110+ Al Sharpton Quotes On Education, Politics And Slavery

Al Sharpton is an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He is also a political commentator, television host, and founder of the National Action Network. Sharpton is known for his involvement in social justice and civil rights issues, and has been an outspoken advocate for African American and other minority communities. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Al Sharpton on education, politics, leadership.

Top 10 Al Sharpton Quotes

1. My ordination in the Church of God in Christ was at age 9, and I later became a Baptist minister, which I am today.
2. The dream was not to put one black family in the White House, the dream was to make everything equal in everybody's house.
3. We're not anti-police... we're anti-police brutality.
4. I grew up in the 1950s and '60s, when it was almost a holiday when a black act would go on Ed Sullivan.
5. We have defeated Jim Crow, but now we have to deal with his son, James Crow Jr., esquire.
6. I do believe the Democratic party has moved far to the right. I do believe that the party has a bunch of elephants running around in donkey clothes.
7. I do believe that the party has a bunch of elephants running around in donkey clothes.
8. I've never seen a prosecutor hold a press conference to discredit the victim.
9. I've seen enough things to know that if you just keep on going, if you turn the corner, the sun will be shining.
10. Life is about not where you start, but where you're going. That's family values.

Al Sharpton Short Quotes

• When you're dealing with boycotts, you don't need everyone. You just need enough to be effective.
• The United States government has the obligation to educate all young people in this country.
• Dr. King used Gandhi's commitment to non-violence and to passive resistance.
• I can't see how an unarmed man rejecting a drug deal ended up dead.
• If you play the theatrics too much, you get in the way of your own cause.
• I haven't done the things I've done to be in a sitcom.
• I understand deficit spending. I was born in deficit spending.
• The GOP's freak out over Donald Trump. Just two months to Iowa, can anyone stop him?
• What’s wrong with denouncing white interlopers?
• I've never seen an effective boycott that didn't work.

Al Sharpton Famous Quotes And Sayings

White folks was in the caves while we [blacks] was building empires ... We built pyramids before Donald Trump ever knew what architecture was ... we taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it. — Al Sharpton

I was raised by a single mother who made a way for me. She used to scrub floors as a domestic worker, put a cleaning rag in her pocketbook and ride the subways in Brooklyn so I would have food on the table. But she taught me as I walked her to the subway that life is about not where you start, but where you're going. That's family values. — Al Sharpton

While the rest of the country waves the flag of Americana, we understand we are not part of that. We don't owe America anything - America owes us. — Al Sharpton

It seems some have chosen to ignore or have simply forgotten the big-picture vision promoted by Dr. King and his kin. — Al Sharpton

America has to make America become a better place for all Americans, and that`s all of us participating. — Al Sharpton

So (if) some cracker come and tell you 'Well, my mother and father blood go back to the Mayflower,' you better hold your pocket. That ain't nothing to be proud of. That means their forefathers was crooks. — Al Sharpton

Senator [Jeff] Sessions says people, cities sign these decrees because they don`t want to be sued by the justice department, as if he is, in some ways, questioning whether the things that are in these decrees are necessary and warranted. — Al Sharpton

My ministry's always been one of social activism. I think a responsible minister must be at some levels involved in the social order. — Al Sharpton

We need an amendment that gives us the right to vote protected by the federal government and the Constitution. — Al Sharpton

If Charlton Heston can have a constitutional right carry a rifle, why can't grandma have a constitutional right to health care? — Al Sharpton

You can't get a solution if you won't talk to the people that have the problem. You can't ever have healing if the patient is left out of the operation room. — Al Sharpton

I just released an op-ed in the "Washington Post" that talks about providing an I.D. so that everyone can have an I.D., primarily, the social security card, a picture would be put on that card, and a president can certainly by executive order make this happen so that people will not need a special I.D. They`ll have one to vote. — Al Sharpton

If O.J. had been accused of killing his black wife, you would not have seen the same passion stirred up. — Al Sharpton

