NAACP President Finalists includes Dallas’ Frederick D. Haynes III
Categories: African-American, Dallas, Justice/Law Enforcement, Politics and Elections, Religion and Faith
Written By: Shawn Williams
If the NAACP is interested in turning to a high-energy, intelligent, spellbinding orator in the mold of Benjamin L. Hooks…Rev. Haynes easily fits the bill.– George Curry
George Curry was the first to write about something that was brought to my attention over a week ago. My pastor, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, is one of three men in line to be the next president of the NAACP. Dr. Haynes currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church here in Dallas.
In a Philadelphia Inquirer article titled Looking for the NAACP’s next leader, Curry has a number of interesting takes. Here are some of the highlights:
- According to search committee sources, the finalists for NAACP president and CEO are: Benjamin Todd Jealous, 35, president of the Rosenberg Foundation; the Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, 47, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas; and Alvin Brown, 37, a former White House official now working on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
- Of the three finalists, Benjamin Jealous is said to be the favorite of board chairman Julian Bond. There is some confusion over whether the full board will get an opportunity to vote on all three candidates…some members (are) threatening to vote against (a) candidate if only one name is presented.
- Though Jealous is smart, very organized, and on the right side of most social-justice issues, I never pictured him as head of a major civil rights organization - and still don’t. Jealous is uninspiring, an unimpressive orator, and he would easily be overshadowed by other figures already on the civil rights stage.
- If the NAACP is interested in turning to a high-energy, intelligent, spellbinding orator in the mold of Benjamin L. Hooks, one of the association’s most popular leaders, Rev. Haynes easily fits the bill….At a conference in Dallas two years ago, he said: “A megachurch should not just be known for the traffic jam it creates on Sunday, but for doing something more in the community.”
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes, III should be the next President of the NAACP. But only if the orgainization is interesting in shifting into a social justice paradigm circa 2009, not 1909 or 1959.
Much of what is written at Dallas South is directly or indirectly inspired by Dr. Haynes. Either from the pulpit, in leadership meetings, or in our conversations on Sundays. Dr. Haynes helped me take my activism and advocacy to levels I didn’t even know existed.
I will do everything I can with my forum and my circle, to help insure that the process is as fair and open as possible. The assertion that all three finalists may not receive consideration by the full board is simultaneously troubling and unwise.
With all due respect, anyone who is the favorite of Julian Bond should receive extra scrutiny before they are handed the keys to the corner office. I’ve seen nothing yet that makes me believe that Bruce Gordon was doing a bad job during his 19 month stint as head of the NAACP. Most blame interference of the group’s cumbersome 64-member board lead by Bond for Gordon’s departure.
Dr. Haynes, who earned his Doctorate of Ministry from the University of Oxford in England, believes that the ministry of Jesus is a ministry of social justice. So his theology and his sociology are on one accord. I wish that were the case for all Christians, especially our leaders.
Check back with Dallas South as I gather more information on this exciting news. I plan to speak with current leaders of the organization as well as others who will have an interest in the next selection.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:25 am
The question is…are they ready for change?
You’re right , Shawn. They chewed up and spit out Bruce Gordon. If so, Haynes will be the new President.
I also don’t believe that nominating someone that is working on the Clinton campaign will send the right message to the black community.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Great post Shawn, sounds like the NAACP is moving forward with a more youthful leadership.
Dallas’ Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III sounds great. Let’s hope that the NAACP leadership will see the need for maximum openness and accountability in it’s decision.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:38 am
This news is awesome news to me! I am also a member of FWBC, and I would love to see Pastor Haynes utilize his skills, input, passion, etc… in a manner to where it affects others on a national level even more!
I guess we will have to wait and see the results… thanks for sharing!
March 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I am also a member of FWBC, there is no doubt that Dr. Haynes would be an excellent leader of the NAACP. I agree with Michael, the question is are they ready for change? Dr. Haynes is a visionary leader and not the type of leader that will be bogged down or derailed by a shortsighted, small thinking 64 member board.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Hi Shawn!
I understand your devotion for Dr. Haynes who has clearly made an impression on Dallas. I would just like to clarify.
