Why?
I'll give you three reasons.
1) The NAACP provides an example of endurance against horrible odds to create equal rights for African American citizens. Thinking back 100 years to 1909, slavery had been abolished for only 60 years, the rights of Black Americans were negligible, lynchings were rampant, and Jim Crow segregation was the law. Much has been accomplished in 100 years and the NAACP has been the pioneering civil rights group that is, in NAACP's president Benjamin Jealous' own words, still radical after all this time. The Gay movement is relatively young and while gay people do endure humiliation, it is important to remember that others have endured similar types of dehumanization - often much worse. We need to take from the example of the NAACP's courage and longevity.
2) NAACP leaders have been some of the gay communities best allies. Case in point is Julian Bond who eloquently expressed his support of gay people and gay marriage at the Human Rights Campaign dinner this year saying: "Black people, of all people, should not oppose equality, and that is what gay marriage is...at the NAACP, we pledge to do our part." Not bad for an organization that will certainly take some heat among its constituency for taking such as stance. Gay people should make sure that the NAACP knows that when they stick out their necks we have their backs.
3) This is the most important reason that we should support the NAACP: because African American's still live in a racist society that requires the advocacy and voice of the NAACP. Benjamin Jealous lays out the reality well in this commentary:
African-Americans are disproportionately represented on death row. Of the 3,500 people on death row, about 42 percent are black, and virtually all are poor. Studies underscore that it is race and class, more than guilt, that determines whether a defendant, once convicted, is sentenced to death.
The statistics paint an ongoing portrait of inequality. Unemployment for African-Americans remains twice that of whites and studies show there is no scientific rationale -- neither education nor experience -- that explains the gap. In some American cities, 50 percent of school-aged black men drop out of school and as much as 50 percent of young black men are unemployed.
It seems obvious but sometimes it is worth reminding people that some black people are gay! We need to make sure that everyone in our community enjoys equal rights in America what ever race, religion or nationality. Racism is a gay issue.
Gay people and their allies should take a moment today and go to the website of the NAACP and make a donation in thanks for the 100 years of the advancement of the rights of African Americans, and in doing so advancing the dignity and integrity of all Americans, and the promise of the American Dream.
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Given the enormous hurdle we, as gays and transgender face in having our status as human recognized in the US, we need all the allies we can get.
It is unfair and irrational that so many Negroes claim the fight for civil rights exclusively for themselves, but that is just the way it is.
A very large part of their community has only negative associations when thinking of us, their 'Christian' churches are so hate-filled, they make the folks over at crunchy.com look like they love us.
Anything we do to either not further antagonize them or, (best case) get them to remain neutral in our fight is to our advantage.
I can not imagine how horribly difficult it must be for gay and transgender people who are trapped in such communities. The extremely high rate of heterosexual HIV infections and suicide among teenagers in the ghettos gives me little hope.
As a Gay African American, I quite agree that the gay movement should support and celebrate the NAACP's goals, objectives, and join in the celebration of 100 years. The Gay Civil Rights Movement is only 40 years old, and we still have much to learn, and who better to learn from than the NAACP. It took 100 years to instill an African American in the White House as President of the United States of America. This definitely shows that there is hope for all the diverse peoples of this planet Earth. We've come so far, and yet, we still have a long way to go. We must continue to be strong about equal rights for all people. We must remain positive and affirming in the knowledge that all things are possible. This is a most remarkable year as we celebrate not only the 100 years of the NAACP, but the 40 year struggle for Gay Civil Rights as well. We have much to learn from the NAACP struggle. This is a huge turning point in the history of America and the entire world in its determination for equality and justice for all.
I'll 'support' blacks when they reverse their hateful vote on Prop 8.
Until then ...
Oh, and will someone please tell all those 'str8' black men who are on the down low that we don't appreciate their hypocrisy.
another opinion,
I really understand your frustration with the Negro community.
This does not change the fact that without them, we have little chance of our status as humans being recognized.
Also, permit me to point out that our President is bi-racial.
When the LDS has so much power that they can have two men handcuffed and arrested for just kissing, we really need all the allies and neutral parties we can get.
So, please, don't alienate people who, if they won't stand with us, might well be willing to stand aside.
And yes, as I already mentioned, the HIV rate among young people of all minorities is appalling.
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