The "will he/won't he" speculation about whether and where Rev. Al Sharpton would appear went on all day Friday, turning this blogger into a one-person Continuous News Desk with updates. The tiresome day turned into a long night, starting with a cold, windy walk downtown. Sitting in the semi-dark with my notebook and pen at the Faraones night club, I was reminded of many a Courier News assignment where I sat on the sidelines through banquets and other events waiting for a glimmer of actual news.
While promising the imminent arrival of Sharpton, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs spent most of an hour giving various updates and acknowledging individuals in the audience. Some of the patter had clues to future news, such as an event to publicize plans for a home for 34 homeless veterans and the announcement of a Plainfield issue of The Alternative Press.
I stayed on as several estimated times of arrival passed and then ... Sharpton entered at 8: 20 p.m., only to be whisked up into a balcony for a confab with the mayor. Finally he descended and after a few more remarks from the mayor, took the microphone. In minutes the crowd was on its feet, cameras and tablets at the ready, calling out encouragement as Sharpton wielded his griot skills to tell a tale of mayoral heroics in the face of calumny.
It was no surprise to me to hear Sharpton label black naysayers as "Negroes." Having covered many of his past visits to Plainfield over 30 years, I became familiar with the use of "Tom," handkerchief-head and such terms to label African-Americans who disagree with his estimation of a situation. So writing to him to plead for objectivity is futile.
Sharpton mentioned his past visits and ties with the late Mayor Richard L. "Rick" Taylor, another master of persuasion (or bombast) who never hesitated to sort people by his own scale of authenticity. Cross him and you were categorized as a vassal to the white man.
None of this devalues Sharpton's enviable ability to engage a crowd, whether by erudition or the smooth use of Southern locutions. What many whites mistake for bad grammar is nothing more than the way a lot of people speak in the South. Need to read you some Eudora Welty if you don't think so. It also serves to set apart people of color who grew up in the Caribbean and have a different speaking style.
All that aside, the enthusiasm voiced at Friday's gathering will not mean much on June 4 unless the mayor's campaign is able to get all her supporters out to the polls. The Mapp campaign has the double-barreled power of both the Regular Democratic Organization and the New Democrats, who scored multiple victories off the line in recent years. As much as I disagree with Dan sometimes (notably this week with his declaration from the Department of Whole Cloth), he made the same point today about getting out the vote. The corollary is that voters interested in how the city functions over the next four years need to find time between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on June 4 to go to the proper polling place (look at your sample ballot) and VOTE!
--Bernice
Nothing says "Civil Rights" activist like comfortably throwing around racist terms.. Let's not forgot his love of the words, Kike, Honky, Hymie Town to name a couple others.
ReplyDeleteThe usual sufferers of white middle class guilt will over look this and those who aren't white and support him have no issue with hypocrisy.
The same hypocrisy that keeps this city on the 2nd to bottom rung above Newark, Camden and Paterson.
Now Rob, let's be factual. Hymietown was Rev. Jesse Jackson's term. I never hear Sharpton use the other two specifically. Honky was an H. Rap Brown/Eldridge Cleaver Black Power epithet. "Kike" dates back to 1901 and is believed to have originated on Ellis Island. Sharpton has made anti-Jew remarks but I do not recall his use of that slur.
DeletePlainfield is No. 23 for high crime on one list. Which list are you citing?
I appreciate your correction Bernice.. I so desperately try to keep the continuous hypocrisy of the Local Dem's straight in my mind that I easily confuse my racists ( Al and Jesse ), oops I mean, Civil Rights Activists.
DeleteThe list ?? The list was merely referencing the cities in NJ that are continually thrown out on radio about the "holes in the ground" cities of NJ ( Newark, Paterson, Camden etc ) that are also Democratic guarantees.
I have noticed over the years that Sharpton can be a very engaging speaker and there's a lot more to the man intelligence-wise than many folks see from the news. That said, I can't think with the black or white, on my side or against me, kind of mind he does. I live in Plainfield. I'm part of a minority population in the city.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a problem with any race issues in my twelve years in Plainfield. As a matter of fact, I find the people here to be friendly on the whole, no matter the race. I personally don't think Sharpton, albeit famous and all, is the best move that the Mayor can take in her quest for yet another term. (Then again, I don't think a lot of her moves are well thought out.) Sharpton tends to polarize issues when it's time for the diverse population here to work together to improve the town.
That said, on a personal note, Sharpton has lost so much weight that he appears almost unhealthy in these photos. I hope he keeps that in check.
I agree with Jackie's sentiments. When I was at the library last Wednesday night, the mayor's friend PMUA worker Willie Jenkins came over to where I was talking with Dawud Hicks and told him (but not me) that the mayor would be with Rev. Al Sharpton on Friday. I found it odd that someone would have such intimate knowledge of the mayor's medical prognosis as to be able to predict a full recovery within 48 hours. "These people won't be there," he added, waving his arm across the room. Now, the library had a multiracial crowd of all ages and from all parts of the city--what could the mayor's friend Willie have meant by "these people" in his comments? Black people, like me? White people? Asian people? Latino people? Older people? Young people? Lower-income people? Fixed-income people? Affluent people? Disabled people? LGBT people? Home-owning people? Apartment-renting people? Business people? Teachers? Veterans? We couldn't tell, because all of the groups I mentioned were in the room. We waved him off and continued our discussion about economic development. Thinking about it later, I know that there are those folks in Plainfield who like to exploit the race/ethnicity/class issues that plague American society in general. Plainfield can only be successful if we work to overcome and not exploit class barriers as well as racial barriers.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
Here's today's laugh: in the print edition of Sunday's Courier, the Sharon/Sharpton story is on the same page as a bunch of obituaries. How very appropriate!! (Of course someone will say that it shows the Courier's "bias" against black people.)
ReplyDeleteI know Sharpton is a closed minded bigot. I wrote him a letter anyway asking why he did not investigate, but too Sharon's word for everything. He probably won't listen, but I'm sure some letters to his employer, NBC news, will get his attention. After all, Sharpton likes the big paychecks and won't be giving them up soon. It's sad that he's more prejudiced against black folks than anyone I know in Plainfield. Sharpton is not a celebrity in Plainfield or most other places, so let's get out and vote and get better government in Plainfield. I think we deserve it and I know we won't get it from Shady Sharonda.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
Well said, Rebecca. It is that type of cancer that keeps Plainfield sick.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, even when you tell certain people that ALL of us want ONE PLAINFIELD, it is met with skepticism and rebuke. Maybe some people just have a comfort zone in being hateful.
If you dig deep enough into Sharpton's past you'll find that he's nothing more than a corrupt, race baiting bigot and a shrewd opportunist.
ReplyDeleteThat said, good to see Sharon rubbing elbows with people of her ilk. I hope she'll maintain her relationship with the good reverend when she's no longer screwing this city over.