Friday, April 15, 2011

President Obama at Al Sharpton's MLK, Jr. Commemoration

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

By Norris McDonald

It has been a week since I attended Rev Al Sharpton's annual tribute to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  President Obama spoke at the event and that gave the dinner/tribute an entirely different flavor.  I have been to several of the annual dinners and have participated in Rev Sharpton's accompanying conference.  This time we had to 'processs in' at the Sheraton in mid-town Manhattan.  It gave the event an extra added flavor of  'importance.'  We lined up on the street outside and everybody shared various little stories.  I invited my friend Cathy Taylor to accompany me to the event.  She's a Manhattan corporate lawyer.


President Obama's speech was 'on the money.'  He was clearly reaching out to the African American community by appearing at the Sharpton event.  Sharpton was 'eating it up.'  Enjoying every minute of having the President of the United States as the keynote speaker at his annual dinner.  I love attending these types of events.  Rev Sharpton and President Obama are two of the smartest men I have ever met.  Seeing them cooperate at such an event was inspiring to me.  Although people see Rev Sharpton as some kind of street ramblerouser, this dinner is always sponsored by some of the largest corporations in America.

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