Can the NAACP Survive President Obama?
It's survived one hundred years, through segregation and disenfranchisement. But can the NAACP survive Barack Obama?
The election of Obama as president is something of a "careful what you wish for" situation for one of America's oldest civil rights organizations. It's certainly what tens of thousands of NAACP members have been working toward for the last hundred years. But individuals like President Obama, Xerox CEO Ursula Burns, AmEx CEO Ken Chenault, Condi Rice and Colin Powell have become the face of black America -- if not America itself. Their successes have led some to believe racism in the New Millennium has been relegated to the Smithsonian.
It has not.
Similarly, there are those who question whether or not the NAACP can remain relevant in the Obama era.
Necessary, yes. Relevant...?
It's pretty obvious that the NAACP and President Obama have divergent views of their obligations to the black community. Prior to his address to the organization on Thursday night, the president had been expected to reiterate his now standard message of personal responsibility. In particular, the NAACP was looking for specifics on how the president and the government will handle the disproportionate impact of the economic downturn on people of color (many of the NAACP's objectives were previously laid out in the white paper "Year One: Toward Safe Communities, Good Schools and a Fair Chance for All Americans). In the end, there was a lot of the former, a bit of that latter and much of what all could agree on -- a stressing of the importance of education for all kids.
Governmental intervention and personal responsibility are not mutually exclusive issues, but they do frame a "do it ourselves" vs. "what are you doing for us" debate. For the black community, that's a debate that's been raging at least as far back as the W.E.B Du Bois, Booker T. Washington philosophical grudge matches.
None of that prevented Thursday night from being an historic event: the first black president to address the 100th convention of the NAACP.
But one could say that as of Friday morning the future of the NAACP officially begins.
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Professor Gates, Jr. apparently is so fixated on his African-American centric philosophy (which perpetuates the myth of victomhood and espouses a false claim of entitlement) that, he appears, unfortunately, to have been derelict in developing the most basic virtues of civility and prudence.
Wow,
After last evening's press conference. It would appear that both the President and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. might need some assistance in protecting their civil rights. Since the post-racial BS has been put to rest, the real question, now, is whether Obama/Gates can do without without NAACP?
Again ... wow...what a prophetic blog ... but only in reverse ... classic.
when they put out a press release TRYING TO DEFEND MICHAEL VICK.. thats when I lost all respect for the NAACP.
for all the things the NAACP could stand up for the advancement of minorities
And with civil rights comes responsibility, when the NAACP got it's start it was for the people (justice) was why it was introduced because a certain (class) of people were not treated fairly although laws were put in place for all people (blacks) were considered second class citizens in other words not equal to whites. I see this a lot whenever an organization start off in new beginings after awhile we seem to think we have arrived, when we get to a point of notarity, in this race it is a continual fight for your and mine right, believe it or not history can repeat itself I am not saying that the NAACP has not help many but nothing stays the same if you want growth you have to be willing to (change). If something need an overhaul so be it, don't get angry if someone says "hey we need a new direction". I still say that NAACP can be the one's who can truely lead the "No Child Left Behind" because our male youth are dropping out at a alarming rate, when you pick the torch up to carry then run your course, the problems in the forties,fifties, sixties for blacks are not the same problems for the black today,we will never forget what the NAACP role was back in the day and we should'nt but I'm tired of one's thinking that "all is okay" we need an overhaul and help for our black young male youth. Period
I am sick and tired of Whites, Blacks and others trying to make the NAACP do more than it's mission statment implies, The NAACP is not the federal government, a grass roots organization, church or intellectual think tank it is a civil rights organization !!!!!
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
Vision Statement
The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.
Objectives
The following statement of objectives is found on the first page of the NAACP Constitution — the principal objectives of the Association shall be:
•To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens
•To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States
•To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes
•To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights
•To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination
•To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP's Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution
"I am sick and tired of Whites, Blacks and others trying to make the NAACP do more than it's mission statment implies."
