By Staff
April 11, 2004
Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton paid his second visit to Mississippi in the past 10 months last week, arguing that the Bush administration isn't doing enough to address business and economic issues for minorities.
I think it's important, particularly in a black community, that (we) as a generation understand the entrepreneurship of corporate diversity,'' Sharpton said. We can't just be a community of consumers. We must be a community that helps America work.''
Sharpton, who has endorsed John Kerry for president while at the same time promising to continue his own urban agenda campaign, spoke to a group of about 400 people at Jackson State University's College of Business Banquet.
Sharpton urged young people to push for political change. He said that just as civil rights leaders paved the way for entertainer Michael Jackson, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, those people must inspire the next generation of black leaders.
Sharpton has zero chance of becoming the next U.S. president but his message is important. In fact, we would take the argument one step further and suggest that all Americans must become more attuned to the production side of the economy, not just the consuming side.