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Benjamin Todd Jealous

Local Leaders Pleased With Choice Of New and Young NAACP CEO

By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal & Guide
 
       Benjamin Todd Jealous has not taken the helm as the new National NAACP CEO/Executive Director yet, but he is already reaching out to state and local  organizations to give them some idea of  direction policies he will be pursuing once he reports to work on September 1st.
On Tuesday (May 20), Mr. Jealous, accompanied by National Board Chairman Julian Bond and the Chair of the Texas NAACP Conference, Greg Bledsoe, held a teleconference with members of the African American media. Jealous comes to the new position having served for two years as executive director of the National Newspapers Publishers’ association which represents over 200 African American newspapers.
Bond, who led off the media session, said that Mr. Jealous has interest in  social justice issues “that the NAACP holds dear.” He further said that Mr. Jealous’ youth (he is 35) would be an asset to attract people of his generations to an organization which has lost membership in the past two decades.
     Bledsoe added that Jealous’ experience as a law professor  would help him advance the agenda of the African American community.  “He is concerned about the African American Community from grandest to the least of us,” said Bledsoe.
       Bledsoe said that he, too, was impressed with Jealous’ youth  and intellect and impressed with his knowledge of Civil Rights issues, especially Title Six which prevents discrimination by government agencies that receive federal funding. If an agency is found in violation of Title VI, that agency can lose its federal funding.
       In Hampton Roads, NAACP leaders are seeking to get up to speed on Mr. Jealous’ background. But from what they have read, the NAACP leaders of the Norfolk and Virginia Beach chapters say they are pleased with the national choice.
       “It is good that  he is familiar with the Civil Rights movement and that he is younger and familiar with the issues which impact on our community,” said Georgia Allen, President of the Virginia Beach NAACP Chapter.  “You need youth to inspire people to join an organization like the NAACP to make it survive and grow. Further he is a biracial person, who can look at racial issues from a perspective that may be different from ours and others,and that is a positive.”
       James Rivers, head of the Norfolk NAACP, said he applauds the Board’s decision to hire a man as young as Jealous to head the organization at this point  in its history.
       “The NAACP needs to be looking and bringing in new and younger membership,” said Rivers. “A lot of times organizations hire individuals with good skills and intentions but not the charisma to attract  people, especially the young people the NAACP needs to survive.  If you do not have the ability to attract new people to build your membership for the future you will wither and die. This is true for the NAACP and other historic institutions like the church..”

   That money had been raised by Jealous, who worked for  the African American-owned newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi, The Jackson Advocate, said that he cut his teeth as a reporter working on issues facing the African American community. He was also Executive Director of the National Newspaper  Publisher’s  Association, the Black Press of America from 2000 until 2003.

Posted May 28, 2008

  
       Jealous said more needed to be done to fight discrimination. He said that Affirmative Action was under attack and was limiting corporations’ ability to diversify their workforces. He also mentioned the “crumbling” public schools and the effort to exclude thousands of African American men who have been incarcerated and people locked in poverty.
Jealous, who comes to the new position from his job as head of the rich and powerful Rosenberg Foundation of San Francisco, said he chose to seek the NAACP position over a secure financial future at Rosenberg. He said he wants to help insure further progress be made so that his two and half year old daughter  will not be mistreated because of her race and can live out her life without discrimination.
         Jealous was one of the three strongest finalists the national board was vetting. Others included Rev. Frederick Haynes, III, who  is 47, and is  pastor of the Dallas-based  Friendship-West Baptist Church, and Alvin Brown, 37, a former  Clinton White House official who is working for Hillary Clinton’s political campaign.
        Cheryl Smith of the Dallas Weekly newspaper asked if Jealous planned on reaching out to Haynes, who was his closest competitor.
       During the teleconference, Julian Bond said one of the reasons why Rev. Haynes’ application was not accepted was that he refused to relinquish his job at his church in Dallas.
       Bond said according to the NAACP contract, the Executive Director and  CEO is obligated to work only for the NAACP.
Jealous said over time, he will reach out to Rev. Haynes and those board members who may have favored the Dallas pastor over him.
       This reporter asked Jealous about tensions between the Black community and local law enforcement officials across the nation, especially. This reporter referred to the shooting death by police of Sean Bell in New York the night before his wedding and a recent video taping from a news helicopter  of Philadelphia police brutalizing four young Black men after a traffic stop.
       Jealous said that individuals and civil rights groups must be vigilant about such brutality and effectively document  and publicize incidents of police misconduct and that  officers must he held accountable  for their action. He said that good examples of  policies and legislation that guard against such brutality should be made  available to citizens and rights groups so, they may be used to fight against police brutality.
       March Cromuel, the former President of the Chesapeake NAACP, said that although he does not know all of Jealous' background, he trusts the 64-member board made the right decision.
       “I understand it was a split board, there was some dissension, but I feel the board made the right decision,” said Cromuel.  “I think they were looking at someone who was about Civil Rights. He is 35 year old and he will be able to lure new and younger people to the organization, like Barack Obama is doing with presidential race, because he can identify with them and the issues that they are interested in today.”

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