by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Your Black World
Today, I had a 30 minute conversation with Rev. Al Sharpton. During our discussion (which I will cite to make sure that his point of view is accurately reflected – I’ve already expressed my sentiments in favor of the other perspective), Sharpton brought up his recent interactions with Prof. Cornel West, who has been a vocal critic of the Obama Administration as of late. According to Dr. West, the administration has neglected to implement policy that reflects the issues that reach to the core of the needs of black, brown, poor and working class communities. I agree with West that a deeper examination of these concerns must take place in order for us to find ways to solve very serious problems being faced by “us.”
Rev. Sharpton makes accurate points that West’s observations are tainted by the professor’s personal bias against the president. One can hardly imagine Cornel attacking President Obama had he continued to be an insider to the administration. At the very least, West made a serious mistake by mentioning his grief over not getting tickets to the inauguration. Additionally, Cornel is haunted by his close friendship with Tavis Smiley, who is viewed by many as a strong Hillary Clinton supporter with almost no interest in seeing President Obama succeed. The righteous indignation that my brother Cornel expresses toward President Obama’s loyalty to “Wall Street oligarchs and corporate plutocrats” would never be repeated toward his friend Tavis Smiley, who has taken money from seemingly every corporation who has offered it.
With all this said, I see a productive light at the end of the tunnel, as Sharpton and West spoke on the phone this week to work things out. I suggested to Rev. Sharpton that he follow up on the idea of he and West engaging in public endeavors to remind the world that they are on the same page. Also, in disagreement with Princeton Professor Eddie Glaude, I don’t see this battle between West and Sharpton as a W.E.B. Du Bois/Booker T. Washington moment. I am still trying to determine, however, if I agree with Sharpton, who argues that this is a Martin Luther King/Malcolm X moment. My conclusion at this point? This is a Cornel West/ Al Sharpton moment, which deserves its own unique place in black history, and I respect it as such.
During our conversation today, Rev. Sharpton made two additional points with which I agreed and plan to hold him to in the future: First, he argues that there is room to speak up on issues that matter to African Americans, even if there is dissent within the black community. Such voices are part of the Democratic process. Secondly, the manner by which Professor West addressed his concerns may not have been politically-productive. By name-calling and discussing his personal issues with Obama, West opened the door for his critics to undermine everything he was trying to say.
I see the spirited debate between West and Sharpton to be one that can actually create progress, no differently from the good cop-bad cop approaches used by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Donna Brazile said it best when she mentioned that critiques by men like Cornel West allow her to be more effective as a Washington insider. So, not only should the voice of Cornel West continue to exist, it should be amplified.
In the video below, I speak to Professor Wilmer Leon of Howard University. Dr. Leon helps me to further understand the Obama/West divide, as well the methods by which we can intelligently engage the political process in a way that helps us to reach our goals. No disrespect to those who have agendas for other constituencies, but I argue that it is time that black people achieve gains that are unique to us and not just a by-product of politicians working to help somebody else (as Melissa Harris-Perry attempted to persuade me that the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the implementation of the Lilly Ledbetter Act and Immigration Reform were somehow tangentially part of the black agenda). Black people should not have to be passengers in the car of American politics. It’s also OK to sometimes allow black people to drive. The video is below.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
