Why do people think Al Sha.rpton is ra.cist?

Question

EXPLAIN!!! HOW IS HE RACIST!!! Peope just say he is racist, BUT HOW!!

You people can't even give me a reason why you think he is racist, that is pretty lame!!

Julia thank you!!

Answer 1

Calling people "white interlopers" and "Jewish diamond merchants" are probably two reasons why.

Saying that Africans were building palaces while white Europeans were living in caves doesn't help his cause either. Whether that cause is race relations, or having an accurate sense of history.

Then there was that episode where he took sides for the woman who falsely accused those three lacrosse guys at Duke of raping her, before any of the evidence had even come out. It wasn't hard to see that Reverend Al was making his judgments based on skin color.

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Answer 2

In addition to the recent Duke case Julia mentioned there is the infamous Tawana Brawley incident back in the 80's. Al Sharpton led the charge on falsely accusing four white NY State Troopers of rape and kidnapping. The woman involved was caught lying and she and some friends had made it up w/o Sharpton's help. But the allegations were so outrageous (google her to read the case) that ANYONE should have done some serious fact checking before starting a media campaign against these guys. Instead he took advantage of African American distrust of police and whites in New York at the time, and tried to put himself on the front page as this woman's champion. His actual motivation may not be racist, just opportunist, but he taps into racial distrust and racial sterotypes and exploits them for his own gain rather than trying to close gaps between the races. Another way to look at it is this way. Imagine Al Sharpton as white and he said the things he says against African Americans. Would the things he says and does be racist?

Answer 3

I'd have to agree with Julia and Hilary S. I am not sure that he's racist as much as someone who repeatedly has a bad case of "open mouth, insert foot". I watched him the other night on a cable news show regarding some of his comments about the Mormon church being bigoted. He tried to apologize for his remarks, but I really think he needs to shut up until he has all the facts. In some ways, his comments cause more racial tension than relieving them.

Answer 4

I don't think he's racist, I just see him as a biggoted self-absorbed ego-maniac. Him along with Jesse Jackson are nothing more than the exploiters of injustice. We need tolerance, not some over-inflated gas bag making money off of racial discrimination lawsuits. He's no racist, he's a hustler with a good pitch, though I don't pay him any mind. Why do people claim him as their hero? I can name many more black leaders more responsible for equal rights and current race relations than Al Sharpton. And what's the deal with the period in Sha.rpton and ra.cist? Is that the new internet community fad or some crap? Or is it some hidden illuminati sign? Are the streets 'really' watching? Or was Jay-Z just looking for a hook?

Answer 5

Those of you who are claiming that Sharpton isn't racist need to do two things, in my opinion: Firstly, you need to look up the definitions of racism. Secondly, you need to research history a little.

Sharpton has repeatedly made racist comments and has accused non-blacks of racial discrimination and criminal behavior without gathering any evidence whatsoever. Likewise, he never seeks justice when non-blacks are victims of hate crime. What's more, he was a supporter of the late Khalid Muhammad. If you don't know who Khalid Muhammad is, you can read about him here: http://www.adl.org/special_reports/khalid_own_words/khalid_own_words.asp
You can listen to him here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzRM2tzQ-bY
The poster of the video is apparently racist, because he/she made the following comment: "This is how most blacks feel about white people." However, this doesn't negate the fact that Khalid Muhammad was a racist as well.

Answer 6

I agree with Julia above me. Do your research around the time he was running for president. He is a Reverend , he shouldn't think one race is better than any other they should all be treated the same. Only time you ever hear from him is when he wants to be in the news. He will never be a Martin Luther King.

Answer 7

Ask Brian Pagones and Don Imus. The man castigated Romney for being a Mormon, most recently. He is the worst of the phonies; where did he go to divinity school? He's a rabble rouser and has never worked a day in his life other than as an informant for the FBI.

Answer 8

I am certainly NOT a Sharpton groupie, but I don't think he's a racist. At least not publicly, I don't know what he says in private. Having said that, Al Sharpton to me is like a one way street. Sure he responds to racial issues, and considers himself an advocate of the people, but I've yet to see him speak up on behalf of ALL people. Martin Luther King, Jr. certainly DID. What's up with that Al?

Answer 9

He isn't so much a racist as an opportunist...he has built a career on jumping into things AFTER the fact, has not set forth even one concept, and certainly has not replaced Martin Luther King in the ongoing drive for equality.

Answer 10

Many racists feel their own, personal, race is superior to other people's races. Sharpton sometimes says things that make him appear to be like that. But, when he appeared on "Saturday Night Live," he showed that he doesn't take himself totally seriously. I saw the side of him that says, "I am just a human being like everybody else." So he won me over in 90 minutes.