Once again, the black leadership in America has shown an astounding lack of imagination in dealing with racial issues.

By moving to have the Confederate flag eradicated, they've probably helped ensure that it will become 'the' official symbol of every bigot from Seattle to Miami. They haven't eliminated it, they've only created a deeper, broader meaning for it.

A more constructive approach would have been to adopt the flag as a symbol of black power. Imagine, legions of black men and women sporting confederate shirts, bandanas, hats and flying the flag as a symbol of taking back power from the bigots. Picture a KKK rally with everyone, supporters and protesters proudly flying the Confederate flag. How long would the racists continue to use it as their symbol of hate?

Taking control of the message is one of the most effective ways of getting what you really want but perhaps that would remove a very useful wedge issue for the Sharptons and Jacksons.