SU’s African American Male Congress to host Al Sharpton for third annual baccalaureate ceremony

SU’s African American Male Congress to host Al Sharpton for third annual baccalaureate ceremonyApril 27, 2006SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

The African American Male Congress (AAMC) at Syracuse University will culminate its annual Talented Tenth Leadership Institute with an address from the Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton will speak at the third annual baccalaureate Friday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The event is free and open to the public. Free tickets are available at the Schine Box Office.

“The AAMC Baccalaureate celebrates the exemplary academic achievement of these future leaders,” says Frank Esson, the organization’s advisor. “History’s great leaders were first great students.”

Over the last two decades, Sharpton has become one of America’s primary leaders in civil rights battles against economic injustices, political inequality and corporate prejudice. He has founded the National Action Network (NAN), which confronts progressive, people-based social policies by implementing financial assistance for small community businesses and challenging corporate racism. He has published a memoir, “Go and Tell Pharaoh” (Doubleday, 1996), and hosts a live daily talk program for the EBN Radio Network. He is a charismatic speaker and an eloquent and fearless spokesman for the African American community.

“We feel a deep sense of honor and privilege to have the dynamic Rev. Al Sharpton enlighten us on the topic of leadership,” says Rotimi Paul, AAMC’s president.

The African American Male Congress was founded in 1998. The vision for the honor society is to be the premier student organization for African American male emergent leaders. Its mission is to discuss the social, economic and political issues that affect African Americans; serve as a support system for African American men; promote the growth and development of African American male student leaders; and build coalitions among leaders of student organizations.

For more information, contact Joel Patterson, director of public relations for the African American Male Congress, at 443-8276, or jcpatter@syr.edu.