All thunder no lightning: “NAACP delegates 'bury' the N-word”

It appears that the NAACP has “Buried” the N-word. Well, to quote various Vulcans and occasionally Captain Picard and Commander Data: “Fascinating”.

I understand where the NAACP’s heart is at, but I’m from Chicago, and I’ve seen one “prayer vigil / march” too many.

You see every time some child gets shot in Chicago, or is otherwise the victim of violent crime, organizations like the NAACP come out and have marches, demand change, and things just continue.

Let me clarify something before I continue, I understand the NAACP has done many great things for African Americans and the United States in general, however; I do feel that the organization (and the so-called Black Leadership in the United States in general) utilizes a civil rights paradigm to handle the problems that the African American community currently has, and that paradigm just doesn't cut it.

That “civil rights” paradigm is ill suited to deal with what ails us as a community today. A prime example of this is this good hearted but ultimately useless symbolic exercise. Burying a word that probably has just been used 7,500,000 times today (in Atlanta alone) is a waste of time.

Instead of this exercise in futility I would like to see the NAACP deal directly and very publicly with the problems our community collectively is facing, i.e: Failing Schools, Misogyny, Drug use, etc., etc. (and maybe they are). I'm not saying that they aren't, however If they are, I have seen very little evidence of it or results from it.

Thoughts anyone?

Comments

[CreoleInDC]

I have nothing to say to this.

[Thom]

"Failing Schools, Misogyny, Drug use, etc., etc."

They could just bury those things next the (N) Word. Afterall, that usually works with most problems-right? Complain, sweep under rug, ignore and repeat?

[DJ Black Adam]

@Creole:

No comment? Feel free I would love to hear (or read) your thoughts.

@Thom:

Great analogy. It is like that.

[Cluizel]

Sigh...it always just bothers me to see our "leaders" waste time, energy and money on silly things.

Ok...you buried the "n" word...now what? In my hometown the mayor spent MILLIONS converting an intersection into a roundabout...but the library has a leaky roof with no books, metal detectors are in schools, there is no growth...but we have a circle!

yeah...its all just for appearance...the real issues take real work and won't necessarily provide photo ops.

[DJ Black Adam]

@Cluziel:

You said it. As Q-Tip said "It's all expected, things are for the lookin..."

[dcsavvystar]

okay - now i have to say, i would feel so much better if we were burying the concept of accepting failing grades/schools for our children.

[Mizrepresent]

I'm with you on this one dear...too many other important things like our children's safety, better schools, healthcare issues, employment, insurance...man i could go on and on...they/we should be addressing these issues. And as an organization supposedly leading our people, standing at the forefront...they should be leading the cause...but most of our past Black leaders only take a stance with it's gonna get national attention.

[los angelista]

Does this mean that WGCI refrained from playing any song that may have had a bleeped n-word? If the NAACP doesn't even have the power to get a radio station to do that, well, then they're pretty powerless.

I don't know anyone who's a member of the NAACP. Maybe that's a part of the problem - folks that are about action need to join and take over the organization.

[DJ Black Adam]

@Liz:

You may have something there. I was telling Native Son that I intend on joining the NAACP and the Urban League, I'll tell you all how that goes.

[Gunfighter]

I was made unwelcome several years ago at the NAACP in PRince William County, Virginia.

Once it became clear that I wasn't interested in preyer vigils, marches, and singing hymns to effect change. I was branded a trouble maker.

My stance on this is that the issues we face are generational in nature. There are no quick fixes. We, as a people, need to do a few things to effect immediate change.

First: WE NEED TO VOTE!!! In every election, for every office.

Second: We have economic strength when wielded with purpose. Do not listen to the radio stations that play garbage. Don't buy the records, call, write/email the advertisers that promote filth, and tell them that you are boycotting their products.

Third: Demand better schools... and then we have to take our collective asses to the schools where our children go, and be an active part in making them better.

NO MORE WAITING FOR "THE MAN" TO DO WHAT WE KNOW NEEDS TO BE DONE!

We have to teach our people that no rescue is coming... we have to get off of the island on our own.

[DJ Black Adam]

@Gunfighter:

I agree with everything you wrote, but this in particular:

"We have to teach our people that no rescue is coming... we have to get off of the island on our
own."

Amen.

[DJ Black Adam]

BTW Gunfighter:

I don't expect much more than what you experienced from the NAACP, but thanks for the warning.

I have dealt with many of their "members" and find their world view and philosphies are vastly different from my own.

[justmewriting]

I totally agree dude... "I understand the NAACP has done many great things for African Americans and the United States in general, however;" But what's been done lately. There are so many areas that need to be worked on instead of the WORD... focus on the behaviors.

[Keith]

Thanks to Don Imus, burying/openly condemning the n-word is one of the few black-related things these days that will get any press. And at the end of the day isn't it all about press?

The NAACP is grasping at relevancy in nation that is quickly deeming the group irrelevant. Our new found fixation on the n-word as the underlying cause of all that ails us disturbs me. We need to regroup and refocus.