AMERICUS -The theme of this years NAACP's Freedom Fund Banquet in Americus on April 25, reflected President Barack Obama’s campaign theme, "Change Has Come."
"We should not simply celebrate and reflect on the past, but look towards the future," said Sumter NAACP youth member Raven Harris who delivered the welcome, "The winds of change blow strong."
Hundreds of people packed the annual event on a lovely spring evening in the Hangar Gymnasium at South GA Technical College to celebrate the NAACP’s 33rd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
"We really want to bring justice to those who are being treated unjustly," said Linda Wright, the event's emcee.
Several speakers said blacks and the NAACP still have not made it, but are still fighting racism and discrimination with no end in sight.
"The NAACP has stood as a beacon of hope and justice for the past 100 years," said the Rev. Michael Edge.
Helping to bring a keener focus of president Obama's change was keynote
speaker Glen Ford, editor of the Black Agenda Report and radio announcer.
He is also a cousin of Wright.
Ford said he is a huge proponent of the NAACP and attributes a number of
accomplishments of blacks to the organization. He and other speakers also
noted the number of civil rights cases in Sumter County that the branch has
resolved or pending.
"Well, the NAACP looks alive and well, to me, here in Sumter County,
Georgia," Glen said to applause.
Glen added he believes the NAACP has been unfairly criticized but called the
criticism "bogus, with a portion of it downright hostile not just to the
NAACP, but to the very idea of Black people shaping their own destiny."
"And a 100th anniversary celebration is a good time to say so," he said.
The most common stone thrown at the NAACP, he said is that it has failed to
galvanize the energies of young people.
"Where is it written that young people require elders to organize
themselves?" he said.
He refuted the criticism by citing the Student Non-Violent Coordinating
Committee (SNCC) of the early to mid-1960s. He said SNCC very quickly set a
course independent from the older organizations, including that of Dr.
Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the
Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) as well as the NAACP. He said in doing
so, SNCC played a singular role in changing this nation forever.
"Nobody held their hand, at least not for long. And they were quite young,"
he said.
There was plenty of praise for Obama. Dr. John Marshall, publisher of the
Americus-Sumter Observer, smiled as he told the audience how he initially
supported Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee. “I just
wanted a Democrat and I thought Hillary had more experience. But I thank
Almighty God Barack Obama is our president,” said Marshall.
Those in attendance were treated to a lavish meal, while Joey Harris,
Rosemary Jones, Kenya Jones, Marvin Williams and Courtney Latimore provided
a melody of gospel music, including "God is Good."
Travis Walker won the president's award.
And, 30 students received $100 savings accounts from 6 local banks as part
of the NAACP continuation of its 32nd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet- Theme:
"Investing in Our Youth."
"This seems like the one of the best banquets," said Matt Wright, president
of the local NAACP branch.
Local high school students worked as hosts and hostesses under the direction
of Ms Theresa Mansfield.