*If you missed it when it aired last week, the Rev. Al Sharpton got more than public recognition at theGrio’s second annual Grio Awards. as a years-long beef with media mogul Byron Allen is now in the past.
The civil rights icon received the 2023 Justice Icon Award at the event, via the nationally televised “Byron Allen Presents theGrio Awards” on CBS. The award honored Sharpton’s five decades of activism in advancing civil rights and social justice (watch via the video above).
Taking to social media, Sharpton voiced his appreciation for the recognition.
“Truly humbled to receive the 2023 Justice Icon Award at The 2nd Annual Grio Awards,” the “PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton” host expressed in a tweet on X (formerly known as Twitter.” A heartfelt thank you to Byron Allen, @theGrio, John Legend, Spike Lee, Nick Cannon, and everyone who believes in the power of justice. Thank you to any and everyone who ever believed in me.”
Truly humbled to receive the 2023 Justice Icon Award at The 2nd Annual Grio Awards.
A heartfelt thank you to Byron Allen, @theGrio, John Legend, Spike Lee, Nick Cannon, and everyone who believes in the power of justice. Thank you to any and everyone who ever believed in me. pic.twitter.com/avo2ADq5Nu
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) November 26, 2023
As noted in his tweet, Allen was among the people Sharpton thanked for his Justice Award.
The move marks a contrast to how things were between the two, who were on opposing sides as far back as 2015.
During that year, Allen’s $20 billion racial discrimination lawsuit was reopened by a federal judge.
The suit, filed by Allen’s Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. and the National Association of African-American Owned Media (NAAAOM) against Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN), Comcast and Time Warner Cable, centered on allegations that the defendants blocked equal access for Black-owned networks, according to a Moguldum report.
Al Sharpton and Byron Allen at 2023 Grio Awards – screenshots
Claims at the center of Allen’s lawsuit include:
– NAN, Comcast and Time Warner Cable working together to create an illusion of diversity while keeping 100 percent Black-owned networks out of the media landscape.
– Payments being made to civil rights groups, such as Sharpton’s, to support Comcast’s acquisition of NBC-Universal while refusing to work with African-American-owned media companies.
NAN is a not-for-profit civil rights organization founded by Sharpton in New York City in early 1991. As the years passed, Allen’s lawsuit against NAN, Comcast and Time Warner Cable transitioned into a one-on-one battle between Allen and Comcast. In 2020, Comcast opted to settle the $10 billion action Allen had taken, Moguldom mentioned.
As a result, the foundation was laid for a resolution between Sharpton and Allen, who owns theGrio.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Rev. Al Sharpton Rallies Against FDA Ban on Menthol Cigarettes – His Position Clashes with NAACP’s | VIDEO
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