100 Years of the NAACP, and That’s More Than Enough
When my great aunt turned 100 years old, I asked her how she managed to stay alive for so long. She said, “a cocktail everyday, a good attitude and never being afraid of change.” She passed away a few years ago, but she was a woman full of life who could inspire you to do great things. She was also a no-nonsense woman and didn’t take excuses for bad behavior. The NAACP could have learned a lot from my aunt.
The organization marked its 100th anniversary this week and got visits from both President Barack Obama and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. It says quite a bit that both the President and the leader of the loyal opposition are both African-American, because 25 years ago, both scenarios would have been very unlikely. Both both men show progress has been made in political arena and it’s time for organizations like the NAACP to change or die.
It was one thing to fight for education back in the 1950s with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education, but now organizations like the NAACP tend to oppose vouchers and school choice which would uplift millions of Black children out of failing schools.
The NAACP says it wants to protect voters from disenfranchisement, but when the polls in Marion County didn’t open in the May 2007 primary and more than 3100 voters were locked out of the polls, the local organization was absolutely nowhere to be found. But it was extremely vocal on the issue of Voter ID where the plaintiffs couldn’t produce one victim of disenfranchisement.
Even in cases of alleged racial discrimination, bad press and a 24-hour news cycle are more likely to call wrongdoers on the carpet and get corrective measures taken than the NAACP.
When I look at the status of Black America, more Blacks graduating from college, earning higher incomes, running Fortune 500 companies and a Black President and head of the RNC, I truly have to wonder why the NAACP is still needed?
And if the NAACP isn’t going to go away gently into that good night, the very least they could change the organization’s name to the National Association for the Advancement of African-Americans! NAAAA, just go away.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:43 am
“The pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By African-American women paid less for doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and a different gender. By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim Americans viewed with suspicion simply because they kneel down to pray to their God. By our gay brothers and sisters, still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights.”
–President Barack Obama, in a speech to the NAACP
July 17th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Folks wanting the real story on the NAACP need to read The Jewish Revolutionary Spirit and Its Impact on World History. Shorter would be Dostoyevsky on Reconstruction.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Nice play with the anacronym. :)
My opinion has always been that the NAACP is a deceptive organization whose unspoken core principles are to maintain and highlight a racial divide rather than to promote true harmonization and equality. Your examples are the kinds of items that make my case self-evident.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Abdul, a black man's perspective on the NAACP is instructive to me.
Generally, whatever legal groups people want to form and join, is fine with me.
But by any standard, the President's speech yesterday was valuable and compelling. He has previously opined on fatherhood and responsible parenting among minorities.
I can only imagine what a couple of commenters will post hereafter.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Hogwash!
America is what every American makes it for themselves.
Black or white, gay or straight, male or female we all have the same rights.
This is 2009 who cares if someone is gay? Who sees the color of skin and makes decisions based on pigmentation?
Racism will die if the old racists will quit bringing up the past.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Oddly enough, the GOP has NO Black Republicans whatsoever in either the Indiana Legislature or the U.S. Congress … any and all African-Americans there are Democrats. It seems the GOP does still exclude some Americans on the basis of pigmentation — it's time for such racism to end!
July 17th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
IndyErnie, obviously the military cares if you are gay or straight….states care if you are gay or straight when issuing marriage licenses….hospitals care if you are gay or straight when allowing “family” members only to visit. The NAACP represents all groups who are being discriminated against because of race, creed, religion ethnic backgroup and sexual orientation. The NAACP is still greatly needed and an asset to help make sure that all people guaranteed their rights are able to access those rights.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Now that the NAACP is union instrument, shouldn't the federal government take them over & reorganize operations overseas somewhere?
