The NAACP at 100: Much more work to do
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/06/25/obama.poll/art.chicago.afp.gi.jpg caption="CNN's Blackin America premieres July 22-July 23 8p ET"]
Benjamin Todd Jealous
Special to CNN
As the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People prepares to celebrate its Centennial in New York, the city of its birth, I'm confident that we as a nation have turned an important corner on the long road toward racial and economic equality for all Americans.
Established in 1909 by a core group of black and white Americans, the NAACP's mission has been clarified and sharpened during our first 100 years. We have covered a lot of ground in the march to improve the lives of millions of Americans, but there remains much more work to be done.
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Filed under: Black in America • NAACP |
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I was going to say that i agreed with a comment seen on another page that we don't live in a country where the phrase "colored people" is valid but I can tell by Mike in NYC's comment that African Americans are obviously just bothersome folk with no real gripe. No real oppresion and no real struggles.
Maybe the folks that always post something for Anderson tweets or for Foremen letters won't comment on this article for several reasons but why do they sit back and let people like Mike from NYC represent an opinion that is strong and bold enough to present itself. is it because the others agree with him or are they just not that passionate about the subject?
I will say that I do not BLAME racism for all my pass ovres for jobs i was well qulaified for. I am a single mother, Black and proud of it and I'm 26 yrs old. I come in connect with several -isms daily and I struggle against them daily. But RACISM is not a "perenial problem", it was planted in the minds and hearts, nurtured with stereotypes, and thrives on hate. It's no longer an idea or a vehicle it's a lifestyle for some and a means for others. If anything Obama is one more good example of what my struggle can lead to but he does not resolve every race issue that has ever existed. I wonder how many white people voted for him because he was in fact only half-black?
Have a great weekend to all, especially Mike in NYC.
Thank you for a well needed article – Yes we have a great reason to celebrate the accomplishments the NAACP (NAAPC) have done over the last 100 years. But, as it has been note by previous writers – The solcial economic inbalance goes deeper than racial bondering. We need to empower the people to stand up and elect more qualified politicians – that are committed to bring equality and a greater standard of living to all.
We do not have a "Separate but Equal" educational systems – shame on us for not holding our political and educational leaders to the promise of bringing equal education to all our children through out the nation.
I agree with the article – we have more work to do – but we need to unite and get it done together – stop the fuzzyness – We know that tax payers money will be spent – spend it where it creates equality and progress for the greater number of people – not the few who already have so much more. We need to start in our own communities and make the national changes at the voting booth.
As Bill Clinton would phrase it,"I feel your pain",but it's time to move on ,and stop pointing fingers.There are millions of minorities benifiting from thirty years of affirmitive action,period! Yet, when it comes to helping their brothers,the bulk seem to let the responsibility fall upon their "White Brothers". I am trying to be convincing,as well as concilliatory to your sordid past,long since gone! Example: Large Corp. CEO's,Supreme Court Justices,and judges on every bench,in every branch of Government, Military Generals in all Branches of Service, Senators,Governors,US Rep's,State,and Local House Rep's,and many thousands of millionaires,and several Billionaires,etc.,! So let's start looking within,and unite with the country, rather than dividing it,by a racial divide of false inequality! PS. Please do not take the comment for no more what it is,...the truth! I've never once, have seen any minorities go to improvished countries,to help their ancestry,or for no more than photo-op's,ie.) Ophra?
Looking forward to another 100 years of blacks blaming Whites for their perennial problems.
Actually, if current demographic trends continue, there'll hardly be any Whites left in a century. Problem solved!
I've been an employment discrimination lawyer for 20 years. I GET that blacks were discriminated against and struggled mightily to get on equal footing. But at this point (50 years of CR legislation and AA help) the struggle is about CLASS not RACE. Can we change the topic to what matters now and quit picking at old scars? Affirmative Action on the basis of race is an obselete concept. Age discrimination and class discrimination are the only two types of discrimination that I routinely see in the "real world". And the only "unheard" minorities are natives and the poor (white and black and brown - poor hurts everyone of every color equally).