Dr. Haynes’ biography (http://www.friendshipwest.org/pastor.html) states that he studied at Oxford University via the Graduate Theological Foundation based out of South Bend, Indiana (http://www.gtfeducation.org/). Dr. Haynes does not misrepresent himself by stating that he has a Doctorate from Oxford University. Stating otherwise, on this blog, could pose a problem for him especially since one of the other two candidates actually received a degree from Oxford University after receiving the Rhodes Scholarship. I am very sensitive to misinformation because inaccuracies, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the folks, could ruin reputations!
Now on to the good stuff…
I am concerned with the manner by which things went down with the NAACP board. As an NAACP member who attended the 2007 convention in Detroit, I’ve seen how unprofessional and immature the higher ups can be in the organization. The reported plan of SOME of the NAACP power brokers to advance only one persons name despite board member objections simply illustrates incompetent, Big Willie-ism at best, but does not tell us anything about the candidates. That being said, the 3 to be considered should not be penalized by the mismanagement of the members of the NAACP board.
The conflict within the board is unfortunate, but the “leaking” of the 3 names is shameful. The fact SOME members of the board were willing to punish/defile 1 man’s reputation because they, as members of the board, were not savvy enough to negotiate another course of action is disgusting to me. This could have happened to any of the 3 candidates; whomever shined.
Now George Curry’s article tells us nothing about the candidates. All his article tells us is that as a journalist, Curry is happily willing to sidestep any sense of parity in order to proclaim a personal issue with one of the candidates whose name, if Googled, points to significant national acclaim, a willingness to speak his mind and a stellar academic background and resume. The victim of the article, apparently, has been an activist all his life and a mouthpiece for many a conference regarding civil rights not to mention he was a Rhodes Scholar! How does Curry not mention this? How inarticulate could the candidate be, Curry? The other candidate (Brown) fares much better in his representation…MUCH BETTER, curiously better, but Dr. Haynes, though given a pleasant nod, does not receive anywhere NEAR the billing of Alvin Brown. It would not shock me to find out that Alvin Brown supporters leaked the information to the media which would continue the trend of, what I believe to be, an insidious illness in the NAACP at this very moment, the adaption of the worst, underhanded characteristics of American politics.
NAACP board…
no more of the shady politics…
let’s keep it clean.
Let us be the CHANGE we deserve.
Let us honor our heritage not only through memoriam, but by honoring the progeny of that history…the people who keep the NAACP relevant…no matter the size of the chapter/branch, the members who deserve only the best from their board. Please do better.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Nulani,
I’m going to have to disagree with you. Dr. Haynes spent the majority of is him working on this doctorate AT Oxford over a period of years. He spent much more time in England than he did in Indiana.
It’s like having a Texas MBA from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. If you worked on it in Dallas, would you go around saying “I have a Texas MBA, but my coursework was completed in Dallas?” I think you would say “I earned an MBA from the University of Texas.” I don’t believe that I have misrepresent the information at all.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Nulani,
With respect to your comments. Always consider what you dont actuallt know as that which tears us down rather than builds us. The facts that he has a degree from Oxford University in whatever capacity (although as Shwn mention, he did extensive studies in England) speaks of the brillant mind that he and others posess. He actually downplays having a Doctorate Degree with exception ot seeking as much information as he can.
Lets applaud the accomplishments and become supporters of the battle tested organization.
Do you have membership? I do!!!
March 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Knowing what I do about the history of our peoples struggle, the NAACP and the role it has played in our struggle, plus the daily actions of Pastor Haynes which speaks for themself when it comes to his desire to aid in the betterment of our commnity and humanity as a whole on a spiritual, economic, and educational level. I strong believe that Pastor Haynes would be an asset to the leadership needs of the NAACP so that this organization could get back to visions of it’s founders.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Oh dear…
I am confused by the reaction to my statements especially since they were meant to protect Dr. Haynes.
“Always consider what you dont actuallt know as that which tears us down rather than builds us”
–TSEWM
TSEWM’s quote really does apply in this case, for TSEWM is not aware of my affiliation with Oxford University or the Ivy League where the academic circles are quite particular about “what you did” and “where”. Misrepresentation can destroy a persons reputation… Dr. Haynes did NOTHING OF THE SORT and was nowhere NEAR misrepresenting himself in his bio.
Let me say it again… Misrepresentation can destroy a persons reputation… Dr. Haynes did NOTHING OF THE SORT and was nowhere NEAR misrepresenting himself in his bio.
