by Curmilus Dancy II - The Political Agitator
2nd Vice President & Life Subscribing Member Rocky Mount NC NAACP
I read the News & Observer article on Wednesday titled "Activist questions NAACP's approach" and "Skip" confirmed his arrogance.
It is one thing to be a member of an organization but it is another thing to know who the players are and what their track record is from a personal observation. I joined the Rocky Mount Branch NAACP in the early 90's and I positioned myself to become the 1st Vice President. I know what it is like to be a real black male leader in North Carolina.
I totally agree with Attorney Dan Blue of Raleigh, Judge Toby Fitch of Wilson and others who say Barber will make the state's best-known civil rights group a more effective public policy leader.
I totally agree with Dr. Barber that the NAACP "must reinsert itself in the matters of our day." I said this early on before Dr. Barber made it official that he was seeking to unseat "Skip."
The N & O stated that in an interview in 2003, while the legislature was considering a payday lending law that would explicitly legalize businesses offering short-term, high interest loans, Alston said he was telling legislators payday lending should be regulated, not eliminated. Julian Bond, the NAACP's national chairman, wrote legislators making clear the NAACP's opposition to an industry proposal for state regulation. I am sorry "Skip" but the correct answer should have been eliminated.
I totally agree with Blue who said Barber would add a new dimension to the NAACP's work and he would be a more effective leader and a much more visionary leader. Blue said, "You cannot have an advocacy organization like the NAACP basically just negotiating and brokering with leaders. It's a grass-roots organization." Now this is what I am talking about.
I found the comments by the Rev. Charles Smith of Durham a "Skip" supporter who said the incumbent should get credit for nurturing the grassroots to be somewhat comical. I found Rev. Smith's comment about Alston's seat on the NAACP's national board of directors has raised the state's profile gets even more comical. My question to Rev. Smith is what role has "Skip" played in the "Hangman Noose" incident involving some black State Department of Transportation workers and also in the Moratorium on the Death Penalty to name a few.
Now it does not get more comical than the comment "Skip" made when Barber stated he wants to debate Alston, and he hopes they will have a face-to-face question-and-answer session at the convention.
Alston's response was he has no interest in debating. "I won't participate in a debate until he has something that's worth talking about". "He has an excellent track record outside the NAACP. It's easier for you to attack something from the outside." I can't believe that "Skip" had the audacity to say that Dr. Barber has nothing worth talking about. To me this would be all the reason to debate Dr. Barber but it is obvious that it is "Skip" who has nothing worth talking about so therefore he is running from the people who he want to elect him. Folks it is time for a change.