I very rarely read any fiction. I love biographies; I read about all kinds of people. I love theology and some philosophy. — Al Sharpton

If I use the media, even with tricks, to publicize a black youth being shot in the back in Teaneck, New Jersey... then I should be praised for it, and it's more of a comment on them than me that it would take tricks to make them cover the loss of life. — Al Sharpton

We're not willing to give black leaders second chances because, in most cases, we're not willing to give them first chances. — Al Sharpton

Let me just say that we are under the consent decree. There are people in our city [Baltimore] along with the police department and advocates who believe that this is absolutely the right thing to do. — Al Sharpton

I've never done anything else in my life other than preach and be an activist. Way before I was known. — Al Sharpton

During my 2004 presidential campaign, I was fond of saying that it was high time for the Christian right to meet the right Christians. — Al Sharpton

I disagree with Muhammad. I'm against hate, anti-Semitism and homophobia. This is not a village of hate. It's a village of hope. Don't let midgets give us a bad name. There are still giants in Harlem, giants who will stand up for our children. — Al Sharpton

My dad challenged every president from President [Dwight] Eisenhower and Vice President [Richard] Nixon to President [J.F] Kennedy, Vice President [Lindon] Johnson to President Johnson and Vice President [Hubert] Humphrey. It`s challenging the administrations to do the right thing. — Al Sharpton

I feel that it is our moral obligation to stand and to be courageous with these families, and particularly Cindy, that have become the conscience of this nation. — Al Sharpton

America can't work for only some people and become a dream for all people. It has to work for everyone. And even though everyone might not end up at the same place, if everyone starts with the same beginning, then that's the dream fulfilled. We all don't have the same abilities, but we should have the same opportunities. — Al Sharpton

As I ran for president, I hoped that one child would come out of the ghetto like I did, could look at me walk across the stage with governors and senators and know they didn't have to be a drug dealer, they didn't have to be a hoodlum, they didn't have to be a gangster. They could stand up from a broken home, on welfare, and they could run for president of the United States. — Al Sharpton

I'm projected as an ambulance chaser, but I'm more the ambulance. People call me because they know I will come.... I have never fought a case where they didn't ask me to come. People have this picture like I'm sitting up in bed at night with a walkie-talkie. "You hear anything? Oh, let's run! It's Virginia today!"... Every victim calls us.... "Who put Sharpton in charge?" The victim! — Al Sharpton

We must become the United States of America that represents every community, that represents every individual. And we will ultimately become a stronger nation, but right now we are a divided nation. — Al Sharpton

When the civil rights community raised a lot of concerns around the nomination of Mr. Sessions, Senator Sessions, one of the things was that he`s on record of saying things intrusive, like voting rights,that he doesn`t believe the federal government should interfere with local policing, almost like states` rights kind of rhetoric. — Al Sharpton

I think drugs affect poor people and people of color more than anyone. — Al Sharpton

I cannot imagine where we would have been without BET. Many like me who operate in black America can only get our balanced story told nationally on BET talk shows. — Al Sharpton

This is not just an agreement for the police department, this is an agreement that gets the police department working with the community and the community understanding its role as it continues to work with the police department. — Al Sharpton

President Obama telling Americans not to panic in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. — Al Sharpton

People working at the arenas are not just depending on one or two concerts. I think it gives a symbolic boost, as well as those shows do bring down some monetary investments in the city. — Al Sharpton

We blacks had problems in the '60s and we solved them by marching. We've still got problems - let's march. — Al Sharpton

I think that what we want to do as we continue to move forward is look at the various points that have been made.We`re looking forward to the appointment of a monitor so that we can continue to do some of the things that we`ve been doing. — Al Sharpton

Jeff Sessions, the person who`s likely to become our next attorney general, is striking a very different tone from our current attorney general, Loretta Lynch, who announced a consent decree with the city of Baltimore. — Al Sharpton

