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To the surprise of some, Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have pushed attention away from the recent NAACP resolution condemning racism within the Tea Party Movement. Instead, they've asked that the nation focus on jobs and the economic recovery effort.
At the NAACP national convention this week, held in Kansas City, Jackson had this to say:
"We will not be diverted or otherwise distracted by any other message except putting America back to work," Jackson said a day after convention delegates approved the resolution. "We want jobs and justice and peace."
Sharpton had his own words about the Tea Party:
"They talk about restoring dignity. They are really talking about restoring a time before the federal government intervened and protected the rights of people," Sharpton said. "There clearly are some racial leaves in their tea bag," Sharpton said. "But this is not just about race. It is about how you see government."
The NAACP resolution, approved this week, calls for Tea Party activists to "repudiate the racist element and activities" of the organization. Tea Party spokesperson Mark Williams told the Associated Press that the NAACP was just "race-baiting and fear-mongering." He seems to believe that the organization's allegations are completely unfounded:
"I'm not surprised they are jumping into the fray here, because the NAACP just tapped a Gulf oil well full of cash contributions that will arrive from this resolution," Williams said. "And I know Al and Jesse want their piece of it. The slave traders of the 16th century should have been as good at exploiting Africans as these people are, because it's just disgusting."
I wish I could give you a complete take on why the NAACP felt the need to pass a resolution condemning Tea Party racism. My speculation is that its goal is to weaken the group's appeal before the midterm elections by putting it on the defensive. It's quite clear that there are some within the Tea Party who seem to push for ideas and legislation that would move the racial time clock backward, but it is difficult to make the entire organization responsible for those who are the most extreme.
By putting the Tea Party Express on its heels and making it confront racism within its ranks, the NAACP achieves the goal of getting the organization to condemn a portion of its membership and take a less-aggressive stance. Perhaps this is the reverse of the "Sister Souljah Moment," similar to the 1992 incident in which Bill Clinton criticized Jackson and Rainbow Push for their affiliation with the controversial hip-hop artist.
The Tea Party Express must hold itself accountable for the activities of its membership, but I am certainly surprised that the NAACP felt this issue was even worth its time.
I cannot say for sure why Jackson and Sharpton are distancing themselves from the NAACP resolution. At the very least, I am in agreement with the fact that they are focusing on jobs, which matters far more than the activities of the Tea Party. Additionally, the NAACP has made its position on the Tea Party clear, so there is no point in Jackson and Sharpton beating that same political drum. I also suspect that the Obama administration wishes to keep racial issues under the rug, since the last thing it needs is for America to remember that Obama is black.
It does appear to be the case that labeling the Tea Party membership as racists likely strikes a chord with the organization. By being labeled in such a way, its appeal to moderate Republicans is going to keep dropping. Personally, I would consider the Tea Party to be a populist fad gone bad that won't be around for the next election. But then again, that's just my two cents.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (11)
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By: Dave Gilmore on 7/15/2010 2:12PM
THIS IS WHAT REAL LEADERS DO... Stay the course despite the change of the current or the wind.
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By: Cecil Jones on 7/15/2010 4:03PM
The Tea Party should have responded to the charge of racism with one of their own. We are talking about an organization designed for "The Advancement of Colored People." The agenda of the NAACP is racist. Everything they do and say is based in race. Shame on them for calling the kettle black. They want to maintain their exclusivity.
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By: Jeannette on 7/15/2010 10:31PM
The agenda of the NAACP is not racist. They act as watch dogs over the civil rights of black people. This organization was formed a long time ago to speak for the disadvantaged black race. You did not actually think that there was a group interested in the rights of a black human being? It's people like you that will always support the need of a group such as the NAACP. Don't you think that all blacks kill each other over tenis shoes, steal, lie, murder, live in run down dirty houses, uneducated, shiftless, and down right lazy? This misconception is why an all white jury is dangerous. It does not matter if you are innocent, if you are black in this country,especially when you have people like Rand Paul running for public office, and feel that there is no reason why blacks should not be banned from certain establishments. So how racist is that?
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By: Little Dickie Dydoe on 7/15/2010 4:37PM
Sharpton,Jackson,the NAACP, and Dr Boyce are all in the business of Race Mongering. Anything they say or do is not for the purpose of helping anybody,but rather for promoting their own personal agenda.
