Sharpton speaks for needy

EVERY CITIZEN in America needs to have some type of representation within our national government. Yes, we have members of the Black Caucus who represent a segment of the African-American population, but are they really in touch with the underserved community? When it comes down to voting for these congressional representatives only a small minority of the African-American community come out and cast their votes.

I've known the Rev. Al Sharpton since he was 15 years old and preaching one of his first sermons in Brooklyn. I was the communications director for Operation PUSH and personal PR person for the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson. After hearing Al speak, I knew in my heart that this young man would amount to something special.

He later was drafted by Jackson to head the PUSH youth movement, where he excelled in his work. His popularity grew among the young people in the New York area. He spoke on behalf of those who lived in the tenements, the projects, and the brownstones. He didn't wake just a neighborhood, he woke up the whole city with his activism, and in New York City it was needed because we were fighting discrimination in the schools, police department, fire department, and City Hall. We had no representation and no voice.

Every now and then, a national leader like Jesse Jackson would take on an issue concerning the community, but Sharpton was there living and breathing the air of discrimination, and he wanted to make a change and a difference. Throughout his youth and adult life, Sharpton has never backed down from a fight. If he saw injustices regarding any ethic group he would speak out and try to correct the situation. For speaking out he has been stabbed and jailed. Not to mention what the press has done to him, because they really didn't take time to know who Sharpton really is.

Now that he's running for the highest office in the land, everyone wants to know him. He's not changed since meeting him years ago. He can be funny, but always focused on the dream that everyone gets a fair shake in this country regardless of their circumstances. When I see Al Sharpton today, I see the former youth, who has grown up to be The Man.

Bill Cherry is a publicist.