Reverend Al Sharpton reflects on his relationship with President Barack Obama and his involvement with the Obama White House and certain initiatives. Sharpton narrates the events of the 2008 Democratic primary campaign, including his deliberations over whether to endorse Hillary Clinton, and the content and force of his criticisms of the Obama campaign. Sharpton describes the close correspondence h e maintained with President Obama and White House staff throughout the presidency, and provides details about several White House meetings on topics related to civil rights and racial equality. Sharpton recounts his involvement in the organized responses to the killings of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown, and remembers his communication with the White House during these events. Sharpton also recalls his collaboration with Representative Newt Gingrich and Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan on educational inequality
Reverend Al Sharpton is a civil rights leader, founder and president of the National Action Network, author, and talk show host for Politics Nation. He was a frequent advisor to the Obama administration on civil rights issues and police brutality
Note
Interviewed by Terrell D. Frazier on August 13, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Al Sharpton, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022