Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during the memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Tuesday, July 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)
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The Rev. Al Sharpton has stirred up controversy with some remarks he made during the Michael Jackson Memorial Service. Here is an excerpt from Rev. Al Sharpton's speech during the memorial service.
I want to say to Mrs. Jackson and Joe Jackson, his sisters and brothers, we thank you for giving us someone that taught us love, someone that taught us hope. We want to thank you because we know it was your dream, too. We know that your heart is broken.
I know you have some comfort from the letter from the president of the United States and Nelson Mandela, but this was your child. This was your brother. This was your cousin. Nothing will fill your heart's loss, but I hope the love that people are showing will make you know he didn't live in vain.
I want his three children to know, wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it...he dealt with it anyway. He dealt with it for us. So, some came today, Mrs. Jackson, to say goodbye to Michael. I came to say thank you. Thank you, because you never stopped. Thank you because you never gave up. Thank you because you never gave out. Thank you because you tore down our divisions. Thank you because you eradicated barriers. Thank you because you gave us hope. Thank you, Michael, thank you, Michael, thank you, Michael.
Do you think Rev. Al Sharpton is a racist? Vote Now!
Charisse Van Horn is a successful freelance writer who has written for numerous genres including investigative journalism and grant writing. She volunteers her time for causes such as homelessness, domestic abuse, and the rehabilitation of those who've been incarcerated.
Wow......I can not believe such negative interpretation of reality. A great man once said "it is funny how far we have come BUT yet, how far we got to go". Al Sharpton is not a racist. He is nothing but a messenger. He is a man (And please noted what I had just said "A MAN": not a BLACK MAN) who lived through the hard times of our nation “Segregation". He is also man who experience sitting at the back of a bus allowing another man "EQUAL" to take the front seats (must I go on). I do not believe in politics nor can I dictate a textbook that I have not opened. I believed in seeing is believing - who knows it feel it. Please my brother and sisters of all nations we have lost an ICON. Sometimes in life things are taken for granted and the true message is often blinded. However, we often appreciate those cases when they come out into reality. Michael Jackson is one of those cases. Let’s look at a few more Martin Luther King, Elvis Presley and even the SWINE FLU. Today we have str
amazing how when you look at the results of the poll, over 85% consider him a racist, but none of them want to get into, at minimum a debate in this forum, at minimum, on where that nonesense came from. Sharpton is an advocate for the well being of his race. Unfortunately alot of America cannot see that because by the old american standards, advocacy of black culture equals being anti-American. I firmly believe that this generation of Americans...The ones that were the catalyst for voting in our current president are saying "enough is enough". Our leaders need to judged by their character and abilities, not their race. Understand this though, we are a long way from their not being a need for the Al Sharpton's of the world. Keep doing your thing Al!
I think that Sharpton is a racist but I don't see what is controversial about his speech. The only part I found awkward was when he said, "I want his three children to know, wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it..."
I would imagine that his kids had never entertained the idea that their father might be strange until Sharpton brought it up at their father's funeral.
This article did nothing to show the racism of Al Sharpton. Unlike the other people on this form (who consider me one of the "naive" people) I do believe he is a racist.
1987: Sharpton spreads the incendiary Tawana Brawley hoax, insisting heatedly that a 15-year-old black girl was abducted, raped, and smeared with feces by a group of white men. He singles out Steve Pagones, a young prosecutor. Pagones is wholly innocent -- the crime never occurred -- but Sharpton taunts him: "If we're lying, sue us, so we can . . . prove you did it." Pagones does sue, and eventually wins a $345,000 verdict for defamation. To this day, Sharpton refuses to recant his unspeakable slander or to apologize for his role in the odious affair.
1991: A Hasidic Jewish driver in Brooklyn's Crown Heights section accidentally kills Gavin Cato, a 7-year-old black child, and antisemitic riots erupt. Sharpton races to pour gasoline on the fire. At Gavin's funeral he rails against the "diamond merchants" -- code f
At Gavin's funeral he rails against the "diamond merchants" -- code for Jews -- with "the blood of innocent babies" on their hands. He mobilizes hundreds of demonstrators to march through the Jewish neighborhood, chanting, "No justice, no peace." A rabbinical student, Yankel Rosenbaum, is surrounded by a mob shouting "Kill the Jews!" and stabbed to death.