Don't talk to us like we ignint! — Al Sharpton

It is time to bring down the volume and bring up the program. — Al Sharpton

John Lewis we all know was beaten terribly, almost to an inch of his life, opened doors that will never be closed, although there are forces that are attempting to close those doors. — Al Sharpton

The unfortunate part is there`s not enough balance in the legislative chambers, and particularly the senate that has to do that confirmation for there to be enough pushback. — Al Sharpton

On Saturday of MLK weekend, just days before the inauguration, thousands of people joined me in the nation`s capital to protect the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The icy rain did not deter us as we reminded Donald Trump and other leaders that we will not be silenced. — Al Sharpton

The promise of America is one immigration policy for all who seek to enter our shores, whether they come from Mexico, Haiti or Canada, there must be one set of rules for everybody. We cannot welcome those to come and then try and act as though any culture will not be respected or treated inferior. We cannot look at the Latino community and preach "one language." No one gave them an English test before they sent them to Iraq to fight for America. — Al Sharpton

But we believed if we kept on working, if we kept on marching, if we kept on voting, if we kept on believing, we would make America beautiful for everybody. — Al Sharpton

I`m deeply concerned about Jeff Sessions, who has clearly expressed opposition to the use of consent decrees and has advanced a lot of this states` rights rhetoric. — Al Sharpton

So we want to make sure that happens is that we build a relationship with the police department and the community that results in better policing and better cooperation with the community. — Al Sharpton

We just have to hope and pray that this man [Donald Trump] is changed in terms of how he views the world community. — Al Sharpton

John Lewis being attacked as "talk, talk, talk" by president-elect [Donald] Trump because he said he didn`t consider him a legitimate president. — Al Sharpton

I am in hell already. I am in Israel. — Al Sharpton

We need to make some real fundamental change from the Constitution down in this country. — Al Sharpton

I need to hear something about how he`s going to bring people together in the spirit, hopefully, of Martin Luther King Jr., and if that`s not heard, then we`ve got to constantly challenge him. — Al Sharpton

If Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house. — Al Sharpton

People have a right to be nervous and fearful. They heard what Trump said during the campaign and are wondering if he`ll follow through on his promises. — Al Sharpton

We won`t back down! We won`t be trumped! — Al Sharpton

I believed there was enough evidence to go to trial. Grand jury said there wasn't. Okay, fine. Do I have a right to disagree with the grand jury? Many Americans believe O.J. Simpson was guilty. A jury said he wasn't. So I have as much right to question a jury as they do. Does it make somebody a racist? No! They just disagreed with the jury. So did I. — Al Sharpton

But resist we much. We must and we will much about that be committed. — Al Sharpton

I've seen too much in life to give up. — Al Sharpton

James Brown lives, as long as someone steps out of their body and dances uncontrollably. — Al Sharpton

If a cop sees a person running out of a store with a gun he's seeing a crime. He's not seeing a person standing. — Al Sharpton

One of the things that`s offensive is saying in the fifth district there`s nothing going on. This is a very vast district. The congressman happens to represent me. And while there are always more things that we can do in every community, this is a very diverse district with all kinds of wonderful things. — Al Sharpton

I have the right to express myself. Once we get through expressing, do we really move forward in society. — Al Sharpton

First and foremost, that I will, obviously, be the president of all the people, as opposed to one segment. When you look at some of the appointments, there`s great concern because does it really represent all the people, and somehow figuring out how to bring the nation together. — Al Sharpton

There are now that 20 consent decrees in place like the one in Baltimore that are helping put broken police departments on a path to reform. And this is long work. Baltimore is just embarking down this road. — Al Sharpton

A war of words escalated between the president-elect and a civil rights icon. Donald Trump fired back at democratic Congressman John Lewis after Lewis said he did not see Trump as a legitimate president. — Al Sharpton

They tried to say that being gay is a sin, and I said that adultery is a sin. Adultery is responsible for breaking up more marriages, but do we put that in the Constitution? It’s absurd. — Al Sharpton

