Sesame Street - I Am Somebody(better copy)

[SFFOOL76]

This is great! We are all Somebody!

[timpriddy73]

HE FORGOT THE JAIL PART----------FOR FUTURE CRACKHEADS

[donkuss]

I love Rev. Jesse Jackson.

[GJKHEDUP]

THIS IS AWESOME!



[the1unknown9]

I am...a Nigger*

Fixed that.

[Charla1606]

Is that Mackauley(?) Caulkin w/other kids?

[mprobinme]

@Charla1606 No, this is from 1971.

[TheatreGeek317]

They are talking about being on welfare. Kids need to know that they aren't less of a person because of it.

[BenkaiDebussy]

@TheatreGeek317 It's about being disenfranchised in any way, whether in the form of needing free school meals, being on welfare, having an abusive parent, or anything else that can make a child feel like he/she's less of a person. Sesame Street now is also good, but it needs less Elmo and more stuff like this.

It's awful that so many today would call this "class warfare" and believe children should suffer because of their parents' actions. Monsters, the lot of them.

[Amitaruci1]

not to be rude, but this is called social conditioning. Look at the kids faces when he goes from abstractions to attaching concepts of color to them.

[BenkaiDebussy]

@Amitaruci1 I think that there's nothing wrong with social conditioning when the goal is to offset the negative social conditioning that can often take place in a person's life. A child that may otherwise be conditioned to think, for example, that blacks are inferior (within the child's household usually) can have that counteracted by a positive message like the one in this clip.

[racer4200]

Thumbs up if you're here because of Tim Conway.

[wallofvideo]

this is a very positive message for people of all ages. so much of what's wrong with this world is a product of people having a negative self-image (as much as they might maintain otherwise).

[jerzy862]

Jesse Jackson was cool back in the day

[smokey11able]

@jerzy862 ya sure how thing a brother be in white house they dont make shows that have some kinna meaning any more even if it is for kids. i do love the frow come the panthers were not on this shows.

[WaxBadger]

When they got to the part saying "I am God's Child" I finally figured out what your info box meant because I know PBS would not allow that unless it was all-inclusive.

[TheSRalston]

Nice necklace, man!! Great segment, looks like Will Smith.

[ArthBHx]

School kids should have to recite this as a morning prayer every month or two.

[junkboxxxxxx]

RIGHT ON JESSE!!!!!!!!

[freaksofnature19]

at a camp all of us highschool girls chanted this at all the guys it was soo cool they all chanted back "you are somebody and we are somebody together" this is what its all about i wish we could get back to these days!

[MrJudson3]

The white kids were like I may be BLACK?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! If Jesse Jackson is young, you do NOT want to be be black.

[slimmsayton]

Four people hate it when poor children feel good about themselves.

[proteron]

Early Will Smith before that fateful meeting with Jazzy Jeff.  Classic.

[doubletapsNtwinkies]

now i know why im an indoctrinated liberal! defund npr now! if it werent for tripe like this i heard as a child, i could freely accept the trickle down economics of the corporate overlords!!! "i AM somebody"?!, how anti american?! you are NO ONE without privelage you filthy black power commie hippies!! oh reverend rainbow and your silly message of self empowerment...socialist pig!!! (im hoping sarcasm is inferred)

[quaffer22]

The prelude to the defunding of PBS.

[EzraAbu]

I Am somebody too!! Love it!

[Angellicationify]

Jesse Jackson Calls for 'Radical Reordering' of American Economy is a socialist, like Hilter. watch?v=E_vCLQnebX0

.

Jesse Jackson should start by giving up his $10 million (from celebrity net worth com) before asking others to give up there money. President Obama who also wants to spread the wealth has $5 million. watch?v=Sj4yIE9Dd90 & watch?v=PUvwKVvp3-o

.

Allen West 2012

[2050miltons]

Now I know how Will Smith will be when he get old

[proteron]

@2050miltons aww man, you beat me to it a month ago.

