Speak Out!
New Leadership—Different Results?
Mon, 05/19/2008 - 19:54 | Civil Rights
After a year-long search, the NAACP's 64-member board selected Benjamin Jealous as president of the nation's oldest civil rights organization. Jealous, 35, is an activist, former news executive, Rhodes Scholar and the youngest president in the group's history.
The organization has been criticized for not reaching out enough to the younger generation and for its old-school approach to today's problems:
The NAACP has long been criticized by young African Americans for failing to bring in fresh faces who can relate to the concerns of people who still face racial discrimination after the fall of segregation. Young bloggers have hammered the group, characterizing it as slow to react to a variety of issues.Will the selection of Ben Jealous as the new NAACP president silence criticism of the organization?
The Covenant with Black America
Comments
As a not-so-young American
As a not-so-young American and a long-time NAACP-er (Former Branch President in my community) I don't see the selection of Ben Jealous silencing criticism of our organization.
I believe that with each successive generation of African Americans, the NAACP has progressively fallen from grace, and this trend will continue unless numerous internal and infrastructure changes are made in the organizations overall structure.
The NAACP's exhaustive and voluminous policies, procedural guidelines and regulations makes participation in and administration of a local branch both unattractive and disenchanting -- and a tremendous burden. I know this from first-hand experience.
The younger generation of blacks are all focused on a "quick-fix" not only for their racial and cultural concerns, but all of their issues.
They don't have the time, nor the willingness to put in the time, to do the research, do the reading, do the work, or pay the dues that are mandated for full participation in the organization under its present structure. They see issues, and they make an immediate assessment ... and when it all boils down ... they see that something is either right or wrong... it was either fair or unfair... it was either racist or not. They are turned off by any mandates to conduct indepth studies, or wade through tons of research, cross every "t" or dot every "i" so they say, "What the hell, I'm outta heere!"
Younger blacks are more action-oriented, and it's policies weigh it down; it takes the NAACP too long to "act" on anything. Thus, many legitimate issues that may be substantive are often ignored by the NAACP, in an effort to compel others to abide by their convoluted policies and procedures.
Years ago, I, too was one of those enthusiastic young women, who was a local NAACP leader, who later became disenchanted with the NAACP for the same reasons that contemporary black youth are now disenchanted with it.
Somewhere along the way, the organization lost its "grass roots" appeal. It forgot how to be a "grass roots" organization, and now appeals only to sophisticated minds that are nothing at all like most black folks. Thus, the appeal to common everyday folks, such as those where I live, is absent.
There were numerous people in my community who years ago, would gladly have volunteered, held office, or served in some other capacity, but, were downright intimidated by the organizational policies and procedures.
So, I think that as a result of that, a new impression of the NAACP as an elitist, say-nothing, do-nothing organization was etched in the minds of most blacks, that leaves the NAACP as nothing more than a passing thought to them. Regardless of what else happens, the presence of Ben Jealous alone, can't and won't change that.
Regardless of who's at the helm of the organization, it is going to take a strong contemporary, massive and sweeping movement to change that.
The bottom line is the NAACP is going to have to make itself more vocal and more visible at the true grass roots level, in communities across America.
Let us pray for the NAACP
Let us pray for the NAACP Mission to change towards a new direction. Right now the NAACP in the eyes of the young eagles stands for:
N-NOT
A-AVERAGING
A-ANY
C-COOL
P-POINTS
Maybe with change in 2008-as we know is the biblical principle for change, they; the NAACP will have eyes of an eagle.
The Eyes of an Eagle
If my eyes were of an eagle’s sight, it would be more powerful than a telescope on the highest flight. I could see far above the earth miracles from the debt within, atmosphere turning in its elements, life would have no end. My strength and courage could be seen from miles away, as I glide through life landing at bay; my life would be above the earth restrictions- I could move away freely without conviction. Eagles have eyes of strength and power, they can see more in a second than we can see in an hour. It is God’s creative mind that sets the world in order; even the eagles have their own endless boarders.
Eagles are adventurous and uniquely to say, eagles fly so courageously, no crowd gets in its way. An Eagle courage can be honored through its eyes, look at the fierceness...the boldness... they are his pride… An eagle to me is an interesting creature; I admire his faith, his wits, his unique features. It is an eagle that I most admire; it’s next to a butterfly, nature’s freest desire.
After being called to do an
After being called to do an absolute good, directly and indirectly, by so many people and groups in my time of definitive understanding, I look back and see that some of whispers were calls, calls were shouts, the shouts were cries and sadly enough cries were detractors from the real issue.