1995: When the United House of Prayer, a large black landlord in Harlem, raises the rent on Freddy's Fashion Mart, Freddy's white Jewish owner is forced to raise the rent on his subtenant, a black-owned music store. A landlord-tenant dispute ensues; Sharpton uses it to incite racial hatred. "We will not stand by," he warns malignantly, "and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business." Sharpton's National Action Network sets up picket lines; customers going into Freddy's are spat on and cursed as "traitors" and "Uncle Toms." Some protesters shout, "Burn down the Jew store!" and simulate str
i dont care what people say about him. we need rev. al sharton. he is the one who fights for equalty for black and white people. and HOW THE IS THAT RACIST? lol....nuff said!! the guy who post this TRASH is the one whos racist!!! GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
Why is the media always trying to label a black man racist and ignoring and exposing all the KNOWN white racists among them. Most editors must be racist. Guess they need to find someone as revolting and ignorant as they are.
the man is racist. look it up for your self. th facts are therethe people that dont believe it need to open your eyes. people on this forum have listed examples already of this so called rev. every chance he gets he brings gasoline and tnt to a spark that he can twist to be racist and blow it to kingdom come so he can look like he is fighting racist but instead he is creating it.
This man has nothing intelligent to say, He has no scripture to expand upon to make up feel good about
our day or help anyone suffering under everyday earthly struggles. He is no pastor. He is a cheap rabble -rouser looking
for the camera and self grandiose moments at any given crisis. He makes bad moments in history and
makes them seem catastrophic. Sad for someone who studied the teachings of the Bible. I am not a
believer totally but according to the Bible, those who are Pastors will be held more accountable for
their actions. This most likely means Mr. Sharpton will be going to hell.
I think he is a huge racist. What has he actually done to help the families in any of the public situations that he has been apart in? NONE. He starts controversy based on his own motives, which are for personal gain. He is corrupt. When trying to heal a hurting community, no matter what the race, you never encourage segregation from one race to stand and fight on your own. He has done that with the Trayvon murder case, yet 2 months ago, a white boy was set on fire infront of his mother and 5 year old brother, for no other reason but being white.
That community needed healing, not seperation from other races to "protect" themselves. If anything, we as a people need to come together. America is like a bunch of sheep looking for something attractive to follow, and we are not a knowledge seeking society. We like to follow the crowd, so when a crowd is gathered and there is racial tension...there is where you will frind Al Sharpton and hatred. Never do you see Sharpton with a crowd with out hatred. He now has the black panthers putting out a bounty for the shooter in the trayvon case. Rediculous. We should change our country to "States of America" because as long as there are people like Sharpton, their will never be unity.
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Comments
Um... how is that racist?
Who came up with this this crap? they should be fired!
Of course he's not racist, is the world really that naiive?!
I am sure the person who came up with this is racist and they think its over
That man needs to read the bible as we all should!!!
Wow......I can not believe such negative interpretation of reality. A great man once said "it is funny how far we have come BUT yet, how far we got to go". Al Sharpton is not a racist. He is nothing but a messenger. He is a man (And please noted what I had just said "A MAN": not a BLACK MAN) who lived through the hard times of our nation “Segregation". He is also man who experience sitting at the back of a bus allowing another man "EQUAL" to take the front seats (must I go on). I do not believe in politics nor can I dictate a textbook that I have not opened. I believed in seeing is believing - who knows it feel it. Please my brother and sisters of all nations we have lost an ICON. Sometimes in life things are taken for granted and the true message is often blinded. However, we often appreciate those cases when they come out into reality. Michael Jackson is one of those cases. Let’s look at a few more Martin Luther King, Elvis Presley and even the SWINE FLU. Today we have str
Where is the first half of the speech? You know, the part where he made the racist remarks.
Never heard of him ! I moved to america from brazil !!! Sorry
amazing how when you look at the results of the poll, over 85% consider him a racist, but none of them want to get into, at minimum a debate in this forum, at minimum, on where that nonesense came from. Sharpton is an advocate for the well being of his race. Unfortunately alot of America cannot see that because by the old american standards, advocacy of black culture equals being anti-American. I firmly believe that this generation of Americans...The ones that were the catalyst for voting in our current president are saying "enough is enough". Our leaders need to judged by their character and abilities, not their race. Understand this though, we are a long way from their not being a need for the Al Sharpton's of the world. Keep doing your thing Al!
