Al Sharpton Biography
Al Sharpton is an American radio talk show host, TV personality, Baptist Minister, social justice and civil rights activist working for MSNBC as a weekend host and political analyst. He joined the MSNBC news team in August 2011, after previously working for Matrix Media.
Al Sharpton Career
Sharpton delivered his inaugural sermon at the age of four and traveled alongside gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson. He completed his education at Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn, and he initially enrolled at Brooklyn College but decided to leave after two years in 1975. By 1972, he had assumed the role of youth director for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign. From 1973 to 1980, he took on the responsibilities of being James Brown’s tour manager. In 1969, Jesse Jackson appointed him as the youth director for the New York City branch of Operation Breadbasket, a group dedicated to advancing new and improved employment opportunities for African Americans. In 1971, he established the National Youth Movement with the goal of generating resources for underprivileged youth.
Bernhard Goetz
On December 22, 1984, Bernhard Goetz shot four African-American men aboard a New York City Subway 2 train in Manhattan after they approached him with an attempted robbery. During his trial, Goetz was acquitted of all charges, except for carrying an unlicensed firearm. Sharpton took a prominent role in organizing numerous marches to protest what he perceived as the inadequacies in prosecuting the case. Before the shooting, Goetz had made a prejudiced statement, expressing, “The only way we’re going to clean up this street is to get rid of the spics and niggers.”
National Action Network
In 1991, Sharpton established the National Action Network, an entity aimed at enhancing voter education, offering assistance to impoverished individuals, and backing small community enterprises. In 2016, Boise Kimber, an associate of his and a member of the NAN national board, partnered with businessman and philanthropist Don Vaccaro to launch Grace Church Websites. This non-profit organization assists churches in creating and launching their own websites.
His advocates commend “his capacity and readiness to challenge the power structure perceived as the source of their hardships.” Additionally, they also view him as “a person unafraid to speak the unvarnished truth”. Even former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, once an adversary, acknowledged that he deserves the respect he holds among black Americans. President Barack Obama praised him as “the voice of the voiceless and a champion for the downtrodden”. According to a 2013 Zogby Analytics poll, a quarter of African Americans stated that Sharpton represents their views. On the flip side, his critics label him as “a political radical partly responsible for the deterioration of race relations”. Sociologist Orlando Patterson has referred to him as a “racial arsonist.” Liberal columnist Derrick Z. Jackson has likened him to the black equivalent of Richard Nixon and Pat Buchanan.
Sharpton perceives much of the criticism as a testament to his effectiveness. At the age of nine or ten, he obtained a license and ordination as a Pentecostal minister under Bishop F. D. Washington’s guidance. Following Bishop Washington’s passing in the late 1980s, he transitioned to the Baptist faith. In 1994, he underwent re-baptism and officially became a Baptist minister as a member of the Bethany Baptist Church. Here, the Reverend William Augustus Jones presided over the ceremony. In 2007, he engaged in a public debate with atheist writer Christopher Hitchens, staunchly defending his religious faith and his belief in the existence of God. He has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure elected office. Regarding these unsuccessful runs, he commented in an interview that media criticism often assumes certain goals for him and imposes them on him.
He ran for a United States Senate seat from New York in 1988, 1992, and 1994. In 1997, he also ran for Mayor of New York City. On December 15, 2005, he agreed to reimburse $100,000 in public funds he had received from the federal government for his 2004 presidential campaign. This repayment was necessary because he had exceeded federal limits on personal expenditures for his campaign. At that time, his most recent Federal Election Commission filings (from January 1, 2005) indicated that his campaign still had outstanding debts of $479,050, with $145,146 owed to Sharpton himself for an item listed as “Fundraising Letter Preparation — Kinko’s”. In 2009, the Federal Election Commission announced a fine of $285,000 against Sharpton’s 2004 presidential campaign team for violating campaign finance rules during his bid for President. In 2007, he declared that he would not be entering the 2008 presidential race.
Apart from that, he has made cameo appearances in several movies, including Cold Feet, Bamboozled, Mr. Deeds, and Malcolm X. Additionally, he has been featured in episodes of various television shows, such as New York Undercover, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Girlfriends, My Wife and Kids, Rescue Me, and Boston Legal. He hosted the original Spike TV reality television show I Hate My Job and an episode of Saturday Night Live. Furthermore, he was a guest on Comedy Central’s Weekends at the DL and has appeared in television ads for the Fernando Ferrer campaign during the New York City mayoral election in 2005. Moreover, he also made a cameo appearance by telephone on the Food Network series, The Secret Life Of . . ., where host Jim O’Connor expressed disbelief that a restaurant owner who named a dish after Sharpton actually knew him.
In 1988, during an appearance on The Morton Downey Jr. Show, he engaged in a heated argument with Congress of Racial Equality National Chairman Roy Innis about the Tawana Brawley case. This resulted in Innis shoving Sharpton to the floor. In 1999, he appeared in a documentary about black nationalism hosted by Louis Theroux, as part of the ‘Weird Weekends’ series. During the 2005 Tony Awards, he made an appearance in a number performed by the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In June 2005, he entered into a contract with Matrix Media to produce and host a live two-hour daily talk program, but unfortunately, it never made it to the air. Later, in November 2005, he signed with Radio One to host a daily national talk radio program titled Keepin It Real with Al Sharpton, which commenced airing on January 30, 2006.
