Is The Orange County NAACP Ignoring Blacks?
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- Category: Blogs
- Published: Thursday, 04 July 2013 02:19
In an article dated June 27, 2013, Jonathan S. Blount posted scathing comments about the internal workings of the local Orange County Chapter of the NAACP. It appeared that the President of the National NAACP, Ben Jealous, sent an e-mail to Mr. Blount. Mr. Blount then responded to the e-mail by return e-mail.
Read Jonathan S. Blount's original article here.
CommunitySteeple was able to obtain a copy of all correspondences. It appears that the e-mail from President Ben Jealous is nothing more than a general e-mail that is sent to all new members. It also appears that no one from the local or national NAACP office thought it necessary to address Mr. Blount's concerns, publicly or privately.
It just so happens that one of Mr. Blount's concern relates to the Orange County NAACP ignoring of the Black citizens of Orange County, except, of course when ticket sales for dinner are needed.
Here, printed below are copies of the emails. Maybe it is time to discuss the function of the NAACP and it's relevance to Blacks in Orange County, Florida.
Here is the email from Ben Jealous, President National NAACP, less the formatting and personal information.
From: "Benjamin Jealous, NAACP" This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To: Jonathan Sebastian-blount This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 11:24 AM
Subject: Stand tall, Jonathan
NAACP
You're becoming a part of something great, Jonathan.
By choosing to stand with the NAACP you are making a firm statement: I believe in civil rights and human rights for all. It's been our rallying cry for over a century, and we're honored to have you join our cause.
This is a pivotal moment. We are tackling issues with a direct impact on your life: defending the right to vote; expanding access to high quality education and health care; cultivating economic opportunity and improving public safety and justice across America. I'm confident we can make strides towards success on these issues with your help.
Here are two things you can do to get started:
Find your local branch:
There are people organizing all across the country to make our dreams of equality a reality. Log on to NAACP.org to get started.
http://www.naacp.org/findbranch
Become a member:
Your contribution is so much more than a financial investment. Our members are the lifeblood of our organization, leading the charge locally and nationally on the issues we must remedy. Become a member today.
http://www.naacp.org/stand-tall-and-join
Over the past year, we have seen old battles rise anew — specifically, we find ourselves again fighting for the right of every citizen to vote.
This battle is nothing new, nor is the fierceness with which we are fighting against it. Millions of NAACP supporters like you are being empowered to build the type of world we want the next generation of NAACP supporters to grow up in.
And we have one very big thing on our side: we have overcome greater hurdles in the past. The NAACP was founded to eliminate racism and white supremacy and create the day when all Americans would stand shoulder to shoulder on a truly level playing field of justice. Our founders aimed to accelerate America towards the day when justice was realized for all people.
W.E.B. Du Bois said, "The battle we wage is not for ourselves alone but for all true Americans."
Stand taller knowing that you are a part of the NAACP.
Thank you,
Ben
Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP
Here is the email from Jonathan S. Blount to Ben Jealous, minus formatting and personal information.
From: Jonathan Blount This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 12:35 PM
Subject: Stand tall, Jonathan
Thank You Mr. Jealous:
Knowing your history, I appreciate the thrust of your intentions. However, how do you translate this to what is reported to be moribund, stuck in neutral, inbred, power insulated, non advocacy, socializing only local Branches.
As a life member, I repeatedly advocate action for our local branch:
1. Intake new memberships with "E-Mail addresses.
2. Send new members a "Welcome Letter" that invites them to get involved, list available committees and provide a calendar of branch and Committee meetings. List Branch meetings in the "Local newspapers' Calendars of Events. Send members "E" reminders of meetings.
3.Utilize local college interns to administrate digital and supplement other functions.
4.Outreach to local Law Schools, Bar Associations and Lawyers to support Legal Redress and address complaints. A local law school offered to provide space at the law school which was inexplicably rebuffed.
5.Have posted regular Office Hours that are manned by members, volunteers and interns.
6. Establish practices and processes to route issues and complaints.
7.Advocate for the voiceless in the community. Say something about something, do something about something, take issue with something - ANYTHING!
8. Widen the circle of input. Cease dictatorial fiefdoms. Stop decisions being made by an oligarchical elite whereas the members are neither informed and not the least offered to vote on the ratification of autocratic dictum's.
9. When seeking vendors, insure that African American's are included as a priority competitor. NEVER do business without inviting at least 3 bids. Among them should be, at the very least, a qualified African American business.
10. Invite constructive corrective criticism. Establish an implement a membership outreach, re invitation and retention program.
11. Release a periodic "Branch Action Review" column for print, broadcast and web. Post on social media. Send it to the office of the director of Administration as an accountability instrument. Enforce parliamentary procedure. Have an officer who is responsible for insuring that egalitarian process
12. Invite past Branch Presidents to form an Advisory Council to the Branch.
There is much more but if we could start here we can begin to rebuild credibility, relevance and engagement. We can outcrop and organically garden our future. Many of our elder members are leaving us without seeding a new source of energetic replacements leaders in the feeder pipeline. We primarily exist on the laurels of our glorious past. I frequently offer the battle cry, 'WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THE NAACP." I know you are dedicated, as am I, to insuring that we not challenge the future without it.
Supportively and Progressively,
Jonathan Sebastian Blount
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.