9781422277751

When the divorce was being heard in court, the judge in the case asked to see Al in his chambers. He ordered Al not to preach anymore and the young Sharpton agreed. When Friday came, however, he was preaching as usual. “That was the first time in my career that I defied a judge,” Sharpton wrote in his book. When the judge later asked himwhether he had preached, Sharpton admitted he did. His answer surprised the judge, who asked whether his mother made him. He said she did not, and the judge asked why he did it then. “Because I believe in what I’m doing,” Sharpton replied. And the judge turned to his father and said, “Leave this kid alone.” THE CHARISMA OF ADAM CLAYTON POWELL While his family lifewas undergoingmany changes, young Al found a book that literally helped change the course of his professional life. When hewas 11, he sawa book about Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and bought it for 99 cents. Though he later learned he was imitating people and following in black preachers’ footsteps, this bookwas a revelation to him. He read it while riding the L subway train everyday, eventually becoming so enamored of Powell that he knew he had to go see him preach in person. Lucky for Al, Powell preached in New York City, at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. With his sister along as a chaperone, Al took the subway to see Powell. He became mesmerized with everything about Powell. In his book, Sharpton said he liked the way Powell looked (“very tall,” “striking,” and “charismatic”), how he walked (“Adam had a way of not walking, but strutting, like a peacock”), how well he preached, and how the audience responded so enthusiastically to him. After the service, Al went back to the pastor’s office and asked a woman there if he could see Powell. After 10 minutes he could tell his message had not been delivered, so he asked again. “[She] came back out with a confused and sheepish look on her face. She waved to me and said, ‘Follow me.’” Powell was shirtless in

CH A P T E R 1 : A LwAy S Ou T F R ON T

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