The renowned civil rights activist and MSNBC host, Reverend Al Sharpton, announced the passing of his father, Al Sharpton Sr., on Saturday at the age of 93. Despite their complicated relationship, Rev. Sharpton expressed profound sadness upon revealing the news.
Al Sharpton Jr., aged 69, stated that over the past 18 years, he managed to work through his feelings of abandonment and built a meaningful relationship with his father. Al Sharpton Sr. passed away in Orlando, Florida on Friday. He was born and raised in Jim Crow Florida and later moved to New York City where he successfully pursued entrepreneurship. Despite his shortcomings, the elder Sharpton instilled independence and self-pride in his children.
Reverend Al Sharpton often discussed his tumultuous relationship with his father throughout his career, highlighting how it led him on a path to civil rights activism. In 1963, when Sharpton was only ten years old, his father left the family to start a new relationship and family with Sharpton’s half-sister, who was just 18 at the time. The elder Sharpton owned several residential buildings in Brooklyn at that point.
The betrayal inspired Sharpton to seek solace in the church, eventually turning to James Brown as a father figure after his biological father’s departure. Despite their estrangement until 2006 and occasional references to their damaged relationship on social media, Sharpton continued to learn from his father’s wisdom and tenacity throughout the years.
Reverend Al Sharpton encouraged his followers to use his father’s passing as an opportunity to reconcile with loved ones and family members they might have lost touch with over time.
