Some participants and staff members of the NAACP will wear red, white and blue ribbons in support of union workers at this Friday's Image Awards.

The move follows the passage of a resolution in support of union workers and collective bargaining rights by the NAACP last week.

"As we celebrate the contributions of people of color in film, literature, music and television, we will be wearing ribbons to show our support for the workers and families protesting in statehouses across the nation. The NAACP remains committed to helping public employees keep their collective bargaining rights, fair pay and appropriate benefits," said NAACP Chairman Roslyn Brock.

Unions have been coming under attack in recent weeks. In Wisconsin, the governor is trying to take away the collective bargaining power rights of state union members.

Times are rough and unions must share the pain with the rest of the country. Through contract givebacks, some already have.

"The NAACP has always supported the efforts of working people to come together to bargain for a better life. The only way we can solve our nation's economic problems is with everyone at the table," said Clayola Brown, chairman of the Image Awards and president of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.

The NAACP's show of solidarity with unions is an important step. However, this is a time where more than symbolic gestures and resolutions are necessary, especially since union cuts will disproportionately affect African-Americans.

Terry Smith, a professor at the Depaul College of Law writes:

In Madison, protesters have been overwhelmingly white given the demographics of Wisconsin. But as the attempt to curtail public unionism spreads to other more ethnically diverse states, it will become more apparent that the federal government and state and local governments throughout the country employ a disproportionate share of African Americans. Moreover, African Americans are more likely than any other racial group to be union members. The attack on public-sector unions is thus a two-fisted assault on one of the levers of employment security most accessible to African Americans.

WISCONSIN UNION PROTEST RALLY - DOCUMENTARY from Johnny Clark on Vimeo.

If the NAACP and other civil rights organizations are to survive into the next century they must find a way to influence policy.

I'm reserving judgment because the NAACP has vowed to "use agitation and mobilization wherever necessary to prevent these draconian proposals from becoming public policy in any jurisdiction," in the resolution.

The NAACP has more than 1,200 chapters and this is the type of issue to which they should be able to organize a strong response.

NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous has issued some very powerful words that I hope the organization, and others like it, live up to.

"Our nation must enact smart policies to stimulate economic growth and create jobs," said Jealous. "We cannot cut our way out of the recession. Job creation increases our tax revenues and consumer dollars, which will grow our economy and ultimately reduce our deficit. The NAACP stands ready to fight in opposition to similar legislation in any state where the rights of workers are being eviscerated, and jobs are being severely cut, whether it is Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee or Indiana or any other state in our union."