VERDAD

In addition to Alveda King, the mayor of Ferguson is also asking for Al Sharpton to speak peace. The mayor speaks about the concerns among the African American leaders in Ferguson. One of the many concerns is that they’ll lose sight of the young man and the tragedy becoming a national spectacle instead of focusing on the issues at hand. Mayor James Knowles says, "Sometimes star power is not always a good thing" (qtd. in "Conservative Tribune" para. 8). These are some of the many problems with the leadership of leaders like Al Sharpton. As a leader, Al Sharpton’s responsibility is to build up the community. However, his actions are dividing the community more than they are bringing the community together.

These actions go all the way back to Sharpton’s representation of Tawana Brawley. The case along with the actions of Al Sharpton left a bitter aftermath displayed through the deep racial division in the American society ("The Tawana Brawley Case" para. 3). The case not only divided Caucasians and African-Americans, but it also divided African-Americans within the black community. Dr. Jason Nichols, African American Studies professor at the University of Maryland, stated in his lecture that many people within the black community believed and did not believe the allegations of Tawana Brawley. Nichols also states that there are still people within the community that still believe Tawana to this day. He recalls the conversation that he had with his grandfather, who still believes that Tawana Brawley was telling the truth about the case. A division within the community as a whole, especially within the black community, detracts from the overall goal uniting and fighting for racial equality and justice. Racial equality and justice cannot be achieved if African-Americans are seen as a divided community, which adheres to the stereotypes about African-Americans. It is like the quote says, "Together we stand, divided we fall."