Companies, organizations, and non-profits change mission statements all the time. Regardless, I don't think the point is for the NAACP to change its mission, but to consider updates that will better serve that mission in the 21st century. It's called the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. There should be no reason why it cannot adopt change to further the cause of "advancing" people of color. In the past, legal constraints were the biggest obstacle. Today, they're still significant, but we also have a great number independent studies and statistics at our disposal, which can lead to creating social change on a grass roots level. If an established civil rights organization like the NAACP is not up to the task of embracing this sort of change, then all we can do is hope that someone else steps up to the plate instead. While Obama is a crucial player, he also has an economy to cure, foreign policy to fix, and nuclear proliferation to keep him up at night. Not to mention the fact that he represents all people in this nation, not just a select group.
Finally, "Whites, Blacks and others" pretty much implies "people." You might as well expend less energy next time and just use that word instead.
Then he should stop bailing of Goldman Sachs and other big buisness because that's who he truly represents so for all the criticism of the NAACP and other Black organzations "NOT DOING ANYTHING" to stop problems that affect the African- American community what are Black White and other people doing to help besides playing 'MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK complaining !!!!
I BET MANY OF YOU ARE JUST TALKING A WHOLE LOT OF DOG CRAP BEHIND YOUR COMPUTERS INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY DOING GRASSROOTS WORK
All the NAACP do is host large big ticketed dinners and image awards. They are NOT addressing the BLACK ON BLACK CRIME in communities where the majority of their members resides. They are not addressing the social ills that affect the black community.
I agree with your comment. I am a African-American Baby Boomer that grew up watching the history, glory, and sadness of the sacrifices made by Martin L King, the Kennedy Brothers, Medgar Evers, Cheney, Swener, and Goodman, etc. The NAACP of that time was key to the work of the civil rights movement. The NAACP of 2009 seems to be more concerned with celebrities at the Image Awards then genuinely making a difference for people of color. The NAACP revisit the message of Dr. King's book titled, Why We Can't Wait. The historical place of the NAACP in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1940s through the 1970s is undisputed. The 2009 NAACP is far from what Dr. King worked and died for. I am so proud of President Obama and his message of responsibility. We need to confront discrimination, but we as a people need to get back on track with the formula that got us where we are today. Hard work, getting an education, and having respectful responsible behavior. We had to be better than white folk but it made us stronger. We must do better especially with raising the kids to do more to be more.
The NAACP does not have the time to address black on black crime or gang ridden neighborhoods. They must spend their time making sure the number of black coaches in college and professional sports increases. Whatever time is left over is used to increase the number of blacks behind the camera in hollywood.
I understand and do respect what accomplishments that the NAACP has made, I don't believe anyone can are will dispute that,but like anything there need to be improvement. Most of the bloggers aren't saying that NAACP has not been in the forefront of many changes but this is 2009 and the things that plagued black people then aren't the same as things that are plaguing us today. In fact if flavor must say we have gone backwards a little, at the time of the forties, fifties, sixties, black people cared about education they walked miles to school, going to college was a big dream for our males as well as females, education was important but today the black women are leading the black males for as education and jobs. True, enough dads were more invovled and they were in the home and this does make a difference. I said, yesterday on this post that the NAACP could be in the forefront for the "no child left behind" which was a joke to the poor areas, when the Bush administration was in, also they could be in the forefront for as healthy kids, we have the heaviest children today. Yes, we all could improve and with that comes (change), people with ideas to go to the next level and so that would mean admitt we need not to do buisness as usual, because we are not growing.
the NAACP is so so irrelivent
get rid of the NAACP.. its ran by blacks no wonder it not advancing.
the NAACP.. is so overated.. when was the last time they did ANYTHING for the advancement of minorities
The NAACP arose as a response to 'lynchings' throughout America and across the South, in fact they kept a counter at their headquarters initially to draw attention to the American government ignoring these brutal killings. And, over the years they were clearly behind much of the work that later created anti-lynching laws and then Civil Rights laws, which still are on the books today.
