Rev. Al Sharpton Inaccurately Portrayed by New York Daily News

It's not easy fighting for civil rights and running organizations that stand up for the freedoms of the oppressed. If you're good at what you do, your enemies will try anything to take you down. On top of that, many of the people you are fighting for, via self-hatred, may be skeptical of your efforts and willing to partner with oppressive forces to undermine your work. Even worse, your constituents may not have the means to help you face the massive financial responsibility that comes with serving your community. Freedom damn sure ain't free, and most leaders have the receipts to prove it.

I don't get as many calls for help as Rev. Al Sharpton, but I get my fair share. The most difficult thing about receiving these requests is that you want to help everyone, but are constantly struggling to find the resources to get the job done. If you ask for help to pay the cost of the trip, people think you're somehow trying to swindle them or earn an unnecessary profit from the work you do. The truth is that everybody's got bills to pay and the bigger your name, the more people think you're made of money.

I thought about this when I read about the peculiar attack on Rev. Al Sharpton in the New York Daily News. Among many misleading statements made by the paper, they mentioned the fact that Sharpton paid himself $250,000 last year while his organization, The National Action Network, was still in debt.

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Black Spiritual Leaders

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders
People around the world look to pastors, preachers, bishops and reverends for spiritual guidance and inspirational nourishment. In the black community, popular clergymen such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton are held in high esteem and have much influence over congregations and countless followers alike. Take a look at them and other influential black spiritual leaders.

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Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter's House
AGE: 51 HOMETOWN: South Charleston, West Virginia ABOUT HIM: The entrepreneur and chief pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member non-denominational megachurch church in Dallas. FACTOID: Jakes, who was named among America's "Top 10 Religious Leaders" by 'Time' magazine, has recorded Grammy- and Dove Award-nominated music projects. He also produced the movies 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' and 'Not Easily Broken.'

Black Spiritual Leaders

Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ
AGE: 67 HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABOUT HIM: For 36 years, Wright was the Senior Pastor of the Chicago megachurch -- which boasted around 8,500 members. Controversial remarks made during his sermon shed negative light on the popular church, and one of its most well known parishioners: Illinois Senator and U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. FACTOID: Named one of 'Ebony' magazine's top 15 preachers, Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Lincoln University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Juanita Bynum, televangelist
AGE: 49 HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HER: A former beautician, flight attendant and drug abuser, Bynum transformed herself into one of the most popular celebrity clergywomen after being introduced to the masses by Bishop T.D. Jakes. With a highly rated TBN show and a thriving television ministry, she gained national attention in 2007 when her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, III, allegedly attacked her in a hotel parking lot. FACTOID: Bynum, a best-selling recording artist and author, has crossed over into entertainment. In 2008, she starred on episodes of the hit ABC Family network TV series 'Lincoln Heights' and will also appear in the big movie adaptation of the off-Broadway musical 'Mama I Want To Sing,' alongside Ciara, Lynn Whitfield and Patti LaBelle.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Eddie L. Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist
HOMETOWN: North Carolina ABOUT HIM: He first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Now the Lithonia, Georgia-based megachurch's membership has totaled to over 30,000 members. FACTOID: Long has authored numerous books, including 'What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs' and 'The Blessing in Giving.' The bishop is also featured on rapper Ludacris' latest album, 'Release Therapy,' and appeared on the hit Bravo reality show, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'

