NAACP chief: Blacks
still lag in many areas
BY DEBORAH BARFIELD
BERRY, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
From thnt.com on the
Web, February 5, 2007
NEW YORK, Feb. 4 -- Bruce
Gordon, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, said blacks still face a host of pressing problems ranging from
high unemployment rates to a lack of access to quality education.
Gordon, who recently took the helm of the nation's oldest civil rights
organization, says while blacks have made gains in the political arena, there
are too many disparities between blacks and whites in health, education and
employment.
As the nation celebrates Black History month, Gordon reflected on those concerns
and efforts to address them.
Question: With Democrats back in charge of Congress, there are a number of
African-Americans in some high-profile positions. What impact, if any,
could that have on policies that affect African-Americans?
Answer: I'm encouraged to have people like (Rep.) Charlie Rangel at Ways
and Means, (Rep. John) Conyers at Judiciary. Now, what we have to do is
see whether we can move legislation that really addresses the issues in our
community.
Q: Is there anything that you hope and expect to come out of those committees?
A: We are on death row in disproportionate numbers. We are incarcerated in
disproportionate numbers. No matter what measure you use, the criminal
justice system has demonstrated a bias over the years in terms of its impact on
African-Americans. I'm hoping that the Judiciary Committee can begin to
address some of those issues.
Q: In the Senate, there is one African-American representative. What does
that say, if anything, about the state of politics for black Americans?
A: I'm excited that we have a senator in the Senate. That's better than
none. But it still demonstrates the dramatic lack of diversity in the
highest governing or legislative body in the country. Until we find
increased representation we should not in any way ... feel comfortable.
Q: What does it mean that he (Barack Obama) is in the presidential field?
A: We're a long way from having either a women or an African-American receiving
the party nomination. We're even further away from them being elected
president. But I do sense that this is the most realistic opportunity for
either a black or a woman to advance to the finals.
Q: Now that Congress has passed the Voting Rights Act, what do you think should
be on the civil rights agenda?
A: We are on the wrong side of so many disparities in this country -- health
care disparities, criminal justice disparities, education disparities, economic
disparities. Across the board, we continue to be disproportionately
represented among those who are the have-nots in America as opposed to the
haves. There must be equal access to quality education.
Q: With the passage of the affirmative action initiative in Michigan last fall
and other education cases before the Supreme Court, where is the country on
affirmative action?
A: Across the country, there is a sentiment that affirmative action has outlived
its usefulness and has no place in American life. I happen to think that
is absolutely wrong. It is still a very useful and valuable tool, and we
as an organization will continue to oppose any initiative at the state level, if
not at the federal level, to eliminate affirmative action.
Q: As one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the country, your
membership has declined and you've struggled to attract young people. How
do you defend the relevance of organizations like the NAACP?
A: What I have found is the NAACP has not spent a lot of time, energy or
resources promoting what it does. The truth is that we are more involved,
more active and making more of an impact than many Americans know.
|
