Rev Al Sharpton rewrites HIStory

At Michael Jackson's memorial today Rev Al Sharpton unconsciously ignored the cultural contributions of black entertainers / politicians / public figures from the last 100 years (including some people in the same room - Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson to name but two), and delivered the most unintentionally comical speech in tribute to MJ.

Michael Jackson was many things. Now it seems he should be credited for racial harmony, Live Aid, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Barack Obama and the small matter of love itself.

Somehow I'm reminded of Bob Mortimer's question on the quiz show Shooting Stars:

True or false: Bill Cosby was the world's first black man.

It's false, of course. The first black man was Sidney Poitier.

Comments

[veggiedude]

Most of what he said can be construed as his own opinion, and he is entitled to it, but the reference to Live-Aid made me angry. It was pure ignorance.

[Craig Scrogie]

Agreed that the Live Aid thing was the most contentious thing he said (because it was factual nonsense). Sharpton's right to free thought (and personal grief) I accept but it just sounded like posturing , exaggeration and misplaced deification.