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Should the NAACP Change Its Name?
By Aysha Hussain
March 09, 2007
The unfolding of a series of recent events has people asking, "Where does the NAACP go from here?"
It's a crucial time for the NAACP. Bruce Gordon's abrupt resignation as NAACP president has many inside and outside of the organization questioning whether the NAACP's name and mission are still relevant in the 21st century.
Steve Harvey, comedian-turned syndicated radio personality/host of the "The Steve Harvey Show," recently used the NAACP as the catalyst for one of his morning programs. He called it the "Top Ten Names That We Could Rename the NAACP." During the live broadcast, Harvey went on to say that he feels the organization needs to change its name in order to appeal to younger generations and increase NAACP membership.
The NAACP name is probably one of the last historic references to use the term "colored people." Outside of the organization, it is perceived as outdated and politically incorrect to use the words "colored people." So why not adopt the word "black" or "African American" instead?
What about the NAACP's mission? Gordon, a retired Verizon executive (Verizon is No. 1 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list), has said he wanted the NAACP to look to the next generation and to start offering social service, not just identifying injustices. But the 64-member board does not want to go in that direction, Chairman Julian Bond has said.
Is the NAACP still stuck in the 1960s? NPR senior correspondent Juan Williams says it is.
"The organization is trying to find its way in terms of the new racial dynamic in the country with Hispanics as the largest minority group," says Williams, "with African Americans more affluent and politically powerful than ever and yet having to deal with the persistence of a 25 percent poverty rate."
(See also: DiversityInc reader responses in Most Want NAACP to Change Name)
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