If You're Broke, The NAACP Doesn't Want You

Unless one has upfront money, one should not assume that one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious  civil rights organization (the NAACP) wants your membership. ...because they don't. 

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (or, NAACP) makes it perfectly clear that, unless you can donate money to them, you will not have the right to become a member and join their cause in fighting for justice.                                               

Founded in 1909 by W.E.B. DuBois and several other prominent Americans in response to the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 and the need for a movement to secure the voting rights for millions of African Americans and women, the NAACP set out to consolidate the expertise of liberal-minded professionals and mobilize disenfranchised minorities into a force for change. The birth child of the Niagara Movement of 1908, the NAACP found success in growing its membership and influence, ultimately, culminating with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

During those days, one's willingness for participate (i.e. volunteer time, ideas, and heart) was the only requirement for involvement.  Today, however, one needs to drop down $30 in order to gain membership (for a year).  Recently, I made an attempt to join this storied group.  However, after logging onto www.stlouisnaacp.org, I found that I could only join (as an adult) with a $30 donation.  That was it....no alternative....  My next thought was to learn the local chapter agenda, study its initiatives, and determine whether or not the 30 bucks was worth it.  Well, to my surprise, the local initiatives were nonexistent.  Instead, I found the resumes of the leadership and a "Save the Date" promotion for their 2011 Freedom Fund Dinner.

These revelations made me wonder how this once great organization was able to assist in accomplishing great feats, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with free membership, yet today seem to initiate and accomplish nothing (with their money first strategy).  I don't mean to down the NAACP, for who am I to do so, however the group truly needs to get back to the ground level and return to its purpose of proposing and initiating legislation that will improve the plight of those of us who aren't rich or wealthy.  I want them to make headlines for something other than their opposition to zealous statements made by some Tea Partiers.  There is oodles of work to be done, such as:  grant programs for minority and women construction companies, updating the technology within urban public schools, partnerships with Haitian, Jamaican, and African countries, extending the school year in order to decrease the gap in math and science, gun control improvements, stiffer penalties for violent criminals, greater tax incentives for companies, and so on.

Bottom line, the NAACP has the name recognition to join forces with women groups, Latino groups, church, and LGBT groups in develop real legislation and placing some heat on our elected officials.....  swallow your pride and study the Tea Party, study the Obama campaign of 2008, and study the forefathers of the NAACP itself. 

If the NAACP wants $30 before signing a member, prove to us that it's worth it.