Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson - Linda Christas College Man of the Year

An outstanding development. I have read Rev. Peterson's books and he is deserving of every honor our society can bestow.

Millie Johnson 08/11/2011

I was happy to see this article.

As an employer, my worst nightmare is the person of Jesse Jackson.

Unless I can find a way of determining in interviews whether black candidates buy into the Jackson rhetoric, I shy away from hiring those persons, not because they can't do the job, but because of people like Jackson who make employing blacks a much bigger risk than employing someone who doesn't have a Jackson, Farrakhan or Speier encouraging them to look for slights.

I'll be darned if I am going to pay Jackson for protection against Jackson. The mob used (and still uses) that kind of tactic. Why what Jackson does is legal is a testament to just how much we need people like Jesse Peterson to inject something other than nastiness into the national dialog.

I would consider employing a BOND member, and I will privately give you the information, so that when a BOND member graduates from the College, I will have the privilege of interviewing him or her.

I just need to be reassured that the person is educated AND isn't looking at me as a white slaver.

Frank 08/12/2011

I am surprised to see this.

Rev. Peterson usually has to stand alone against a very powerful group of black racist leaders who seem to have commanded the civil rights spotlight forever.

That Linda Christas would have the courage to publish this is a testimony to the character of the schools' leadership.

As a black man, I have all my life been trying to live down the hate filled rhetoric of our so called black leaders in America.

I am especially ashamed of people like Jackie Speier who did everything but praise black looters in both L.A. and New Orleans.

After all, the poor black folk couldn't afford to buy flat screen TV's on their own, so the shop owners, struggling to make a living themselves, deserved to be ripped off by poor downtrodden black ex-cons. PLEASSSSSE.

And, Jesse Jackson never lets an opportunity to collect a Rainbow Coalition "protection" check pass him by. Protection against whom? Well, protection against Jesse Jackson showing up shouting hate filled slogans at a company headquarters entrance.

Why would anyone want to hire me unless I assured them that I only want a chance to excel. Nothing more. Lots of people don't get promoted for a lot of reasons. I am not looking for ways to bite the hand of an employer who hires me in the first place.

Put yourself in an employer's position. Why would you want to deal with a movement called black civil rights which basically is defined by Jackson privately as a white witch hunt?

God bless Rev. Peterson.

Sean L. 08/12/2011

Short and Sweet: I will happily put a BOND Linda Christas degree holder at the top of my interview list.

Henry W. Human Resources - Architectural Firm 08/12/2011

You know, I have tried to live in denial regarding what Jesse Jackson represents for a lot of years.

As a black person, I tried to believe Jackson was being helpful. But, year after year, as he became more active in a negative way, I noticed my coworkers treating me with kid gloves, almost as if I were radioactive.

It makes perfect sense though. When the law punishes everything as if it were one thing, that is racism, no one wants to deal with it.

When someone isn't promoted and is black, it's racism according to Jackson. And when a black is promoted way above his or her skill level, that's affirmative action and well overdue.

When someone is fired because he doesn't have the discipline to show up on time for work. That's racism

When the boss warns a black employee about his or her playing violent RAP music on the work site, that's racism.

When a brother or sister speaks or writes ebonics instead of standard English at work, and is told it is unacceptable, that he or she is driving customers away, that's racism.

You don't hear Jess Jackson speaking ebonics, but if he can collect a dime on the back of an employer who is trying to maintain a semblance of order and civility on the work site, he'll do it.

And, bottom line, when it comes to just plain bad behavior, if nothing else, Jackson and Speier will point to poverty. So bad black behavior is STILL whitey's fault. (And, liberals actually buy this line of B.S.)

In other words, all the crude behaviors that too many of my brothers and sisters think is normal behavior is just that, crude behavior.

And, the word is behavior. With the belligerent manner many of my black brothers have been encouraged to assume over the past several decades, it's a wonder not all of them are in prison.

Not too many people understand that before the civil rights movement, teenage pregnancy rates among young black women was lower than for whites.

The so-called civil rights movement has done a lot of bad things for blacks. It has destroyed their character. When failure is always someone else's fault and you live in an atmosphere of entitlement, what would you expect.

The ideal would have been for civil rights to have been accompanied with a whole slew of leaders like Jesse Peterson, instead of self serving carnivores like Jackson.

If that had happened, what was in President Johnson's heart would have materialized.