July 17th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Just a thought from an “ole white guy”: have a lot of concerns about special anything—seems strange that certain “special interest groups” can have big time events and organizations that would more than raise a few protests if for example: “White History Month”, “White Expo”, “Indiana White caucas”, or on and on. IF discrimination based on any particular factor is ever to be gone then one thing might be for there to be no “special rights” groups or organizations be given publicity. I am not denying the existence or the past history of concerns (in this country and around the world and in many nations where it even involves caste systems both recognized and not officially recognized, or sexism, and on and on) but just seems that reverse discrimination continues to be acceptable and that should not be either. Oh well still believe it will take a lot more funerals for a real “equal” society to exist.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
When I–an African-American, Ivy League-educated woman with a law degree and PhD–can walk past a white woman on the streets of Indianapolis without her holding tightly onto her purse, and looking at me in fear, I'll know that I am not being discriminated against because of the color of my skin.
Until you have personally experienced what I have, your comments have no merit. . . We may all have the same rights, but we are still not treated equally. So yes, the NAACP still serves a purpose–it is to fight for the rights of ALL citizens, regardless of skin color. If in doubt, do the research, and find out how and why the organization was formed. Do not speak in ignorance.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Agman, that narrow argument may work in your small mind, but it doesn't work in the law. Nor among many others.
If groups of individuals want to collectively meet and discuss anything, including perceived or real racism,it's their right. Why are you and Dave so afraid of it? It challenges your rights not one bit.
Lighten up. Nobody is a threat to your ideas or your rights, unless you let them.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
When I – An Anglo mutt, state educated man with an MBA – can walk past a group of African-American men without sneers and contempt, or sticking their hands out for money, I'll know that I am not being discriminated against because of the color of my skin.
See, it fits both ways. This is why any group that points out the differences instead of the similarities of people proves, in the long run, to be divisive.
To illustrate my point: I like cream soda, apples, great comedy, puppies, driving fast, old Motown, the smell of fresh bread baking and reading blogs. Is there anything in the list that you like? If so, we have more in common than being human beings.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Maybe you folks are right but I still believe that when the old racists die both black and white, racism will die with them.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
This morning a young black girl switched lanes without signaling or looking over her shoulder and almost hit me, I was on my bike.
I honked my horn and revved the motor and changed lanes to avoid her. At the next light I informed her that she could have hit me. Her response? She called me a crazy F***ing honky and she drove off. At the next intersection she turned into the traffic court on Shadeland Ave. Seems fitting I should have followed and had a talk with the Judge but I didn't.
How will the NAACP stop this kind of racism?
July 17th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Wilson you know as well as I that talented & qualified AA Republicans have ran in Marion County only to be threatened and beat down by the Ghetto Mafia.
The democrats continue to run and get elected the least qualified candidates. One only has to look at the Carson's in the 7th or to research Crawford to confirm this.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
So explain away (if you can) where there are NO Black Republicans elected from anywhere in the State of Indiana to the Legislature or anywhere in the United States of America to the U.S. Congress. Not just Indianapolis. No Black Republican Congresscritters from anywhere!
The power of the Ghetto Mafia (your phrase) does not extend coast to coast. There is something in the Republican Party that keeps African-Americans from getting elected as Republicans. Tokens are allowed to run in unelectable races (Marvin Scott & Eric Dickerson are good examples of this). The highest ranking Black GOP elected official is the Texas Commissioner of Railroads. No Black Republican Governor or Lieutenant Governor or Secretary of State, etc. anywhere.
Yes, discrimination based on pigmentation is still at work in the GOP everywhere in the USA. Frankly, Ernie, you are part of this problem. Keep up your constant insults of popular Black leaders — it's a great way to alienate Black voters!
July 17th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Pay your dues to the NAACP and then find out…….
July 17th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Roughly half the births nationally are out of wedlock. 89% for single black females in Marion County approx 18 months ago. I would like to see our verbally gifted and inspiring President make his lecturing and opining on the need of parental “responsibility” into concrete policy. I believe we have inreffutable stats on the failure of single parenting, yet he sees logic in the questionable venture of absobring our entire national health care system. We have no equitable and fiscally sound means to accomplish this with trillions in debt, deficit, and enormous unfunded obligations in Medicare NOW.
.
