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'''Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton Jr.''' (born [[October 3]], [[1954]]) is a [[Satanic]] [[Minister of religion|minister]], and [[professional]] [[political]], [[American Civil Rights Movement|civil rights]], and [[social justice]] [[activist]]. In [[2004]], Sharpton was a candidate for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nomination for [[President of the United States]].
'''Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton Jr.''' (born [[October 3]], [[1954]]) is a [[Pentecostal]] [[Minister of religion|minister]], and [[professional]] [[political]], [[American Civil Rights Movement|civil rights]], and [[social justice]] [[activist]]. In [[2004]], Sharpton was a candidate for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nomination for [[President of the United States]].


Though often not far from controversy, Sharpton is known for being a fiery and charismatic speaker, receiving significant media publicity. He makes regular appearances on many talk shows, in particular the [[O'Reilly Factor]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254922,00.html|title=Al Sharpton On Ties To Sen. Thurmond|date[[2007-02-27]]= |accessdate=2007-04-12 |work=[[Fox News]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153366,00.html|title=Al Sharpton Talks with Bill O'Reilly |date=[[2005-04-13]]|accessdate=2007-04-12 |work=[[The O'Reilly Factor]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ifilm.com/video/2696442|title=Bill O'Reilly Interview Al Sharpton |accessdate=2007-04-12 |work=[[Ifilm]]|date=[[2006-02-02]] }}</ref> and [[MSNBC]]. Sharpton also has his own radio talk show.<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921148.html</ref><ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022601254.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</ref>
Though often not far from controversy, Sharpton is known for being a fiery and charismatic speaker, receiving significant media publicity. He makes regular appearances on many talk shows, in particular the [[O'Reilly Factor]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,254922,00.html|title=Al Sharpton On Ties To Sen. Thurmond|date[[2007-02-27]]= |accessdate=2007-04-12 |work=[[Fox News]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153366,00.html|title=Al Sharpton Talks with Bill O'Reilly |date=[[2005-04-13]]|accessdate=2007-04-12 |work=[[The O'Reilly Factor]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ifilm.com/video/2696442|title=Bill O'Reilly Interview Al Sharpton |accessdate=2007-04-12 |work=[[Ifilm]]|date=[[2006-02-02]] }}</ref> and [[MSNBC]]. Sharpton also has his own radio talk show.<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921148.html</ref><ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022601254.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns</ref>

Revision as of 06:30, 27 April 2007

Rev. Al Sharpton
Born
Alfred Charles Sharpton, Jr.

October 3, 1954
Occupation(s)Pentecostal minister, Social justice activist, civil rights activist, politician
TitleReverend
SpouseKathy Jordan

Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton Jr. (born October 3, 1954) is a Pentecostal minister, and professional political, civil rights, and social justice activist. In 2004, Sharpton was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Though often not far from controversy, Sharpton is known for being a fiery and charismatic speaker, receiving significant media publicity. He makes regular appearances on many talk shows, in particular the O'Reilly Factor[1][2][3] and MSNBC. Sharpton also has his own radio talk show.[4][5]

Early years

Sharpton was born in Brooklyn, New York to Ada and Rev. Alfred Charles Sharpton, Sr.[6] He preached his first sermon at the age of four and toured with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.[7]

In 1963, his parents separated. He grew up poor; his mother took a job as a maid, but did not make enough money and so they qualified for welfare. The family moved from Queens to the projects in Brownsville.[8] He was licensed and ordained a minister at the age of nine[9] by Bishop F.D. Washington in 1964.[10]Upon the death of Bishop Washington in the late 80’s, Reverend Sharpton became a Baptist, and in 1994, he was re-baptized as a member of the Bethany Baptist Church by Reverend William Jones. Reverend Sharpton was educated in public schools in New York and attended Brooklyn College. He was later presented with an honorary degree from A.P. Clay Bible College.


He graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn, and attended Brooklyn College, dropping out after two years in 1975.[11] Sharpton became a tour manager for James Brown, in 1971, where he met his future wife, Kathy Jordan, a backup singer. Sharpton and Jordan married in 1983.[12]

Activism

In 1969, Sharpton was appointed by Jesse Jackson as youth director of Operation Breadbasket, a group that focused on the promotion of new and better jobs for African-Americans.[13]

In 1971, Sharpton founded the National Youth Movement to raise resources for impoverished youth.[14]

National Action Network

In 1991, Sharpton founded the National Action Network to increase voter education, poverty services, and support small community businesses.[15]

Amadou Diallo

In 1999, Sharpton led a protest to raise awareness about the death of Amadou Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea who was shot to death by NYPD officers. Sharpton claimed that Diallo's death was the result of police brutality and racial profiling. Diallo's family was later awarded $3 million in a wrongful death suit filed against the city. [16]

Vieques

In 2001, Sharpton was jailed for 90 days for protesting near a United States Navy bombing site in Puerto Rico.[17]

Ousmane Zongo

In 2002, Sharpton was involved in protests following the death of West African immigrant Ousmane Zongo. Zongo, who was unarmed, was shot by an undercover police officer during a raid on a warehouse in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Sharpton met with the family and also provided some legal services.[18]

Sean Bell

Gay rights and Animal rights

Sharpton is a supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians, including same-sex marriage. Sharpton is leading a grassroots movement to eliminate homophobia within the Black Church[19].

Sharpton has also spoken out against cruelty to animals in a video recorded for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).[20]

Political campaigns

Sharpton has run for elected office on multiple occasions. Sharpton ran for a United States Senate seat from New York in 1988, 1992, and 1994. In 1997, he ran for Mayor of New York City.

On January 5, 2003 Sharpton announced his candidacy for the 2004 presidential election as a member of the Democratic Party.

On March 15, 2004, Sharpton announced his endorsement of leading Democratic candidate John Kerry.

On December 15, 2005, Sharpton agreed to repay $100,000 in public funds he received from the federal government for his 2004 Presidential campaign. The repayment was required because Sharpton had exceeded federal limits on personal expenditures for his campaign. At that time his most recent Federal Election Commission filings (from January 1, 2005) stated that Sharpton's campaign still had debts of $479,050 and owed Sharpton himself $145,146 for an item listed as "Fundraising Letter Preparation — Kinko's." [21]

On April 2, 2007, Sharpton announced that he wouldn't get into the 2008 presidential race this time. "I am not going to run," he said.[13]

Assassination attempt

On January 12th 1991, Sharpton escaped serious injury when he was stabbed in the chest by Michael Riccardi while preparing to lead a protest through Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY. The intoxicated attacker was apprehended by Sharpton's aides and handed over to police who were present for the planned protest. Sharpton, although forgiving his attacker and pleading for leniency on his behalf, filed suit against New York City alleging that the many police present had failed to protect him from his attacker. In December 2003 he finally reached a $200,000 settlement [22] with the city just as jury selection was about to start.

Celebrity status

Sharpton made cameo appearances in the movies Cold Feet, Bamboozled, Mr. Deeds, and Malcolm X. He also appeared in episodes of the television shows New York Undercover, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Girlfriends, My Wife and Kids, and Boston Legal. He hosted the original Spike TV reality television show I Hate My Job, and an episode of Saturday Night Live. He was a guest on Weekends at the DL on Comedy Central and has been featured in television ads for the Fernando Ferrer campaign for the New York City mayoral election, 2005. He also made a cameo appearance, by telephone and still photograph, on the Food Network series, The Secret Life Of . . . , when host Jim O'Connor expressed disbelief that a restaurant owner who'd named a dish after Sharpton actually knew him.

During the 2005 Tony Awards, Sharpton appeared in a number put on by the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

In June 2005, Sharpton signed a contract with Matrix Media, to produce and host a live two-hour daily talk program, which did not air. In November 2005, Sharpton signed with Radio One to host a daily national talk radio program which began airing on January 30, 2006.

The character Reverend Bacon in the Tom Wolfe novel The Bonfire of the Vanities is based on Sharpton.

Indirect ties to Strom Thurmond

In February 2007, genealogists using the website Ancestry.com discovered that Sharpton's great-grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was a slave owned by Julia Thurmond, whose grandfather was Strom Thurmond's great-great-grandfather. Coleman Sharpton was later freed during the Civil War.

