Princeton University professor Cornel West mocked fellow civil rights activist Al Sharpton on Monday, accusing him of always wanting to be the center of attention on issues that affect the black community.
“This book is in many ways a love letter to the younger generation, because I’m passing from the scene,” he said at Miami Dade College while on tour for his new book, “Black Prophetic Fire,” National Review reported.
“I know it, I don’t need to be center stage. Try to tell that to brother Al Sharpton, you know?” Mr. West said, receiving laughter and applause.
“You don’t need to be center stage, brother. There’s something called grassroots leadership, indigenous leadership, it needs a different context,” he continued. “Get out of the way of the camera and let the young folks speak. Get out of the way of the camera, let them tell their truths.”
Mr. Sharpton spoke publicly Monday night after a grand jury decided not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for the Aug. 9 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. The reverend said he would be holding a press conference Tuesday with Brown’s parents and vowed to hold rallies across the country calling for the federal government to “escalate a federal indictment.”
Source: Washington Times | Jessica Chasmar
