Dear Freedom Fighters—Past, Present and Future,

   After several months of discouragement and disappointment, the time has now come to look at our present situation, assess the damage and move on.  We must now add new focus to our direction, caring about our community enough to be part of the solution in 2008.  There will always be problems but we do not have to settle for anything less than a solution.  We won’t just talk about it.  We will be about it!

   For almost 100 years, the NAACP has been at the vanguard of civil rights and remains on the front line safeguarding African-American freedom.   There is strength in numbers.  Consequently, we must make numbers count.  Membership is power!  Now that the Latino population growth has outpaced Blacks, we must consider joining forces in the fight for social justice that will increase our opportunities for victory. 

   While it is true that there are differences in terms of history and culture, we have a lot more in our similarities, so it probably makes sense to continue our struggle together. The time is now for us to stand together and protect those freedoms achieved.  However, we must become positively involved in dialogue on the issues that bring the community together.  If we only stand on the sidelines and point a finger of contempt, we will continue undermining the potential of racial harmony and doing disservice to community relations.

   Our teens and young adults are not “for sale” on the auction block of community un-involvement.  We must invest in building bridges instead of walls.  At this point, it is about our branch’s effort to establish a record of accomplishment of workable and pertinent solutions that will cultivate and produce the next generation of citizens we can all be proud of, while not compromising our pursuit of freedom.

   I appeal to you, both present and former members of the Champaign County Branch of the NAACP, to join in the dialogue that will engineer trust and accept the responsibility of what “forgiveness” of past wrongs have brought about and to pledge our support to continue the struggle toward eliminating unfair treatment in our community on all sides.  We can do this by restating our pledge of allegiance to freedom fighting.

   Likewise, we must become proactive in developing strategies, which manifest behavior that will help us to achieve our goals.  We must work toward more favorable communication, predicted upon mutual trust, respect and understanding of the issues, concerns and problem-solving strategies that affect all of us. 

   Overall, we must share a responsibility to educate each other and ourselves about important issues such as values and behaviors that affect law enforcement, community interaction and communication.

    If we resolve to make a common commitment to listen, suspend judgment about different groups and work collaboratively to achieve these goals, we will survive whatever crisis!  As the struggle continues, every member (and potential member) of the Champaign County Branch has a duty to perform.

Justice makes the difference from crisis to crisis, but we must be counted among the active “players.”  It is not enough to be on the team, but in the game.  Do you recall the commercial that concludes, “Membership has its privileges?” I have come to the same conclusion, especially when I think of where we can take our local branch.  However, it will take all of us, pushing as well as pulling.

   The NAACP has numerous Action Alerts, which when its membership become actively involved, will help bring pressure to bear in those areas that affect the everyday lives of not only African Americans but all minorities.  Our concern has to go beyond the usual rhetoric.  Our vision must be clear and reasonable, but the gains we strive for will not happen without an activist agenda that puts these issues on the table in a way that makes sense to people.  Membership is power!

   As your elected President, I am committing to continuing the task of fighting for freedom from discrimination. Almost a hundred NAACP years later, our mission remains the same, even if the contours of the racial struggle have changed—largely for the better.  For that reason, I urge you to re-commit yourself to active participation in the struggle for equal rights and opportunity.  I call upon you to join with me in solidarity.  Let us turn ripples of hope into waves of achievement.  Sometimes you have to believe in your power—the power of one.  Envision a stronger future.  Imagine what could be accomplished with the right combination of energy and determination and you.

Committed to Continue,

Rev. Jerome C. Chambers, President

 

Posted in announcements, President