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The NAACP 110th National Convention – Detroit, MI USA - July 20th thru July 24th, 2019

By Annette Wright
Special to the Truth

Last week, from July 20th – July 24th, 2019 all roads led to COBO Hall in Detroit, Michigan for the 110th NAACP National Convention. With a host of very impressive workshops, galas and presentations, this year’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Convention was most likely one of its most important events, due in large part to the extremely challenging political environment that African-Americans are living under presently.

The NAACP’s Presidential Candidate Forum, undoubtedly, was largely responsible for the onslaught of global media presence. The NAACP tradition of inviting the current sitting president continued during this year’s convention with an invitation to President Trump. Trump declined his invitation.
 

ACT-SO Awardees



Senator Kamala Harris

 

On July 23, 2019, in the midst of the convention, the NAACP passed a resolution supporting the impeachment of President Trump. Nonetheless, nine Democratic Presidential hopefuls made their way into Detroit for the Presidential Candidate forum hosted by CNN Political Analyst and White House Correspondent, April Ryan.

Each candidate spent about 10 minutes each in a one-on-one chat with the well-known Ryan, who garnered headlines in January 2018 when she asked President Donald Trump if he was a racist. Ryan presented each candidate with a unique set of questions primarily focusing on issues of concern to African American voters.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, South Bend, IN Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former HUD Secretary Julian Castro and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Welds, the lone Republican candidate in attendance, all presented their plans and stated their positions on issues regarding racism, education, police and criminal justice reform, poverty, environmental matters (particularly lead in our water systems), civil rights for LGBTQ citizens, Russian election interference, housing and student loan debt.

Of particular interest, during the forum, was when Ryan posed the question of reparations to Sanders, who is on record as being against reparations. Sanders responded: "Here’s my fear about reparations, and I understand the issue, and I’m on board the legislation that will study the issue… Here’s my fear: The Congress gives the African American community a $20,000 check, and says, 'Thank you, that took care of slavery, we don’t have to worry about anything more.' I think that’s wrong, I want to build, rebuild the distressed communities in America."

Many of the more than 1,000 people in attendance applauded Senator Sanders’ response. Another well received response came from Weld when he shared his view on the current status of the Republican Party, stating that “Unless the Republican Party in Washington expressly rejects the racism of Donald Trump, they are going to come to be universally viewed as the party of racism in America.”

In addition to the Presidential Candidate Forum, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also visited Detroit for the NAACP Convention. Pelosi has been under pressure from many in the Democratic Party to proceed with Impeachment against Trump. However, Pelosi expressed patience as Congress continues to investigate other areas of potential criminal activities by Trump and his administration.

The timing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, which took place in the midst of the Convention, only seemed to have fueled the calls by many delegates and attendees for the impeachment of Trump.

More celebratory events also took place during the convention. During the Spingarn Freedom Fund Awards Dinner Celebration, where Patrick Gaspard delivered the keynote, many gifted, talented and inspiring youths were celebrated and acknowledged.

As stated by the NAACP, The Spingarn Medal is the NAACP highest honor, given annually to an individual of African descent and American citizenship for outstanding achievement. First instituted in 1914 by the late J.E. Spingarn–then NAACP Chairman of the Board of Directors– the gold medal is to be awarded for the highest or noblest achievement by an American Negro during the preceding year or years.

A complete list of all honorees, to date, are available on the NAACP’s web site.

A notable moment during this year’s Spingarn Awards dinner occurred when the disc jockey for the event began to play a popular song by legally embattled R&B Singer R. Kelly. Within seconds of recognizing the music the young crowd began to chant “no, no, no!” And with that, the DJ immediately stopped playing the tune and quickly put on more satisfactory musical selections.

Other very well attended workshops and forums included:  A Welcome Concert by the Detroit Branch; WIN (Women in the NAACP) Empowerment Brunch; ACT-SO Awards Ceremony; Public Mass Meeting, hosted by Chairman Leon W. Russell; The Clarence Mitchell Memorial Luncheon, which featured Stacey Abrams; The Roy Wilkins Luncheon; A Health Luncheon, presented by U.S. Surgeon General and Vice Admiral Dr. Adams; Federal Legislative Workshop; Federal Judicial Nominations Workshop; Youth & College Public Mass Meeting ; Black Presidential Staff of 2020 Fireside Chat; CEO Roundtable; A presentation by Michael Bloomberg.

Already, next year’s 111tth NAACP Convention planning is underway, slated for Boston, Massachusetts.


 

 

 

   


Copyright © 2019 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/01/19 23:40:37 -0400.


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