Reverend Alfred Sharpton is arguably the most notable African American preacher who sacrifices his life on behalf of racial injustice directly impacting the black community. Biography.com cited, “Al Sharpton is an outspoken and sometimes controversial political activist in the fight against racial prejudice and injustice.” He is the individual minorities turn to when faced with tragedy because his reputation amongst his community is one who will stand against prejudice even in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Every since Alfred Sharpton, Jr. was a small child, he empathized with the plight of heinous conditions African Americans suffered daily and committed his life ministry and work to advocating equal rights for all.
On October 3, 1954 in Brooklyn, NY, Alfred Charles Sharpton, Jr. was born to the parents Alfred Charles Sharpton, Sr. and Ada Richards Sharpton. Raised in the church, it was immediately apparent that Sharpton was a peculiar child. His family attended Washington Temple Church of God in Christ under the tutelage of his pastor Bishop Frederick Douglas Washington. He would mimic the weekly sermons his pastor preached to his sister’s dolls at the tender age of 3, his first mentor. However, it was clear to his family and church members on July 9, 1959 just how peculiar. While organizing the special anniversary service, the youth were asked how did they desire to participate. He responded by stating he wanted to deliver the message and was granted permission to do so. In the middle of a Sunday afternoon in front of approximately 900 people, Rev. Sharpton ministered from John 14 declaring to the attendees, Let not your heart be troubled, while standing on a box just so he would be visible.
It was undeniable. After what became his trial sermon, Sharpton preached once a month at Washington Temple. He patterned his behavior after Bishop Washington who allowed Sharpton to travel internationally and minister alongside him. He read books that would educate and empower, although he never truly embraced formal education. He was ordained as a Reverend at 10 years old, bringing life to what he put forth into the atmosphere since he began attending school. He was chastised by school administrators for signing his name Rev. Al Sharpton since the 1st grade. When he was reported by the teachers to his mother, he declared that he was merely living out his purpose. Sharpton admired Bishop Washington for being a man of theological substance and an example of character and grace in action. In addition, the pastor included Sharpton in everything he did, helping to nurture Sharpton’s interest in crowds of people and his ability to think big.
Reverend Sharpton initiated a life principle extremely early in life. He recognized the significance of mentors. The reverence and love he has displayed for Bishop Washington reflected so aptly not only the character of the young boy wonder, but has been paid forward with Sharpton mentoring many others in the manner in which he was nurtured. The stability of Washington was essential because Sharpton’s life would be drastically altered at the tender age of 9 ½ when things were going seemingly well. His father had an affair with his mother’s daughter from a previous marriage. Out of that affair, a child was born and the family was permanently damaged forever. In addition to the split, Sharpton’s dad attempted to stop his son from preaching, cutting off all potential monetary income sources. While in court, the judge interviewed young Sharpton and ultimately forbade him to preach. Although he agreed to honor the mandate of the judge, Sharpton kept his weekly commitment at his local church, delivering the message on Friday evenings, as that was a part of his ministry mandate. Two weeks later, during a return visit to the courthouse, the same judge asked young Sharpton did he preach to which he replied yes. The judge then inquired if Sharpton understood he was forbidden to do so and questioned why did he disregard the orders? Sharpton responded, “I believe in what I am doing.” To this day, he lives by his Christian principles and the instruction of the Holy Spirit, even if his choices do not win popularity contests.
Another notable mentor who helped stretch the way of thinking for Sharpton was Adam Clayton Powell Jr. While he was most comfortable in the pulpit, he glimpsed at the autobiography of Powell, Jr. one day at the bookstore and was immediately intrigued. This was his introduction into connecting politics and social ministry. After reading the autobiography, Powell’s mentors became influential to Sharpton. He has been quoted saying, “It is so important whom you choose as your mentor; their heroes become your heroes, their ideological bent becomes of serious interest to you.” His worldview had been stretched although not tested until the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not have an immediate impact on Sharpton because he was not personally connected although they had met on numerous occasions. However, a film was released that included a soundtrack with a song performed by Nina Simone. The song posed a question that led him to feel guilty of not honoring the legacy of Dr. King. That question guides his decisions even to this date. “What are you gonna do now that the king of love is dead?” This was a turning point for young Sharpton and the start of defining the character of the preacher man. “I learned the persona of the black preacher, who is part religious leader, part social leader, part social worker, part entertainer.”
While Reverend Sharpton began his social activism journey organizing a youth division for Operation Breadbasket in which he became the youth director in 1969, to attempt to outline his many contributions would be a disservice to him. At this time, he was being mentored by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Jesse Jackson, both politically and socially active. He staged a few protests in high school. However, there are some cases that warrant reference. He battled with Robert Hall which was a clothing store that catered primarily to blacks. However, they would not allow minorities to sit on the board or would not extend service contracts to them. A boycott was initiated and it led to summer jobs for the urban youth, contracts and training programs in the urban community. But his first notable win was against the injustice of the A&P food chain. It was Sharpton’s boldness, his ability to organize, his connection to the urban community as a preacher and his willingness to fight that made individuals in trouble reach out to contact him when they needed media and political attention. Then there was a moment, a moment in which Rev. Al Sharpton realized the world was larger than the church and he was curious to learn more about the world.
