The convention opened with a plenary session featuring speakers from the civil rights organization’s past and present as well as Governor David Paterson, U.S. congressman Charles Rangel, and U.S. senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
One after another, speakers reiterated that in 21st century, the NAACP’s work is far from done. Cheering audiences affirmed and intensified the sentiment.
“The election of Barack Obama reminds us of the possibilities of a working democracy, but it does not absolve us of our responsibilities,” said Kweisi Mfume, NAACP CEO from 1996 to 2004. Following the election of the United States’ first black president and the NAACP’s 100th anniversary in February, debate over the relevancy of the NAACP began to flood the media.
Some argued that Obama’s ascension to the White House signaled the beginning of a post-racial world, and that the NAACP has already done its part in securing civil rights for blacks. Declining membership two years ago seemed to support the notion. But under the new leadership of the NAACP’s youngest ever president Benjamin Todd Jealous, its membership has grown to 600,000—which is almost as many people as it had in 1964 in the heat of the civil rights movement.
Echoed at the convention is the idea that the NAACP’s work is as important now as when it was founded 100 years ago. Before the NAACP are the persisting issues of under-performing, segregated schools, prohibitive health care and housing costs, unemployment, police brutality, unfair lending, and high incarceration rates among blacks and Hispanics.
In the news just this week is an incident of a private club in the suburbs of Philadelphia that refused 65 black and Hispanic children from using its pool because they “changed the complexion and atmosphere” of the club.
A Broader Perspective
CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous has said, “We are a very black organization, but we are not a black organization.” Under 36-year-old Jealous, the NAACP adopted a broader perspective—one that looks beyond black issues.
Although the NAACP is rooted in the African-American civil rights movement of the 1960s, the organization works toward securing constitutional rights for all people. As stated in their mission statement, their principal objective is “to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of United States” and eliminate racial prejudice among people and in the democratic process.
“We wish to fulfill the dreams of African Americans, both living and dead, along with the dreams of Hispanics and Asian Americans living and dead, and ensure economic, political, and social justice,” said Governor David Paterson in his address to the convention attendees.
Paterson also remarked that the format of the NAACP has served as an example for activist and rights groups that followed it. “Every single group has gone back to the documents of the NAACP for information and guidance,” he said.
The Future Generation
Jealous and previous NAACP heads at various points in their remarks pointed to the young people in the crowd. Recruiting and retaining the future leaders of the NAACP may well prove to be a challenge—few at the convention are between 16 and 36.
However, the youth who are involved with the organization are deeply engaged. LaQuinta Allen is the president of the Broward High School Chapter in Florida. Her chapter includes high school students from all of Broward county.
Because crime a big issue in the area, the chapter has held meetings with law enforcement to promote “communication between police and youth,” said Allen. Members share their opinions about what needs to change in the community during the meetings, she said.
Mykel Isbell, the centennial chair for the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP spoke with The Epoch Times about youth involvement. “Young people of today may wonder ‘Why do I need to join an organization like the NAACP?’ They may see the organization as an old organization filled with old people. Their thinking may very well be true,” she said.
“But the organization’s mission is still that of addressing civil rights, human rights and any other form of discrimination that affects the quality of life for Americans. The NAACP is still addressing many of the same issues it addressed a hundred years ago.”
