Chicago’s Drake Hotel grand ballroom was crowded and buzzing with anticipation Friday.
Representatives
from Black publications all over the country and other news organizations hoping
to report on controversy, gathered at the National Newspaper Publishers
Association’s annual convention for what they thought would be a spirited
discussion between Princeton University professor, motivational speaker, and
Black philanthropist, Cornel West, Ph.D., and civil rights leader and activist,
Rev. Al Sharpton about the state of Black America.
But those
looking to witness a spectacle would have to take their expectations elsewhere,
Sharpton warned before the start of what was previously billed as a debate.
“We’re
not having a debate because in this time I don’t think we can afford a circus
act to entertain the media,” said Sharpton, head of the New York City-based
National Action Network.
But while
they dashed hopes of a showdown, Sharpton and West offered the opportunity for
the Black Press to join the two leaders in calling attention to the plight of
Blacks in America.
“If you
came for a circus, there is a Chicago zoo … we didn’t come for that,” Sharpton
said.
The point
of contention for the two standouts: President Barack Obama.
Things
got heated back in March when West and Sharpton last met for a discussion about
the progress of the nation’s first Black president. West characterized the
president as a “Black mascot,” then drawing a rebuke from Sharpton.
Though
the two of them still share different opinions - West feeling Obama owes poor
people and Blacks more, and Sharpton feeling that Obama alone is not to be
blamed for or looked to solely for resolutions to the groups’ issues - they also agreed on some things.
With an
audience that included Martin Luther King III, Rev. Jesse Jackson, author
Michael Eric Dyson, and a host of others, Sharpton said that Blacks cannot
continue to be each other’s problems, but must band together to create
solutions for the race as a whole.
These
solutions, Sharpton said, can be made with the help of the Black Press.
“Black
press used to be about Black advocacy….you (Black Press) advocated on behalf of
the people that the other mediums didn't care about,” said Sharpton. “What I
suggest is that we revisit this and come out together.”
After
making the audience laugh, applaud, and even shout, Sharpton had set a
comfortable tone for the discussion with West.
“We
cannot be each others’ problem,” said Sharpton. “We need to respect each other
so that we can go in together and come out together to win.”
West
agreed. He went on to suggest that there was a lack of trust in the Black
community that has led to Blacks being underrepresented in political issues.
“Without
the Black prophetic tradition American politics is a thin manipulative
Machiavellian affair with not a whole lot of talk about justice and fairness
for the poor and working class,” said West.
“The
question is how do we keep alive the Black prophetic tradition…and sustain our
bonds of trust even when we radically call each other into question?”
West, a
firm believer and supporter of bettering the poor class and Blacks, proceeded
in the discussion with Sharpton to challenge that Blacks need the help of
higher figures, such as those in the White House.
With the
National Urban League reporting unemployment is double to three-times that of
the rest of the nation, West said the White House have to make things happen
for the suffering portion of the Black community, something that he feels has
not happened.
“When I
look at the economic team, they don’t have a history of caring about poor and
working people,” he said. “A distinctive feature of the Black prophetic
tradition is he or she that is willing to pay a price without putting
themselves up for a price.”
Moderated
by NNPA columnist, media coach and keynote speaker George E. Curry, the
discussion became an opportunity for West to assure those in doubt that he does
in fact support his president, but only expects more use of power from him.
“He
(Obama) has always been my dear brother,” said West. “I support brother Barack
and I support those in access to brother Barack Obama…but there’s a role to
play for those who have access.”
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
