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Al Sharpton has taken for himself the mantle of a national Black leader. But who gave him that mantle? Certainly his origin does not authenticate sufficiently any credentials he has for becoming a national Black leader and spokesman. Black Americans have had enough white-appointed leaders to keep us a long time. We know whites will exalt any Black who says what they want to hear; we have allowed those supposed leaders to offer their self-fulfilling prophecies. But now the good Rev. Al Sharpton is presenting Black America and he is another breed of dog that needs looking at--a self appointed leader who is making a profit off that leadership, and he is not a Republican or white prompted. These are leaders born out of no necessity in our community; they are born out of their own necessity for importance and riches. Just as there is money being made by Black Conservatives when they bash Blacks, there is money being made by these new found, self discovered leaders. Legitimate leadership in the Black community is usually founded out of necessity, scholarship, affirmative wealth, favorable Black speechmaking, elections, community work, etc. The Rev. Al seemingly saw a personal financial void and realized how Jessie Jackson became a millionaire while running for president as he enhanced his national image. But unlike Jackson, Sharpton doesn't have the voice and presence of Jackson; he wasn't an outspoken marcher with King; he was not around King when he was killed. Sharpton saw Jackson's financial wealth increase as he ran for president, so Sharpton secured a committee to determine if he should run. That, in spite of Cornel West being a part of Sharpton's exploratory committee, was a joke. Can you imagine Al Sharpton for president? The first thing Sharpton would have to do is learn to dress, especially his hair style. No one does what he does to Black hair anymore. It's short and to the head nowadays, not pressed out and hanging. That style is uncomely for men, and even females aren't wearing that style anymore. Professionalism is the mode today, if he is going to run for president, not withstanding a George Bush and his inability to dress or speak. Hasn't the good Rev. Sharpton noticed Colin Powell's dress? Then there is his ever-present Tawana Brawley legacy. That incident is hard to live down even by Sharpton, and since it is, Sharpton cannot be taken very seriously when he goes to Florida (or anywhere else) to investigate the Haitians imprisoned there. One sees Sharpton in Florida and gets flashbacks of Sharpton defending Tawana Brawley with all the foul-mouth rhetoric he used. Mr. Sharpton is a self appointed leader, not a people appointed, elected, or requested leader. His leadership is for himself--his financial self. But he is crippled by his past, which has not yet died! And that which he can do in the church--tell them that the Lord has forgiven me and you should too--works there. America is anything but a church, the Moral Majority and duplicitous Christians not withstanding. Although Sharpton may go here and there supposedly supporting the Black cause, his flaws may do us more harm than good. Don't forget, we have Clarence Thomas (a white-appointed Black leader) representing the apex of Black legal scholarship, and we all know how he defends us and shines so brilliantly in Scalia's grasp. But
as for Sharpton, may I paraphrase ? "Forever in my ear, when he
speaks I always hear, times winged chariot hurrying near, and it is
saying Tawana, Tawana, Tawana Brawley!" []
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