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Rev. Al Sharpton is the subject of a day-long Columbia University School of Journalism symposium examining the impact he has had on civil rights and urbanizing the doctrines of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over the last 50 years. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 11 from 9-5 p.m. at 2950 Broadway.

Civil rights leaders, scholars and media analysts will be among those examining Rev. Sharptons leadership, including civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, MSNBC television host Joy-Ann Reid, race theory scholar Kimberle Crenshaw, television correspondent Angela Rye, and others, who will judge the historic impact Rev. Sharpton has had, how he has further developed the movement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and how he has set a tone on fighting racial violence for all communities of color.

Sharpton began his work in activism at the age of thirteen in 1967, under the tutelage of Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Dr. William Augustus Jones. Sharpton became the youth director of Operation Breadbasket, an organization using the power of Black ministers and the organizing strength of churches to create economic opportunities in Black communities. In 1991, Sharpton founded his non-profit civil rights organization, The National Action Network.

October 3, Sharpton's 63rd birthday, marks 50 years since his involvement in the civil rights movement.

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Rev. Al Sharpton's activism being assessed at Columbia ...

As I watched neo-Nazis march in Charlottesville, VA a few weeks ago with torches in hand yelling Jews will not replace us while celebrating a general of the Confederate Army who had fought to overthrow the U.S. government in order to preserve the institution of slavery, I reflected on the fact that those who have raised the banner of anti-Semitism and racism are usually one in the same, or at least bedfellows. We are currently witnessing a rise in both forms of hate in the U.S.and in many other places around the world, and just like the past, it is going to take a unified coalition to defeat it all.

On Monday, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Rabbi Steven Fox, joined Martin Luther King III and I as we led a massive demonstration in Washington, D.C. The One Thousand Ministers March for Justice brought together religious leaders from multiple faiths and people from all backgrounds to collectively fight for the soul of our nation. On the 54th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, we gathered for four main principles: voting rights, health care, criminal justice reform and economic justice.All are currently under renewed threat in the United States.

Whether it is attempts to suppress the vote, take away health care reform, or an overall mechanism where there is unequal access to opportunities and a criminal justice system that preys on the poor and communities of color, this is where the battle for equality is today. We as faith leaders joined in unison because we know that an attack on one group or an injustice against one group is an injustice against us all. In addition to the overt forms of racism and bigotry we push back against, we must also tackle the systemic forms of racism and inequality that still permeate our society. It is why ministers, rabbis and imams locked arms and marched with thousands of others from the King Memorial to the steps of the Department of Justice.

Historically, the African American community and the Jewish community have fought for each other and against racism, anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms. During World War II, black soldiers fought against the Nazis even though they were still segregated and discriminated against back home. In 1964, three civil rights workers were murdered in Mississippi; two of them, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, were Jewish Americans. We have stood by one another and fought against bigotry during some of the toughest periods in history. Today, we continue to do just that.

Now, there are some who point to moments of tension between our communities, or things which we may have disagreed on some of which was distorted on both sides. We can debate what occurred or didnt occur a quarter of a century ago in Crown Heights, Brooklyn or anywhere else, but we cannot do it at the expense of the clear and present danger of now. Our common struggle is more important today and at this time.

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Those of us really committed must get past our arguments on what did and did not happen in order to deal with the broader mandate of standing up for humanity. There is far too much that we all face today which will require unified fronts like our march in the nations capital on Monday. The One Thousand Ministers March echoed the demonstrations of the past when religious leaders peacefully assembled together to shed light on injustice.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched alongside Dr. King as they fought for civil rights for every man, woman and child. In fact, we honored Rabbi Heschel posthumously at National Action Networks (my organization) convention and presented an award to his daughter. During the 1960s and throughout many other time periods, we achieved progress only when we came together for equality and justice.

Dr. King himself once stated: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

We are at a critical juncture here in the United States and around the world. What we do next and how we proceed will shape the future for generations to come. If we are to defeat vile hate groups who now feel emboldened, or defeat laws that are being implemented to reinforce systemic racism and discrimination, we must stand united because we know that we stand on the right side of history.

