NNPA Sharpton-West Discussion
Live tweeting from the 2011 convention of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (aka Black Press of America) at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Taken from the Rev. Al Sharpton's luncheon keynote and a discussion between Sharpton and noted academic Cornel West about the state of Black America and having the first black president in the White House. (Updated with post-event coverage at the end.)
I must confess that I paid little attention to the brouhaha that erupted when scholar Cornel West disparaged President Obama on cable TV in April. I was much too focused on my graduate school studies for any foolishness. But since my wife and I were heading to the national Alpha Phi Alpha convention at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, we decided to attend what was touted as a rematch between West and the Rev. Al Sharpton about what Black America needs most, since that event would be nearby along Michigan Avenue at the Drake Hotel.
Sharpton, West to Debate on Obama, Black AgendaSharpton, West to Debate on Obama, Black Agenda Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 3:42 am By: Jackie Jones, BlackAmericaWeb.com Debates such as this one is healthy for the Black community, I agreed, but it also should put black leadership on notice that we want them to step up.
A Delicate Balancing Act for the Black AgendaUntil recently, most black discontent with the Obama administration - especially in 's hometown, Chicago - was largely kept in the family and out of the mainstream press, even as black business, civil rights and political leaders quietly grappled with and debated how best to support and challenge the nation's first black president without hurting the causes of racial and economic justice.[Audio] Journalist George Curry Discusses Upcoming Conversation Between Reverend Al Sharpton and Dr. Cornel West at NNPA/Black Press of America Conference « The Bakewell Company
CHICAGO, IL. - George Curry, nationally syndicated journalist and moderator of Friday's discussion on "Blacks in the Age of President of Obama" between civil rights activists Reverend Al Sharpton and Dr. Cornel West, recently weighed in on the highly anticipated event. "I was very very pained to watch Rev.Journalist George Curry brokered the second Sharpton/West encounter and the National Newspaper Publishers Association agreed to host it at its annual convention. NNPA, also known as the Black Press of America, is a decades-old federation of 200-plus community newspapers from across the United States. Sharpton was already scheduled to keynote its luncheon, and so he and West were to go at it immediately afterward, with Curry as the moderator.
Annual National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)/The Black Press of America conference today in Chicago #NNPA; t.co/pUzpGm4Hours before the encounter, however, it appeared to be an effort to manage expectations -- with the desired outcome being an honest and temperate discussion with opposing views, but not another unfortunate display of black leaders at each other's throats.
RT @CornelWest: In Chicago tomorrow, speaking at the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) luncheon with @TheRevAl.
Then it's to the NNPA convention for what was billed as a debate in a press release between @thereval @cornelwest- For all y'all trippin on my @thereval @cornelwest updates/tweets, the NNPA press release called it a debate.
In any event, Mira and I arrived at the Drake Hotel in time to get our seats and greet some friends and acquaintances from NNPA and the National Association of Black Journalists.
#NNPA is streaming a live discussion between #DrCornelWest and #RevAlShaprton on President Obama and Blacks, tune in: t.co/qXwHQdJ- Two men of #aphia! @CornelWest flew in from Germany for @TheRevAl discussion at #NNPA he flew back to Germany t.co/nIvvhgm
Rev. Sharpton begins his luncheon keynote by acknowledging presence and contributions of other black leaders and thinkers in the room, and also a wedding anniversary.
Then Rev. Sharpton speaks positively about West.
