What I Learned From Rev. Al Sharpton - “An Inspirational Message To All People For A New Year”
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Posted By: William Jackson on January 19, 2009 What I Learned From Rev. Al Sharpton “An Inspirational Message To All People For A New Year” The Reverend Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton Jr.is a dynamic and prolific speaker, poignantly touching the heart strings and satisfying the yearning for a spiritual word of faith and hope of those in attendance at my church several Sunday’s. It was one of those sermons that you had to go back and really think about the message and not the messenger. There was very little political reference to the current political administration, although there was a mention about a man with an “O” in his name that is the current President-elect of these United States. Rev. Sharpton, asking those in attendance to continue to support our soon to be 44th President of The United States and he underscored once again the change that is coming. There was reference to the importance of voting because we as a people (African Americans) have earned that right, having earned it from the sacrifices of those during the civil rights era who protested and boycotted for that right, those who were beaten, jailed and in some cases killed for African Americans to have the opportunity to vote. In an interesting contrast women did not have such injustices placed on them during their quest for voting rights. That another reason why our right to vote is special. Those in “The Movement” (1, 2) as it was referred to during the sixties and seventies by many civil rights participants. Some of our current community leaders such as Mrs. Marie Heath of Edward Waters College were involved and still involved in community activism for the elderly in our city. There are current endorsers that carry on in other capacities, such as Richard P. Burton, Sr., founder of Project R.E.A.C.H, Steward Washington of the Black Psychologist, and Bro. Markus Muhammad, Muhammad Study Group of Jacksonville who is involved in community events to strengthen the community bond through education and involvement with our youth. These are just a few among many who make a difference in our community everyday through their sacrifices to help our elderly and youth. From their action many may continue to benefit from the pursuits and accomplishments that they make in our collective community here in Jacksonville, Florida. Reverend Sharpton brought fruitful words of encouragement, a purposeful life and the power of faith, not just of hope. He highlighted the constructive cognitive concepts of loving yourself and being the change that each of us needs to be to better our own lives. Not just hoping for change sake, but for the improvement of ourselves and our communities through community involvement and giving praise to a God that gives us grace and mercy despite our sins and shortcomings. Not waiting on others (like the government) to pick us up, but having the willingness to move forward to make a better life for ourselves. Just as Jesus told the lame man to, ”pick up his bed and walk” (John 5:5-14 KJV). To have faith in our ability to improve our conditions through believing in our abilities and capabilities and not letting situations (infirmities) deter our faith in walking despite challenges. Looking forward at what we can accomplish if we just set our sights on achieving positive goals and working/walking instead of following those who possess a spirit of self destruction, hate, and defeatism. Anyone can be a complainer and quitter, but it takes a stronger person to see the misdirection in their life and not use excuses to keep them from working towards a better life despite the challenges that they are facing. Listening to the sermon; some people may have expected a call for the protesting of the establishment of a rival political party and their quest to dominate the existing political climate. Some may have thought of Rev. Al Sharpton’s visit to protest some wronged person(s) or group. That was not even an issue, the issue was and still is “a change is coming”, it is inevitable, but to have an effective change our young people need to change their thoughts, ideas and perceptions on the direction in their lives. They can be part of the economic and political problem with involvement in criminal behavior, dropping out of school, by participating in reckless disrespect of others that the media loves to broadcast and show the world how ignorant and trifling “these people can be” or our young people can be part of the solution by seeking an education that enriches their life and the lives of their families and working to lead productive lives that promote a positive lifestyle, not one that is portrayed on television, a live of violence and death. Our young men should be supporting the babies that they help to create and be “real men” to their communities, families and churches. Our young ladies should be striving to exhibit themselves with respect instead of imitating women that are denigrated to being called H**, or Bit***. Instead of our young men wearing their clothes half off and two to three sizes large and our young ladies allowing their bodies to be fitted with clothes so tight that they can barely walk and attract the “wrong” type of attention. We need to continue to pray and model as parents what we want them to do. The commemoration of 170 years of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church here in Jacksonville, Florida was the setting for our guest to inspire, motivate and empower those that heard words of rich spiritual content, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good, acceptable and a perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 KJV). The focal point is to change the way that we think or perceive our environment, our current, but not permanent conditions. To transform the mind, not accepting economic/spiritual defeat, to lifting ourselves up and re-establishing prosperity through prayer and hard work. How we think about ourselves will determine our course of action in these challenging times. Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart so is he” (KJV). If you think you are a thug you will act like one, if you think of yourself as a young lady that is talented, intelligent and worthy of respect people will treat you that way. Acting like a H** or a Ni***r gives permission to people to treat you like one. If you feel you are not respected maybe you need to earn respect by changing your actions and mentality. Dr. Betty R. Price (Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries) states, "to consider, reflect, reason and ponder. What we think is what we become and where we have kept our minds is where we are”. Reverend Sharpton made sure to implant in us that our thoughts shape our behavior and those we entertain may not have our best interests at heart as we try to strive to better ourselves. Those that try to keep us down, dependent and mental slaves are not our friends, but part of our defeatism and moral decay. Coinciding with his message, William Barkley, a Christian writer, says: "It is a law of life that if a man thinks on something often enough and long enough, he will come to the stage when he cannot stop thinking about it. His thoughts will be quite literally in a groove out of which he cannot jerk them" (3). Our thoughts and desires dictate our direction. Ephesians 4:21-24 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind as a new man/person (KJV). Just as Rev. Sharpton expressed, have a mind that is on positive things, positive actions and a positive direction. Many people are lost in their thoughts by the challenges and set backs of life. Rev Sharpton stated, “If someone knocks you down don’t expect them to pick you up, you need to get up by yourself”. “Work to find a way to lift yourself up and not expect someone to come along and pick you up”. The slave mentality that “the man” knocked me down and keeps me down lays claim to not taking responsibility for your own actions. Actions that are based on decisions, defining an untrue and defeatist reality. Those who are waiting for someone to come and pick them up will still be lying there just as the man who was infirmed for 38 years until Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man had to believe first before he could be healed, then Jesus told him to take up his bed and walk. There is a change coming, we as a people, all people, must believe this and not have the mentality of blame, defeatism, laggardness, and low moral character or we will still be in the same situation year after year not matter who is President. Don’t question who, why or what is to blame for your current situation. The change is in you, are you going to allow it to grow and take permanent residence or are you going to stifle your growth and choke you to death, feeling comfortable in your own self pity and sorrow, having a pity party for yourself being the guest of sorrow. The only way to lift yourself up is to have faith in the coming of change that only we can create, to change our perceptions of where we are and where we want to go then moving forward with prayer, praise and purpose. The Rev. Sharpton said it right, not just to rely on hope, but having faith, faith that things will change for the better and working towards a change for everyone. William Jackson, M.Ed. 1. Putting The Movement Back Into Civil Rights Teachings http://www.civilrightsteaching.org/ 2. Independent Lens http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/weather... 3. What’s On Your Mind http://www.faithbase.com/ "Copyright William Jackson, All Rights Reserved 2008" If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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William Jackson
Educational Technology and Social Media Instructor, Edward Waters College South Carolina State University class of 1985 Member Since September 2008 |
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