Thurmond was notable as the longest serving Senator (at the time of his death) who was a major advocate of racial segregation during the middle of the last century.[23] Thurmond's illegitimate daughter, Essie Mae Washington-Williams, stated she would welcome Sharpton to the family if the DNA test he claims he will take shows he is a relative.[24]

The Sharpton family name originated with Coleman Sharpton's previous slave-owner, who was also named Alexander Sharpton.[25]

Attitude toward Barack Obama

Media reports have suggested tension between Sharpton and Barack Obama. According to the New York Post's political reporter Frederick U. Dicker, Sharpton has launched a "big-time" effort to tear down Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as a candidate for president. The Post quotes an unnamed prominent black Democratic activist who knows Sharpton as saying, "[Sharpton is] saying that Obama never did anything for the community, never worked with anybody from the community, that nobody knows the people around him, that he's a candidate driven by white leadership."[26],

According to CNN, Sharpton has denied being jealous of Obama, saying that "I want to talk about a civil rights agenda as a priority, and the answer to that is not, 'Oh if you want to talk about issues you must be jealous'." Sharpton has suggested an Obama operative planted the story.[27]

Controversies

Tawana Brawley controversy

Case

In the Tawana Brawley case, a 15-year-old black girl was found smeared with feces, lying in a garbage bag, her clothing torn and burned and with various slurs and epithets written on her body in charcoal. Brawley claimed she had been assaulted and raped by six white men, some of them police officers, in the village of Wappingers Falls, New York.

Attorneys Alton H. Maddox and C. Vernon Mason joined Sharpton in support of Brawley. A grand jury was convened; after seven months of examining police and medical records, the jury determined the evidence did not support Brawley's story. Sharpton, Maddox and Mason accused the Dutchess County prosecutor, Steven Pagones, of racism and of being one of the perpetrators of the alleged abduction and rape. The three were successfully sued for slander and ordered to pay $345,000 in damages, the jury finding Sharpton liable for making seven defamatory statements about Pagones, Maddox for two and Mason for one. [28]

Crown Heights Riot

The Crown Heights Riot occurred after a car accident involving the motorcade for the Lubavitcher Rebbe, killing a young boy named Gavin Cato. A riot was sparked after a private Hasidic ambulance came to the scene and, on the orders of a police officer, removed the Hasidic driver from the scene. Gavin and his cousin Angela were picked up soon after by a city ambulance. Caribbean-American and African-American residents of the neighborhood then rioted for four consecutive days fueled by rumors [29] [30] that the private ambulance had refused to treat young Gavin. [31] A visiting rabbinical student from Australia by the name of Yankel Rosenbaum, 29, was killed during the rioting by a mob shouting "Kill the Jew." [32] Sharpton has been seen by some commentators as inflaming tensions with remarks such as "If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house" [33] [1] and referring to Jews as "diamond merchants." [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

Sharpton marched through Crown Heights and in front of "770", shortly after the riot, with about 400 noisy protesters (who chanted "Whose streets? Our streets!" and "No justice, no peace!"), in spite of Mayor David Dinkins' attempts to keep the march from happening. [34]

Freddie's Fashion Mart

In 1995, Sharpton led a protest in Harlem against the plans of a black Pentecostal Church, the United House of Prayer, which owned the retail property on 125th Street to ask Fred Harari, the tenant who operated Freddie's Fashion Mart to evict his longtime subtenant, a black record store, The Record Shack. [35] [36] [37] Sharpton told the protesters, "We will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business."[38] On 1995-12-08, Roland J. Smith Jr., one of the protesters, entered the store with a gun and flammable liquid, shot several inside the store and burned it down. He killed seven in the store, and himself.[39][40] Sharpton claimed that the perpetrator was an open critic of himself and his nonviolent tactics. Sharpton later expressed regret for making the racial reference, "white interloper," and denied responsibility for inflaming or provoking the violence.[41][42]

LoanMax spokesman

In November 2005, Sharpton appeared in advertisements for LoanMax, an automobile title loan company. Sharpton was criticized for appearing in the ads, as LoanMax has been accused of predatory lending charging fees, and for marketing them to primarily poor, urban and African American audiences. The ads featuring Sharpton were run in predominantly African American markets. [43]

On December 7, 2005, he ended his relationship with LoanMax. In a letter to Rod Aycox, LoanMax president and chief executive officer, Sharpton said, "I respectfully, but firmly decline your offer for further engagement on my part, and will not engage in any business relationship to promote auto lending with LoanMax." Sharpton said he had not done the research before agreeing to the commercials. [44]

