By Billie Jordan

Reverend T. Elliot of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist church, summoned Al Sharpton recently to assist with addressing social issues that adversely affect the Inland Empire. Without hesitation Sharpton complied and over 250 people showed in response to the pair's call to action.

"Often people look at this area as being a step child to LA...We forget about the Black people in the Inland Empire," said chairman of the Los Angeles National, Action, Network chapter, Tony Wafforde."

The National Action Network board is expanding the organization to benefit Blacks around the country. The organization intends to reach forgotten areas, and is eager to work with young leaders on the cutting edge of issues concerning racial profiling, discrimination and indecency.

Sharpton announced NAN's appointment of Elliot to chair an Inland Empire chapter of the organization. Elliot will work closely with Wafforde. Their first priorities will be to galvanize voters in the attempt to redeem funding that was cut from San Bernardino.  

Elliot told Black Voice News that he sees his appointment to the local NAN as a good start. He expects Mt Zion Baptist Church to be a catalyst for change in the community.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers message as Rev. T. Elliott looks on

"A part of the problem we have today is that too many of the most high profile ministers are irrelevant to the times that they are in," said Sharpton.

Among the issues that Sharpton believes are relevant included the persistent use of language in popular music, demeaning African Americans. "That's decadence that we're celebrating. We must have the vision and the courage to capture, save and salvage this generation. That's our mission," said Sharpton.

While many of the church members, clergymen and public officials were standing and shouting in agreement during the sermon, Sharpton raised the tempo. "If you make a record today and speak against other races and groups, that's hate speech, but if you call Blacks niggers, that's free speech. I got a problem with that...And you think we going to keep letting you do that," said Sharpton.

Sharpton called out to the members to do the work that's necessary. "It's time for this generation to get up.  Even if you're not responsible for being down, you're responsible for getting up," Sharpton said. "If you don't have the strength to get up then roll over and look up till you can figure out how to get up."

The National Action Network Decency initiative recently called upon Viacom entities to band the use of words that are racist, sexist and misogynistic.

"[Al's] had this [decency campaign] going on for a long time. It would take a white person to do something to get public attention on something Sharpton's been working on for 10-15 years," said Reginald Beamon, assistant minister of Sunrise Baptist Church, speaking in regards to the Don Imus incident.

The NAN, provides extensive voter education awareness and focuses on activism against racial profiling, police brutality, women's issues, economic reform, public education and other pertinent issues concerning the African American population.