"You've repeated the above more-or-less word for word and maybe to excess."

Fair enough but, no. Each repetition of "the above" has been a response to an invocations of those gentlemen by commentators. It is only as repetitive and excessive as that which it addresses. 

Of course, they're still relevant - but, far from the daily doses they were in the 90's. My intent was to point out that their names are not in the news often these days and - more to the point - to my knowledge the names Sharpton or Jackson have NEVER appeared in any of the stories under which they've been dropped. Never.

A challenge to back up statements with cites is also fair. I don't have the energy to go through months of archives and the comments under them so I'l retract that one for now. But, have you really not noticed differences in (or the absence of) commentary under stories about blacks vs whites?

That being said... No more cracks about my age, please. That hurt.