MSNBC political
correspondent talks
of post-racial issue
BY TORI P. HAYNESWORTH
POR THE CHRONICLE
The N.C. NAACP had its political action luncheon on
Friday, Oct. 9 at the Benton Convention Center on N.
Cherry St. This event was a part of the N.C. NAACP 72nd
annual statewide convention.
Different branches of the N.C. NAACP were in atten
dance along with several other guests. Councilwoman
Denise Adams was the moderator that led the luncheon,
while key officials like Attorney Gen. Roy Cooper and
Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emmanuel of Greensboro
were present.
Mayor Allen Joines presented Rev. Dr. William
Barber the key to the city of Winston-Salem as well as
complimenting him of his many achievements like the
March for Voting Rights that took place in July.
"I wanted to show how much I appreciate you all
being here and appreciate the work of Dr. Barber," said
Joines.
Dr. Barber spoke for a brief moment of how he and the
N.C. NAACP extended an invitation to certain individuals
to participate in the convention, like Gov. Pat McCrory,
who decided not to attend but write a letter instead.
"We can't be a great organization that has done these
things for North Carolina and is standing up for rights and
you won't even meet with us about Medicaid expansion,
and you won't meet with us about voting rights," said
Barber.
There was a song selection and spoken word perform
ance.
After lunch, Joy-Ann Reid, MSNBC political corre
spondent and the keynote speaker addressed the audience
about the reality of "post-racial" by giving a brief history
lesson of what African-Americans have went through
after slavery.
"You can't be post-racial
if you're trying to partici
pate in this society in a post
racial fashion, not pointing
out your difference but
being noticed. When you're
noticed, you can't be post
racial," said Reid. "We've
had an entire history of the
attempted post-racialispi
being met with violence,
with murder and redemp
tion."
Reid gave in some facts
and figures about the critical
issues such as the voter-ID
law, which is also known to
be the monstrous law, or
House Bill 589.
"We are at a crossroads, not just in North Carolina but
in the country where we're going to decide whether or not
we want to truly embrace a future in which voters of every
race and every ethnicity are encouraged to vote," said
Reid.
People in the audience were moved by Reid's keynote
address and some specifics points she made that revolved
around the community as a state and as a nation.
"Hopefully those of us who were here that listened,
will take it back and tell everybody else out here, because
that's one of the most important speeches out here in a
long time," said Jimmy Buxton of the N.C. NAACP
Fayetteville Branch. "We got to get people energized to
get out here and get these people out of office, simple as
that."
A few of the younger generation grew inspired by
Photo by Tori P. Haynesworth
MSNBC Political Correspondent Joy Ann Reid delivers the keynote address at
the Political Action Luncheon.
PpiH'c u/nrHc
"She spoke on a lot of points, especially about the vot
ing rights, there's a lot of things that a lot of our youth and
our peers do not know," said Maryellen Riley, sophomore
at Shaw University.
"She's someone to look up to," said Tahirah Hargrove,
sophomore at Winston-Salem State University. "She
didn't come off as someone you couldn't talk to. I felt like
she got us."
Reid also pointed out solutions that needs to be taken
to get the community involved and in the right direction,
like to be registered to vote between the ages of 16-18,
and to register when citizens pay their taxes to name a
few.
For more information or to learn more about the N.C.
NAACP, call 866-626-2227 or visit www.naacpnc.org.
N.C. NAACP women blast
Sen. Burr on his record
BY CASH MICHAELS
FOR THE CHRONICLE
Female members of
NAACP chapters from
across North Carolina
expressed concerns about
the legislative record of
Sen. Richard Burr last
week, charging that the
North Carolina
Republican, who is up for
reelection in 2016, has a
record that shows "a disre
gard and disrespect for the
value of women in North
Carolina."
Flanked by N.C.
NAACP President Rev. Dr.
William Barber II, mem
bers of the organization
WIN (Women In the
NAACP) and other mem
bers attending the three
day state convention in
Winston-Salem on Friday,
Oct. 9, Executive Director
Rev. Michelle Laws
charged that Sen. Burr has
repeatedly stood in the way
of women's issues.
"You've got a hard
head, Sen. Burr," Laws
exclaimed, as the women
around her cheered.
She warned that Bun
could face the wrath of the
female ballot next year,
saying that, "When women
vote, the politics and the
policies look differently."
Laws recounted how in
2009, Burr first recom
mended federal prosecutor
Jennifer May-Parker, chief
of the Appellate Division
of the U.S. Attorney's
Office for the Eastern
District in North Carolina,
to fill one of over 80 open
U.S. District Court seats in
the federal judiciary.
If confirmed, May
Parker would have become
the first black female fed
eral judge in the history of
the Eastern District.
But once President
Obama nominated her in
2013, Burr then inexplica
bly flipped, taking steps to
block May-Parker's nomi
nation, denying her a com
mittee hearing, and ulti
mately forcing it to die
after approximately 300
days.
Newspapers across the
state blasted Sen. Burr for
not only blocking the nom
ination, but also never
explaining why he did it.
"As a result, the vast
majority of African
Americans who reside in
the Eastern District of
North Carolina will not
have the opportunity to be
represented by the highly
qualified, and more than
capable attorney Jennifer
May-Parker," Laws said.
