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April 19, 2010 | District

Harvard Educator Charles Ogletree Describes Sharpton Link to Obama

President Barack Obama’s former mentor at Harvard University, Charles Ogletree,took the time to explain how Obama works with the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has been instrumental in connecting the Obama agenda to the African-American community. According to Ogletree, Sharpton is a “lightning rod” for President Obama in the inner city, helping him to take important issues from the White House to the streets of America.

During the black leadership summit held by Rev. Sharpton this weekend, called “Measuring the Movement,” the preacher and civil rights leader explained that Obama “has to work both for us and for others” and that if Obama had an agenda that linked directly to race, “that would only organize the right against him.”

Ogletree went further to describe the relationship between Sharpton and Obama:

“Al Sharpton has become the lightning rod in moving Obama’s agenda forward,” Ogletree told the Associated Press. “And he has access to both the streets and the suites to make sure that the people who are voiceless, faceless and powerless finally have some say.”

During the convention, Ogletree acknowledged some of the disappointment being felt within the African-American community that the president has not done more for them. Sharpton is dealing with his share of critics as well. The cover of the Washington Post featured a picture of Sharpton with the title: “Activist Al Sharpton Takes on New Role as Administration Ally.”

Rev. Sharpton doesn’t seem to agree with this assessment:

“I’ve been as much in this White House as I was in George [W.] Bush’s – it’s only when Bush invited me to the White House, it was him reaching out; when Obama invites me, all of a sudden, we’re allies,” said Sharpton.

I spoke with Charles Ogletree briefly during the Black Leadership forum held by Al Sharpton this weekend. I’ve always respected the outstanding work of Charles Ogletree and consider him to be every bit as impactful as the late Johnny Cochran, when it comes to representing the black legal community. When speaking with Melinda Hightower, the President of the National Black Law Students Association, I was told just how instrumental Ogletree has been in the development of the organization. Given that there are fewer black students being admitted to law school, Professor Ogletree’s work becomes that much more important.

Read the full article at AOL Black Voices.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.