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Published: Mar. 9, 2005

It's Time to Clean House
By Raynard Jackson, AOL BlackVoices columnist


I’ve said this all before.

Last year, when Kweisi Mfume announced he would no longer preside over the NAACP, I explained in my very first column for AOL BlackVoices that the NAACP was being held in bondage by its board chairman Julian Bond.

I reminded BV members that despite the scandal that plagued the organization with Ben Chavis at the helm, the corporate and political communities remained committed to the group solely because of Mfume's stature.

But as the years went by, Mfume spent more of his time fighting with Bond about toning down his vitriolic rhetoric than cleaning up the mess that resulted from Bonds verbal barrages.

"The NAACP's membership is stagnant, its image sullied by Bond, its relationship with corporate America is weak and now the group has lost Mfume, its most credible leader," I wrote. "It's time for Bond to resign his position as chairman of the board and to cut all ties to the organization."

Now, let's fast forward two months. The headline in the February 20, 2005, edition of the Baltimore Sun reads: "NAACP reports a shortfall in budget at annual meeting, Baltimore headquarters has had to restructure some staff positions."

I warned that corporate America would begin to pull back its support of the NAACP, and that membership would continue to decline. Anybody could have seen this coming.

Mfume saw it, and he didn't want to have his reputation and image ruined. After many failed attempts to silence Bond, he became frustrated and got out.

Now, the organization is at a serious crossroad. Its very survival is at stake. They are having serious problems finding a replacement for Mfume. There are not many people with stature or credibility willing to head an organization that has an uncontrollable ego maniac as its chairman, the IRS auditing their activities and an almost $5 million deficit. This makes me wonder whether the NAACP is an organization that black America still needs. Has it lost its relevance?

We are notorious for keeping old pants hanging around the house long after they are no longer useful. In most cases, they will stay in our closet until a girlfriend (boyfriend, husband, wife, mother or father) comes in and just throws them out. Does the NAACP have someone willing to clean house? They have well more than 50 people on the board of directors. Managing any organization with that many people involved is impossible. I think the board should be reduced to no more than nine people, but this would hit at the very heart of their irrational management style; board seats are handed out as a way to keep people involved, even when most of the people on the board bring nothing of value to the management of the organization.

During the past couple of years, the NAACP has become increasingly less relevant. Just because we have some emotional or sentimental value associated with something doesn't justify its continued existence. Sometimes, we need to have someone "clean house." Who will do it for the NAACP by calling for Julian Bond's immediate resignation and a total overhaul of its board of directors?

About the Author

Raynard Jackson is president and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, Inc., a political consulting/government affairs firm in Washington, D.C. RJA provides strategic advice and counsel to elected officials (White House, Congress), corporations and entrepreneurs.

Published: March 9, 2005