NAACP has a New President. Jealous??

Over the weekend the NAACP announced its new president. Ben Jealous (yeah I know crazy last name). He’s a Rhodes Scholar, a human rights activist and surprisingly he’s only 35 years old (which is grown to the rest of the world, but young to an organization that who’s members are as old as the actual Civil Rights movement) making him the youngest Presidente` in the organization’s history
(and he’s quite handsome if I do say so myself.)

My first instinct was to applaud the Organization for getting some fresh blood in their ranks, but of course this new development has been marred by controversy. Apparently Mr. Jealous was hand picked by Julian Bond ( and a whole bunch of folks aren’t feeling him), so many people are questioning whether or not J. Bond just picked a guy he could control. AND a whole slew of people on the NAACP’s board (all 64 of them!!) didn’t want to be president and they are extremely vocal with their displeasure. They preferred Rev Wright Protégé Fred Haynes.

But detractors said yesterday that Jealous is too green to take command of the organization and worried that the decision to pass over a powerful Texas pastor signals that the organization is moving away from traditional ties to black churches and known civil rights leaders. “There is an anti-preacher sentiment,” said Amos C. Brown, a NAACP board member and pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco.

“Nobody has ever heard of him. He’s never been to our church,” Brown said.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.naacp18may18,0,347262.story

I’m not a member of the NAACP so I’m not pretending to know the inner workings of the organization, but it seems like it’s time for them to clean house on all levels. I know a ton of young black professionals, intellectuals, and people who have the potential to become real leaders. They are fresh and smart, they identify the REAL problems within the black community and they’re eager to do something about it. None of them are members of the NAACP.

On the local level most of us don’t really see them doing much unless someone is arrested, there’s press and attention or a white person does something wrong. Those issues are important but, we have a lot of issues that need to be dealt with in the black community outside of that. the organization needs to start addressing (Dunbar Village, the black on black murders that are running amuck in cities like Philadelphia,blac leadership’s ingnoring of black female issues). I know that’s not their “focus” but like the times change so should the goals of the organization. It’s the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people. The key word should be “advancement.”

Mr. Jealous’ first order of business aside from making sure the finances are in order should be making the organization relevant for today’s black people. (And that may/will probably mean chopping about 34-54 people off of the national board. That’s too many stinking people and much too much mess going on.)

What’s truly sad and funny about this are the comments that people are making about the situation and the NAACP. This is what you’re up against Mr. Ben.

The NAACP is irrevalent today and does not serve a purpose. I am 35 years old and could care less about the NAACP. It is a waste and membership will stay the same as before probaly worse. To be beneficial we as a people have to look inside of ourselves and change us. We can then change the community not the NAACP. The NAACP cant do that so it is a waste of time for me and many others in the black community.
Posted by “Who Cares -2008” at Baltimore Sun

Mr.Ben Jealous is in a corrupted atmosphere of ruthless greedy people “Old Sharks” that will not change their sinful ways or take any advice from a young black man. Please!
I wished I could congratulate Mr. Jealous, but this too is a game of politic ~ “Operation PoliTRICK.”
I believe he is out numbered walking into a battle that he will not win… and all he can do is submit to those that makes a living fraudulent!

Mr. Jealous will need to grow eyes behind his head.
Posted by: “Drevelyn Minor” at The Roland Martin Report

:

So what? Sixty-four board members? What effective organization has that many people on their board? It’s ridiculous and that is why the organization is a non-entity today. It is a travesty when Al Sharpton is more visible than the NAACP. Maybe this young man can rekindle the flame but it doesn’t look promising. Maybe the 64 can get out of the way and do what is best for its membership as opposed to catering to their own egos.
Posted by 4site at the Washington Post

Best of Luck Ben Jealous. You’re going to need it!

P.s- This man is not “white” His mother is black, his father is white and he self identifies as African American. It amazes me how the same people that were so willing to call Bill Clinton an “honarary black man”. want to question this man’s ethnicity. Colored folks come in al shades!