Shawn, I do not question the work of Dr. Haynes and his studies, nor do I believe that you were intentionally trying to mislead readers about Haynes’ credentials but the fact is that according to the Graduate Theological Foundation:
“This relationship [between the University of Oxford and The Graduate Theological Seminary] exists to nurture and share interests and activities which specialize in pastoral and theological education for ministry professionals, but it does not imply joint credentialing or infringement upon institutional autonomies.” http://www.gtfeducation.org/Academics/Oxford_Rome.html
LOOK…people who attend the GTF do EXTENSIVE work with Oxford University, please check out the website, but as you read above joint credentialing does not apply…the degree is a GTF degree alone with much respect due to the Oxford/Rome affiliations… Oxford does not recognize the GTF degree as an Oxford University degree, period.
Again, my point was that a Curry-like entity could take this blogs declaration of an Oxford degree and use it against the pastor when the University of Oxford, the Graduate Theological Foundation and Dr. Haynes make no such claims.
Let’s say Bond’s favorite was Haynes…could you imagine if the very same renegade board members wanted to find something to discredit Dr. Haynes as they did the current supposed front-runner? Could you imagine an entire article written on the skewed credentials of Dr. Haynes by ONE hired-gun critic?!? Well this could be a reality if Curry’s biased article successfully crushes one young man and makes the search for CEO a 2-man race.
My goodness… I led my original argument with the brief statement/correction (which is what it was) because of my concern for accuracy. This is something that I’ve been trained to do and did only with the best of intentions.
Come on… My main concern was the NAACP board!
Oh and yes TSEWM, I am a member of the NAACP.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I am also a member of FWBC and agree that Pastor Haynes would be an outstanding “Leader” for the NAACP and show the world what all members of FWBC and the south Dallas community already know; Dr. Haynes is a brilliant, focused, and tireless leader for social justice.
April 15th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I am never amazed to see the short-sightedness of our people.
I say that to say this; liberation theology was a carrot then and is now. Jesus came to free people from SIN, not racial oppression.
I want to see what this man of God is going to do about the NAACP’s PRO-ABORTION stance. I want to see how he deals with the California NAACP’s pro-homosexual stand. LET’S SEE!
You want social justice for blacks, you better work on weeding out the immoral injustices.
First move to have Roe v. Wade overthrown, not just for black women, but all women, and most of all for UNBORN CHILDREN. Abortion is the #1 killer of black people in America.
Stand on Jesus and His Righteousness, not what we think is right.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I’m only a former NAACP member, and don’t have a dog in this fight (I’m medically retired, and live in Portugal now, helping the local church on a part-time basis). I do have a comment, though– I too have a doctorate from The Graduate Theological Seminary. I did most of my course work in the US (San Diego State University, since San Diego is where I was a chaplain,among other places)– and a GTS degree is not an SDSU degree just because I did the course work there anymore than a GTS degree done at primarily Oxford is anythging other than a GTS degree. It’s not the quality of the instruction– it’s the requirements for graduation. Oxford’s are different from GTS’s (as are SDSU’s), but GTS has an agreement with Oxford to accept its (superior) coursework towards a GTS degree.
GTS was originally started as a Roman Catholic school (and in offices of a Catholic nunnery!), because Roman Catholic clergy graduating from Catholic seminaries didn’t get any degrees at all– they just got ordained priest, and if they did advanced studies they were for specific purposes within the church. After awhile, it was clear that in America that wouldn’t work– our culture expects letters after your name, so the degree-granting institution was created. It has official recognityion of not just the Catholic Church but also (at least when I went through) the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the official Oxford rep. was a an ordained Anglican priest and canon, as well as a renowned scholar.
I did my degree years ago, and things may have changed in some ways– but not in this important one– Dr. Haynes earned his degree FROM GTS, although perhaps AT Oxford– and there is indeed a difference… and it’s the kind of difference that the press would eat him alive for if it looked like he was claiming a degree FROM Oxford (which he has never done).
October 1st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Dr. Haynes posseses the intellect, insight, ability and courage to lead the NAACP. The most gifted socially-conscious voice of the African-American community- Dr. Haynes has the brain power and ebonically speaking, ‘he aint no scared preacher’.