Through the social activism Rev. Sharpton engaged in with Operation Breadbasket, he was introduced to James Brown after dropping out of college who offered to support a fundraising endeavor. That relationship taught him about business. Ministry is essential and helps a man learn how to communicate with others. However, keeping your business affairs in order protect you over time. Through the relationship with James Brown, Sharpton was exposed to more money than he had ever dealt with ever. He also recognized he was not the most financially astute person and he had risked the security of his family too many times to count. At the end of his autobiography, that was still a lesson he needed to learn. His relationship with Brown introduced him to the world of music management and also the continual attacks from the federal government. This period in Rev. Sharpton’s life was crucial because it solidified his advocacy work on behalf of the black community. He branched out and established National Action Network which is vibrant today and continues to hold weekly rallies. His influence was no longer simply limited to the church, but he fought for minority entertainers and others connected to the music industry. His participation was to ensure black promoters were being including in promotional tours with top recording artists.
James Brown was so integral to the development of Sharpton and he filled a void left by the absent father. When Brown’s own son died in a car accident, the relationship bonded even more. It was James Brown who taught Sharpton how to present himself before the media and it was through that relationship Sharpton met his wife Kathy Jordan with whom he had two daughters; Dominique and Ashley. The evidence of the importance of James Brown in the life of Rev. Sharpton is in his hair. Brown took Sharpton to his hairdresser before meeting President Ronald Reagan and Sharpton has kept his hair in that style honoring his word to James Brown that he would not change it until the death of the legendary godfather of soul. It represented the close, personal bond they shared.
This development of Rev. Sharpton speaks to his authority to address the major levels of misunderstandings that exist between blacks and whites. It was the Bernhard Goetz case that sparked something deep on the inside of Rev. Sharpton. Days before Christmas in 1984, Goetz open fired on 4 black teenage boys crying he was being mugged on the subway. He was considered “the subway vigilante” who was praised for his retaliation. It was later confirmed the boys did not have any weapons but the indignant nature of both Goetz and White America at the time made it dangerous to be black in New York. It was time to stand for the racial injustice New York City endured at the hands of White America. Someone had to protest and Sharpton was prepared for such a time. While Goetz ultimately was acquitted of almost all of the charges relative to the shooting, he received jail time for carrying a concealed weapon. Sharpton declared, “Anytime you justify vigilism you create an ongoing situation where it becomes very difficult to draw the line as to what is called for and what isn’t.”
Sharpton struggled with authorities and it culminated into a 70 count indictment of charges by the FBI which included an accusation that he was an informant who dished the goods on everyone from Don King to James Brown to the mafia. It was during this trial, he realized his brashness was not always an asset. He was ultimately cleared of all of the charges but he had arrived as an activist. Sharpton was vilified by the media, by White America and by political officials in New York. His position was clear-he stood for the rights of black people. Sharpton did not believe the color of his skin diminished his value, nor should it diminish the value of his race.
The Howard Beach riots, the Tawana Brawley abduction and other protests led to the incident on January 12, 1991 where he was stabbed while leading a protest march in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. He was stabbed two inches from his heart and realized his life work could prove to be fatal. The experience made him consider his legacy. He began to evaluate the impact he would leave on society if he were to be killed while serving. Prior to his stabbing, Sharpton had always operated on emotion, the move of the Holy Spirit and the request of assistance from people in need. Afterwards, he devised a plan that has proven to be essential to the character of the man you see today. In the past, people considered him to be loud, boisterous, vying for media attention, racist, you name it. But through it all, he has always been consistent.
September 11, 2001 drastically affected America but the ripples of devastation was particularly felt in New York. According to WTC survivor and advocate Nicole B. Simpson, the voice of black people affected was silenced. Financial support was not made readily available and people suffered significantly. Simpson communicated directly with Rev. Al Sharpton who not only provided an outlet for Simpson to voice her concerns, but he also spoke on behalf of the minority survivors who were in the building. Through his media outlets Sharp Talk and Keeping it Real with Rev. Al, resource centers were made available to the public. He posed questions to state officials on behalf of the survivors and he annually dedicates a show to people to express their outrage, their pain and their progress.
One cannot pinpoint when the perception of Rev. Sharpton began to change in the public’s eye. Perhaps it was during the criminal trial where witness after witness of the prosecuting office spoke highly of Sharpton’s integrity making their case look like a witch hunt. It could have occurred when the local politicians that have considered him a trouble maker in the past, call on him because they know he has a deeply ingrained relationship with the African American community. The grassroots media channels may have contributed somewhat given his many appearances on television, radio and in print media. Today he hosts his very own show on MSNBC, can still be heard on local radio and has a significant internet presence. But minorities credit his consistency throughout the years to speak to the character of the man. As he began in the church, a significant principle is that one who is led by the Holy Spirit, he operates the same way today.
This is the message the life of Rev. Alfred Sharpton, Jr. He is a preacher first and it’s in the pulpit where he is most comfortable. He recognizes the value of mentorship and mentoring others. But most importantly, he is a social activist who will fight to the bitter end for the rights of African Americans. He may not determine where that fight will lead, but he is always willing to stand. Sharpton has taken that fight to the world. One thing is clear, and it is a running trump card in the African American community; “If you discriminate against me because I’m black, I will call Rev. Al Sharpton!”
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