Who Needs the NAACP?

[Gee-Are]

abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5649192&page=1

Interesting article...apparently a new 35 year old president is taking the reins and they're hoping can draw younger participants.

Do you think it's still relevant?

Are any of you members?

Have you ever been members?

I was a member in college and let it die there.

[Bunny Hop]

I was a member for some months in college. I didn't like that chapter. It was very cliquish. The president got folks all riled up on FALSE information regarding the Civil Right museum in Memphis and then seemed to take offense to being corrected. He had folks talking about taking bus trips and stuff. I remember him canceling the bus trip but I don't recall him ever correcting the information...which is when I stopped going to the meetings. That was some stuff I didn't want to be involved with at all and I don't wish to be involved with it to this day.

[Highly Favored]

I am not a member and never have been, though I have attended a few meetings and supported a few initiatives a long time ago.

IMHO, it is an organization that could be relevant and quite effective, but has lost so much of its credibility because of pursuing trivia rather than becoming involved in issues that really matter. At least that's all I've seen in our day.

[huey]

Do you think it's still relevant? Yes

Are any of you members?Yes, due paying member, not active in the Adult branch. This year i will be though.

Have you ever been members?Yes, was Vice President of my college chapter for 3 years.

[No Screen Name]

I have never been a member.

Sept 2, 2008 13:17:52 GMT -5 Highly Favored said:

IMHO, it is an organization that could be relevant and quite effective, but has lost so much of its credibility because of pursuing trivia rather than becoming involved in issues that really matter. At least that's all I've seen in our day.

That's pretty much how I feel. I hate to say it, but to some extent that's how I feel about MOST of the organizations in the Black community--and churches, too.

[Vudu_Prince]

My chapter gave them $300 one time. They were struggling with membership and wanted to do some events and stuff. On my yard the YWCA were bigger than they were. I remember the president was a fineeeeeee chocolate sistah too. Umm Umm Umm

Maybe thats why I pushed for the $300 to help them out. lol

[Cambist]

All I notice is a bunch of preachers and wanna be preachers out looking for the next march. Most have curls and are pretty greasy looking. Many presidents don't have a clue that the '60s are over....it's sad.

The organization had the chance to move forward with it's previously chosen president but since he wanted to move away from screaming "RACISM" at every corner and focus on building the Black community....the parted ways. Then they put in a young, party line toting, yes man.

Bond wants someone to suck his dyck on the regular and he obviously found his man.

Having said that, I think their ACT-SO competitiion is WONDERFUL! If you've never attended this program you have missed out on some of the most talented and brilliant minds amongst our Black youth.

The NAACP needs to move away from trying to be a purly social justice organization and focus on the Advancement of Colored People!

They need to realize that singing "We shall overcome" no long works.

[No Screen Name]

DANG you hit the nail on the head! Our NAACP president looks EXACTLY like you described--curl and all. He's a preacher, too.

What was the last president's name again? I always forget. He had some really good ideas, but if I remember correctly the sixty-something member board didn't approve of them.

[T-Rex91]

I am hoping that this young man can come in and right the organization. Yes, I agree in the organization's fundamental need in our society but they are so off track it's almost comical. His first order of business should be cutting down the ~60 member board. Who can make decisions with THAT many people flexing and trying to push their own agendas? Most corporate boards are 10-15 people tops. The NAACP's is ridiculous. Though the NAACP still stands up for some good causes, they still spend most of their time looking for conspiracies where I don't believe they exist. Everything is not "because you're black" and I think young people get tired of that tired old argument. Let's get moving on the deeper issues driving the widening gap between the black elite and the black poor instead of looking at "the man" as the source of all our ills.

[dashriprock]

IMO The biggest problem with the NAACP moving forward and becoming a viable and influential organization is their Board. Those old fossils continue to hold a tight rein on the organization and only want to focus on their version of Civil Rights. The new age now needs to really focus on economics, education and empowerment. Listen to what BO and Bill Cosby said rather than stunt on them. We have Civil Rights, you can go to any restaurant you want but do you have the funds to go? The Board needs to be cut in half and they need to let the President truly run the day to day and not keep their hands in the pie as much.

[Southie]

I do not even think about the NAACP, so that in itself is a big problem. Their relevance has been questioned for several years, so I think the org really needs to focus on why they are still around and convince people that they are viable. Hearing about this great org, when their is a controversery is not a good look.

[Highly Favored]

Sept 2, 2008 15:24:30 GMT -5 T-Rex91 said:

I am hoping that this young man can come in and right the organization. Yes, I agree in the organization's fundamental need in our society but they are so off track it's almost comical. His first order of business should be cutting down the ~60 member board. Who can make decisions with THAT many people flexing and trying to push their own agendas? Most corporate boards are 10-15 people tops. The NAACP's is ridiculous. Though the NAACP still stands up for some good causes, they still spend most of their time looking for conspiracies where I don't believe they exist. Everything is not "because you're black" and I think young people get tired of that tired old argument. Let's get moving on the deeper issues driving the widening gap between the black elite and the black poor instead of looking at "the man" as the source of all our ills.

Exactly.

[Worthy Most Ancient Matron]

Ditto to what everyone else has said. I was a member of their youth chapter in high school, their collegiate chapter in college and the adult chapter SEVERAL years ago. I just recently re-joined (like four months ago) and it's pretty much the same as I remember, a big bunch of nothing.