Black Spiritual Leaders

Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network
AGE: 54 HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York ABOUT HIM: Mostly recognized as a staunch civil rights activist for people of color, the former James Brown tour manager is the founder the National Action Network, a nonprofit, civil rights organization with over 40 active chapters nationwide. FACTOID: A 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate, the divorced father of two daughters has written a memoir (with Karen Hunter) hosted his own TV show (on TV One) and nationally syndicated radio program.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge Church
AGE: 57 HOMETOWN: Spanish Town, Jamaica ABOUT HIM: In 1994, Bishop Jones founded Noel Jones Ministries (NJM), formerly known as Jesus Alternative Ministries, in an effort to address religion's inability to offer real relevance to the changing climate of the times. His Gardenia, California-based church boasts 7,000 members. FACTOID: One of seven children born to Bishop Robert and Marjorie Jones, Bishop Jones attended St. Jago High School and went on to attain a B.S. in Theology from Aenon Bible College. He is the younger brother of entertainer Grace Jones.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Jamal Harrison Bryant, The Empowerment Temple
ABOUT HIM: Bryant founded Baltimore's Empowerment Temple in April 2000, which became the fastest growing church in the A.M.E. denomination with over 11,000 members. Prior to his role as pastor, he served as director of the NAACP's youth and college division. FACTOID: Despite dropping out of high school, Bryant later obtained a GED and went on to further his education, receiving a degree from Morehouse College, a masters of divinity from Duke University and doctorate in ministry. Today, his 'Power for Life' broadcast is heard weekly across the United States, the Caribbean, England and throughout the continent of Africa.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Pastor Cynthia Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church
HOMETOWN: Roanoke, Virginia ABOUT HER: Hale is the founding and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, which has an active membership of 5,000 and an average of 1,500 in worship each Sunday morning. FACTOID: In 2004, Hale established a mentorship program to assist in the spiritual as well as practical development of pastors and church leaders. She has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the greatest black women preachers in America.

Black Spiritual Leaders

Bishop Larry Trotter, Sweet Holy Spirit Church
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HIM: Since 1981, Trotter has expanded his congregation at The Windy City's Sweet Holy Spirit Church from 22 members to over 5,000. FACTOID: In addition to his preaching ministry, Trotter is also an accomplished musician who was nominated for a Stellar Award in 2003 for his rendition of 'Jesus is the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.'

Black Spiritual Leaders

First, when a man must purchase several plane tickets, hotel rooms and rental cars every week in order to do work around the country, $250,000 is not nearly enough to handle all necessary financial obligations. To do his work in the community, Rev. Sharpton keeps a travel schedule that would put a high-ranking Obama Administration official to shame. The difference is that he doesn't have the financial backing of the U.S. government to pay for it.

Secondly, the New York Daily News failed to mention the fact that Sharpton turned around and loaned $200,000 of the $250,000 right back to the organization. The omission of such an important fact is either indicative of a secondary agenda or faulty journalism on the part of the Daily News, I'm not sure which one. They also failed to mention that while Sharpton does scores of speaking engagements every year, he has donated nearly all of his speaking fees right back to the organization. I'm not sure how much Sharpton earns per year in his speeches, but I do know that the amount is substantial.

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Finally, we must ask ourselves why it is somehow criminal for Rev. Sharpton to receive compensation for his outstanding work. All of us are paid to do our jobs, because we need the money. We have to pay our mortgages, car notes, tuition for our children, etc. For some reason, we believe that those in positions of prominence don't have bills like the rest of us. So, the next time you call Rev. Sharpton or anyone else to help with an issue in your community, I encourage you to take a collection from all concerned citizens that will help him to cover the costs of the trip, as well as pay a few of the daunting bills he probably has waiting at home.

I could care less how much money Al Sharpton makes for doing the job he does, because we never show the same concern for the amounts that non-black leaders are earning for their work. We've somehow concluded that if a black leader is compensated, he must be a bad person or trying to rob us. I can say from watching Sharpton up close that what he gives of his personal life to position himself as a constant target by his enemies far exceeds any amount of money he may be earning from being the head of NAN. Also, there is no black leader in America who isn't made to look like a crook or buffoon by mainstream media. I bet you can't think of a single unapologetic black leader who hasn't had his public image undermined by a news organization. Even Dr. King was pulled through the ringer shortly before his death.

Generally speaking, the attack on Rev. Sharpton by the New York Daily News is a reminder that our black organizations need to be supported by all of us. If we expect the NAACP or National Action Network to show up when we have political, social or personal problems, we must also show up when they have financial problems. These groups cannot do their jobs without our help, and men like Al Sharpton are not made of money. It's a grind out there for everyone, and the struggle can be greatest at the top.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.