On August 29, 2011, he assumed the role of host for PoliticsNation, a show on MSNBC initially airing weeknights during the 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time slot. In October 2015, the program was moved to Sunday mornings, with a duration of one hour per week. He remains a regular contributor to Morning Joe. Sharpton has authored or co-authored four books, namely Go and Tell Pharaoh (with Nick Chiles), Al on America, The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership, and Rise Up: Confronting a Country at the Crossroads.
Al Sharpton Salary
Sharpton earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.
Al Sharpton Net Worth
Sharpton has an estimated net worth of about $1 Million – $7 Million which he has earned through his career as a radio talk show host.
Al Sharpton Age
Sharpton was born on October 3, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He is 70 years old as of 2024, and he celebrates his birthday on the 3rd of October every year.
Al Sharpton Height and Weight
Sharpton stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches tall however, information about his weight has not been disclosed.
Al Sharpton Family
Sharpton is the son of Alfred Charles Sharpton Sr and Ada Richards. He also has three siblings called; Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow, Cheryl Sharpton and Ernestine Sharpton.
Al Sharpton Wife and Children
Sharpton was married to Kathy Jordan who he met in 1971 while touring with James Brown, she was a back up singer. They tied the knot in 1980 and together they have been blessed with two children, whom they named; Dominique and Ashley. He resides in New York City together with his family. Currently, he is in a relationship with Aisha McShaw, who is a personal stylist from Westchester, since 2013.
Al Sharpton Weight Loss
The Reverend Al Sharpton has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past four-and-a-half years, shedding a significant amount of weight from his 5’10” frame, dropping from 305 lbs. to 129 lbs. Sharpton emphasized that he achieved this without resorting to surgery. At 70 years old, Sharpton has experienced various shifts in his body weight over the years. He initially lost 30 lbs. during a 43-day hunger strike while in jail in 2001, only to regain the weight during his presidential campaign. However, the real catalyst for change came when his daughter confronted him about his weight in 2006. “Around 2006, my youngest daughter Ashley poked me in the stomach and said, ‘Dad, why are you so fat?’ That kind of hurt my feelings,” Sharpton admitted, highlighting the impact of her words.
He embarked on his weight loss journey by gradually eliminating meats and starches from his diet, later adopting a stricter dietary regimen. His daily meals now typically consist of three slices of whole wheat toast, a Juice Press “Doctor Earth” green juice, and English breakfast tea sweetened with Stevia for breakfast. Lunch comprises a basic salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, hard-boiled eggs, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing, accompanied by a banana and tea. For dinner, he often sticks to another piece of toast paired with a second Juice Press juice, occasionally incorporating a small serving of fish on weekends for additional protein, as recommended by his doctor. He attributes his success in curbing cravings to determination, noting that during the initial week and a half, he experienced occasional hunger. However, he emphasizes that staying focused and determined played a pivotal role in overcoming these challenges.
Remarkably, he claims he doesn’t miss any of the foods he gave up, including his once-favorite fried chicken. Despite joking about being a “fried chicken junkie” who used to consume it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, he found that after a few weeks, he no longer had a longing for it. In addition to dietary changes, he incorporated exercise into his routine, engaging in 20 to 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill five days a week. His fitness goal is not extreme; he aims to tone up and maintain an active lifestyle to avoid becoming flabby after losing a significant amount of weight. Additionally, he expresses contentment with his new lifestyle and the positive effects of weight loss, such as increased energy and focus. He appreciates the newfound ability to wear clothing styles that were previously unavailable to him. On a lighter note, he humorously suggests that Saturday Night Live reconsider its portrayal of him.
Al Sharpton’s brother Pastor Glasgow sentenced
Prominent Dothan clergyman, Pastor Kenneth Glasgow, known for his advocacy of felon voting rights, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for drug trafficking, income tax evasion, and lying to obtain Social Security disability benefits. Glasgow, recognized nationally for his efforts, had earlier pleaded guilty to these charges. Despite his charity work, including founding The Ordinary People’s Society to support those affected by addiction, incarceration, homelessness, poverty, and unemployment, he admitted to skimming $407,000 from his non-profits and collecting disability benefits. While his defense attorney considers the sentence fair, the judge ordered $376,000 in restitution, rejecting claims that Glasgow may have taken over a million dollars from his non-profits without reporting the income.
Glasgow also pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine and faces trial on charges of assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop. Despite previous legal issues, including a murder allegation in 2018 (unindicted by a grand jury), Glasgow has been vocal in supporting the police. The evidence presented indicates his addiction to cocaine following a 2018 arrest. He gained national recognition primarily for his unwavering advocacy of felon voting rights. Despite his notable efforts in this crusade, he has now been sentenced to 30 months in prison for drug trafficking, income tax evasion, and making false statements to obtain Social Security disability benefits. Moreover, he has been given until August 17 to report to prison. Notably, he is represented by defense attorneys Jim Parkman, Derek Yarbrough, and former U.S. attorney George Beck.
Al Sharpton Divorce
After more than 16 years of living separately, civil rights activist Rev. Sharpton has officially filed for divorce from his estranged wife, Kathy Jordan Sharpton. The paperwork for a contested divorce was submitted on Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court. In a statement attributed to both parties, they expressed, “After years of being separated, Kathy and I have decided to formalize our separation by filing for divorce. We plan to resolve this in an amicable manner. We remain good friends, and our highest concern is the well-being of our grandson.”
The couple, who had been married for over two decades, announced their separation in November 2004. They share two daughters.
MSNBC
While working for MSNBC Sharpton co-works alongside:
Social Media Platform
Sharpton is very active on his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages. He has 645.4k followers on Twitter 2M followers on Instagram and 754k followers on Facebook.