Opinion: Has Al Sharpton become merely a Democrat operative? Rips Byron Donalds- silent on Hochul
Sharpton, once a vocal advocate for the Black community, has seemingly become merely a Democratic operative.
[U.S Politics] In a recent interview on MSNBC, Reverend Al Sharpton confronted Representative Byron Donalds, a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump, over comments Donald’s made about the Jim Crow era.
Donald’s had suggested that Black American families were more "together" during the era of legal segregation known as Jim Crow. Sharpton was quick to call out Donalds, asking, "How can you even live with yourself acting like Jim Crow was a better era for Blacks? What happened to you?"
Sharpton went on to say, "but look, you were born in Brooklyn, you went down into the South, went to Florida state, you have an interracial marriage, you're the congressman of a district that's not a black district.”
In response, Donald’s vehemently denied that he had suggested the Jim Crow era was better for Black Americans. He argued that he was merely stating a fact that Black marriage rates were higher at the time and that it was the government policies that led to the decline of the Black family.
Some have pointed out that Sharpton's outrage seems selective. Where was he when New York Governor Kathy Hochul made controversial remarks about black children not knowing what a computer is?
Hochul's comments were met with widespread criticism, including accusations of racism. Yet, Sharpton remained silent. Why is it Hochul got a pass for what she actually said, versus Donald’s statement that was taken out of context?
Opinion: Has Al Sharpton become merely a Democrat operative? Rips Byron Donalds, silent on Hochul
This selective outrage raises questions about Sharpton's priorities and the consistency of his advocacy. Is it only worth calling out racism when it comes from a political opponent? Is Sharpton more concerned with scoring political points than addressing racism in all its forms?
Al Sharpton rose to prominence through his involvement in civil rights activism and his work as a Baptist minister. He gained national attention in the 1980s and 1990s for his advocacy on behalf of Black Americans, particularly in high-profile cases.
One of the main criticisms of Sharpton now, is his perceived shift from grassroots activism to establishment politics.
This has always been both Sharpton and Jesse Jackson…showing up for the photo-op. Nothing new at all.