Chicago Sun-Times Editorial - Sharpton's to-do list - If he's serious about reform, here's what needs doing
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial - Sharpton's to-do list - If he's serious about reform, here's what needs doing
Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times
August 1, 2007
We hope Al Sharpton will excuse us for not rolling out a red carpet for him. Besides our not wanting it to clash with that carpetbag he travels with, we're resistant to New Yorkers telling us how to solve our problems. But if the Rev. Sharpton thinks in setting up shop in Chicago he can help put an end to "a consistent pattern of police misconduct," we're willing to give him a shot.
"A lot of people feel Daley has been getting a pass," said Sharpton, calling for the mayor to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for police misconduct. He says he's the man to force the issue, having successfully pushed for the convictions of the officers who beat up Abner Louima in Brooklyn in 1997.
But if Sharpton wants to justify opening a chapter of his National Action Network here -- and not just generate more attention for his syndicated radio show -- then he's going to have to swing into action on other societal problems that confront African Americans in Chicago.
So here's our abbreviated to-do list:
• School funding reform. His Chicago counterpart, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, has made the glaring inequities between schools in poor neighborhoods and those in well-off communities a central issue for his Rainbow PUSH/Coalition. However difficult it may be for Sharpton to share a platform with another attention-craving rhetorician, he should work with Jackson to raise the volume on this problem.
• Gun violence. With heartbreaking frequency, innocent kids are becoming collateral damage in street wars. The NAN should use all its leverage to get handguns off the streets and assault weapons banned.
• Absentee fathers. The rising number of them in the black community is a recurring topic on "The Al Sharpton Show" (heard on WVON-AM 1690). He should become actively involved in working to reverse that trend.
We don't know if Sharpton has it in him to do more than talk. He is still best known for affixing himself to Tawana Brawley, the teen who concocted rape charges against six white men, among them police officers, in 1987. His recent Decency Initiative against the use of "bitch," "ho" and the "n" word in hip-hop and other entertainment media was an exercise in showboating. Some think he's coming here merely to boost the poor local ratings for his radio show.
He also could be coming to Chicago for the great food and the shopping. We hope he patronizes our hip boutiques and tips well at our eateries. Mostly we hope he'll roll up his sleeves and achieve something meaningful.
If that's beyond you, Reverend, certainly there are other stations airing your show in other cities that might need your "presence."
Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times
August 1, 2007
We hope Al Sharpton will excuse us for not rolling out a red carpet for him. Besides our not wanting it to clash with that carpetbag he travels with, we're resistant to New Yorkers telling us how to solve our problems. But if the Rev. Sharpton thinks in setting up shop in Chicago he can help put an end to "a consistent pattern of police misconduct," we're willing to give him a shot.
"A lot of people feel Daley has been getting a pass," said Sharpton, calling for the mayor to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for police misconduct. He says he's the man to force the issue, having successfully pushed for the convictions of the officers who beat up Abner Louima in Brooklyn in 1997.
But if Sharpton wants to justify opening a chapter of his National Action Network here -- and not just generate more attention for his syndicated radio show -- then he's going to have to swing into action on other societal problems that confront African Americans in Chicago.
So here's our abbreviated to-do list:
• School funding reform. His Chicago counterpart, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, has made the glaring inequities between schools in poor neighborhoods and those in well-off communities a central issue for his Rainbow PUSH/Coalition. However difficult it may be for Sharpton to share a platform with another attention-craving rhetorician, he should work with Jackson to raise the volume on this problem.
• Gun violence. With heartbreaking frequency, innocent kids are becoming collateral damage in street wars. The NAN should use all its leverage to get handguns off the streets and assault weapons banned.
• Absentee fathers. The rising number of them in the black community is a recurring topic on "The Al Sharpton Show" (heard on WVON-AM 1690). He should become actively involved in working to reverse that trend.
We don't know if Sharpton has it in him to do more than talk. He is still best known for affixing himself to Tawana Brawley, the teen who concocted rape charges against six white men, among them police officers, in 1987. His recent Decency Initiative against the use of "bitch," "ho" and the "n" word in hip-hop and other entertainment media was an exercise in showboating. Some think he's coming here merely to boost the poor local ratings for his radio show.
He also could be coming to Chicago for the great food and the shopping. We hope he patronizes our hip boutiques and tips well at our eateries. Mostly we hope he'll roll up his sleeves and achieve something meaningful.
If that's beyond you, Reverend, certainly there are other stations airing your show in other cities that might need your "presence."
posted by Carlos T Mock @ 8:09 AM
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