I think that Sharpton is a racist but I don't see what is controversial about his speech. The only part I found awkward was when he said, "I want his three children to know, wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it..."
I would imagine that his kids had never entertained the idea that their father might be strange until Sharpton brought it up at their father's funeral.
This article did nothing to show the racism of Al Sharpton. Unlike the other people on this form (who consider me one of the "naive" people) I do believe he is a racist.
1987: Sharpton spreads the incendiary Tawana Brawley hoax, insisting heatedly that a 15-year-old black girl was abducted, raped, and smeared with feces by a group of white men. He singles out Steve Pagones, a young prosecutor. Pagones is wholly innocent -- the crime never occurred -- but Sharpton taunts him: "If we're lying, sue us, so we can . . . prove you did it." Pagones does sue, and eventually wins a $345,000 verdict for defamation. To this day, Sharpton refuses to recant his unspeakable slander or to apologize for his role in the odious affair.
1991: A Hasidic Jewish driver in Brooklyn's Crown Heights section accidentally kills Gavin Cato, a 7-year-old black child, and antisemitic riots erupt. Sharpton races to pour gasoline on the fire. At Gavin's funeral he rails against the "diamond merchants" -- code f
At Gavin's funeral he rails against the "diamond merchants" -- code for Jews -- with "the blood of innocent babies" on their hands. He mobilizes hundreds of demonstrators to march through the Jewish neighborhood, chanting, "No justice, no peace." A rabbinical student, Yankel Rosenbaum, is surrounded by a mob shouting "Kill the Jews!" and stabbed to death.
1995: When the United House of Prayer, a large black landlord in Harlem, raises the rent on Freddy's Fashion Mart, Freddy's white Jewish owner is forced to raise the rent on his subtenant, a black-owned music store. A landlord-tenant dispute ensues; Sharpton uses it to incite racial hatred. "We will not stand by," he warns malignantly, "and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business." Sharpton's National Action Network sets up picket lines; customers going into Freddy's are spat on and cursed as "traitors" and "Uncle Toms." Some protesters shout, "Burn down the Jew store!" and simulate str
he is a racist
i dont care what people say about him. we need rev. al sharton. he is the one who fights for equalty for black and white people. and HOW THE IS THAT RACIST? lol....nuff said!! the guy who post this TRASH is the one whos racist!!! GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
Why is the media always trying to label a black man racist and ignoring and exposing all the KNOWN white racists among them. Most editors must be racist. Guess they need to find someone as revolting and ignorant as they are.
the man is racist. look it up for your self. th facts are therethe people that dont believe it need to open your eyes. people on this forum have listed examples already of this so called rev. every chance he gets he brings gasoline and tnt to a spark that he can twist to be racist and blow it to kingdom come so he can look like he is fighting racist but instead he is creating it.
Why the reference to the KKK as a "guage" of his racism? So dumb!!!!!!!
This man has nothing intelligent to say, He has no scripture to expand upon to make up feel good about
our day or help anyone suffering under everyday earthly struggles. He is no pastor. He is a cheap rabble -rouser looking
for the camera and self grandiose moments at any given crisis. He makes bad moments in history and
makes them seem catastrophic. Sad for someone who studied the teachings of the Bible. I am not a
believer totally but according to the Bible, those who are Pastors will be held more accountable for
their actions. This most likely means Mr. Sharpton will be going to hell.
I think he is a huge racist. What has he actually done to help the families in any of the public situations that he has been apart in? NONE. He starts controversy based on his own motives, which are for personal gain. He is corrupt. When trying to heal a hurting community, no matter what the race, you never encourage segregation from one race to stand and fight on your own. He has done that with the Trayvon murder case, yet 2 months ago, a white boy was set on fire infront of his mother and 5 year old brother, for no other reason but being white.
That community needed healing, not seperation from other races to "protect" themselves. If anything, we as a people need to come together. America is like a bunch of sheep looking for something attractive to follow, and we are not a knowledge seeking society. We like to follow the crowd, so when a crowd is gathered and there is racial tension...there is where you will frind Al Sharpton and hatred. Never do you see Sharpton with a crowd with out hatred. He now has the black panthers putting out a bounty for the shooter in the trayvon case. Rediculous. We should change our country to "States of America" because as long as there are people like Sharpton, their will never be unity.
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