Do We Still Need the NAACP?

An Essay By Douglas A. Oden, Esq., President

Printed in the NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner 2004 Program

(Reprinted with Permission.)

See the highlighted section below on Pat Washington.

Have we overcome? Dr. Martin Luther King in his famous speech the night before he was assassinated stated stated that he has been to the mountain top and has seen the promised land. That we as a people will get to the promised land. Well, things have changed in America since 1968. Overt racism and discrimination have been replaced by covert racism and favoritism. It is rare that an employer will come out and state that he doesn't want to hire African Americans. Rather than state it, he just does it. Those in charge of hiring and promoting tend to hire and promote those they are more comfortable with. That comfort level seems to encompass similar racial and gender backgrounds.

In San Diego, does discrimination and racism still exist? If you think not, just go downtown and look at the workforce of the people building all of the new construction. How many African Americans do you see working? Go to Eastlake or any new home construction site and see how many African Americans are working there. Been to a restaurant downtown or anywhere in San Diego? How many African Americans did you see working? Have you been to our local colleges and universities? How many African American professors do you see? The Women's Studies Department at San Diego State University has never had a tenured African American professor. The one African American professor who was up for tenure was denied and dismissed by the University. She and her many supporters believe that she was denied tenure and promotion because of her race and the fact that she has the courage to speak out against the discrimination that was occurring within the department.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." There is truth to that old saying, that is why we need the NAACP. The NAACP is at the forefront in the struggle for equality and justice in the 21st Century. Like any organization, the NAACP is only as strong as its membership. We call all people of good will to join and support the work of the NAACP. We are advocates of social change and justice, and we encourage voter registration and political participation. We work with other fine organizations such as the San Diego Urban League in fostering education achievement. We work with Black Men United to end gang-related violence and unlawful racial profiling by law enforcement.

The San Diego Branch of the NAACP needs your support and participation. The struggle for freedom and justice is not over.