When I was growing up, Al Sharpton and especially Jesse Jackson where two of the only black men consistently making headlines in the news. For many of us, the fact that Jesse Jackson ran for president so many times opened up the concept that a black man–could and would–become president of the United States.

How would these two men feel reading about themselves in a dismissive instead of respectful and grateful manner? Seriously, they are likely Thy Black Man readers and now would be the time to thank them for their contributions.