ABSTRACT
This chapter examines three black luminary clergies: one local, one regional, and one national. In modern North American politics, for example, exploits of a large number of visible elected politicians have filled the airwaves and spent unknown tons of news print. All of the aforementioned characteristics of luminary minority clergy, as they act in the role of spokespersons, afford them the "opportunity structures" to pursue by legitimate and illegitimate means personal aggrandizement under the cover of sacred and moral causes. Too many black and white Americans, the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are beacons of inspiration, icons of courage, opponents of racism, and economic entrepreneurs. Reverend Terry Lee Hornbuckle was a quintessential example of a black pastor who operated what Jeffrey K. Hadden and Anson Shupe termed a denominationally independent "parachurch organization." AI Sharpton provided first-hand information, snitching on celebrities, such as boxing promoter Don King, and black politicians as well as organized crime luminaries and crack dealers.
