place to help keep you looking nice, but it is also a business that allows the dollar to continue to circulate in our community. With its standard operating rules of no nonsense or violence, it also serves as a neutral ground or safe haven for socialization and discussion. I think that IN THIS CASE Mr. Jackson is being a bit hypersensitive and should take into consideration that the comment was made during a discussion. The person who made the comment was quickly made to understand that the comment was wrong and the film moved on. I think that it was a great example of how differences of opinions take place in barbershops and how ignorant and disrespectful comments made in that environment are dealt with in a constructive manner.

I appreciate the work of social activists like Mr. Jackson and do feel that hollywood has a track record of portraying people of color in a negative light while discounting the accomplishemnts of African American community leaders, but I don't think that was the case here.

Personally speaking, I was bothered by some aspects of the movie Friday. I didn't campaign to have it re-edited, snatched from the theaters, or criticize others for watching it. I did make a personal decision not to have anything else to do with the movie. I made a personal choice to uphold my rights as an American citizen and not watch the rest of the film regardless of how popular it was with the general populace. I also made a choice to respect the rights of others by sharing my opinion when ASKED and allowing others to enjoy the movie to their heart's content without pressing my feelings or beliefs on them.

That's what America is all about (or is supposed to be about). Freedom of choice. While I respect Mr. Jackson's opinion, I disagree with his behavior.

hi

The link cited doesn't exist. I would want to know more about the alleged controversy before making a blanket response. However, Rev. Jackson has usually been pretty thick-skinned. Worse has been said about him than a joke by a conservative curmudgeon in a movie. The allegation seems not to fit his character.

A legtimate gripe about the Barbershop banter is that it is often taken out of context by Right Wing white folks in their desperate efforts to find blacks who agree with them. Only one person in the movie expresses backward views. Like most of their real world counterparts, most would not give a Right Winger the time of day.

Well MD, aside from wondering why you would bother resurrecting a nearly 2 year old post,(no wonder the link is dead), I wonder why you call the views of one character, played by Cedric the Entertainer, as backward.

Did you actually see Barbershop 1 & 2? IF you had I think you would be a bit less strident in your protest.

I think that both Barbershop movies are great films, and not just because one character's dialogue supposedly confirms Evil White America's views.

Please climb down off the victim horse, MD, there are plenty of things that you right that I enjoy reading, but you are predictable and repetitive when it comes to things like this.

I didn't resurrect the thread, Ski.

However, it can be interesting to look at an old claim. Nothing came of this except the issue I brought up -- misuse of the character to suggest much more agreement with white conservatives among African-Americans than there is.

How in the hell can anything offend a piece of shit like Jesse Jackson, surely he used to this shit by now, people have been making jokes and slandering him for years.

WHO THE HELL DOES JESSIE JACKSON THINK HE IS?