Rev. Al Sharpton is president and founder of National Action Network

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Al Sharpton: Only a unified Jewish-African American coalition ...

Rev. Al Sharpton and his selfie-taking self stopped by The Breakfast Club Wednesday morning (Aug. 23) equipped with an iPhone full of memory and perfect lighting to take as many pics as his tireless activist heart desires. The Power 105.1 talking heads kicked off the 30 minute conversation asking Sharpton how he felt about Jay Zs light jab on Family Feud from his latest album 4:44,and taking a cue from Hov himself, the reverend dusted the remark off his shoulder.

He shouldnt be jealous. For me at 62-years-old to show I can work out and be in shape, you know, I mean cmon. Jay-Zs almost 50? He better get with it. I aint mad at him, Sharpton said. Jay-Zs had me in a few songs every time he does thats cool. Ill slip in a sermon or two and we keep it even.

READ Rev. Al Sharpton Says If Trump Can Tweet Then He Can Take His Selfies

Having endured much criticism throughout his career, Charlamagne tha God asked Sharpton if it hurts him to know many still question exactly hows helping the fight for equality, to which Sharpton basically responded he isnt knew to this.

Ive never seen a leader, whether it was in our tradition, whether it was Dr. King, Andy Young, Jesse Jackson who I grew up under or in other traditions Minister Farrakhan, Ive never seen, Malcolm, Ive never seen a leader they didnt think did enough until they died. You never get credit. Sharpton responded

The Power 105.1 hosts covered a lot of ground during the sit down, but it was only when Angela Yee asked about the recent removal of Confederate monuments viewers learned Sharpton has a personal stake in one of them. About six or seven years ago, The New York Daily News did an investigative piece on South Carolina Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond and while tracing the lineage learned the Thurmond, a proponent for segregation, owned Sharptons great-grandfather.

I never knew it until they came out with, my great-grandfather was named Coleman Sharpton who was a slave at the plantation of Alexander Sharpton who married Anna Thurmond who was with Strom Thurmond. So this is personal to me, so Ive got a problem with any tax dollars Im spending paying for a memorial for any slave holder.

The conversation then turned to the events of Charlottesville in which Sharpton admitted he wasnt shocked KKK members, neo-nazis and white supremacist marched to preserve their confederate history, but that theyd show no remorse in the killing of 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

READ Al Sharptons Fathers Day Mirror Selfie Has The Internet Cracking Jokes

I was shocked that there were so vicious that they killed a young white woman and not even care, and what was so shocking though to me was the president of the United States would stand up there and say there were fine people on both sides.

It was a rich conversation indeed. Check out the full interview below.

Excerpt from:
Rev. Al Sharpton And His Selfie Taking Self Stopped By 'The Breakfast Club' - Vibe

NEW YORK America's reality TV president has made America face its reality, on TV.

Now, civil rights leaders across the country worry what will come from Donald Trump's equivocation on racism and hatredand the countrys struggle in the week and a half since Charlottesville to deal with a problem much bigger than a few hundred wannabe Nazis with Tiki torches. Civil rights leaders talk about deep, visceral fear about where this could lead, and not in the usual political concern or objections. They see a searing landscape of possibilities ahead: Riots. Violence at protests and counterprotests. Deep psychological and emotional damage, especially among children.

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Were in a poisonous atmosphere that is being increased by the president of the United States. Its like turning on the gas in a room, the Rev. Al Sharpton told me, speaking for the latest episode of POLITICOs Off Message podcast.

Any match could lead to an explosion, and were getting that kind of atmosphere from this president.

Into the cauldron: Trumps rally in Phoenix on Tuesday night, which White House aides reportedly worry will stoke more tension even before he opens his mouth for a speech that few expect will do anything to change course or apologize.

Sharpton would like Trump to say hes sorry, to turn down the temperature. But he acknowledges that would probably be meaningless to him at this point.

Hes getting further and further and further away from being able to change his own narrative, Sharpton said.