The question of their relevancy is one that can be asked, but no necessarily answered by one's personal experiences; as today the US Government has broaden its reach into Employment and created agencies like the EEOC to handle rote workplace discrimination. Your situation which can not be surmise from your brief post can be addressed and is being addressed everyday, but the path isn't easy because discriminate cases are more difficult to prove because of right wing activism against existing laws.
The NAACP main challenge is success; that of an emerging black middle class which no longer sees itself as aggrieved souls first, and a too large Board of Directors which swoll to 250 persons at one point. It seems that some were only willing to help, if there names were on the organization's letterhead. This created mailaise and this created a log jam of egos which tripped and tripped up a progressive agenda.
Your anger aside, the challenges for a NAACP are still very much alive.
Well said, you should write for a newspaper. You hit my point exactly.
Good point, but the issue the evolving of racial relations, and Obama is the personification of the new way of thinking, the NAACP, the old. The NAACP needs to change- not abandon its principles, but change how it looks at American society- there is still racism, true, and all races will have racists / stupid people. But the future lies in the name- the "Advancement"-- providing a support network for what is stereotyped as "blacks." Improving education, and encouraging kids towards intellectual pursuits, providing role models, financial support for budding business owners, forums, improving communities, etc.
And facing another issue that all races ignore- what about mixed race people? that is- if a person is one fourth "Black" is he or her still "black"? Turn it around and ask the same question, but substitute white for black, and see if you have the same reaction. This is the question posed by Obama- not verbally, but simply by him being a mixed race person, now in the spotlight for all to see. This is the question all of America has to face and answer, and I think there is no simple answer.
Isn't the point to make sure one day the NAACP is irrelevent? I think the NAACP has served a useful purpose but I'm not too impressed with the organization overall. And we don't even call people "colored" any longer. Obama must serve as a role model for black men when it comes to raising a family ....then real advancement of "colored people" as a whole can happen.
Much of the argument on this subject centers around the relevancy of the NAACP, but I would argue that any organization fighting to correct constitutional injustices carried out against a specific group of people is always relevant. Still, societies change over time, and those organizations must make adjustments to accommodate its altered surroundings. There should be no question to the persistence of racism in our society, and it's existence is quite evident when considering the numerous legal battles fought and won by the NAACP throughout the past twenty years. Yet victimization is real, and the organization must recognize it as a roadblock to the advancement of minorities, especially within the constrictive confines of urban areas. Without a strong sense of discipline and personal responsibility, no individual can advance in our society, and President Obama is right to make it a strong focal point in his speeches to African Americans. As @Amir Rahim points out, the NAACP is not taking advantage of great tools at its disposal, in the form of think tanks, PR, and branding. It should be tapping Web 2.0, which fosters the sort of intellectual discussion seen here. If Barack Obama could do it, so can the NAACP.
Can Blacks swim in the same pool with Whites ! Then the NAACP is very much needed . Penn
As long as elected republicans feel comfortable sending blatantly racist emails to each other, the NAACP remains relevant.
Why is the NAACP not leading the fight on riding the neighborhood of gangs.
In a word, 'class', the NAACP became an organization that sought out famous folks, as the life blood of any organization is fundraising. Those who were the key souls, in other words the ones in the trenches working in tough neighborhoods weren't well known enough to squeeze into the seats at the table, and thus the organization took on a childish discord, over frankly, personalities.
Many of the folks who then became Board members weren't activists and neither were they willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty; so as more settled and financially safe people became to characterize these boards, those who were doing the work, per se, were left out of the process. The NAACP became a safe group for liberal whites to join and to give money and for republicans to quote and look like they were down with the cause. But, the 'cause' became internal conflict, sex and pay outs which left this once proud organization in the red, and sorely in need of real stronger leadership.
Jealous today's President, is in the same boat as his precedessor, he needs money and he needs to balance it with actual soldiers who can bring relevance to this organization. While it won't be easy, I have saw that my 12 year is a member and will remain one throughout her life.
That's a small start.
Get rid of the Blame America First Crowd and work to make the community a better place. The white liberal is no friend.
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