Now I stand alone, so it seems, I open a letter that says it's time for a renewal! Well in my usual pessimistic manner I opened up the letter, it is from the NAACP. Now I am swayed to move or should I say advance.
So as I read this blog vs. this letter I question some motives of our (not any other groups) advancement.
I agree that voices of racism may be silent, even whispering if you ask me, using a sign language we all know, the most damning as of 10 years ago being economic/mortgage trickery. So yes I am reading NAACP and all of America.
If a renewal is not on the way, then what are we waiting for; I heard the saying repeated by our dear Bro. Tavis, "change is inevitable". Renewal is within change; so as the letter states, let us "take a moment to do so today."; that would be don't wait until tomorrow when it is NA change something today for the ACP.
The NAACP has declared a "State of Emergency" due to "recent" attacks by this "police state" on Black Youths. Excuse me for being a little confused right now, but we have been getting smacked around as youngsters for the better part of 400 years without a timeout. Every old war has ended, every conflict resolved until the next time or goods were exchanged to resolve them. Black youths are under attack in Pa.,Va.,Ca., N.Y.C., let's say their whole union has an eye angst. Over in Africa the death toll is staggering; black children are passing away at sickening paces. I say paces because every second, which only takes a step/pace, a black child dies. No Mr.Julian Bond and newly appointed Mr. Jealous, we are in a war malpracticed, insufficiently equipped holistically and with no tangible assistance or guidance in our proximity.
The letter goes on and calls on taking on the enemies of inequality, calling out our elected officials, protecting Social Security and in closing the lack of adequate or superior education of the youth, which I find oddly enough excluded from the leading declaration since prisons are built on the percentage of the population that is at a 3rd grade reading level.
All these causes in this letter should call for one with a conscience mind, a spirit that wants to be righteous and able body, to join a movement that can change the world.....but only calls for my dollars. I will part with my money, for after all it is monetary. But never once have I been beaconed by a group that historically has been so instrumental for my life and my family's well-being to give a part or whole my life for the greater good.
Much like other organizations which I have questions for, which the answer is in due time or it is too complicated to explain. The best reply is that I might be off or too negative. NAACP let's see each local chapter have some young, energetic, righteous, active blood in the mix and keep chugging along to the A standard in NA_CP.
Congratulations to the NAACP
Congratulations to the NAACP new president. Perhaps he will be the one to stand up to the cointelpro and MKULTRA attacks that are still being perp-a-trait-ed in this nation against the human race. Perhaps he will be the one to organize the next great march against the racists who were left behind in this country. Perhaps he is not afraid to encourage a nation to live up to its true creed and be great again. The present administration is going to try and stop any who try and expose their corruption. Corruption comes in many colors. This 99-year-old organization deserves our support. God Bless.
One could say this is a start
One could say this is a start in the right direction; but hold up; wait one minute. Just looking at this canvas-something is not quite complete. Seems to me that one young idealist up against many old guards are still unbalance. There still will be control issues; old thinking overriding the single idealist and still the majority wins.
If the NAACP really wants change, there has got to be a makeover. There is a need in this organization for younger men/women. This young man had been chosen to sit in the midst of old thinkers who will, with the majority of power, absolutely crush him like a bug at a picnic table.
He will be limited in what can be done and the dictatorship will be against him if his ideals are too far from the old guards' tower. I don’t mean to sound like a pessimist but I will at least give the NAACP credit for making a small change in leadership, but still a lot younger people need to be on board, in order to convince the people that they really do care about the young voices.
The NAACP has stepped into at least wanting to change and I’m glad to see this happen; maybe now I can believe in their mission again. But I still think more young voices are needed in this organization.
You know what I think happened in the structure of this organization, some of these men were back in the days of terror, who actually witnessed the injustice and brutality of America’s portrayal of protecting its citizens and justice for all. There is probably a lot of resentment coming from the old guards and rightfully so. But what if the old guards never move towards healing and forgiveness even in the face of similarities still going on today? How do you effectively operate in yesterday's hurt and today’s similarities?
I think about how thinking too hard on your hurt can stagnate your growth and have you paralyzed for life.
Hurt is never a good thing but how do you effectively deal with it? People can give you many ideas on how to deal with pain, but to deal with issues that have complicated your life, I as a witness can say that each individual has to face hurt with whatever strength God has given to you. No one person has the answer, but one thing is for sure - that hurt - whose grip is so tight on your heart - will either crush or release you, depends on how you deal with it.
I personally think young people/old guards-if they come together under one umbrella, maybe the organization can move forward. Maybe, just maybe it will work.