Instead of the school system tanking because we turned it over to the worst elements in society, black society would have learned from the more genteel elements.

But no, instead, my white colleagues feel they have to call me bro, and they can't tell me that RAP music is the worst. It is coarse and, most of the time, filthy. Too many black comedians can't seem to make black audiences laugh without resorting to the worst and crudest language imaginable.

I'd like to see Jesse Lee Williams take over the black civil rights movement with some teeth in it. RAP, heavy gold chains, pants around the ankles and ebonics ought to be illegal in public.

And, the sad part is, there was a time when our black communities were at least on a par with other sub-cultures in terms of non-violence, family responsibility, civic duty, black community business practices.

Congratulations to Jesse Lee Peterson for this honor. The young recognize true leadership when they see it.

Beau D. 08/12/2011

I just want to add my voice to this discussion. As you know, we have placed several Linda Christas College graduates in our analyst and management training programs. We will happily do the same for BOND members who graduate with the LC B.A.

What we have found is that, unlike the typical college graduate who has attended college for parties and basketball, with LC, it requires self discipline to do the work, since it is all done via the net. No rah rah, and long term hangovers. Just good solid scholarship performed in a sober, mature environment.

That means, by definition, when we hire an LC graduate, he or she is a self starter. We never have to worry whether the person can plan a project or complete a task timely. That's all part of being an LC graduate.

So, please, let the BOND people know that we will happily hire their members if they carry the LC seal of approval. At that point, they have proven themselves, and we are ready to supply the graduate with an attractive package, and hopefully retain them for the long term.

As a point of emphasis, the last thing we want to worry about is Jesse Jackson and his crowd. They impose a very negative feeling on the American workplace. We want nothing to do with that. We promote based on merit. If we thought an employee would charge us with racism for being passed over because a more suitable candidate is available for a position, we wouldn't hire him or her to begin with.

Having the BOND membership guarantees us that the "attitude" toward fair and equal competition is in place. In this day and age, that's a valuable credential. I would recommend that EVERY black person be a BOND member, if nothing else to counter the stain that Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan and Jackie Speier have imposed on the black middle class.

Those people have become powerful and wealthy on the backs of the black middle class. It's refreshing to see that BOND is calling them on it. Such a movement is long overdue in the United States.

With the help of BOND and Linda Christas, perhaps we can once again begin to portray American workers as the creative, intelligent, productive, can do group that was once the envy of the world.

Merl - Chief, Human Resources, Mfg 08/13/2011

Kudos to Rev Peterson. Great Man!

John Williams 08/13/2011

I wish BOND only the best. Why this movement can't be as profitable as the Rainbow Coalition I don't know.

On one side we have a man who does nothing but incite hatreds, shows up with a sneer and a war, and makes millions, and, on the other, Rev. Peterson who literally saves the lives of young men, but must struggle for every dollar.

I suppose when one is sincere and gives all he takes in to others, that is not a formula for five thousand dollar suits.

The Rev. Peterson walks the walk, and he is beloved as a result.

How about giving 1% of the money we squander on the war on drugs to Rev. Peterson's group, instead of using it to incarcerate half the population.

Helen 08/13/2011

Congrats to Rev. Peterson.

I contacted the LC Provost on Friday to tell her that I want to encourage this new BOND/Linda Christas informal partnership.

With the knowledge and skills I've honed over the years, volunteering for the LC Jobs Placement Center is the best use of my time.

As a Human Resources analyst, it is amazing to me how many people are unemployed because they don't know what to study in school or where to go to find employment after school.

It's critical for new college graduates not to assume an air of entitlement when interviewing for a position. The way LC incorporates values into its curriculum, there is no danger of that from an LC graduate. Hard work, self starting, proper knowledge, understanding how to manage projects, all of that a student learns through LC.

BOND and Linda Christas will make a great team. BRAVO!!!

Buddy Debruel 08/13/2011

Seems like everything that needs to be said has been said here. Let me just add my prayers.

Mary T. 08/14/2011

I am absolutely knocked out about this honor to Rev. Peterson from Linda Christas students. He is such a strong and good person. Finally we have someone standing for goodness and cooperation between people rather than playing the blame game for cash as so many black leaders do.

Can you imagine Louis Farrakhan receiving millions of dollars from Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi? Gaddafi blows airliners out of the sky, kills US Marines, and keeps thirty mistresses. What does Gaddafi get from Farakkahn as a result of a few million donation to Farrakhan's mosque? Farrakhan treats Gaddafi like a long lost brother. Well, maybe he is.

