NAACP’s Troubles Must Be Put in Context

To the Editor:

Several points raised in Paul Demko’s March 12 article on the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“Controversy Follows Election of New N.A.A.C.P. Chairman”) merit additional comment.

Any past, current, or future controversies regarding a few

members of the N.A.A.C.P. National Board of Directors and its Special Contributions Fund’s Board of Trustees must be put in the context of the fact that the organization is governed by a large and diverse group of individuals who are elected by the N.A.A.C.P.’s 2,200 nationwide branches/units. In fact, governance of the N.A.A.C.P. is in the hands of roughly 130 board members split among the two non-profit organizations that make up the N.A.A.C.P.

While I was delighted that Mr. Demko’s article mentions that the association’s books have been balanced for over two years, it is worth noting that all long-term debt accumulated under previous management has been retired — thanks to the N.A.A.C.P.’s loyal contributors, corporate supporters, and generous foundations. Our chief financial officer, formerly with Price Waterhouse, has installed new financial controls that assure me the N.A.A.C.P. will be good stewards of the funds entrusted to us by donors.

Lastly, I always applaud those who have big dreams and large goals. Having faced the financial crisis squarely, N.A.A.C.P. President Kweisi Mfume’s goal is to build a $50-million endowment to protect the future of the N.A.A.C.P. I support his goal and have no doubt we will achieve it — even if the initial time frame was a bit optimistic.

Like our success in civil rights, the N.A.A.C.P.’s endowment will be built one day, one person, and one gift at a time. It will succeed as the N.A.A.C.P. rises again to become ever more deserving of increased individual, corporate, and foundation support.

Julian Bond
Chairman
N.A.A.C.P. National Board of Directors
Baltimore