Duke lacrosse players

In April, 2006, Sharpton went on the public stage calling for the prosecution of three white Duke lacrosse players who had been accused of sexually assaulting an African American woman, Crystal Gail Mangum, who was hired as a stripper at a off-campus party.[45] Sharpton appeared on The O'Reilly Factor, taking the side of the Ms. Mangum and defending prosecutor Michael Nifong, saying "I know this DA is probably not one that is crazy. He would not have proceeded if he did not feel that he could convict. So it tells me that all of what you said is either not true or he has convincing evidence that would certainly knock that out." [45] The accused players were later exonerated in light of evidence that the Ms. Mangum was lying[46]; DA Nifong, was removed from the case and is facing possible disbarment for unethical conduct. Sharpton refuses to apologize.[47]

Response to Don Imus' slur

On April 7, 2007, Sharpton called for the firing of radio host Don Imus. On his morning radio show Imus in the Morning, the host had referred to the women's basketball team at Rutgers University as "nappy-headed hos." On April 9, Imus appeared on Sharpton's radio show. Again, Sharpton indicated that Imus should be fired, asking Imus if he was ready to sign his resignation. The following morning, Imus and Sharpton went head to head once again on NBC's Today Show. On April 11, MSNBC dropped its simulcast of the show. On April 12, Imus was fired by CBS, effective immediately.[48] Some, including The Kansas City Star journalist Jason Whitlock, have criticized Sharpton for using the situation "to step on victim platforms and elevate themselves and their agenda" when he should instead be focusing on other issues like the effects of hip-hop culture such as gangsta rap. However, Sharpton has indeed spent much of his career confronting african american media on its portryal of women, drugs and violence.[49] Whitlock further accused Sharpton and Jesse Jackson of "exploiting [the Rutger's women's basketball team], making [...] the problems much bigger than what they should be."[50] In addition, Sharpton began receiving death threats from angry fans of Don Imus' show, causing him to beef up personal security.

Accusations of racism and homophobia

Many conservative [51] and liberal commentators [52] have accused Sharpton of being racist and homophobic. Sharpton was quoted as saying to an audience at Kean College in 1994 that, “White folks was in caves while we was building empires ... We taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it.” [53] Sharpton defended his comments by noting that the term “homo” was not homophobic but added that he no longer uses the term.[54] Critics have said that the the quote is often used out of context to undermine Sharpton's image [citation needed] Sharpton has since called for an end to perceived homophobia in the African-American community. [55]

Books authored by Sharpton

  • Sharpton, Al, Go and Tell Pharaoh (hardcover), Doubleday, 1996. ISBN 0-385-47583-7
  • Sharpton, Al, Al on America (hardcover), Dafina Books, 2002. ISBN 0-7582-0350-0
  • Sharpton, Al, Al on America (paperback), Dafina Books, 2003. ISBN 0-7582-0351-9g