Sharpton knows about protests, and he knows about Trump. He sat for the interview right after finishing his regular Saturday morning rally at National Action Network headquarters here in New York, just off Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, where Korey Wiseone of the wrongly accused Central Park Five for whom Trump called for the death penaltywas in the crowd applauding vintage Sharpton lines like, Maybe the pope needs to send it back, a dig at Trumps giving Pope Francis a copy of Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech.

Sharpton isnt the only veteran of decades of fighting with Trump who sees last week as a new frontierand now looking for new ways to take him on. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who made the future presidents enemies list 30 years ago while he was still in the New York Assembly for holding up a development on the Upper West Side, said he was still shocked to see anti-Semitism encouraged from this White House, and thats why hes written a resolution that would make Trump the first president since Andrew Jackson to be censured.

If someone has no personal anti-Semitic or anti-black or racist feelings, but is willing to exploit those feelings for political advantageis that morally superior? Nadler said in a separate conversation for the Off Message podcast. I think its terrible. (The censure resolution is not going anywhere: During a CNN town hall Monday night, House Speaker Paul Ryan said censuring Trump would be the absolutely worst thing we should do, reasoning that Republicans joining with Democrats on this would be some partisan hackfest.)

New York Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler (pictured) has authored a resolution to censure President Donald Trump for his comments about neo-Nazis. | Bridget Mulcahy/POLITICO

Both men see this as a critical, but not surprising, moment for American history.

Sharpton is holding a rally next week, a march from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Aug. 28. Its an annual event he organizes, but this year it seems to be taking on special significanceand hes now stepping up both the number of expected participants and the amount of security accordingly.

In 2012, Sharpton accused Trump of peddling racism throughout his birther phase. They met in Trump Tower that Novemberto apologize for calling me a racistvery nice, apology accepted! was the @realDonaldTrump tweet, though the reverend himself said then and says now that he didnt call Trump himself a racist, and that he didnt apologize.

Sharpton still deliberately isnt calling Trump a racist, or an anti-Semite. I dont want to reduce this to that. His policies are there. That speaks for itself. If we make it personal, he wins, Sharpton said. I used to call people names. Dont give people the easy way out. But, Sharpton added: I think he has empowered anti-Semites and racists. I think he has brought them from the shadows into the mainstream and I think hes emboldened them, and I think thats a dangerous course for the country.

Nadler thinks Trump should quit (though he points out, hes not technically calling for that), and hes authored a resolution to censure the president for his comments about neo-Nazis that he believes his Republican colleagues in Congress have a moral obligation to join.

Consequences are about to arrive in the form of other legislation, he warned: The presidents reaction to Charlottesville has hardened Democrats even further against providing votes to pass a budget or raise the debt ceiling, as they did when Republican infighting kept them from getting a majority on their own during the last few rounds. Put in a provision to defund Planned Parenthood, like in the 2013 shutdown, or to fund the border wall, Nadler says, and Democrats will walk away and not look back, even if that means not helping stop a potential economic collapse.

We cant give in to that kind of blackmail, Nadler said. Were the minority. We have no leverage. When one party has control of both houses of Congress and the president, its their responsibility. We will certainly help in any way we can, up to the point of doing terrible things.

As for the Jewish aides to the administration who defend Trump, including his daughter and son-in-law Jared Kushnerwhos repeatedly knocked back charges of anti-Semitism against Trump by invoking his own grandparents survival of the HolocaustNadler says they need to get real.

I dont care what Jared Kushner said about the fact that Donald Trump loves, loves him and Ivanka and other people, Nadler said. He was willing to traffic in anti-Semitism. He was willing to use anti-Semitic imagery. And then, when caught up in it, refused to repudiate it, and denied that it was what it clearly was.

Despite his long history with Trump, Nadler said he can remember meeting the future president only once, just after the first plans were finalized for that Manhattan development they fought over. Sitting in his office in Trump Tower, Nadler recalled, Trump showed off how many buildings there were, and how the highest one was to be 150 stories.

Whats the highest floor people live on in New York? Nadler asked him. Trump said it was right there in Trump Tower, on the 68th floor, where his apartment is.

Oh, and I assume youd live on the 150th floor? Nadler remembers asking him. And he says, Yes. And I concluded [that] this was all about his wanting to be the tallest man in the world, or the highest man in the world.

