Fisk University has announced that civil rights activist the Reverend Al Sharpton will be the commencement speaker for its 145th commencement ceremony scheduled on Monday, May 6 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville.
“It is an honor and privilege for the Fisk community to have Rev. Al Sharpton delivering remarks to our 2019 graduating class,” said Fisk president Dr. Kevin D. Rome, Sr. “He has lived an extraordinary life full of accomplishments and made a significant impact on our community. I know that his words will inspire our graduates to create positive change in their communities after graduating Fisk.”
Sharpton has spent more than four decades serving as a civil rights leader, minister and advocate, and is one of the most prominent activists in the country.
Sharpton is the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), where he fights for progressive people-focused social policies by providing voter education, registration campaigns and economic support for small community businesses and confronting corporate racism.