References

  1. ^ "Al Sharpton On Ties To Sen. Thurmond". Fox News. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |date2007-02-27= (help)
  2. ^ "Al Sharpton Talks with Bill O'Reilly". The O'Reilly Factor. 2005-04-13. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Bill O'Reilly Interview Al Sharpton". Ifilm. 2006-02-02. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921148.html
  5. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022601254.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
  6. ^ http://www.wargs.com/political/sharpton.html
  7. ^ Marks, Alexandra. The Rev. Al Sharpton's latest crusade, Christian Science Monitor. 3 Dec, 2003.
  8. ^ Newfield, Jack. Rev Vs. Rev, New York Magazine. 7 Jan, 2002.
  9. ^ http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/democrats2004/transcripts/sharpton_trans.html
  10. ^ Gunzburger, Ron Sharpton Bio Politics1. 2004.
  11. ^ Sherman, Scott. He has a Dream, The Nation. 16 April, 2001. 3.
  12. ^ Campaign 2004: Alfred Sharpton, USATODAY.com. Copyright 2004, Associated Press. Posted 20 May, 2005.
  13. ^ a b Candidates - Al Sharpton, CNN's "America Votes 2004", web site accessed 7 April 2007 Cite error: The named reference "CNN 2004" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ Sharpton Biography, thehistorymakers.com, web site access 7 April 2007
  15. ^ Sharpton Biography, National Action Network web site, web site access 7 April 2007
  16. ^ "$3 Million Deal in Police Killing of Diallo in '99". CNN. Last updated: 2004-07-01. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Lipton, Eric (2001-05-24). "Sharpton and 3 from Bronx are jailed in Vieques Protest". New York Times. p. 1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ As Outrage Mounts in New York Over the Police Killing of Another African Immigrant, Democracy Now! Interviews Kadiatou Diallo, Mother of Amadou Diallo., Democracy Now!, Tuesday, May 27th, 2003
  19. ^ Sharpton Chides Black Churches Over Homophobia, Gay Marriage, Dyana Bagby, Houston Voice, Jan. 24, 2006
  20. ^ Rev. Al Sharpton Preaches Compassion for Chickens, Kentuckyfriedcruelty.com, web site accessed 7 April 2007
  21. ^ "Sharpton Returns Public Funds". Washington Post. Last updated: 2007-16-12. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?id=7743
  23. ^ Alan Goldman, Slavery ties Sharpton to Thurmond, Associated Press, February 25, 2007.
  24. ^ Katrina A. Goggins, Thurmond Child Says Sharpton Overreacted, Associated Press, February 27, 2007.
  25. ^ Al Sharpton Jr., My link to Strom Thurmond, Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2007.
  26. ^ "Jealous Reverend Blasts Obama". The NY Post. Last updated: 2007-31-22. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Sharpton says he's not jealous of Obama". CNN. Last updated: 2007-14-03. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Winner in Brawley suit says victory is bittersweet". CNN. Last updated: 1998-14-01. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Sharpton's Victory". National Review Online. Last updated: 2003-03-12. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "As a Divided Community Begins to Forget, a Court Reopens Old Wounds in Crown Heights". The Village Voice. Last updated: 2002-22-01. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "The skeletons and suits in Sharpton's closet". Salon.com. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  32. ^ "Things Go Seriously Wrong". The Gotham Gazette. Last updated: 2003-06-01. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Lowery, Mark (1991-08-18). "Sharpton Calls For a Boycott Of Classes". Newsday. p. 5. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Blacks March by Hasidim Through a Corridor of Blue by JOHN KIFNER New York Times (1857-Current file); Aug 25, 1991; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 36
  35. ^ Sexton, Joe (1995-12-09). "Bad Luck and Horror for Seven in a Shop". New York Times. p. 1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ Pyle, Richard (1995-12-12). "New Yorker Reflect on a Massacre in Harlem". Albany Times Union/Associated Press. p. B2. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Barry, Don (1995-12-09). "Plans to Evict Record Shop Owner Roiled Residents". New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Lowry, Rich (2003-12-03). "Sharpton's Victory". National Review. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  39. ^ Kifner, John (1995-12-09). "Eight killed in Harlem arson, Gunman among dead". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-04-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Sexton, John (1995-12-18). "A Life of Resistance: A Special Report;Gunman's Ardent Credo: Black Self-Sufficiency". New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help) Smith was found with a card identifying himself as Aboudima Moulika and he had also used the name Abugunde Mulocko.
  41. ^ "The Rev. Al Sharpton's latest crusade". Christian Science Monitor. Last updated: 2003-03-12. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Al Sharpton for president?". The Phoenix.com. Last updated: 2002-07-03. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ "Reverend questioned about his commercials for LoanMax". EURweb. Last updated: 2005-16-12. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ "Sharpton backs away from car loans commercials". Chicago Defender. Last updated: 2005-23-12. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ a b O'Reilly Interview April 18, 2006,
  46. ^ CNN, April 11, 2007
  47. ^ CNN, April 12, 2007
  48. ^ Associated Press (April 12, 2007) CBS fires Don Imus from radio show, yahoo.com
  49. ^ Imus isn’t the real bad guy. Kansas City Star. 11 April 2007.
  50. ^ CNN. Aired 13 April 2007. Video available online at CNN.com.
  51. ^ The Sharpton Hypocrisy Jewish World Review January 17, 2003
  52. ^ Al Sharpton Comedy, Critic and Dictator Huffington Post April 10, 2007
  53. ^ Foolish Words: The Most Stupid Words Ever Spoken by Laura Ward
  54. ^ The Skeletons and Suits in Sharpton's Closet Salon.com June 20, 2003
  55. ^ Sharpton Pledges Fight Against Homophobia Among Blacks The New York Sun August 3, 2005