``That which seems the height of absurdity in one generation often becomes the height of wisdom the next.'' — John Stewart Mill.
On the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, a group of black and white citizens gathered in New York City to issue the ``The Call'' for political liberty that ultimately led to the establishment of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP officially incorporated in 1911. At that point in history, there was the urgent need to call attention to and struggle against the widespread lynching of blacks.
Through most of the NAACP's history there has been passionate internal debate on the different philosophic approaches for insuring rights for all citizens. Should blacks pursue an integrationist or separatist approach? To what extent should the courts or legislation be used to advance the NAACP's agenda? By thrashing out these and other issues, the NAACP grew into a strong and energetic organization.
The achievements of the NAACP have included successful arguments in Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education that ended officially sanctioned segregation of schools. In 1964, the NAACP rejoiced in the passage on the Civil Rights Act that prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and specifically provide that:
``No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance.''
Since those days of success, the NAACP has grown flaccid in unthinking consensus. The NAACP has pursued not only integration, but forced integration through busing even when such efforts may hurt their various constituents. It has abandoned its commitment to a color-blind society and committed itself to a racial spoils system. The NAACP has so aligned itself with the Democratic Party that it can no longer act as an honest critic of Democratic constituencies. Financial insolvency brought the NAACP to its knees, while former leader Benjamin Chavis, Jr. used NAACP funds to payoff a sexual harassment suit.
Recently, the NAACP seems to be overcoming its difficulties. Kweisi Mfume, the new president of the NAACP, is putting the NAACP's finances in order.
More importantly, the NAACP's membership is giving serious reconsideration to its own policies. At its recent convention in Pittsburgh, the NAACP engaged in introspection concerning its emphasis on school integration. Led by black parents, the NAACP must now weigh the values of integration and education. Should
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