Al Sharpton

Reverend Al Sharpton speaks to Margaret Hoover about his evolution as a civil rights leader from the 1980s to today, which is chronicled in the new documentary “Loudmouth.”

Sharpton discusses his influences and why he developed his loud and dramatic style of activism to attract attention in New York. He also reflects on how Coretta Scott King ultimately convinced him to soften his rhetoric in order to stay true to his mission.

Thirty-five years later, Sharpton defends his advocacy for Tawana Brawley–a Black teen who claimed she was abducted and raped by white men in 1987–and explains why he still will not apologize for standing by Brawley, even after a grand jury deemed her accusations a hoax.

Sharpton assesses the Democratic Party’s current challenges with Black voters and offers his perspective on President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He also looks ahead to the future of the civil rights movement.

Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.