NAACP Should Cut Ties with Incendiary Nantambu

For weeks now while the CMS controversy has boiled over in our local community we’ve heard every possible range of reasons as to why it has come down to the drastic measures proposed.  Fiscally conservative minded people will tell you it surely points to a lack of proper planning by previous CMS leaders and boards combined with an inability to manage a proper budget.  Socially minded activists claim it is nothing more than pure racism aimed to re-segregate our schools and unfairly targets schools in the black community.  Whichever side you sit on and view you take, it becomes deeply personal with everyone involved and soon sides are drawn.  And as with any hot button topic differing views and opinions should be respectfully taken so that proper discussions can be had, compromises can be considered, and understanding between the two sides (though never absolute) can be attempted in a civil manner. 

 But the minute it turns into unfounded, unproven, inflammatory and derogatory personal attacks on civic leaders who have worked very hard in this community is the minute it has gone over the line.

 While there is no doubt in my mind that racism exists in this country (being in an interracial marriage I’ve seen it first hand), I find it highly irresponsible and reckless to start blindly hurling accusations of racism at former Mayor Pat McCrory as Charlotte NAACP’s president, Kojo Nantambu, has recently done.  Racism is a serious subject, not to be taken lightly and not to be thrown out each and every time there is a disagreement between two people of different races.  And this should be especially true of community leaders like Nantambu that are tasked with leading important organizations like the NAACP. Since when is it okay to blindly call someone a racist?  What would happen in your place of business if you disagreed with a colleague of another race and instead of handling it professionally you just started accusing them of being racist – to other coworkers and the media? 

 You’d be fired, that is what would happen.  And that is exactly what should happen to Nantambu after his ridiculous remarks calling the former Mayor a racist. 

 I challenge Nantambu to cite one verifiable incident in which Pat McCrory has ever shown the propensity to despise another human being purely for the color of their skin.  Just ONE, undeniable, evident incident which proves your claim. You made the accusation Nantambu, but can you back it up? 

 I guarantee you cannot and for that Kojo you should be fired.

 I implore the NAACP to look in their ranks for a less insidious leader who will work to bring a person of compromise and compassion to their top spot, not one who espouses dangerous lies and defamation.  A leader that will inspire a fight for equal rights based on true injustice and rooted in logical reasoning, not one that falsely accuses someone of being the lowest of the low racist.  A leader that is truly interested in advancing the overall agenda of your organization, not their own personal agenda of self glorification at the expense of people who have truly worked hard for the citizens of this community. 

 Until you shed yourself of this divisive yoke that represents your Charlotte leadership you will find it hard to ever reach true compromise in this or any other important community crisis that faces you.