[2050miltons]

@proteron ?

[2050miltons]

@proteron ?

[2050miltons]

@proteron ?

[blazeboy06]

damn.they said poor and wellfar on sesame street. this show was made for black ppl. will smith should play jesse jackson if they make a movie for him. it looked like he was jesse in pursuit of happiness

[AllahHelpsKlitschko]

I am somebody, I don't know who the hell I am, (putting his hand in his pocket while looking for something) but I am somebody?

-Jessie Jackson, the crazy ass uncletom!

[wilberforcehumphries]

this video is supposed to be about empowerment and celebrating diversity but instead jackasses like juic, beccka and et all just want to squabble. if you havent got anything good to say, dont say anything at all!

[msszroberts]

Oh yes, I most definitely remember this; and it brought tears of joy to see it again today. It meant the world to me!!! You were (and still are) my hero!!

Such simple but powerful words should still be taught to our young people.

Thank you so much for sharing!!

[luvmyrecords]

I loved this when I was a child - it took me awhile to realize that the word was "Somebody" and not "Sun bug" ( I was little and my vocabulary wasn't very big) - but I memorized it and used to say it all the time. It got me through those times when I got bullied or was just having a rough day. Thank you, Rev. Jackson!

[jocam32]

reminds me of House party..."iyamm sumbody"...lol

[princesssookeh]

the two asian girls: "you left us out motherfucker!"

but seriously, this is awesome!

[rainboweinstein]

1:02 - those girls are like, "Whaaaaaaa?"

[goldmagistrate]

He left the color yellow out! 

[mythang03]

b lues clues got nothin on this

[xphilemike]

LOL! Is that Jessie Jackson? What an IDIOT!

[Cass25916]

@xphilemike: You misspelled his name. It's JESSE. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house.

[RadarGuidedVermin]

@Cass25916 Jesse's name is correctly spelled: a-s-s-h-o-l-e.

[hardnphirm87]

"I am SOMEBODY"..... but for real, did ya'll see the little oriental girls looking sideways when he named the colors and left them out?? lmao

[awwwyeeeuuuhhh]

@hardnphirm87 we're asian, not "oriental."  oriental refers to objects such as rugs. we're not rugs, thank you.

[juiCsqueeHgie]

@awwwyeeeuuuhhh You are incorrect in your assertion that the word "Oriental" refers to inanimate objects only. I can't seem to find the original comment you're replying to nor can I view you're channel to see where you're from but I'm guessing you're a " Yank " ;-)

Google this: wiktionary . org / wiki / oriental ..it won't let me post the link

[awwwyeeeuuuhhh]

@juiCsqueeHgie no, i am not a yank - i am asian - and i don't need a wiktionary entry to tell me what i can/cannot or should/should not be offended by. i realize words often have different meanings in different countries; i live in the united states and, if you do not, here "oriental" in reference to asian people is not an acceptable term (might as well call us "chinks") and is only properly used in reference to objects. 

[juiCsqueeHgie]

@awwwyeeeuuuhhh The point is that you have a made a statement purporting to be factual which is not. Whether you choose to be offended by a particular word is your business.

[Beccka]

@juiCsqueeHgie Nope, you're wrong. "Oriental" is a term that supports a Eurocentric perspective. When applied to people, it is a flat-out insult.

And I wish to God people would stop posting links to a dictionary as if that's the be-all and end-all of a word's meaning!

[juiCsqueeHgie]

@Beccka I haven't said anything incorrect.

I find it ironic that you wish people wouldn't post dictionary links "as if its the be-all and end-all of a word's meaning" when it is you who are insisting that your meaning of the word is the only one. The problem is more likely, Americentricism,+ an unwillingness to accept any other nation's perspective bar yours. You obviously haven't read the link or you'd note it acknowledges the word may have insulting connotations in America (not elsewhere)!

