April 29, 2014
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The Los Angeles chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has scheduled a May 15th banquet to honor Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and Rev. Al Sharpton with a Person of the Year award, and Donald Sterling with a lifetime achievement award. Huh?????????
Oh, and this is not the first lifetime achievement award the NAACP has bestowed on Sterling, having honored him once before in 2009. Huh?????????
In addition to the recorded telephone conversation clearly stating his distaste for black people, Sterling also has a well documented history of denying African-Americans housing and employment simply because of the color of their skin. However, Sterling made a sizable donation to the local NAACP so as to stop the bleeding on reports of his racism, which apparently was all the historical civil rights organization needed to plan to honor him TWICE for a lifetime of achievements.
Top News Today
As expected, a usual band of conservative attention seekers raced to Sterling’s defense once his racism went viral. Fox News questioned the legitimacy of the tape, while Donald Trump argued that Sterling was set-up by the girlfriend (he should know). These conservative blowhards were expected to fall in line behind the likes of a Donald Sterling, but not the NAACP.
“He has a unique history of giving to the children of L.A.,” Leon Jenkins, president of the L.A. branch of the NAACP said of Sterling, adding that he frequently donates anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 tickets a game to youth groups for nearly every Clippers home game. However, now that Sterling’s recorded phone convo went viral, an embarrassed NAACP has since tweeted the following:
#DonaldSterling will not be receiving a lifetime achievement award from the LA Branch of the NAACP. #MTP—(@NAACP) April 27, 2014
With Donald Sterling’s years of documented racism, why was the NAACP ever honoring him at all?
"With Donald Sterling's years of documented racism, why was the NAACP ever honoring him at all?"
Exactly. And DJ, I know you're asking this question simply to point out the obvious. MONEY.
But you're right to call out the LA branch of the NAACP. And I'll go even further and say that that office should just Close. Up. Shop.
Given the magnitude of the shameful actions of that branch concerning their cozy little relationship with a WELL KNOWN racist, for "the LOVE of $$$," is more than enough in my eyes to FIRE everybody in that office, beginning with Leon Jenkins, and close that branch…For.Good.