The Scotland County NAACP will hold its 37th annual membership banquet this weekend to encourage new membership and to recognize the contributions of local businesses.
“I think there is a misconception when it comes to the NAACP, because it’s not just a black organization,” said Robert Malloy, president of the Scotland branch. “There are many who perceive it to be because it is the NAACP, but the NAACP is for all people. When it was formed in 1909, it was really by abolitionists who are white rather than black. Any and all can join, and any and all can participate.”
The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Bright Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church on North Main Street. More than 200 community and NAACP members are expected to attend.
“We will recognize individuals running businesses; we did that last year, and we’re reinstating that this year in order to do a better job,” Malloy said.
The banquet’s speaker will be Dr. Staccato Powell, senior pastor of Grace AME Zion Church in Raleigh.
“He really talks about how we should galvanize ourselves in order to generate a more, not only positive attitude, but positive working relationships,” said Malloy.
Powell will also speak about civic responsibilities, including exercising the individual right to vote. Candidates for local elections will have a change to speak at the banquet.
“Of course, we are nonpartisan; we will have those running for office that wish to attend regardless of whether they are Republicans or Democrats and we’ll give them an opportunity to address those in attendance to share what they’re running for,” Malloy said.
The NAACP will also recognize individuals who have served the community in an educational, public service, or volunteer capacity.
Proceeds from the banquet will be directed to NAACP programs, such as the Mother of the Year pageant and Christmas Wonderland.
“Any extra money generated will be utilized for the Christmas Wonderland that we have every year and making sure that all those kids get gifts,” said Malloy.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children. Contact Malloy at 280-1200 or Vera Bassett at 280-3070 for information.
Scotland County has a docked unemployment rate at 17.2%, poverty rate at 29.5%, and the crime rate has started to level with major cities, this is not the place to be funding the Mother of the Year pageant and so-called extra money to a Christmas Wonderland, the youth deserve more than a toy, feed them first, fresh and healthy food. “We will recognize individuals running businesses; we did that last year, and we’re reinstating that this year in order to do a better job,” Malloy said. Really, you did that last year, that’s the problem. What you did last year did not advocate for the welfare of the community, the NAACP mission is not to award individuals who run businesses and go home but to award businesses that actively engage in the advancement of the community. Additionally, invest more time in making elected city officials to be accountable to the purpose of representation, it’s goes beyond wearing a suit.
The NAACP needs new and effective membership, review the objectives of the Association “to ensure political, educational, social, and economic equality,” and keep in mind that change is needed, not rhetoric.
http://www.naacp.org/pages/our-mission