When will people wake up and see that Farrakhan hates America.

If only we had an army of Rev. Petersons, we wouldn't be in such deep waters without a ship.

Jerri Patterson 08/15/2011

I see that BOND's founder, Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, has been chosen by LC students as their role model for the year.

Frankly, I had never heard of BOND. But, after reviewing their web site, and what they stand for, I was very impressed.

There isn't a position that Rev. Peterson has supported that I would oppose. And, in most cases, I would actively support.

As LC knows, I own a small community newspaper. We employ only a few reporters. However, the first place we look when someone moves on to other venues or retires is the LC graduate pool. We have only had four vacancies in the past decade, and two of those four jobs went to LC graduates.

LC graduates not only have the requisite skills, but their attitude on the job is great. They speak up for themselves with courage, but understand what team work is all about as well.

If I were to describe the LC graduates we have hired, I would say that they are talented, have developed great skills, are ethical, and understand that hard work is the way to make their company prosper.

It looks to me that that is what BOND and Rev. Peterson are all about as well.

Anthony B. 08/15/2011

As a black man, I think this is terrific. Rev. Peterson is one true friend.

It's not too surprising though that Rev. Peterson's media programs were canceled. In order to keep programs on the air, sponsors need to be sold that the programming is going to enhance the public image of their product or service.

With 20 million blacks being challenged to look at their own lives as less than respectable, the salesmen and saleswomen trying to sell the Rev. Peterson's programs to sponsors might have less than good fortune.

You'll remember how our people reacted when the Japanese prime minister attempted to point out something similar. We called for a boycott of Japanese products. An apology was quickly issued.

Bottom line: We all have flaws, imperfections that we are hopefully attempting to correct. In the matter of black males, we have a whole army of young men who have had no father in the home. As one black comedian said, "If you show me a young black man who calls his grandmother, mom, and his mother, Edith, I'll show you a young man in trouble with the cops."

As funny as that line is, even to the black audience it was told to, THAT MESSAGE, when generalized, is unpleasant to hear, and sponsors who aren't necessarily in business to change society, but rather to sell their products, just can't survive with large groups boycotting what they produce.

Bill Cosby and Rev. Peterson are trying to approach the problem. Even the former California Speaker of the House, Willie Brown, has made many statements pointing out how blacks squander opportunities they are given in no other country but the U.S.

It is going to take a real intervention by the Holy Spirit to correct this problem. And, with Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson sowing hatred throughout the land, and with the majority of young black males being so loud, coarse and belligerent in public, it's a problem that has no near term solution.

If only the words of Jesus were internalized, that would be a start. But Rev. Jackson, Rev. Farrakhan, Rev. Wright and others seemingly never heard the word of the Lord. Or, if they have, they have rejected it in favor of currency and power.

R. J. 08/16/2011

This is terrific. So happy that Rev. Peterson is getting this kind of recognition.

In our crazy world, I wonder how many doctorates Jesse Jackson has gotten for tearing America apart. I'm surprised Jackson hasn't received the Peace Prize considering the riots he causes.

After all, if Obama can get the Prize, what's to stop Jackson, then Gadhafi.

Gadhafi is trying to bring peace to Libya isn't he?

Terry Hull 08/21/2011

Very cool.

If every black youth were subject to Rev. Peterson's example, my neighborhood in Harlem would be a paradise. Instead, we have garbage everywhere except my yard.

We have people like Michael Savage being given millions of dollars for his controversial programming, and yet Rev. Peterson is cancelled by his sponsors.

What's that all about?

We need a conservative black voice on the radio and TV. At least Sean Hannity had the guts to put Rev. Peterson on.

Willie 08/21/2011

WOW, What a surprise that a college would have the courage to support a great man like Rev. Peterson.

When Jesse Jackson gets a load of this, hopefully it will give him and those who spew racial hatred on a daily basis pause.

Jackson courts white friends only if they'll pay for the privilege in money or power. There is nothing uniting about the Rainbow Coalition. Without the Rainbow, we would be much further ahead in terms of all skin colors genuinely attempting to understand one another.

So long as it is profitable to be a black antagonist of the white population, new Jacksons, Farrakhans and Wrights will prosper handsomely.

Samuel Taylor 08/22/2011