By Robert Zirgulis

Last night I had the pleasure of watching David Oyelowo play the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in “Selma” at a screening at the Directors Guild. Mr. Oyelowo should have been nominated for an Academy Award for such a realistic and moving portrayal of MLK.

The movie brought back memories of when I was a kid in Chicago watching civil rights demonstrators being fire-hosed and bitten by police dogs.

It inspired me to write articles in the St. Pascal Elementary School newspaper about the injustices done to blacks in the south.

Martin Luther King was truly a great man, a great leader with a vision and mission to bring justice and equality to his people.

Unfortunately, charlatans and pretenders like the Rev. Al Sharpton really don't care about helping African-Americans. They are race hustlers and extortionists who only profit from creating racial tensions through outright lies and demagoguery.

Mr. Sharpton, you are no Martin Luther King. 

I can't understand why President Obama would let you come to the White House 81 times to hear your counsel. You are nothing more than a race-baiting liar and homophobic demagogue. (Look up Tawana Brawley, his homophobic rants against gays, his $4 million in tax evasion shenanigans).

Even Malcolm X would have scorned Mr. Sharpton as a true con man, an embarrassment to his race.

Mr. Zirgulis may be contacted at zirgulisr@yahoo.com