AMERICAN civil rights leader and politician, Rev Al Sharpton, cheered on by Jamaican government ministers, Portia Simpson Miller and Phillip Paulwell, is advocating that Jamaica resume its historic role of setting the tone for liberation around the world.

“I want you to know how important Jamaica is to all of us around the world. Jamaica once set the tone for liberation around the world and you must set the tone again,” said Sharpton, one of the best known African-American social and political activists.

“You can give directions, as you did throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, and we will return the dignity of our people all over the world,” Sharpton told a reception Friday night for visiting Americans associated with this year’s annual Upliftment Jamaica awards function in Whitehorses, St Thomas.

Upliftment Jamaica (UJ), a charity headed by United States-based Jamaican, Gary Foster, vice-president of Rush Productions, is the umbrella company for African-American Russell Simmons’ music and fashion investments.

Based in Whitehorses, Foster’s hometown, UJ started out as a soccer clinic five years ago, but has now expanded into health clinics, educational and technological classes, job-seeking and cultural training.

The annual awards function has attracted a number of other well known African-Americans, as well. It is one of the major fundraisers for the organisation.

Sharpton, giving the keynote address, declared that too many African-Americans visit Jamaica merely to enjoy the sea and the sun, forgetting that Jamaica supported their struggle.

“We are a people that must come together and must not allow ourselves to be interpreted to each other by those who don’t understand our mutual struggle. We must speak to each other about each other, so we can uplift each other, because we know that the walls that divide us are not as strong as the blood that binds us.”

“It is all one struggle. We must not only exchange beaches, we must exchange struggles and we must uplift together across the African Diaspora, because what happens to one happens to all.

And when I say our people, I am not only talking blacks, I am talking about those that think in a clear way that all men should have the same rights to education and to health care and to housing and to whatever is beneficial to all human kind,” Sharpton said.

He praised the commitment of Upliftment Jamaica to providing education and health care for people who are in need, “not those that we see on the post cards, but those that are in reality the salt of the earth”, noting that it was his reason for coming to Jamaica with the team.

Simpson Miller minister of local government, community development and sport who also spoke at the function, promised that when she is elevated to the position of prime minister, she would focus on the needs of the types of communities which are being supported by Upliftment Jamaica, as well as the efforts of similar organisations.

“I am not about party politics, I am about Jamaica and the people of Jamaica first and the party politics will come after,” she told the guests.

balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com