This is an excellent history of how Whites control the NAACP. Ron discusses it on pp. 228-230 of his book, "The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes," in Chapter 14, "The Role of Minneapolis Black Organizations in the Minneapolis Story." The chapter subheading is: "Black organizations: now part of the problem rather than the solution," as he writes about how they have sold out inner cit Black Community interests: Education, Housing, and Jobs, Dignity and Recognition." In the previous post I referenced his three pieces on Desmond Tutu's "philosophy of reconciliation." They are at Blog entries #163, #164, and #172. Peter Jessen, Portland
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jordan S. Kushner Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 6:36 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Doug Grow on Mpls NAACP infighting Historical memory. Here is a much more comprehensive of the power struggles at the NAACP, and - believe it or not - the role of the power structure: http://www.citypages.com/databank/20/954/article7354.asp Jordan Kushner Golden Valley works downtown ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Bernstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Michelle Gross'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 11:21 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Doug Grow on Mpls NAACP infighting > Good grief! Blaming the "white power structure" for the infighting at > the NAACP makes about as much sense as blaming a black power structure > for the infighting at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)! > > Organizations of all types oftentimes go through internal struggles for > control of the organization. It is not rare, it is not pleasant to > experience, it is not entertaining to watch, and it is usually not > productive. But, it does occur rather routinely. > > It happens to private corporations, to family businesses, to churches, > to big non-profit, to small non-profits, to charities, to political > organizations, and even to advocacy organizations. > > Jim Bernstein > Fulton > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of Michelle Gross > Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 5:57 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Mpls] Doug Grow on Mpls NAACP infighting > > Anyone even marginally aware of the struggle within the NAACP knows that > it > is about efforts by the white power structure to insert their operatives > > into the organization to maintain the status quo. > > The NAACP was going to be given money to monitor the consent decree in > the > lawsuit against the school board: Gallmon, a school board member, > becomes > president without ever having to be elected to the position (Shayla > Lindsey > KNEW she had been promoted and was leaving town WHEN she ran for > president > and added Gallmon to the slate for first VP). Prior efforts have > included > having folks who side with the city on the Hollman decree insert > themselves > into the leadership of the group. > > Personally I find Ron Edwards abrasive as hell, but this isn't about > Edwards. It is about a group of folks who want the organization to stay > > true to its mission and not be a front for the folks downtown to > manipulate > the Black community. > > The current tactic is to try to suspend or revoke the membership of > those > people who have asked for accountability from the leadership. This is a > > leadership that has violated national rules by refusing to get the books > > audited. A partial audit showed improper spending by that same > leadership > and, at that point, the full audit was shut down. > > That same leadership exchanged emails about how to frame things so all > membership votes on key issues would require a super majority. This > would > allow the executive committee to overrule the member votes. One result > is > that the membership voted to refuse the funds for the "parent > information > centers" and, minutes later, the executive committee (in a closed > meeting > with no minutes produced) voted to take the money. > > These tactics are as old as the books and they are used on just about > every > community of color. When whites want to control mineral rights on > American > Indian reservations, they insert bought-off people into leadership on > the > tribal councils. Etc., etc. ad nauseum. > > How nice of Doug Grow to ride in on a white horse and defend the > usurpation > of this once fine organization by those who have manipulated it to > maintain > the status quo and control the Black community's access to > resources. Shame on him! > > Michelle Gross > Bryn Mawr > > At 10:07 PM 10/1/03 -0500, Peter T Schmitz wrote: > >Thank you, Doug Grow, for separating the good Negroes from the bad > >Negroes.-------------------Peter Schmitz CARAG > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