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By: Jeannetteisanidiot on 7/16/2010 1:14PM
Jeannette -
Please answer AND explain this. Isn't having black history month racist? Isn't having a Congressinal black Caucus racist? Isn't having BET racist? Isn't have a black family reunion racist? Isn't having an all-black student union racist? Isn't having magazines with black titles (such as black Hair, black Professional, etc.) racist? Isn't having black Voices racist? Answer: Of course it is.
And no, we don't think that ALL blacks murder each other over tennis shoes, steal, like, murder, livein run down dirty houses, uneducated, shiftless and down right lazy? We think just most of them are. Whenever you see the protests or riots occurring, there are thousands of blacks there and why is that? They should be working, right? Snicker, snicker. And there are ghettos everywhere. And in those ghettos, you see the residents sitting on the porches or out on the streets selling or buying drugs. They don't have an education because they aren't smart enough. And what about the prison population? The last time I saw statistics, over half of them were black. Over half, which means more than ALL other races combined. And whenever they arrest a thug, that thug ALWAYS has a rap sheet a mile long, which means that if all of those thugs still out on the street were in prison where they belong, then they would represent maybe three-fourths of the prison population.
And if you think of the NAACP act as "watch dogs" over the civil rights of black people, you need to take those rose-colored glasses off. That's so funny that it doesn't even merit a laugh. When have you heard them come to a town complaining that a black person murdered another black person over a stolen pair of tennis shoes or name-brand piece of clothing? You never do. You always have your neighborhood marches where the residents say that they are going to put a stop to the blacks killing the blacks. You hear it that very day or night, but never again until there is yet another murder.
And a group interested in your rights? That is absurd and is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard in a while!
Be real for once. I know it might be a challenge, but give it a try.
Now ... "how racist is that?" Tsk, tsk.
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By: gerald on 7/16/2010 10:23PM
The naacp is a joke of an organization that needs to be disbanded for race baiting.
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By: Frank Norman on 7/18/2010 10:28PM
To start, let's define the word "racist". According to Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary: Eleventh Edition, the word racist is derived from the word racism. The word racism is defined as follows: a belief that race is the primary determinate of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a partictular race. So, given that definition, wouldn't a racist be a person who held these beliefs? Wouldn't a racist organization consist of members who held those beliefs?
Now, based on the information provided (do you have your own definition of racism and racist?) is Black History Month racist, or informative? During Black History Month is the notion that Blacks are superior to whites emphasized? Or, does Black History Month just point out the role Americans of African descent have played in the shaping of America? Is the observance of Black History Month fit the definition of being racist, or do you (and others who think like you) just have a problem with the name? What name (if any) would you suggest? As far as the N.A.A.C.P. is concerned, there would have been no need for this organizations--or any of the other organizations that exist solely to protest when Blacks are treated unfairly. Whites, (who control every segment of society) on the other hand only need protection from each other. Again, are these organizations racist, or just protective?
I intend to address the rest of your post at a later date, as I have other interests that need my attention. I feel compelled to address your uninformed comments about the prison population, black-on- black crime, and crime in general. These topics (along with many others) is the reason we need Black Voices, B.E.T., T.V. One, Ebony Magazine, et al--to provide a balance to some of the biased views, opinions, misinformation, and out right lies that are fed to the American people.
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By: marva lightbourne on 7/17/2010 4:58PM
..NAACP go after a "real fight" >> fox's news and the likes of Prez Obama's haters SEAN HANNITY, AND RUSH LIMBAUGH..the tea baggers is fighting for the same issues I, a black - american citizen is fighting government about: 1) increase taxes, without justifable cause ( homeowners property taxes)..2) control and limit big government spending by way of heavy "pork" spendings and these damn "earmarks " wasteful monies projects..(exception to this the initial large input into the econonmy thru the T.A.R.P.by prez Obama ( stimulus monies/hamp was needed!!( leftovers from Bush's mess)to help get us get back on course, and that's were I differ with the tea baggers on!!)..so, rev.Jackson and Sharpton, let them (NAACP) continue to blowout HOT AIR!!
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By: Louis Calabro on 7/30/2010 7:31PM
Unfortunately, African Americans (not all) as a group are proportionately far more racist than any other racial group in America.
The FBI documents that they are twice as likely to commit hate crimes than their representation in the US population.
Black on white crime is so out of proportion that anyone with any sense knows that race is involved in their attacks on whites. Let talk about race.
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By: Catherine on 9/06/2010 8:24AM
then why is this racism allowed:
http://womensrightsgoneastray.blogspot.com/
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