Al Sharpton was born in
Brooklyn, New York. He preached his first sermon at the age of four and
toured with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.
In 1963, his parents separated, and his mother took a job as a maid, but
did not make enough money and so qualified for welfare. The family moved
from Queens to the projects in Brownsville. [1] He was licensed and
ordained a minister at the age of 10 by Bishop F.D. Washington in 1964.
He graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn and attended
Brooklyn College for 2 years. [2] [3] In 1971, Sharpton became a tour
manager for James Brown, where he met his future wife, Kathy Jordan, a
backup singer. Sharpton and Jordan married in 1983.[4] Al Sharpton was not
only a spokesperson for James Brown, but also played an influential role
in his life.
Sharpton's first experience organizing people was in high school,
protesting poor cafeteria food and the dress code. In 1969, he was
appointed by Jesse Jackson as youth director of Operation Breadbasket, a
group that focused on the promotion of new and better jobs for black
Americans.
In 1971, Sharpton founded the National Youth Movement to raise resources
for impoverished youth.
In 1991, Sharpton founded the National Action Network to increase voter
education, services aiding the poor, supporting economically small
community businesses, confronting racism and violation of civil and human
rights.
In 1999, Sharpton led a protest following the shooting death of Amadou
Diallo, a Guinea immigrant. There was an immense wave of protests after
Diallo, who was unarmed at the time, was shot dead by police in the
vestibule of his apartment building. Sharpton was in the forefront in
claiming police brutality and racial profiling. Diallo's family was later
awarded $3 million in a wrongful death suit filed against the city.
In 2001, Sharpton served a three-month prison term for illegally
trespassing on federal property located on Vieques, Puerto Rico. Sharpton
was protesting the United States Navy ongoing bombing of target practices
on the island. Upon his release from prison, Sharpton continued to protest
the bombing which ceased May 3, 2003. [8]
Sharpton was also involved in protests following the 2003 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. [9] Sharpton met with the family and also
provided some legal services.[10] [11] He has also spoken out against
cruelty to animals in a video recorded for People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Sharpton is a supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians, including
their right to marry. Sharpton is leading a grassroots movement to
eliminate homophobia within the Black Church.
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."