Laws recalled that Sen.
Burr also joined other
Senate Republicans earlier
this year in actively oppos
ing the Senate confirma
tion of U.S. Attorney Gen.
Loretta Lynch, stalling it
for over five months. Burr
opposed the immensely
qualified home state nomi
nee last February, saying
that if confirmed, Lynch,
then a U.S. attorney in 1
New York, would chal- ^
lenge North Carolina's ^
restrictive voter ID law. y
"I'm in the right on this /
one," Burr told a Raleigh
television station. e(
But after mounting g
national and statewide ^
pressure, Lynch was finally j{
confirmed as the first black re
woman ever to become cj
U.S.attorney general in his- rj
tory, in April.
Still, the conservative
senator's opposition
proved that he had "a head
as hard as a rock," Rev. p
Laws said.
"We are concerned not
only about the judicial
appointments, the pattern
of simple disregard and
disrespect for the value of
women, for the quality of
life and well-being of the
women in North Carolina,"
the NCNAACP executive
director continued.
"Simply put, [Burr's]
record speaks volumes,
and we know that women
in North Carolina make up
over 53 percent of regis
tered voters."
Noting that the men of
the N.C. NAACP stand
strongly by the women and
their demands for justice
and equality, state NAACP
Pres. Rev. Dr. Barber
Fight
from pageTil '
funded, constitutional, diverse public edu
cation," in addition to proper funding for
historically-black colleges and universi
ties.
Also important "...to pursue liberty,"
Barber called for health care for all by
ensuring access to the Affordable Care
Act, Medicaid expansion, Medicare, and
protecting Social Security. Protecting the
environment was also key, as well as cor
recting injustices in the criminal justice
system that negatively impact people of
color and poor whites.
On citizen rights, Barber maintained
the importance of preserving and protect
ing voting, women's, LGBT and civil
rights.
"And always, I don't are what Donald
Trump says...we must demand that
nobody touch the 14th Amendment that
guarantees equal protection under the
law," Barber exclaimed to applause.
The progressive agenda Rev. Barber
presented is viewed by many in the con
servative ranks as "socialist" or "commu
nist," he said, but that's because " a regres
sive and extremist [NC] Legislature..."
has chosen to ignore the needs of the poor,
and the common people.
Indeed, especially in the South,".. .the
poorest districts in the country are the
[politically] reddest districts," Barber
noted, adding that conservative politicians
who are working to hurt the poor, are also
hurting the very people who support them.
"And somehow in the South, they're
so blinded by the Southern Strategy and
the old tricks of racism, that many
Southern whites don't realize that they're
in the same boat as black people," the
NCNAACP leader said.
After railing off a full list of other
injustices perpetrated against communities
of color and poor whites by the Tea Party
and conservative Republicans, and saying
now that , "...it's easier to get a gun than
to register to vote," Barber proclaimed.
Reminding convention gatherers that
they were not there for fellowship, but
rather were in a "war room," Rev. Barber
said in 2016, the focus of all NAACP
branches will be to maximize member
ships, further mobilize the Moral Monday
movement across the state in various
counties, especially in home districts of
conservative state legislators who oppose
the -progressive agenda; and move and
march massive votes to the polls.
"We're going to put together the most
massive get-out-to-vote effort ever seen
since the '60's," Rev. Barber promised,
adding that the NCNAACP and Forward
Together Movement will continue to build
coalitions for progress. "This foolishness
has gone on too long."
"It's our time now!"
Dewayne Stevenson, who drove two
hours from Moore County to the conven
tion, said he was moved by Barber's pow
erful words.
"I've been a member for over 10 years
and that was one of the best speeches I've
heard at the convention it was very power
ful and uplifting."
John Stean, a member and recent
intern of the state NAACP branch, said
Barber's message was a perfect blend of
past, present, and future.
"He does a good job of blending the
history of this movement and transitioning
that into what it means, practically for us
to things now that will make a difference,"
Stean said.
Before leaving the stage, Barber said
for the movement to be successful, every
one must remain focused and not pay
attention to the foolishness.
"There is no time for foolishness when
they are suppressing our votes and deny
ing us healthcare," Barber said.
"This is no time for foolishness when
Jonathan Ferrell, a college student, is
gunned down by a police officer in
Charlotte," Barber said.
"Instead of foolishness, we need to
remain focused on pursing justice," said
Barber. "When people are taking things
from you and when some people don't
have the consciousness to know it, some
one has got to sound the alarm and let it be
known that this is no time for foolishness."
PP^ ^-7
' tanked by members of WIN (Women in the
(AACP), N.C. NAACP Executive Director Rev.
die he lie Laws (center) tells reporters that Sen.
lichard Burr (R-NC) has failed the women of
(orth Carolina on important issues.
:hoed concerns about
urr, saying that just like
ch-conservative Sen.
:sse Helms, Burr's voting
cord on women's issues,
vil rights and voting
ghts "has been atro
cious."
"The NAACP ha;
given him an F," Barbei
added. "A on smiling; F or
policy. A for dressing right
F for voting wrong."
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