The $30 million toe in the water

The White House's hosting of a UFC event has sparked controversy, with Reverend Al Sharpton arguing that it symbolizes a regression to antebellum-era entertainment for slave masters.

Sharpton made his comments on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' framing the event as a deliberate effort to regress the nation to a time when fights were staged for the amusement of slave owners.

This, he suggested, is part of a broadr political agenda to reverse the progress made by civil rights movements.

Andrew Jackson's troubled legacy

Sharpton connected the current administration's actions to the legacy of Andrew Jackson, noting President Trump's decision to hang Jackson's portrait in the Oval Office .

He highlighted Jackson's history as a slave owner and his nomination of Roger Taney, the Chief Justice who authored the pro-slavery Dred Scott decision.

Sharpton questioned why this controversial figure was chosen for such prominence,positing it as a deliberate signal of a desired return to a pre-Civil War social hierarchy.

A cultural signifier of oppression

Sharpton emphasized that the journey from slavery to the presidency of a person of color was paved with immense sacrifice-bloodshed, jail time , and beatings-and that this history must be remembered, especially in the face of ongoing battles like partisan redistricting that threaten voting rights.

He stressed the importance of marking the anniversary of the March on Washington by loudly reaffirming the struggle and its heroes, asserting that the UFC event is a troubling cultural signifier aligned with attempts to erase these hard-won gains and resurrect a glorified, oppressive past.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

Sharpton called for bold and unapologetic ressistance to these perceived regressive efforts, urging a celebration of those who fought for equality rather than the Founding Fathers who espoused virtues they did not extend to all people.

He urged readers to remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for civil rights, and to continue the struggle for equality and justice.