Al Sharpton is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, television personality, and founder of the National Action Network, a non-profit civil rights organization. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Al Sharpton grew up in a religious family and was ordained as a Pentecostal minister when he was just 10. Following his high school graduation, he enrolled at Brooklyn College. He dropped out of college in 1975 and became a full-time civil rights activist. In 1971, he laid the foundation of the National Youth Movement and also served as the youth director of New York’s Operation Breadbasket; both the organizations worked toward rehabilitation and uplifting of the marginalized black community in America. Al Sharpton became a nationally renowned face in the late 1970s, when he protested against some high-profile incidents which were racially motivated. He has also tried contesting in elections for a seat in the United States Senate, and also as the Mayor of the New York City. In 2004, he unsuccessfully contested for the nomination as the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party. He currently hosts the radio talk show titled Keepin’ It Real and also appears on the political television talk show PoliticsNation.