On October 3, the Rev. Al Sharpton completed 70 orbits around the sun, and with each circle, he’s gained recognition as a voice for the Black community. While most of his popularity has come as a result of his comforting the aggrieved and afflicting the comfortable, his exposure on MSNBC as a commentator and his own show take him beyond the church and into the living rooms of America.
Hardly any incident of importance to Black America escapes Sharpton’s attention. He is a first- call pastor to deliver a eulogy for a noted African American, particularly if the person is in any way connected to the Civil Rights Movement or was a victim of police misconduct.
“Well, Rev. Sharpton, what do you think about this or the other?” is one of his favorite leads for discussing a critical social or political issue, as if being questioned by a man or woman in the street, so it comes as no surprise that the nation is watching to see his response to the predicament of his longtime friend, New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The two did not come together on Monday evening for the reverend’s birthday salute at Columbus Circle — not that anyone expected such a meeting, given the mayor’s indictment and calls for him to resign. When asked about the mayor’s absence, Sharpton said “he had a previous engagement, I’m told.”
Many of the notables at the event will probably be among those summoned for a session to determine how best to deal with the mayor’s situation. That body of thinkers will no doubt play a key role in Gov. Hochul’s reaction, and Sharpton will be the point man.
We have no idea how this political drama will end, and the only thing we can say with any certainty or without reservations is “Happy birthday, Al, and many more trips around the sun!”