This kind of confusion is why many of my generation don't want to participate in the NAACP. It finally got somebody in his 30s to lead the organization but chooses not to give a "unianimous" support. Seriously, isn't this one of the reasons (i.e the bureaucracy) Bruce Gordon resigned a year ago?

Sent by Moji | 8:19 PM ET | 07-15-2008

I think the NAACP needs to change its governance model and operate more efficiently and effectively according to business models in the 21st Century. As the Chair of the Board of a major financial institution, I cannot imagine any modern business having such a large board of directors. The size of the board and the age of the average board member indicates an organization that is not going to attract young adults nor be as efficient as it needs to be with its funds. I continue to hope that Mr. Jealous may be willing and able to do what Mr. Gordon did not do to modernize the NAACP's operations and greatly reduce its board's size.

Sent by Barbara Cuffie | 12:21 AM ET | 07-16-2008

I laugh each time I hear Julian Bond make the claim that the NAACP is a non-partisan organization. Maybe he feels the need to say it enough times so he can actually believe it himself or that, in a future enforcement action by the IRS he can point to the multiple recordings of his own words which indicate so. This is akin to the fast talking voice over in a radio commercial who complies with the law by inaudibly running through the restrictions on the publicity stunt he is pushing upon the people. Certainly his own actions do not support this.

Today's NAACP is conflicted. They have become "ideological-fundamentalists" in that they are committed to their methodology more than their goals. They are unable to deal in a world where "Da Man" is increasingly a Black elected official who now occupies the seat of power which formerly drew their protests - sheriff, mayor, police chief, district attorney. This state of confliction is why, in the face of a horrendous level of Black on Black crimes within our community with the internal terror that it yields upon innocent people and the crumbling educational performance by Black males in our public school system - this organization either says "that's not in our job description because B on B crime is not a civil rights violation and there are other organizations who address these types of incidents" or they take a more "boil the ocean" approach as they seek massive societal change rather than dealing with these specific issues head on. They want to put the blame on the government/society for all that ails Black people who are aggrieved today. Their notion is that one day after having customized the government (read between the lines - put Democratic liberals in place throughout) that these Black males, being accepted without prejudice into this society will be magically transformed and will live happily ever after. No mention about the need for transformation as initiated from within this same group with them living up to some particular set of standards and values as defined within. This would go against the NAACP's spirit of "non-judgmentalism" it seems. The "government responsibility" that the NAACP and others who think like them always seems to be "the government" entity one step above in the hierarchy that needs to change but not the "government" at the local level which they now control after decades of activism and political unity. Thus the big pay off for Black people is that we remain united and continue climbing upward rather than asking that those who now control the lower plateaus on the mountain deliver upon their promises to which they were elected for.

I wonder if those who rationalize the NAACP's positions today would accept the notion that the "little White Klan boys" of the past who terrorized the Black community were doing so because of their own extreme poverty and that their need to suppress Black people because Black labor competed with their own economic interests and thus should be let off the hook for killing and terrorizing Black people because it was "SOCIETY'S FAULT" due to structural imbalances upon poor people? When the NAACP revises their own history to support such a model - please let me know.

I would love to ask Julian Bond of the NAACP if he believe the current low rate of "Homicide Closure" within certain Black communities which allow killers to remain free AND the enforcement of "Stop Snitching" as a means of witness suppression are CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS in the very same manner that they were when White folks did it to Black people.

It appears to me that when today's NAACP sees that a threat to "the Advancement of Colored People" can come from any human being regardless of race and ideology (ie: beyond Black conservatives who disagree with them) and they begin to operate as such their star will stop fading because they will be relevant to the challenge of "Advancement of Colored People" once again. Their own racial and ideological bigotry stands in their way today.

Constructive Feedback
withintheblackcommunity.blogspot.com

Sent by Constructive Feedback | 7:22 AM ET | 07-16-2008

I'm sure they'll have their act together by the time the "Image Awards" roll around.

Sent by Bill M | 9:23 AM ET | 07-16-2008

I'm sure they'll have their act together by the time the "Image Awards" roll around.

Sent by Bill M | 9:23 AM ET | 07-16-2008

My sense is the NAACP will change the manner in which they conduct business AFTER all the old guard dies off and ONLY there is enough young blood left to infuse the organization with a message and direction of change for the better.

Sent by MJ | 3:38 PM ET | 07-16-2008

The NAACP has gone to pot.I am almost seventy years of age now. And very familiar with this organization.Born and raised in Little Rock, Ark. I know the real works done for our race by the NAACP. Shall i say more.I refuse to renew my membership this year, I feel it's useless.They need to get themselves together, Stop the confusion. And some day have an event that "the little person " can attend. It's appears to be the "Big Shot" only organization. I speak to youngsters on the college campus about the NAACP. They say no!!! They can afford the money to join. But that's where it ends. 'They are not Money Makers are
Movie Stars" I did not say it. They did. Just thought i would let you know what the word is out there. I don't have any thing to lose.

Sent by Mary E Williams | 12:20 AM ET | 07-17-2008