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“I want to thank the Toledo NAACP for this opportunity
tonight. I can’t stress how important the 2020 Census is to
our community. They are trying to stop us from voting and
from being counted. Everyone must be counted every 10
years,” shared Andre Washington, state of Ohio NAACP officer
during his official greetings during the banquet.
Guests dined on food catered by We Be Ribs and listened to
various musical selections performed by Organized K-OS Band.
WTFG’s Kristian Brown served as the mistress of ceremony for
the entire program that opened with Pastor Michael Key of
People Missionary Baptist Church leading an invocation, a
vocal selection by ACT-SO participant Alanna Hicks and then
remarks from Toledo NAACP President Ray Wood.
“I want to welcome all of you to our 104th annual
banquet. Everyone looks great tonight, and we’re excited to
celebrate another year,” explained Wood before he asked all
executive officers of Toledo NAACP to stand and receive a
standing ovation for their community contributions.
The banquet annually acknowledges community efforts and
selected the Association of Negro Business & Professional
Womens’ Club, Inc. Maumee Bay (NANBPWC) and journalist Jaden
Jefferson for the 2019 recognition. The Maumee Bay NANBPWC
was chartered 48 years after the national organization was
organized.
The local club launched a black college tour for students
during their spring break. Students were able to visit up to
nine colleges each year. The 2020 tour will mark the club’s
17th year organizing the college tour. “This is a
labor of love for us, we do this tour each year for the
babies. We’ve had over 100 students attend historic black
colleges or universities since 2002,” explained Trevor
Black, Maumee Bay NANBPWC member and black college tour
co-creator.
Jaden Jefferson is currently a sixth grader
attending Maumee Valley Country Day School. He has covered
the news and attended the 2019 Democratic Debate, CNN, The
Ellen Show, and others. Jefferson reports, writes, edits,
and posts stories on his YouTube channel called Jaden
Reports NOW. “It’s an honor to be honored by this
prestigious organization. I want to thank my family,” shared
Jefferson.
Accomplished writer, journalist and critic Touré was the
featured speaker. Touré has worked as a co-host on MSNBC,
featured writer in Rolling Stone magazine, professor at
NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and published
author. He delivered a passionate speech that covered
community impact, injustice, and racism. “We as a community
are used to loss. When we fight against injustice, we are
fighting for our country. It’s our country too. America is
sick right now, and we must see through Trump’s lies to make
our America great again,” explained Touré.
He also explained how to identify and deal with
micro-aggression. An example of micro-aggression provided by
the speaker, is when an individual of the majority race
publicly questions the professional skills of the minority
race. “People may not mean to be racist, but this is not
about uncovering racism but defining it by biases. It’s not
your purpose to educate people about racism. A win is just
living your life, in your own way. Don’t take the weight of
that responsibility. Their ignorance is theirs to own,” said
Touré.
The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909. The NAACP was
formed partly in response to lynching and the 1908 race
riots in Springfield. The NAACP established its national
office in New York City in 1910.
The Toledo unit was chartered in 1915 and the list of past
presidents include: Benjamin Fisher, Albertus Brown, Charlie
Cottrell, E.L. Wheaton, Mayme Duffy, Rev. J.M. Howard, D.F.
Washington, Father Walter Stanley, Clarence Smith, Francis
Alexander, Rev. Calvin Stainaker, Mayo Harris, PhD, Rev.
Clyde Adams, Jacob James, Robert Franklin Jr. Esq, Anthony
Banks, Harold Moss, Anderson Cheeves, Rev. A.L. Roach, J.
Frank Troy, Rev. Robert Culp, (Interim) C. Jack Dale, Rev.
W.E. Merriweather, (Interim) Yvonne Howard, Samantha Adams,
PhD, Rev. George Maize III, Rev. Charles Ware, George Davis,
Jr, Rev. Floyd Rose, LeRoy Williams, George Davis, Jr, Judge
C. Allen McConnell, Theresa Gabriel, David Taylor III Esq,
WilliAnn Moore and Rev. Kevin Bedford.
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