Following is a verbatim press release from The National Black Church Initiative, concerning the “reverend” Al Sharpton. Please read it, and I’m sure you’ll understand the question posed in my blog title. (The bold print is mine):
The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition comprising 150,000 African American churches representing over 27.7 million churchgoers, expresses deep concern regarding allegations that a leader may be compromising our voting integrity by engaging with Kamala Harris’s campaign. There arises a critical question: what exactly did VP Kamala Harris receive in exchange for 500,000?
This situation is perceived by many ministers as casting a moral shadow over the integrity of the black Church. It is imperative for The Rev. Al Sharpton to transparently disclose the details of this 500,000 transaction—its rationale, receipt, and intended purpose.
Moreover, it is crucial to ascertain whether Rev. Sharpton personally benefited from any funds, and if so, the specifics of such transactions demand clarification.
Rev. Anthony Evans, President of NBCI, remarks, “Although Rev. Sharpton is held in high regard within our coalition, this does not obscure the significant ethical concerns he now faces—both morally and journalistically—regarding this financial interaction with the National Action Network. We continue to hold him in our prayers.”
Media outlets report that MSNBC was uninformed about this financial dealing. This revelation brings to light concerns regarding Rev. Sharpton’s ethical standing as a host on MSNBC.
Questions are raised about the potential necessity of financial contributions to his organization as a prerequisite for media coverage or favorable portrayal.
The hiring of Rev. Sharpton, who lacks formal journalism qualifications, has been a longstanding issue within the African American community, as it seemingly undermines the professional standing of other black men and women in journalism who may possess greater experience and integrity in the field.
NBCI strongly urges MSNBC to initiate a thorough investigation into the transaction or donation made by the Harris campaign and supports a suspension of Rev. Sharpton pending the outcome of this inquiry.
In discussions concerning threats to our democracy, the crucial role of a free, open, objective, and transparent press as a foundational element in safeguarding democratic integrity often goes unspoken.
The Society of Professional Journalism outlines ethical journalism as follows: Journalists should be accurate, fair, honest, and courageous in their efforts to gather, report, and interpret information. They should uphold the following principles:
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- Ensure accuracy and verify information before dissemination, primarily using original sources.
- Provide context and avoid misrepresentation or oversimplification in news promotion.
- Continuously gather, update, and rectify information throughout the lifespan of a news story.
- Exercise caution in making promises and consistently fulfill them.
- Clearly identify sources, providing the public with ample information to assess the reliability and motives of these sources.
- Assess the motives of sources before granting anonymity, reserving it for those who may face harm and possess irreplaceable information, and justify the use of anonymity.
- Proactively seek responses from news subjects to address criticism or allegations.
- Avoid covert methods of information gathering unless absolutely necessary.
- Hold power to account, amplify marginalized voices, and foster open and respectful discourse.
- Maintain transparency in public affairs and access to public records.
- Provide access to source material when relevant.
- Represent diverse perspectives and seek out underrepresented voices.
- Avoid stereotypes and reflect on how personal values may influence reporting.
- Distinguish between advocacy, commentary, and factual reporting.
- Avoid distorting facts or context, including visual representations, and clearly label illustrations and re-enactments.
- Prohibit plagiarism and diligently attribute sources.
Additionally, as a minister of the Gospel, Rev. Sharpton’s involvement in this payment scenario does not reflect well on his commitment to uphold integrity, aligning with Scriptural teachings that advocate steering clear of even the appearance of impropriety.
Interesting.
al sharpton has a decades-long history of disgusting incidents he was dead in the middle of: the tawana brawley farce, of course. But much, much more as well, including several clearly anti-Semitic episodes. Add to that the enormous amount of money he pays himself as head of the “National Action Network” (what action, exactly, does it provide other than enriching sharpton?), and the fact that ratings for his show are so low that MSNBC – which disgraces itself every time it puts him on-air regardless of the ratings has no reason to keep him on-air. Now, what have you got?
The way it looks to me, the only thing sharpton has ever had to self-promote himself all these years is a threat that he’ll call the racist-police on anyone who gives him a fight. But now that the largest Black church group in the country has obviously turned its back on him (way past the time it should have, but better late than never), that threat appears to be gone.
It therefore seems to me we are seeing the end of the road for “reverend” al.
Oh, one other thing: in case you think he’s called “reverend” because he graduated from some divinity school, forget it. Depending on which account you read, al sharpton was unilaterally declared a “reverend” somewhere between the ages of 4 and 10, depending on which account you read (those are NOT typos).
In other words, his religious status is every bit as credible as his National Action Payoff Network.
The sooner this human excrement stain is over and done with, the better. For everyone.
