"...this early release gives all of the appearances of economic and racial favoritism that is constantly cited by poor people and people of color. There are any number of cases of people who handle being incarcerated badly and even have health conditions that are not released.
I have served several sentences for civil rights and civil disobedience actions and I even fasted which caused health concerns to prison authorities who paid for a doctor to come see me daily rather than release me. This act smacks of the double standards that many of us raise."
In substance, fair enough ... even if many of us are a bit tired of the messenger.
But this isn't boilerplate Sharpton. There's a surprising twist here. It comes in the first line of Sharpton's statement:
"Though I have nothing but empathy for Ms. Hilton whom I have met and appeared with on Saturday Night Live the night I hosted in 2003..."It's a hysterically funny first line. (Did Tom Wolfe help him with it?) But then you have to ask, isn't lily white Paris the symbol of unearned privilege? Of all that Sharpton's constituents legitimately resent? She's the last person you'd expect Sharpton to empathize with at all ... until you realize they're kin. They're both celebrities.
In 1994, O.J. was a case about Race and Celebrity. But in the end it seemed to be more about Race than Celebrity.
In 2007, the Paris case is about Race and Celebrity. But this time, Celebrity trumps Race.
Sign of the times?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. I have a relative who just received a two sentence for braking his parole for a DUI. He might get out in 6 months. The legal system in the US is broke. People who have money can get away with murder (OJ) while the poor and average people are savaged by the legal system. What a disgrace.
Wayne at 1:32PM on Jun 7th 2007
2. Sign of the times indeed, but this is just the usual stuff for Sharpton to be commenting on anyway, if only to further his usual agenda. It doesn't mean much.
Shame we can't all be celebrities right Mo? We're all just a flock of middle class ewes being sent to the slaughterhouse of injustice.
Your friend,
Blayze 'Shaggy' O'Brien from the Bee
Blayze at 1:33PM on Jun 7th 2007
3. if that was me i would still be in jail.
paulwalldaiceman at 1:22AM on Jun 11th 2007
4. Im sick of "celebrities" getting off easy for crimes that if anyone else would have committed would have got hard time for. Damn Hollywood.
NotSoInnocent at 3:00PM on Jun 7th 2007
5. I think it's worth a try to use this as Case Law for future DUI cases! It should be the standard by which ALL DUI cases are judged. If not, then the legal system is just as credible as this slut's bitching and moaning!
Dan at 3:03PM on Jun 7th 2007
6. Sharpton and jessie J.ALWAYS bring up RACE as an issue. I don't like the judical system either but why blame it's (judical)inept desisions on Race?
King68
add king at 3:33PM on Jun 7th 2007
7. I feel that everybody should ban the Hilton Hotel chain...
DJ at 4:30PM on Jun 7th 2007
8. To take this "no talent", classless piece of trash and set her above the average citizen, both legally and socially, is to demean the common man. No wonder the double standard rules.
Joe at 4:38PM on Jun 7th 2007
9. Don't you just love the way Sharpton does his own 180 when it suits him? Yes, it is indeed hysterical. And no, I am not "a bit tired of the messenger." I'm f@*%king exhausted!
giftedgirl at 5:23PM on Jun 7th 2007
10. I think this is a disgrace! It is a shame people with money can get away with crime in America. Al Sharpton, I am 100% in agreement with you!
Azucar at 6:06PM on Jun 7th 2007
11. Mo, you've really been hitting the nail on the head with this Paris Hilton travesty of justice. I do think Afro-Americans need a true spokesman for their needs, but Sharpton is proving just to be a publicity hog, which downgrades his credibility. I don't know if Cecil Williams is still pastor of Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, but he has been responsible for caring for the needs of the poor and homeless for decades, and uniting his church community with love. I think he would make a GREAT replacement for Sharpton.
Phil at 7:05PM on Jun 7th 2007
12. paris is a joke... the best thing to come from that stupid #@$42 (female k9) is the porn videos lol i am sure most of us feel the same way. who cares that she didnt get her ged u dont need a diploma to be a rich hootchie with no common sense, or to get into a club. she has built her status by being a stupid blonde so don't expect that to change.. and she will "accidentally" break her house arrest by going shopping or meeting someone at a hotel for the shooting of her new movie so she will be back in jail and maybe la county courts will snap out of the drunken blonde haze she enstilled on them and get it right..... oh and paris next time u get locked up i will get thrown in jail and we can make a real movie kk Blonde Bi*%# banged behind bars!!!!!
leske at 7:54PM on Jun 7th 2007
13. Well I'll be dammed, oops, not me but the Sheriff and Paris sure will be. Man's justice will meet Gods Justice soon. No amount of money will get me to sell my soul.
bobbie at 9:15PM on Jun 7th 2007
14. Phil:
I agree with you that my Mo "hit the nail on the head" regarding Paris. I also agree with you about Sharpton's motives. Once again, Sharpton added his hypocritical two cents and contradicted himself.
However, as an African (not Afro)-American (I actually prefer to be called brown sugar goddess), I disagree that we need anyone to replace Sharpton.
We are not sheep. Some of us do have our own opinions, and can even think for ourselves. No, a "true spokesman" is not what we need.
We just need to be judged INDIVIDUALLY, on our own merit. And we need less of the generalizations, the negative stereotyping, and the closed minds.
giftedgirl at 9:21PM on Jun 7th 2007
15. What exactly IS justice - when there are dozens of possible sentences for the SAME crime? By "same," I meant at the same level... After sitting in enough court rooms to observe, I've heard of everything from probation - all the way up to 20 years for the exact same crime (with no prior arrest record).
Lynn at 9:20PM on Jun 7th 2007