[Beccka]

@juiCsqueeHgie The point being, dictionary links aren't useful for discovering the discursive meaning of a word - the way the word is used is what matters. And in that case, the word "Oriental" is offensive. And NOT just in America! This past weekend I listened to my English sister-in-law take her mother to task for using the word "Oriental." Reminding her that the word *is a racial slur.*\

As for "unwillingness to accept any other nation's perspective bar yours," that seems to be YOUR problem.

[Beccka]

@juiCsqueeHgie And, actually, the thing that offends me most about your statements is that you are attempting to tell an ASIAN PERSON - a person who has likely had the term Oriental used towards them as an insult - that their experience is wrong. What an obnoxious thing to do.

[Yieiuu]

@awwwyeeeuuuhhh That is debatable.

[14BehindBlueEyes]

Sesame Street...the starting point of brainwashing our children!

[TheWhitevoices]

@14BehindBlueEyes Exsactly

[redhaireddog]

God bless Jessie. I am 47 years old and his words made me weep. A curse upon those who seek to white-wash the civil rights movement by saying that Jessie and those whom he marched with are outdated and need to be replaced by a newer version.

Much love to Jessie.

I am somebody.

[TheWhitevoices]

@redhaireddog Fuck Jessie cry baby Jackson

[tturkeyy]

Thanks for the post!

[djtrixen]

Can I hear an Amen?

[phrexus]

Is there a better quality transfer of this?

[tondrae]

bling bling jesse. damn!!

[scheemadruci]

jesse jackson is and always was a sellout two faced racist scumbag. he set up M.L.K. . hadem killled. onlyaerik was right thoygh, he did leave out the yellow, and red.

[JakeJohnsonExperienc]

whatever man, he probably didn't do it on purpose. Whatever the case man. This is a great video about empowering our youth. Which is much more than i have to say for any of the garbage they keep puttin on the television.

[sarahbright82]

This is wonderful.

[GuysSeriously]

I thought he had abit of a hollier than thou atttiude. He always wants to be centre of attention thats why he was pissed off at Obama lol

[JakeJohnsonExperienc]

center of attention or not, he's doin a great thing. You know that mornin the children of America had the strut of pride. Not negative pride. But empowered and confident, proud that regardless when they walk down the street they are SOMEBODY. don't be so critical and start accepting these positive things for the positive things they are.

[chrissy38116]

beautiful!

[onlyAerik]

when a modern day republican sees this clip, they see leftist environmento-marxist fascism at it's worst.

[AssBurgerDeluxe]

Haha from this post I can tell that you are a young and white middle class person...hahaha

[darigan9]

Because it is.. Idiot

[EasyEs]

I don't and I am a conservative. I think it is an great speech.

[RetroToledo]

@onlyAerik And it's sad thinking how better off some of us were for it despite the world we ended up in.

[TheDanteOxalis]

@onlyAerik No.

[Sahbisun]

That Asian kid was like....wtf?

Sesame street use to be the ish back in the days. Then it started trying to keep up with Dora and all those corny shows. ( Let's learn about everything and nothing at the same time.) Blink once and you miss the damn point.

I am somebody....I might eat chitterlings, but I am somebody!

[onlyAerik]

the asian kids realized he left out yellow. They know the racial rainbow.

[efil4own1]

This would be perfect as an intro to the song "I Can" by Nas.

[deannasowhat]

he looks like will smith

[splitenzfreak1980]

Simple but effective, even more so in the Wattstax version. This should be on the Human Bill of Rights.

[karenstube]

MIchael Jackson's Oxford Speech.....calling for a charter of children's rights :)

[Sonyag1]

Love Sesame Street, but isn't that the most f'ed up afros you've ever seen? And that gold chain to put Flava Flav to shame. LMAO!!!

[CrazyCheeseMagee]

Now THIS is what Sesame Street used to be and should still be, that is, a show to give the children of the inner-cities of America help in succeeding when they get to school. Sesame Street was invented for the purpose of educating inner-city youth, a lot of them being black. Therefore, I would say that Sesame Street was, at the time, a key factor in the movement to give blacks and whites equal opportunities in life. (Of course now, it's just another kids show like Dora or Barney.)

