Foreign Reaction To Standard Bearer Jesse Jackson

   By

  Sherman N. Miller

  Released 4/7/1988

     Reverend Jesse Jackson's Presidential bid has finally become legitimized.  His ability to capture white votes has astounded political pundits in both National Political Parties.  Everyone is bracing to see if Jackson gets the Democratic Presidential or Vice Presidential nod, but little notice is given to the international impact of his current

victories.

      Local Democratic leaders recognize that Governor Michael Dukakis' win in Wisconsin is a shallow victory.  Thus, the media is rapidly filling with dirty tricks by local Democratic organizations against Jackson's campaign. But to Democratic Party leaders' dismay, Jesse Jackson will do very well in

the big industrial states.  If they have any doubts about Jackson's ability to garner broad based votes, they need only look at the returns from Michigan.

      Yet Democratic leaders are not the only ones who have a significant stake in Jackson's victories.  His campaign must be causing great disquietude in South Africa.  When Jackson started to garner white votes,

it signaled that America had started to overcome racism of the heart.  A person's heart is often very tough to change, but once altered it creates a new modus operandi.

      Recent anti-black actions of the South African Government suggest that they had taken solace in President Ronald Reagan symbolizing American racism.  But lately, the South African propaganda showing white families living with black families can be interpreted to mean they recognize

Mainstream America has grown disdainful of racism.

      What will South Africa do to prevent a Jackson win?  Fund anti-black subversive groups?  Underhandedly funnel money into ultraconservative P.A.C.s with known anti-minority slants?  Fabricate scandalous information on Jackson and feed it to America's media?

      Just what are South Africa's agents now doing to influence the outcome of America's Presidential campaign? 

      Another fallout of Jackson's Presidential bid is he has become the undisputed black leader in the United States.  He will be able to dictate the direction of the U.S. black community after the Presidential campaign

is history.  This portends serious concerns for Japanese business interests.

       Jackson will have the ability to call black boycotts of Japanese products if Japanese companies do not start to return significant amounts of capital to the black community.  Since the Japanese are long range

planners, they are expected to have programs already laid out to protect their huge share of the black American market.

      Will Japanese banks underwrite black Americans when they purchase major U.S. corporations?  Will joint ventures with black businesspersons come into vogue?  Shall corporate neighborhood development grants help to uplift decaying black neighborhoods?  Will Japanese corporations provide opportunities for black American business fellows to study their global managing techniques?

      Should Jackson win the Democratic Nomination, it will only be icing on the cake.  Yet I wonder how foreign governments shall react should Jesse Jackson become the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party.