New Generation Of Black Leaders Emerging

While Barack Obama is trying to make history as the nation's first black president, there's a whole new generation of black leaders who are front-and-center in American politics.

In this report you'll see only on the Web, CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith examines how some of these trailblazers are carrying the torch of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. as they continue his drive for equal rights for all.

His father's most famous speech was undoubtedly his "I have a dream" vision. Now Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of the slain civil rights leader, heads the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which the elder founded and lead to national prominence in the '50s and '60s.

Jesse Jackson runs the Rainbow Coalition and ran unsuccessfully in the 1980s to become the first black president. Now his son, 42-year-old Jesse Jr., is an Illinois congressman.

Harold Ford Jr., son of former congressman Harold Ford Sr., served as a congressman from Tennessee. He lost his 2006 Senate bid, but won the hearts of his party and now chairs the Democratic Leadership Council.

Another Democrat, Deval Patrick, is the first in his family to attend college - Harvard, and Harvard Law School. He was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2006.

That same year, Corey Booker, became the mayor of Newark, New Jersey's largest city. Booker's been featured in Time, Esquire and Black Enterprise, which named him one of "America's most powerful players under 40."

Another mayor rising to prominence is Adrian Fenty, of Washington, D.C.

So, while Barack Obama is taking center stage, all of these men are changing the face of politics in America.

Massachusetts Governor Patrick and D.C. Mayor Fenty spoke with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Monday.

[tomtomasters]

The problem with America is you like to celebrate Holidays of individual men who claim to represent their people. In fact a day in memory of Martin Luther King is a fools dream. What we should be honoring and respecting are the thousands if not millions of Black American Slaves who built and supported America for over its first 100 year period. It is the people not so called leaders that make a nation great. We need to have our respect and condolences to Black American Slave Day. We also need to have Native American Indian Day, to honor the real first native people in America. Where are our values America? War, murder, greed, liars, racism, and valuing one guy instead of the real people? Martin Luther needs another dream, and Obama should remember his ancestors before him. So far we are nothing, but bigots, and roaming animals, barking at each other.

[seebsnewz]

Struggle for equality? Every race has equality in the U.S. today. Some people are just milking the past injustices for all they can get.

[thomevizquel]

it should be in the constitution only a caucasion can be elected president. Afterall the position is alot "figurehead" and this country was founded by causasions. We "let" everyone else in. It''s not fair to us.

[nordeck52]

fuzzybear9,

The guy''s name was Pancho Villa.