Kennedy Skips Out On Own NAACP Award
It’s not everyday I attend anything held by the NAACP. I am not a fan of their politics and I personally think they have gotten away from empowering African-Americans and towards promoting policies and programs that make Blacks more dependent on government. With that said, I am not above accepting an invitation from a friend and showing up at an NAACP event or two just to check out the lay of the land. Plus, the food was free.
So Thursday night, I decided to attend the NAACP’s 42nd Annual Life Membership Banquet. I had heard through the rumor mill that some Marion County Democrats were not pleased that Republican Mayor Greg Ballard was going to speak and they had planned to boycott, so I figured I’d attend and see if the rumor was true.
It turns out they did not boycott, but it also turns out that Democrat Melina Kennedy was on the program. She was slated to do the “Membership Appeal” which encouraged people in the audience who weren’t members of the NAACP to join. Kennedy was also a “Life Member” which meant she paid at least $750 in annual installments of $75 for the privilege. I figured this must have been a way to placate the Democrats concerns that Ballard was speaking. Because it seemed odd that Kennedy would do the appeal when there were plenty of people in the room who were also “Life Members” of the organization. Kennedy did the appeal and took a couple backhanded shots at Ballard over satellite voting and other things. That didn’t surprise me I actually expected it. What did shock me was that after doing her song and dance she left.
She did not stay for Matt Gutwein of Wishard Hospital’s keynote speech. Nor did she stay for the presentation of awards to Pike Superintendent Nate Jones, Federal Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, Dr. Virgina Caine of the Marion County Department of Public Health, nor the posthumous award for Graham Edward Martin; one the 13 African-Americans enlisted men who became the first Black commissioned and warrant officers in the U.S. Navy. Heck, for that matter Kennedy didn’t stay to receive her own award for being a lifetime member, instead an aide picked it up for her. I would love to know why she bolted because the emcee didn’t say anything; maybe she had a 9 p.m. fundraiser or something.
Now, this is the part where you say, “Abdul, why do you care whether she stayed or left? You’re not a big fan of the NAACP anyway.” Well you’re right, I am not a big fan of the NAACP, but I find it interesting that the Republican who Marion County Democrats love to insinuate is everything from insensitive to outright racist over things like satellite voting, minority hiring, closing pools to make needed repairs and promotions in the police department not only stayed for the entire event, but also hung around afterward to chat and take pictures. Kennedy bolted like a rat out of an aqueduct (Monty Python reference) as soon as she was done. There is something wrong when I stick around longer than she does and I did not have to be there nor do I agree with the organization’s political agenda.
Now if the Mayor had left after he spoke and not stayed for the program, someone would have probably filed a civil rights complaint and demanded the sheets be pulled off his bed to check and see if there any holes in them. Kennedy left and I seriously doubt if anyone noticed. But I guess, this was one of those instances where the style was over the substance. And style didn’t even have the decency to stick around and pick up her award for being a lifetime member of a civil rights organization.
Let the comments begin.
