Benjamin Jealous “selected” as NAACP’s new President
Categories: African-American, Justice/Law Enforcement
Written By: Shawn Williams
The NAACP has selected 35 year old Benjamin Todd Jealous as its next President and CEO. Jealous was the only candidate presented to the group’s 64 member Executive Board.
This quote by CNN says a lot about the vote.
When the 34-21 vote was announced, “no one clapped or celebrated,” one board member said after the meeting in Baltimore,Maryland.
The story goes on to say, “Some board members wanted to hear from two others whom the search committee identified as finalists, but Jealous’ supporters prevented it, sources said. ”
Roland Martin writes more about the vote at Essence.com.
Another (board member) said “when we left the room, many were in disbelief.”
Those who didn’t support Jealous say he was marked as the primary choice of board chairman Julian Bond, who began calling board members two weeks ago to line up support.
There was vigorous discussion to postpone the vote to allow the board to hear from the other two finalists, but that effort was beaten back by those who backed Jealous on the board.
In a subsequent article, Roland says “According to multiple board members, the search firm employed by the NAACP to find a new leader, the San Francisco-based Hodge /Niederer / Cariani / Lindsay, ranked Jealous second, and Dallas megachurch preacher, the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, first” Roland also says Haynes desire to remain as Senior Pastor of Friendship-West in Dallas, raised a “red flag among members.”
Throughout these last few weeks I was warned “this is a highly politicized process.” It’s obvious that I felt Dr. Frederick D. Haynes would make the best President, but then again I thought Ben Gordon was good also. And knowing how the NAACP is, I still figured he would at least be presented to the Board, though reports from the very beginning said otherwise.
I can only think that the selection of Jealous and his support among the NAACP brass i.e. Julian Bond means more business as usual. I’ll leave it at that.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I’m willing to give Ben a chance. It’s not his fault that some of us feel the way we do.
I am curious about his statement in the AP article that said “his plans for the group include ensuring high voter turnout among blacks in the November election and pushing civil rights.”
Barack Obama will ensure high black voter turnout, as he has all over his country. Work on the other stuff.
Here’s a suggestion list:
*Dunbar Village
*Sean Bell shooting and others
*Philly Police beating
*Getting more black bloggers to be able to cover the 2008 DNC from the convention floor. We got ONE state blogger out of 50 states although we helped to start the national Obama movement. And that was after people in the DNC selection process approached us to apply to the state blogger pool facilitate diversity.
*Thinning out the 65-member board (wait, can’t do that).
May 17th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I know you wanted Rev. Haynes to be the head of the organization. It might have worked out for the best if this kind of cantankerousness was involved. Maybe Pastor Haynes is meant to be a mentor and guide to Black bloggers… you never know.
May 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
My gut says your right Shawn.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I would encourage everyone to give Ben Jealous a chance. What the Association needs right now is financial security and to repair their relationships in the philanthropic community. They can’t do anything without money and that’s one place that he will need to start. I am also looking forward to them choosing a young and enthusiatic candidate who will bring fresh ideas and a new outlook.
Consider that there may have been people who want to keep things like they always have been and Ben will breathe new life into the organization. Remember Julian Bond works on at a university and is more open to new ideas than many of the people on that board. Maybe that is what they were against. Hiring another pastor who is unwilling to give up his pastorship looks more to me as “business as usual”
May 19th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
When Julian Bond presented one person to the board for the interview ???… I call that old school mentality. You tell me the board who is made up of the 34-21 voters were not presented with the other two candidates and could not make an informed decision? If not just maybe there needs to be changes on the board as well. Maybe they don’t work at a university and are not open to new ideas.