WS Chronicle

By Tori P. Haynesworth

For The Chronicle

The N.C. NAACP had its political action luncheon on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Benton Convention Center on N. Cherry St. This event was a part of the N.C. NAACP 72nd annual statewide convention.

Different branches of the N.C. NAACP were in attendance along with several other guests. Councilwoman Denise Adams was the moderator that led the luncheon, while key officials like Attorney Gen. Roy Cooper and Rabbi Fred Guttman of Temple Emmanuel of Greensboro were present.

Mayor Allen Joines presented Rev. Dr. William Barber the key to the city of Winston-Salem as well as complimenting him of his many achievements like the March for Voting Rights that took place in July.

“I wanted to show how much I appreciate you all being here and appreciate the work of Dr. Barber,” said Joines.

Dr. Barber spoke for a brief moment of how he and the N.C. NAACP extended an invitation to certain individuals to participate in the convention, like Gov. Pat McCrory, who decided not to attend but write a letter instead.

“We can’t be a great organization that has done these things for North Carolina and is standing up for rights and you won’t even meet with us about Medicaid expansion, and you won’t meet with us about voting rights,” said Barber.

There was a song selection and spoken word performance.

After lunch, Joy-Ann Reid, MSNBC political correspondent and the keynote speaker addressed the audience about the reality of “post-racial” by giving a brief history lesson of what African-Americans have went through after slavery.

“You can’t be post-racial if you’re trying to participate in this society in a post-racial fashion, not pointing out your difference but being noticed. When you’re noticed, you can’t be post-racial,” said Reid. “We’ve had an entire history of the attempted post-racialism being met with violence, with murder and redemption.”

Reid gave in some facts and figures about the critical issues such as the voter-ID law, which is also known to be the monstrous law, or House Bill 589.

“We are at a crossroads, not just in North Carolina but in the country where we’re going to decide whether or not we want to truly embrace a future in which voters of every race and every ethnicity are encouraged to vote,” said Reid.

People in the audience were moved by Reid’s keynote address and some specifics points she made that revolved around the community as a state and as a nation.

“Hopefully those of us who were here that listened, will take it back and tell everybody else out here, because that’s one of the most important speeches out here in a long time,” said Jimmy Buxton of the N.C. NAACP Fayetteville Branch. “We got to get people energized to get out here and get these people out of office, simple as that.”

A few of the younger generation grew inspired by Reid’s words.

“She spoke on a lot of points, especially about the voting rights, there’s a lot of things that a lot of our youth and our peers do not know,” said Maryellen Riley, sophomore at Shaw University.

“She’s someone to look up to,” said Tahirah Hargrove, sophomore at Winston-Salem State University. “She didn’t come off as someone you couldn’t talk to. I felt like she got us.”

Reid also pointed out solutions that needs to be taken to get the community involved and in the right direction, like to be registered to vote between the ages of 16-18, and to register when citizens pay their taxes to name a few.

For more information or to learn more about the N.C. NAACP, call 866-626-2227 or visit www.naacpnc.org.