Al Sharpton

Born Alfred Charles Sharpton, Jr. on October 3, 1954, he is the founder of the National Action Network, an organization dedicated to promoting “the modern civil rights agenda.” At age 10, Sharpton became an ordained minister and has since emerged as a leading voice on social issues. In the ‘60s Sharpton joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In the ‘80s, Sharpton became a polarizing figure, taking on high profile cases such as Tawana Brawley’s, an African-American teenager who claimed white men raped her. He has since made several unsuccessful bids for public office, including a 2004 run for the Democratic presidential nomination.