NAACP

Thanks to Chris Jones for submitting to naacpoc.org.

2 Voter Rights Cases, One Gripping a College Town, Stir Texas

New York Times

May 28, 2008

(more…)

25 April 2008

By Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II
NC NAACP State Conference President

The NAACP is fiercely non-partisan. We do not endorse candidates. But for over 99 years, the NAACP has also been fiercely anti-racist. In 1898 White Supremacists who controlled the North Carolina Democratic Party at that time, published racist cartoons, lies, and half truths about Black people to plow the fields for a terrorist attack that killed scores of Black people and exiled Black and White leaders of the fragile political alliance that was forming. The cartoons, the attack ads of the day, stirred up hatred and violence that scared poor White voters out of the alliance, and disenfranchised Black voters for three generations of Jim Crow. (more…)

Published on Friday, April 4, 2008 by CommonDreams.org
40 Years Later, (The Late) Martin Luther King Still Silenced
by Jeff Cohen

Soon after Martin Luther King’s birthday became a federal holiday in 1986, I began prodding mainstream media to cover the dramatic story of King’s last year as he campaigned militantly against U.S. foreign and economic policy. Most of his last speeches were recorded. But year after year, corporate networks have refused to air the tapes.

Last night NBC Nightly anchor Brian Williams enthused over new color footage of King that adorned its coverage of the 40th anniversary of the assassination. The report focused on the last phase of King’s life. But the same old blinders were in place. (more…)

Today, on the 40^th anniversary of his assassination in Memphis, the NAACP honors the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Forty years after his death, America has seen some progress in equality: educational opportunities have increased and workplaces and political leadership are more diverse. But when you consider these facts, it is very clear that we still have a long way to go.

• African Americans represent just 12% of the overall population, yet almost 30% of those arrested are African American. And once arrested, African Americans are three times more likely to be incarcerated than whites.
  
• The average net worth of white families is $70,000, compared to just $6,000 for African-American families.
  
• African-American women are 10% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women, but 36% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

Dr. King’s involvement with the NAACP dates back to his work in Alabama in the 1950’s, and the NAACP honored Dr. King with its most prestigious prize, the Spingarn Award. We were proud to work side by side with Dr. King, and to carry on our work today on behalf of all people of color.

Dr. King pushed America to fulfill its promise of equal rights for all. Today we should all honor his life and legacy by recommitting ourselves to keeping the dream alive.

Sincerely,

Dennis Courtland Hayes
Interim President

April 4, 2008

Submitted to the site administrator by Color of Change.org

The so-called “war on drugs” has created a national disaster: 1 in 9 young Black men in America are now behind bars.¹ It’s not because they commit more crime but largely because of unfair sentencing rules that treat 5 grams of crack cocaine, the kind found in poor Black communities, the same as 500 grams of powder cocaine², the kind found in White and wealthier communities.

These sentencing laws are destroying communities across the country and have done almost nothing to reduce the level of drug use and crime. (more…)

February 4-8
Come to the Alamogordo Public Library and celebrate Black History Month. The Otero County NAACP and the Democratic Party of Otero County present “Eyes on the Prize” the award winning PBS documentary of the civil rights struggles of the 20th Century.  Monday through Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. and Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at the Alamogordo Public Library Multi-Purpose room.  Learn about Black History. The public is welcome and entrance is free.