Sharp words by Sharpton
The Reverend gives an impassioned talk at Hunter
Jesse Lent
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News
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The Reverend, who has been an ordained Pentecostal minister since the age of ten, author, founder of the National Action Network, radio talk show host, film actor, frequent political commentator, and a passionate supporter of racial equality, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of about 75 students and faculty members at the Faculty Cafeteria on March 30. The Student Activities Committee organized the event.
Speaking on the subject of the role of the civil rights today, Sharpton said that contrary to how it might seem, the civil rights struggle continues.
"Many people feel that with the election of President Barack Obama to the presidency that the quest for civil rights and social justice is now an answered quest and that we no longer need those struggles. I was a very avid supporter of President Obama and still remain so, but I also am one that does not believe that the election of President Obama ends the quest for civil rights and social justice."
Sometimes at the receiving end of harsh comments for what critics believe is further politicization of race, Sharpton defended his work and that of his civil rights organization.
"Every one of the cases we have fought, we were called in by the victims because they feel that we can do something to expose the problem and keep it exposed until somebody responds. There are hundreds of cases that are brought to us that we don't do," he said.
To the claim that he seeks media attention, Sharpton said, "If you do not know how to get media coverage on an issue, then you are an incompetent activist."
Student rights also figured into the Reverend's discussion. Sharpton decried the CUNY tuition hike in particular and high student loan interest rates in general.
"One of the most compelling things I heard during the campaign was when Michelle Obama talked about how she and the president had just paid off their student loans a couple years before the campaign. Really meaning, that if he had not had a hit book in terms of big book sales, he might have been the first president of the United States to be sitting in the white house still owing his student loans," the Reverend said to a round of laughter.
Sharpton also said he was concerned about the disproportionate effects cuts in educational aid seem to have on minorities.
"In the midst of everything else, the decline of support of particularly minority students is startling, and I think that it is important for an economic stimulus to invest in minority students and education"
Statements like this struck a chord with Hunter students, who were already impressed with Sharpton's insights and public speaking skills.
Dwan Chisolm, one such student, agreed wholeheartedly as she had experienced difficulty attending graduate school.
"It took approximately eight years and three applications, and I realized that there were many forces that do not enable minority people to attain graduate school education," she lamented.
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