Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010

Not my NAACP

What happened to the NAACP? Where is the organization that had my back when my siblings and I integrated an elementary school in Chester, S.C.? Where is the organization that had my back when I integrated a middle-school football team in Huntsville, Ala.? That organization does not exist anymore.

Recently, the NAACP had its national meeting in Kansas City. Maybe they discussed the need for vouchers in public schools to give black parents the opportunity to pick where their kids go to school? Nope. Teachers unions wouldn't put up with that. Maybe they discussed the national fatherhood initiative to get black men more involved with their kids? Nope. How about promoting the Boys and Girl Scouts in inner cities? Nope. Gay rights organizations are not interested in any of that fatherhood or scout stuff. The NAACP does not talk about issues that might affect the money flow from influential liberal organizations.

So what did this great meeting of black liberal minds come up with? Calling some members of another organization - the tea party - racist. This is in spite of the fact that there are many black people who support the tea party movement.

The current version of the NAACP is about as relevant as a rock with lips.

William T. Long III

Fayetteville