Roanoke Tea Party responds to NAACP charge of racism
on July 13th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
The Roanoke Tea Party is saddened to note that the NAACP has passd a resolution at their national convention in Kansas City condemning the Tea Party movement as racist. We exist to further the Advancement of All People, and see no reason why color is a factor in seeking to strengthen and preserve individual liberty and economic freedom.
We have no beef with the NAACP, nor do we understand any beef they might have with us. It is most telling, however, to note the reaction of our black brothers and sisters who are with us in this fight. Their outrage and sense of betrayal is palpable in the responses that have been made publicly this past two days.
One particularly strong reaction came yesterday from Tim Johnson of The Frederick Douglass Foundation, an organization which we support wholeheartedly.
NAACP Continues to Demonstrate Extremist Views by Calling Tea Party Movement “Racist”
NORTH CAROLINA – Dr. Timothy F. Johnson, Chairman and Founder of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, today responded to a new resolution being considered at the annual NAACP meeting, in which the NAACP publicly calls the members of Tea Party groups nationwide “racists.”
“How dare the NAACP call Tea Party groups and their members racist? These groups are colorblind and are dedicated to restoring constitutional principles and smaller government,” Johnson said.
“The move by our government away from these principles have hurt families of all races, by raising taxes and enacting policies that have left millions unemployed in inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas across the country. Tea Party groups are fighting for common sense fiscal and social conservative policies, and are fighting to protect an unborn child’s right to life and the sanctity of marriage.
“The NAACP no longer speaks for the average African-American. As I travel throughout North Carolina and elsewhere across the country, I see more and more blacks joining the Tea Party movement. The overwhelming number of black Republican candidates this election year itself speaks volumes and proves the Tea Party movement has nothing to do with race. ”If the NAACP wants to continue blaming the Republicans and the emerging Tea Party movement, they will only succeed in making themselves more and more irrelevant.”
# # # The Frederick Douglass Foundation is a public policy and educational organization which brings the sanctity of free market and limited government ideas to bear on the hardest problems facing our nation. We are a collection of pro-active individuals committed to developing innovative and new approaches to today’s problems with the assistance of elected officials, scholars from universities and colleges and community activists. For more information, visit www.TFDF.org.
But perhaps the very best response we can offer to the NAACP is the Keynote Address from our July 4, 2010 American Celebration at Elmwood Park. It was delivered by Sonnie Johnson, who is the Virginia President of The Frederick Douglass Foundation.
Sonnie also shared her personal reaction to the NAACP resolution in Kansas City.
“Here comes the Talented Tenth to the racial rescue! You would think they would focus on unemployment, education, or financial literacy but no, they are back to playing politics with a racial resolution against the Tea Party. I’m beginning to understand why the NAACP has been losing membership. They have spent the last forty years rewarding the children of former civil rights leaders for the courage shown by their parents, instead of focusing on the community they are supposed to represent. From the Jackson Ward Area of Richmond to the Vinger Hill area of Charlottesville, I understand the impact of NAACP politics on the black community. They do nothing but destroy productive communities by selling their souls for political favor.
My soul isn’t for sale and at the Tea Party, it’s not required. They only care I’m for a smaller government that doesn’t turn the entire country into the ghetto’s I’ve grown up in. Do they allow me to speak because I’m Black? Yes, because they represent Black, White, Brown, and all colors of Americans in between. I thought the whole point of the Civil Rights Movement was liberty and freedom and not about color.”
Sonnie Johnson, President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of Virginia, Woodbridge VA
In conclusion, The Roanoke Tea Party welcomes any and all citizens who support our message of limited government and big liberty. If you cherish your freedom and support our championing of national sovereignty, private property rights and 10th Amendment federalism, you are our kind of people.
UPDATE 7/14/10: The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation just released an additional statement that includes Sonnie’s statement, as well as additional quotes from other black Conservative leaders in Va.
Bishop E.W. Jackson, Sr., President of STAND, Chesapeake VA “While I have great admiration for the historic contribution the NAACP once made toward equality and justice for black Americans, they have lost their way. Instead of seeking justice, they play racial politics and march lockstep with the far left. They were once independent. Now liberals say jump, and the NAACP says, ‘How high?’
“The NAACP was silent during the hateful, racist, anti-Semitic rants of Jeremiah Wright and the New Black Panther Party. Instead of defending Kenneth Gladney’s right to freely express his political views as a black American, they were silent when he was viciously attacked at a Tea Party rally and called the “N” word by SEIU thugs. It seems that the NAACP is only for the advancement of liberal “colored” people. Therefore it has lost credibility as a true civil rights organization.”
Gilbert Wilkerson, Richmond Tea Party Board of Directors, Richmond VA
“As an African American, I expect the NAACP to condemn the violent crimes in our neighborhoods, the genocide of millions of unborn black babies, and the high dropout rate among our black youth. Instead, the NAACP steps over the weightier matters to condemn the Tea Party for unproven racial slurs and a few offensive posters about the president (which the Tea Party itself has condemned). Is this how the many black supporters of the NAACP want their money used?”
Coby W. Dillard, Co-Founder of the Hampton Roads Tea Party, Norfolk VA
“With 15% of blacks unemployed and 13% in fair or poor health nationwide, one would expect the NAACP to focus on problems that truly damage the black community. Instead, they choose to sow more racial divisiveness against the Tea Party—a movement that seeks to restore those founding principles that unite Americans of all colors as one nation, indivisible.
“Sadly, this continues the NAACP’s recent history of division among the very lines they claim to work to eliminate. How unfortunate that this organization, with its proud history during the civil rights era, chooses to denigrate the Tea Party movement instead of seeking common ground.
“When the NAACP is truly ready to work towards its goal of ‘One Nation, One Dream,’ they are welcome to unite with us as we work towards that same end.”
naacp is standing at the back of the crowd, at the moment. As always, they look for a warm spotlight to stand in, next photo op, gearing up for a November etc.. Please, ignore and keep “TELLING IT LIKE IT IS”. Something they never have.
“Please, GOD, Help Us Save Our Republic”.
Please, the Tea Party is full of racists. It seems to me the Tea Party is using African-Americans as a propaganda tool to further their cause, but deep down, they will be the first to put blacks back at the back of the bus.
@JSMITH- and you know this how? How many of us do you know personally?
You make a fool of yourself with statements like that.
She is wonderful.. and if the NAACP doesn’t respect what this woman has to offer America, they need to get down on their knees and ask the Lord to show them the way
@JSMITH…what John said….The Tea Party is on the cutting edge of the new Civil RIghts Movement. The NAACP hasn’t done anything to “advance” anyone in decades. Where are they as millions of urban dwelling African American’s are denied their 2nd Amendment rights to protect themselves? Where have they been as the failed socilal justice agenda and liberal agendas of local governments have destroyed once thriving cities like Detroit with large African American populations? Where has the NAACP been as the DOJ throws out a racially motivated voter intimidation suit in Philadelphia, reminiscient of the worst moments of the the Jim Crow south?
Tha answer is no where. The Tea Party movement is the Civil Rights movement of the 21st century, ensuring the rights of all citizens against a federal government bent on destroying your Consitutional freedoms. Don’t let the left or the right cloud your vision…focus on the facts and join us as we fulfill the words of MLK…where one day people will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Real racists are people who notice color and try to make it a factor in a non-racial debate—so what does that make the NAACP? Real racists. What a shame. Why is skin color or slant eyes still an issue in anything—-that is only appearance. Wonder what we would see if we could see the hearts of the NAACP —would it be anger fueled by the fact that they don’t get paid if they don’t stir something up to keep lashing at? It all comes down to money doesn’t it…