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I recall that when I was a small child, my mother constantly reminded her children that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was the greatest organization in the country. My mother was passionate about the mission of the NAACP and her children developed respect and admiration for the organization. As an adult, the NAACP was directly responsible for my employment with a major steel manufacturer. Over the three decades of my employment, I experienced and witnessed, diminishing racial discrimination and bigotry within and without the workplace. I, as my mother, was a champion of the NAACP. We, of African descent, had taken a step forward.
My admiration began to wane when the NAACP focus, at least locally, in my perception, became an advocacy for minimizing the responsibility of criminal behavior by African American thugs. In my mind, a pervasive social reality was being developed. My thoughts were expressed and debated at social gatherings and high school reunions and then sent to the recesses of my brain with the opinion that we were taking two steps backward.
When Barack Obama was elected to the office of President of the United States of America, I gave due props to the NAACP for all of the dedication and tireless effort the organization put forth in being instrumental in the monumental achievement. Unfortunately, the great stride forward was countered by two strides backward, when Alabama NAACP president, Edward Vaughn publicly derided the participation of the Azalea Trail Maids in the innagural parade because their costuumes, "...remind someone of the plantation in 'Gone With the Wind'." Mr. Vaughn, a group of women wearing Ante-Bellum dresses are not exactly the same thing as Grand Wizards and Kleagles sporting sheets and pillowcases.
Even though any person with reasonable intelligence recognizes that Mr. Vaughn was not the spokesperson for the national body, NAACP elicits a perception associated with the national body. His apology illuminates another social reality: a bell cannot be unrung and not all of the egg has been wiped from the face. Mr. Vaughn provided powerful fodder for the conservative radio talk show hosts.
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Each of us is always the spokesperson - consciously or unconsciously - formally or informally, for any group or organization we are a part of. It goes with the territory whether we like it or not.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment, Vince. Unfortunately, we are not always the spokesperson for any group or organization of which we are members. If one disagrees with a policy of a group or organization and espouses his or her opinion, that person certainly is not presenting the group's opinion. If your comment is to hold validity, there would be no need for a "spokesperson." I believe that we agree that what is spoken by any member of a group may be perceived as being representative of a group's or organization's position.
ReplyDeleteWhile we may not be a chosen spokesperson, the impressions that are taken from our behavior, comments and actions DO reflect on the group. A spokesperson - in the formal designation - is that individual chosen to espouse the stated goals and philosophy of an organization. The actions of members of that group are just as important in relaying information to others. in that sense, we do portray the group.
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