It does not appear, nor is there any reason to believe that [ Jeff Sessions] will put policing reform front and center in the way that this justice department has, and that will mean that we cast aside eight years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears that have gone into bringing cities and mayors and communities to the table to address what truly is a national crisis. — Al Sharpton

We cannot move forward or will not move forward if we are divided. — Al Sharpton

I don't think Dr. King helped racial harmony, I think he helped racial justice. What I profess to do is help the oppressed and if I cause a load of discomfort in the white community and the black community, that in my opinion means I'm being effective, because I'm not trying to make them comfortable. The job of an activist is to make people tense and cause social change. — Al Sharpton

I think everybody understood what happened, why this consent decree came about after the Freddie Gray situation. There was tension on both sides. — Al Sharpton

John Lewis is an icon in our society. — Al Sharpton

I`m not as concerned about what Mr. [Jeff] Sessions expressed, except for the fact that he did say that, you know, these things would be enforced. — Al Sharpton

There are white n*ggers. I've seen a lot of white n*ggers in my time. — Al Sharpton

I wanted to say to Governor Dean, don't be hard on yourself about hooting and hollering. If I had spent the money you did and got 18 percent, I'd still be in Iowa hooting and hollering. — Al Sharpton

I won vice president of my student body in high school. That doesn't mean anything. — Al Sharpton

Who defines terrorists? Today's terrorist is tomorrow's friend. — Al Sharpton

It was better walk with dignity than ride in shame. A lot of people in Cincinnati are saying, "Rather than have the continual problems of police brutality and economic disparity, I'm willing to make some sacrifices." And I think that they ought to be respected for doing that. — Al Sharpton

It is true that Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after which there was a commitment to give 40 acres and a mule. That's where the argument, to this day, of reparations starts. We never got the 40 acres. We went all the way to Herbert Hoover, and we never got the 40 acres. We didn't get the mule. So we decided we'd ride this donkey as far as it would take us. — Al Sharpton

I think that whoever is the attorney general, you don't want them to be as a yes person for any particular constituency. — Al Sharpton

We`re going to continue to move forward and fight. I just think that, unfortunately, the president-elect [Donald Trump] has chosen to address every issue. — Al Sharpton

Somebody had to bring the truth to the doorstep of this president. — Al Sharpton

It`s a difficult thing for a city to be sued by the department of justice and to be told that your police department is systematically failing to serve the people of the state or the city. — Al Sharpton

Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases. — Al Sharpton

I think first of all, the United States has got to adopt a policy of befriending and creating allies around the world. — Al Sharpton

Some issues you just - you certainly you have to defend yourself, but you certainly don`t have to denigrate others. — Al Sharpton

Bill Clinton strikes me as the kind of guy who goes wherever the polls lead him, rather than leading the polls. — Al Sharpton

The Baltimore Police Department had engaged in a pattern of practice of conduct that violated the constitution and federal law, and this conduct had eroded trust and to deprive the people of Baltimore of the rights and the protections guaranteed to every American. — Al Sharpton

We've got to look toward two years from now [January 2017] to at least provide some balance in congress. — Al Sharpton

I`m very cautious about what appears to be things put in place that will begin to roll back some of the progress that I believe we`ve made. — Al Sharpton

People in the age of [President] Obama don't dress like they did in the age of [Lyndon] Johnson. That's for sure. — Al Sharpton

The Democratic Party hasn't whipped anybody into a frenzy. The assumption is that the people that are marching and protesting and standing up against this don't have enough sense to stand up for their own interests. — Al Sharpton

This is not about what party you're part of. This is about right and wrong, ... the conscience of this nation. — Al Sharpton

I'm a patriot in the truest sense of the word. — Al Sharpton

Life Lessons by Al Sharpton

1. Al Sharpton has demonstrated the importance of standing up for what you believe in and fighting for justice and equality.
2. He has shown that it is possible to make positive change through peaceful protest and civil disobedience.
3. He has also shown that it is possible to build bridges between different communities and to bring people together to work towards a common goal.