Gay People Should Celebrate NAACP's Centennial

Gay people and their allies should take the occasion of the NAACP's centennial to celebrate the NAACP's century of accomplishments and recommit to supporting the organization and its objectives of ending racism in America.

Why?

I'll give you three reasons.

1) The NAACP provides an example of endurance against horrible odds to create equal rights for African American citizens. Thinking back 100 years to 1909, slavery had been abolished for only 60 years, the rights of Black Americans were negligible, lynchings were rampant, and Jim Crow segregation was the law. Much has been accomplished in 100 years and the NAACP has been the pioneering civil rights group that is, in NAACP's president Benjamin Jealous' own words, still radical after all this time. The Gay movement is relatively young and while gay people do endure humiliation, it is important to remember that others have endured similar types of dehumanization -- often much worse. We need to take from the example of the NAACP's courage and longevity.

2) NAACP leaders have been some of the gay community's best allies. Case in point is Julian Bond who eloquently expressed his support of gay people and gay marriage at the Human Rights Campaign dinner this year saying: "Black people, of all people, should not oppose equality, and that is what gay marriage is...at the NAACP, we pledge to do our part." Not bad for an organization that will certainly take some heat among its constituency for taking such as stance. Gay people should make sure that the NAACP knows that when they stick out their necks we have their backs.

3) This is the most important reason that we should support the NAACP: because African Americans still live in a racist society that requires the advocacy and voice of the NAACP. Benjamin Jealous lays out the reality well in this commentary:

African-Americans are disproportionately represented on death row. Of the 3,500 people on death row, about 42 percent are black, and virtually all are poor. Studies underscore that it is race and class, more than guilt, that determines whether a defendant, once convicted, is sentenced to death.




The statistics paint an ongoing portrait of inequality. Unemployment for African-Americans remains twice that of whites and studies show there is no scientific rationale -- neither education nor experience -- that explains the gap. In some American cities, 50 percent of school-aged black men drop out of school and as much as 50 percent of young black men are unemployed.

It seems obvious but sometimes it is worth reminding people that some black people are gay! We need to make sure that everyone in our community enjoys equal rights in America what ever race, religion or nationality. Racism is a gay issue.

Gay people and their allies should take a moment today and go to the website of the NAACP and make a donation in thanks for the 100 years of the advancement of the rights of African Americans, and in doing so advancing the dignity and integrity of all Americans, and the promise of the American Dream.

Comments

[PhilipB]

As an American I celebrate the centennial of the NAACP.
As a gay man with a mixed race family I am not so naive to suppose that those who stand for civil rights do so for all. You say that Gay people and their allies should make a donation. I just wonder who these "allies" are?
I see the Democratic party only making empty promises for contributions. I see some established Gay rights groups also taking contributions with nothing more effectual that cocktail parties. I see religious groups with members of all races actively working as political action groups to enforce Gay in-equality.
So, I wonder why I am supposed to donate money, again, to groups that do not take a firm, effectual stand in overturning DOMA and DADT? Why do I donate to groups that are not actively working in their churches, communities and states to establish marriage equality? In the hope they will change their mind? Perhaps, but I would really rather support groups that not only talk about civil rights, but are actively working for change for the betterment for all who suffer in-equality.
Thanks.

[Nommo]

Where did you see anything about donating money?

[PhilipB]

The end of the article

Gay people and their allies should take a moment today and go to the website of the NAACP and make a donation in thanks for the 100 years of the advancement of the rights of African Americans, and in doing so advancing the dignity and integrity of all Americans, and the promise of the American Dream.

[Michael Rowe - Huffpost Blogger]

It's unfortunate, in light of the sentiments expressed in this excellent post, that the NAACP refuses to take a position on marriage equality, or that anywhere in its 96 page program book for the national conference in New York were there any references to sessions dealing with LGBT issues within the African American community. In the face of apparent official invisibility, it's a bit challenge to see where the LGBT community fits into the NAAP's landscape, however undeniable its superb record of fighting for minority rights has been, and continues to be.

[PhilipB]

Well said.

[MyNameIsJames]

So many people in the NAACP and the African American community are held CAPTIVE by their Christian religious beliefs that they contend -- prohibit them from suppporting equal rights for gay people.

Many are also highly offended that some gay activists are actively comparing their struggle for equal rights with the African American struggle for rights in this nation.

In reality -- there are similarities, but the two are not the same. The comparison between the two struggles has to be done with sensitivity and accuracy - otherwise it creates unessessary conflict.

There IS a debate going on within the African American community on gay rights - However, this debate is very internal and few outside of the community have access to it.

[Grada3784]

"We need to make sure that everyone in our community enjoys equal rights in America what ever race, religion or nationality. " Add sexual orientation and I'll agree.

"Racism is a gay issue." And sexism in any form is a civil rights issue.

I look forward to the day when the 2 communities can walk together in mutual support and community; I just hope I can live long enough to see it.

[Nommo]

So "race, religion, or nationality does not cover all? Does sexual orientation stand on the outside? Did you kind of get the point at all?

[Grada3784]

Up to this point, I'm afraid that sexual orientation does indeed stand on the outside. Still very much so. Otherwise we wouldn't be doing the separate, but equal business of civil unions; separate is not equal - period. It wasn't 55-115 years ago and it isn't today.

[Matt Carter]

Good for you, and thanks for pointing this out. The LGBT movement does owe these civil rights pioneers a debt of gratitude for inventing the wheel as far as the modern American civil rights movement is concerned. It's unfortunate that there's so much racial hostility folded into the current debate, particularly when there are so many people of color who are also LGBT.