Peter Peterson said it best on 'Charlie Rose'- If we ever have leadership with guts, they'll appoint a bipartisan commission, similar to the base commissions, to make the tough recommendations on across-the-board reductions for an up and down vote.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
NO…the GOP only lets African Americans run in heavily Democratic districts. If the GOP was serious then it would nominate an African American in one of the districts that are 60+% republican……….that will never happen though.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Wilson I don't insult Black leaders. Being elected to office doesn't make one a leader. One is elected to office to serve, not lead. Anyway Carson nor Crawford are leaders of anyone even though Carson thinks that he is smarter than 95% of the AA population. Carson votes as directed by the democrat power in DC that isn't leadership.
Ghetto Mafia is hardly my phrase since the Carson Crew (Duncan, Drummer etc) have referred to themselves with that term for years.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I would like all of you to attend an NAACP meeting in Indianapolis. It is simply another forum for organized labor, green activists, and assorted other liberal interests. I tend to agree with Abdul only because I believe that there is no longer a distinct “colored” mission in the NAACP. The groups that are at the meeting are represented more capably by other groups. It is also a very mixed ethnic group. I would estimate that the attendees are split 50/50 in terms of white and non-white.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
WHOGAS
July 17th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Taxpayer–pay attention. He has spoken on those issues. Specifically, he told young black males, that fathering a baby, in and of itself, did not make a good father. Rather, that solid parenting, a job, education and providing for that child and loving it–those were his points.
More than once.
If he keeps saying it, just like Bill Cosby did eight years ago, it might start to sink in. The statistics are just overwhelming, and have been heading in an upward curve (unmarried young black females having children) for 30 years. This problem will not go away soon, but talking about it bluntly will help.
And there are disturbing trends among poor whites, too.
July 17th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Crazy honky? What, did a black girl from 1972 cut you off?
July 17th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
The GOP can't stop an AA from running, you are puzzled.
July 17th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Her words not mine.
July 17th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Wilson is NOT black. He exists as the Democrat disinformation campaign.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Indy4U2C is just poor Jocelyn Tandy — the highlight of her political career was as the campaign manager for the crossdressing felon who ran against Dan Burton a few years ago. Really! They were even featured on the Comedy Channel — it was so incredible and outrageous!
July 17th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Think again—–again witness the attack the writer not the thought. Why is it that on so many blogs the attacks get real personal competely abandoning any semblence of staying issue oriented. But, that said, why is it not legitimate to question the favored status of any group and why pay extra attention as if the group spoke for every member of the noted group. Oh well, still consider the funerals as a solution to many concerns and I guess my “small mind” being gone will clear the air of all concerns.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
As I praised our President's pursuit of pirates, better gas mileage, and off-shore tax shelters, I haven't been totally asleep in a corner somewhere. I've railed and lambasted the overblown biological “rights” of all parents, all races, regularly in this forum when it comes at the cost of abuse and neglect of children. Unfortunately, it's practically Shakespearian to have the right player, voice, time, place, and audience (worldwide, mind you)- but he only plays to half the house! When our President and Congress demand (and practice by example), bipartisan, demographic-wide sacrifice from all our populace, then we then have a chance to save our country. Spending more money we don't have and expecting our creditors to keep our lifestyle afloat is rapidly vanishing. Reuters and The Economist seem to be paying attention.
July 18th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
As I praised our President's pursuit of pirates, better gas mileage, and off-shore tax shelters, I haven't been totally asleep in a corner somewhere. I've railed and lambasted the overblown biological “rights” of all parents, all races, regularly in this forum when it comes at the cost of abuse and neglect of children. Unfortunately, it's practically Shakespearian to have the right player, voice, time, place, and audience (worldwide, mind you)- but he only plays to half the house! When our President and Congress demand (and practice by example), bipartisan, demographic-wide sacrifice from all our populace, then we then have a chance to save our country. Spending more money we don't have and expecting our creditors to keep our lifestyle afloat is rapidly vanishing. Reuters and The Economist seem to be paying attention.