Inciting the Divide Amongst Black Political Figures

One of the most diverse groups in the United States, the African American community is complex, culturally rich and at times, clearly divided on key issues. While many social, economic and political concerns in the Black community are generally agreed upon, most of them go unresolved due to great differences of opinion and preconditioned attitudes from a time when separation was created by willful design.

One of the most recent events rendering truth to this is the current controversy surrounding Rev. Al Sharpton and Sen. Barack Obama.

An article in a recent New York Post suggests Rev. Sharpton is neither impressed nor eager to support Sen. Obama’s campaign based on “jealously.” It further asserted that the Reverend “has launched a ‘big-time’ effort to tear down” Obama’s chances of a strong run for the presidency.

Other articles circulating further suggest that Sharpton’s position is based on his feelings that Obama isn’t “black enough.” The Reverend has adamantly denied their being any truth to these reports and contends it is media hype created by the Obama campaign. What Sharpton does state is that he wants to “talk about a civil rights agenda as a priority…” and that he will not be “cajoled or intimidated by any candidate.”

In the wake of a nation embarking on perhaps one of its most historic presidential runs, attentions should be focused on the quality of candidates and what they potentially offer citizens of a post 9/11 era rather than harping on unsubstantiated tensions between Sharpton and Obama. One has to question the motive behind such media focus. Is the intent to provide the Black community with sufficient data that will lead to informed and educated questions and choices? Or is there an underlying objective aimed and building a greater divide?