[THRILLAKILLA187]

@CrazyCheeseMagee AMEN!

[2009Denisem]

@THRILLAKILLA187 Double AMEN!

[powertrust71]

@CrazyCheeseMagee yeah for real...i can remember when it was cool to count to 12...when did this ten thing happen...

[ZEROEVILDARKCOOL]

@CrazyCheeseMagee >SESAME STREET WAS INVENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATING INNER-CITY YOUTH

PROVE IT.

[nomantis1]

@ZEROEVILDARKCOOL Prove it?

Okay. To prove the show was created to help prepare city children for school... Sesame street itself: sesame workshop.org/inside/our_missio­n (read: How We Began)

[RetroToledo]

@CrazyCheeseMagee Let alone people just moving far out into the outskirts of town and into the hamlets of America.

[muddymunny]

so inspiring

[doctorx3]

Amazing how forward thinking and open-minded Jesse Jackson used to be. He has since become a charicature of himself. Al Sharpton (conversely) started out as a clown, and has since become far more reasonable and serious.

[mistarcraw]

: (

[mel4pat2000]

Too bad nobody sees this type of inspiring message to young people anymore in this politically correct society! I give unprecedented credit to Jesse Jackson for this 1970 scene by instilling into young minds that no matter where you come from, color, or economics status, if you are a living creature, you do count. EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY!

[ERubyV9]

@mel4pat2000 I agree with the sentiment what you said, but I've got to point out you are mis-using the term "political correctness". Jackson's words here are the politically correct statement, and it's a denial of true politically correct sentiment that keeps people from saying it now. Please don't criticize something if you don't understand what the words mean.

[arpowell2068]

Easily one of the most powerful things I've ever seen... The poster is right, this would never air today. And it's a damned shame.

[MGG75]

I'm guessing really hard.....but I would say this is about 35 yrs. old, or from 1972. JJ, Sr. was sure someone with that 18 ft. afro of his...lol

[Mommy246]

I read in a CTW write-up that Jesse Jackson was only 30 when this was filmed. He seems so much older!

[wishingstar22]

It is segments such as this that made SS great, reaching out to inner city kids ages 4-7. Now its just a babysitter for suburban toddlers.

[CrazyCheeseMagee]

Well said, wishingstar. The original point of Sesame Street was to give young inner-city children the help they needed before they got to school. And while now, the American version is, as you said, "a babysitter for suburban toddlers", the show is now trying to go to other places like South Africa to teach children about HIV and AIDS and Kosovo and Israel and Palestine to promote tolerance between the two races in the area. For more info, watch "The Longest Street in the World".

[rmship]

Run Jesse Run, leave it up to ED & ISCV to come up with a winner like this, vintage at it's best. We do take our selves too seriously!

Bob Ship

[zacandtaylorrule]

Nothing like frightning kids to make my point. The kids are probably thinking "why is this black man with the big necklace yelling at me?" Not that I am racist. I just think that Jesse went too far.

[Beverlybelvin]

Of course you are not racist.

[Rodimus78]

This segment doesn't consolidate your so-called 'point' at all. I don't know where you get this idea from but it's an ignorant one if not insulting which it is.  Speaking of point, I think it's best to point and escort yourself out of the nostaglia door and stay the hell out.

[awwwyeeeuuuhhh]

@zacandtaylorrule i think they realize the point of the exercise and that he's not yelling AT them, but speaking in a manner that which is declarative and proud. kids aren't dumb.

[HeathenRage]

Applause.

[geor67]

Right on! I like the message that Jesse Jackson gave the kids. To let them know they are somebody and to love themselves for who they are.

[whammer0411]

GREAT...tickle THIS Elmo...

[blu3babyc00l]

Beautiful!

[WillWatchAnything]

All I can say is.. WOW! That was a pretty powerful message that got across on a kids show. They would never dream of doing anything remoteay close to this now.