Opinion
Al Sharpton’s Message: Claim Your Destiny
One hundred and nine Ben-
nett College students shook
my hand and received their
diplomas last Saturday. With
big smiles and a little swagger,
they went through the time-
honored
ceremonies
of
baccalaureate and commence-
ment. And, we were blessed to
have phenomenal friends join
us. Rev. Al Sharpton was our
baccalaureate speaker, and for-
mer Secretary of Labor Alexis
Herman was our graduation
speaker. Between the two of
them they offered lessons for
graduates all over the world.
Rev. Sharpton is an excep-
tional leader, brother and
friend.
He made lots of
accommodations (including
the taping his show) to get to
Bennett on time. He was gra-
cious, kind, and took pictures
with all my folks. But most
importantly, he brought an
incredible message to the cam-
pus. He told our students to
claim their crown, claim their
destiny. He reminded them of
the many ways that the reject-
ed eventually prevail and
asked them to claim their
crown. Earning several min-
utes of standing applause, it is
clear that Rev. Sharpton
knocked it out of the park.
And then we had Secretary
Herman whose down home
humor and corporate knowl-
edge combined to offer sage,
B ENNETT
C OLLEGE
Julianne
Malveaux
savvy, and humorous advice.
She shared that a potential
employer said the best job she
could get was as a secretary,
and she fulfilled his prediction
by being Secretary of Labor
for the United States.
Secretary Herman offered
students valuable advice about
navigating a sluggish labor
market that only generated
115,000 jobs last month. More
than 170,000 people withdrew
dents to be positive and
encouraged, to do their home-
work
and
prepare
for
interviews, to be focused and
phenomenal. It is important
to note that she is the woman
the late icon Dorothy Irene
Height laid hands on, a sister
who brings us all together
and encourages us all to make
a difference.
Between Herman and Sharp-
ton, my students got a
blessing. They were told to
persevere, to accept their
crown and destiny, and to do
their homework to make their
dreams come true. While Her-
man and Sharpton were simply
speaking to Bennett students,
in some ways they were speak-
ing to our nation and our
world. They were reminding
The Honorable Alexis Herman
reminded us that to win the
game, we have to play it
from the labor market because
they are so discouraged that
they think the jobs are not
there. But my sister Alexis
Herman didn’t dwell on the
negative, but encouraged stu-
us that despite tough and crazy
economic times, each of us can
make a difference when we are
focused, committed, and for-
ward thinking.
There are more than 1.7 mil-
lion young people, and some
not so young, who will gradu-
to clam their destiny, even in a
tough economy. It’s an inter-
esting time. Young people are
It ’s an interesting time. Young
people are being kicked to the
curb with the possibility that Pell
grants will be further cut and
interest rates may rise on student
loans
ate from college this month or
in June. Not many will have
the one-two punch of Rev. Al
Sharpton and Alexis Herman.
I am glad to have them as my
friends. They are luminaries,
and visionaries, folks who
speak both ebonics and high
phonics. They sowed into the
lives of 109 Bennett women
who have graduated, but they
have also sowed into the life
of our nation. I have been
blessed to have them grace our
campus.
The essence of the Sharp-
ton/Herman message was
powerful.
Rev. Sharpton
urged us to claim our crown,
our dignity, and the array of
our possibilities. The Honor-
able Alexis Herman reminded
us that to win the game, we
have to play it. Between them,
they advised Bennett students
being kicked to the curb with
the possibility that Pell grants
will be further cut and interest
rates may rise on student
loans.
The bottom line is that this is
a tough and challenging econ-
omy
and
there
are
opportunities.
At Bennett
there were two speakers who
urged students to claim their
crown, to never give up,
despite the challenges of the
economy. Their message hit
home on our campus, but it
also hit home in our nation and
our world. Thank you, Rev. Al
Sharpton and Hon. Alexis Her-
man for coming to Bennett and
sharing your wisdom with our
students.
Julianne Malveaux is presi-
dent of Bennett College for
Women in Greensboro, N.C.
‘Black, Missing’ In the GOP
As the Republican presidential campaign
trail ensues, there is something obviously
missing from GOP campaign activities and
primaries—Black people.
A look at last month’s GOP presidential
primaries reveals that older Whites domi-
nated the electorate.
According to an analysis by the National
Journal, 89 percent of voters in Arizona
were White, while Blacks represented just 1
percent. Meanwhile, Hispanics made up
about 8 percent of the vote.
The findings are a stark increase com-
pared to the numbers found in the same
state during the 2008
general election. That
year, 75 percent of
voters were White,
while 4 percent were
Black and 16 percent
were Hispanic.
A similar increase
was shown in this
year’s Ohio primary.
In the Buckeye state, a
whopping 96 percent
of voters were White,
compared to 83 per-
cent in the general
election four years
ago.
Aside from the primary elections, it is
also apparent that Blacks are considerably
absent from many GOP campaign activities.
While it is no secret that African Ameri-
cans have long voted Democrat, the
question at hand is whether the GOP is con-
cerned with the obvious racial disconnect.
Michael Steele, former chairman of the
Republican National Committee said in a
recent interview with writer Kam Williams
that there are a couple of things that the
party can do to attract more African Ameri-
cans.
“One is to own up to our own failures as a
party, when it comes to making investments
in the Black community when it counted,
like the Civil Rights Movement,” Steele
said during the interview.
He explained that while Republicans had
been the architects of landmark civil rights
legislation during the Reconstruction Era,
the party hesitated when it really mattered
in the 1950s and ‘60s, resulting in a long-
standing riff between the GOP and Blacks.
Steele added that Republicans should
also, “Show up in the community prepared
to have
meaning-
f
u
l
discus-
s i o n s
a b o u t
issues that
actually
matter to
[Blacks]
like job
creation,
in
way
t h a t
m a k e s
sense.”
“That’s why my very first official act as
Chairman was to host a town hall meeting
in Harlem. To me, that was a very important
step to take,” he said.
The National Black Republican Associa-
tion (NBRA) has also continuously worked
to close the gap. Their organization aims to
return Blacks to their Republican roots and
enlighten them on GOP ideals and values.
In the meantime, the AFRO wants to
know if you spot more than one Black per-
son at a GOP event. Email your submissions
to Blackfolkspotted@afro.com.
Week on the Web
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While it is no secret that
African Americans have
long voted Democrat, the
question at hand is whether
the GOP is concerned with
the obvious racial
disconnect
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May 9, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 5