Rev Al Sharpton on Social Justice in the Modern Era

Reverend Al Sharpton has been at the forefront of social justice issues for half a century. At 13, he became the youth ambassador of Jesse Jackson’s Operation Breadbasket, and in 1991, he founded the National Action Network. Today, his influence continues to grow. He is the host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation and the popular radio show Keeping it Real, and he has been both a critic and confidant of Presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

In this episode, Sharpton and A.R. Bernard explore the future of the social justice and civil rights movements in America. They discuss what it has been like to outlive legendary leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers. The two also address the challenges of bringing communities together in the face of violence and racial divides. This includes their shared experience at the funeral of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens, a mother of four who was shot and killed in Florida. Additionally, they detail how they counsel each other, the baptism of NYC Mayor Eric Adams at Rikers Island, and the role of faith in memorializing those whose lives have been tragically cut short, including George Floyd.