But a story more painful for Nadler to discuss is his own history with anti-Semitism, including being threatened physically, as a college freshman, by a fellow student because he was Jewish. It shocked him, even in 1965, that he was being threatened at Columbia University in New York. I think when I was growing up we really thought a lot of it was gone, he said.

Sharpton also told a story he rarely shares, about his own first encounter with racism. Like Nadler, he grew up in New York. He was riding with his family to see his grandparents in Alabama for Christmas. He was about 4 years old. In North Carolina, his fatheran amateur boxer who claimed to have once sparred with Sugar Ray Robinsonstopped to buy them hamburgers.

He came back with his head down and my sister, and I said, What happened to the hamburgers? He said, They wont serve us here. And I never saw anybody humiliate or insult my father until then. I never saw my father the same, Sharpton said.

In 1991, Sharpton was stabbed while leading a protest in Brooklyn in 1991, and he looks at that scar every morning getting dressedand it reminds him of his father.

What I most remember is my invincible father couldnt make a guy sell us a hamburger in the middle of the night in North Carolina, Sharpton said. So I know and I feel the scars of disempowerment based on race.

Sharpton has his own checkered history full of accusations of anti-Semitism. He bristles when those are brought up, saying that its usually willful misinterpretation by others seeking division, though some is reflective of his own learning curve.

To him, the imperative now is for people who are offended to stand united against Trump and refuse to play into the violence or debates like the one over the Confederate monuments, because he says thats what Trump wants.

Hes feeling a mix of emotions.

Concerned because you wanted to think we were beyond that. Challenged because you cant give up because had we given up before, we would have never made the progress weve got, Sharpton said. Youve got to remember that that kid that watched his daddy couldnt buy a hamburger was sitting on the platform watching Barack Obama be sworn in as president. So Ive seen too much to give up.

See the original post here:
Sharpton: 'Any Match Could Lead to an Explosion' - POLITICO Magazine

For the comedic genius behind Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, you might think picking out her most awkward moment on camera would be tricky but the Emmy-nominated writer/host was able to pick it out in an instant.

Sitting down with PEOPLEs editor-in-chief Jess Cagle for the rapid-fire Cagle Exercise, Samantha Bee opened up about her fears, loves and everyday life.

The one thing I wish I was allowed to do on television is

I literally get to do everything I want on television and I dont know why, the formerDaily Showcorrespondent said. I feel that there is no terrain left for me to conquer in terms of how hard I have pushed it. But anyway, still employ me TBS!

I am beyond grateful that ___ is open 24 hours

I am beyond grateful that New York City is open 24 hours! I need it to be open Its not important for you to know why Im on the street at 5 oclock in the morning, but sometimes I am and there so many people all around. Im always very happy to greet the world.

My recurring nightmare is

Its so stupid! But its true. Its that Im waitering and I have a table of people who ordered different-flavored milkshakes and Im working at a restaurant with no milkshake maker. Its horrible! I wake up in a cold sweat.

If I had to kiss one celebrity right now it would be

I dont like celebrities, the actress, who was named one of TIMEs 100 Most Influential people in 2017, quipped. They pretty much all have trench mouth.

FROM PEN:Dear White People Handles the Transition from Movie to TV Beautifully

What keeps me up at night is

If you watch my show, I think you know what keeps me up at night, Bee said of her famously funny criticisms of the president. Also, last night before I went to bed I ate a massive bag of dill pickle chips and thats what kept me up.

The funniest person Ive ever known is

My husband! she added of her partner in love and work, Jason Jones. Hes amazingly funny and thats why I married him. Thats what keeps our marriage sexual!

The most awkward moment Ive ever had on camera is

I once interviewed Al Sharpton while an electric breast pump pumped my breasts under a blanket. He was answering questions like a proper human being and all you could hear was this like slurp, slurp, slurp. It was really loud and amazing.

Full Frontal with Samantha Beeairs Wednesdays (10:30 p.m. ET) on TBS.

With LIAM BERRY

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Samantha Bee's Most Awkward On-Camera Moment Involves Al Sharpton and a Breast Pump - PEOPLE.com