Rev Al Sharpton: The man with a message

Sharpton demanded justice, the UK’s media branded him a ‘trouble maker who was stirring up racial hatred’. Ten years later the same man with the same demands for social, economical and political justice was universally applauded by the same media as a ‘man with a message’. The only constant between those ten years has been the respect and affection Black Britain has held towards Rev Al Sharpton. Sharpton flew into London for a two day visit to collaborate with Operation Black Vote on their Black political empowerment campaign. Disengagement from the political process by Black communities is at an all time low, with 32% not even registered to vote. This compares with 6% in the white community. So endemic is the feeling that the political establishment ignores Black people that a recent survey showed 94% of those asked, felt there would never be a Black Prime Minister. Sharpton’s mission was clear: convert the community’s frustration with the system into a political lever for positive change. First stop was the ‘From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation’, a centre that takes young Black men who have been excluded from schools and helps to positively turn their lives around. In typical Sharpton style he told the young men, ‘ Right here will be the First Black Prime Minister’. During his talk to the young men Sharpton set out the tone of the visit that sought to empower Black Britain to take full and absolute responsibility for change: ‘We are not responsible for where we began, but we are responsible for where we end up. Furthermore’, he added. ‘If I knock you down that’s on me. If I come back a month later and you’re still on the ground, that’s on you’. His two-day visit culminated in the first Choice FM ‘Power is never given’ lecture, sponsored by the UK’s leading Black radio station. Initially, an auditorium seating 400 was booked but it soon became apparent that its size was inadequate, and a larger 1000-seater theatre was hastily organised. A near capacity audience also heard from Black British activists who accompanied Sharpton on the panel. Race advisor to the Mayor and OBV’s Chair, Lee Jasper told the audience, ‘We are the first generation to bequeath less to our children than our parents bequeathed to us. A shameful enditment for any generation, but one that is particularly so given that despite the inequalities we face we have the potential to achieve so much’. Black women played a special role during the event with first, Karen Chouchan, the Asian Director of the Black policy think tank, The 1990 Trust who spoke passionately about unity between African, Asian and Caribbean peoples. ‘I am a Black woman part of a Black political struggle’ she began. ‘Our communities are subject to gross levels of racism because we are not white. We come together under the political banner ‘Black’ to collectively ensure equality of opportunity for our children. Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela all campaigned under the same political banner’. Chouchan was followed by Majorie Harris-Smikle, head of Truth Hammer; a New York based Black woman’s movement and a member of Sharpton’s Action Network. Addressing issues from the treatment of Black women prisoners to the high levels of unemployment she told Black British women ‘to get ready for power’. But the evening belonged to Rev Al Sharpton. In an inspired speech that compared to those great speeches of the civil rights movement of the sixties, Sharpton captured an audience more familiar with Alicia Keys and Nintendo than Garvey, Ghandi and Martin Luther King. ‘All my skin folk are not my kinfolk’ proclaimed Sharpton, as he explained the difference between leading Black men and women and leaders of Black men and women. ‘We never elected Colin Powell or Condoleza Rice, they were appointed by George Bush. They owe their loyalty to him not to us. When he goes, they go. Simple as that. Black leaders come from the grass roots struggle, and they cannot be bought and cannot be sold. Your Black political and social movements here will produce great leaders he finally told an ecstatic audience.’ The next day Sharpton and his small entourage flew back to the US leaving a ripple effect that has no end in sight. Here the Black electorate has always been a sleeping giant, almost afraid to contemplate what we might do if we began to realise our full potential. Sharpton’s brief visit has invigorated a consciousness that is prepared to act. Almost every one that attended the lecture signed a pledge to play an active role in future events. Phone lines at Operation Black Vote were busy for a week afterwards from people who heard about the evening and wanted to get involved. There where even whispers at Westminster that Britain’s Black communities were on the move and that we ‘should be kept an eye on’. The next big test will be in April or May when a planned march organised by a coalition of Black groups across the country takes place. A ‘Political assault on Westminster’ aims to empower the Black nation as never before, whilst simultaneously serving notice on the political establishment that we - Black Britons - demand to be listened to. A turnout of 20,000 strong marchers is expected to take part in the rally along with international friends such as Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson and Angela Davis. And, of course, the irrepressible - Reverend Al Sharpton.