On a landmark anniversary, civil rights workers still make key contribution
A woman enters a mid-Wilshire building that houses the offices of the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP. The civil rights organization celebrated its 100th anniversary Feb. 12. (Photo by Gary McCarthy) Ever since President Barack Obama’s election last fall, there has been a idea bubbling, mostly on the right, that his ascent to the White House invalidates the work of civil rights activists still dedicated to protecting the rights of African-Americans and uplifting Black people the world over. That idea is dangerously in error, and on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, we urge the NAACP and organizations like it to fight on in the quest for the day when all Americans can expect equal treatment in all areas of life, regardless of political rank. Not that the NAACP shouldn’t adapt to the times. In an interview last week, its newly named president, Benjamin Jealous, signaled a shift in focus that he said “will revive our legacy as a human rights organization.” The upshot: expect a broader focus on issues like education and health-care. “The president being Black gives us no advantage,” Jealous told Associated Press. “We will be the people at the end of the day who help make him do what he knows he should do.” Such a shift does not compromise the NAACP or its historic mission. In fact, it holds forth the distinct possibility of enhancing its work, chiefly by providing room to work more closely with organizations representing non-Blacks. This can only help the cause, particularly in the collaborative environment that Obama is attempting to foster around public policy debates. To those who remain convinced that an African-American in the Oval Office somehow renders civil rights work moot, consider only a few recent issues that the NAACP has addressed — and the president, pointedly, has not. In one, the unprovoked, videotaped killing of an unarmed Black man by transit police in Oakland, the state NAACP president used the strident language of the civil rights tradition to express frustration that “law enforcement agencies at all levels … continue to look on passively when young African American lives are being violated by the very people who are sworn to protect them.” Last month, a study commissioned by the organization found what it called “rampant” discrimination in the advertising industry, where Black college graduates earn an average of 20 percent less than White counterparts with similar qualifications. We cannot — and should not — expect the first Black president of the United States to take on every issue of specific concern to African-Americans. What we can — and must — do is remain committed to supporting the work of those who refuse to abandon a mission of seeking equality for all. said on Friday, Apr 10 at 8:51 AM You are surviving the recession and you are waiting for the recovery. Now, while you wait for the recovery and the chance to once again make some money, take a look at these marketing recommendations and plan ahead, but also the main key for your small business. Focus on high-potential customers, don't assume a return to normal, assess your target customers, trust in your brand, stay focused on costs, know your lead indicators, develop scenarios and don't wait for permission. Th Inappropriate? Alert Us! Add a commentMost Popular
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