Jack & Jill Politics

Dallas South has written an interesting post about the controversy behind the scenes at the NAACP during their search for a new president. NAACP national spokesman Richard J. McIntire confirmed the vote in favor of Benjamin Jealous with The Associated Press early Saturday after the 8-hour closed door meeting, according to Roland Martin giving excellent coverage here and here over at Essence.com.

Here’s a great quote from the AP coverage on the new president (emphasis mine):

Though he is not a politician, minister or civil rights icon, in Jealous the organization gets a young but connected leader familiar with black leadership and social justice issues. The 35-year-old takes the helm as the NAACP’s 17th president just months before the organization’s centennial anniversary, as the group grapples with dwindling membership and looks to boost its coffers.

Jealous has a distinguished background — and his work cut out for him in building trust not only with the NAACP board it seems but with NAACP members like myself and the African-American community at large.

From Dallas South:

The NAACP has selected 35 year old Benjamin Todd Jealous as its next President and CEO. Jealous was the only candidate presented to the group’s 64 member Executive Board.

This quote by CNN says a lot about the vote.

When the 34-21 vote was announced, “no one clapped or celebrated,” one board member said after the meeting in Baltimore,Maryland.

The story goes on to say, “Some board members wanted to hear from two others whom the search committee identified as finalists, but Jealous’ supporters prevented it, sources said. ”

Roland Martin writes more about the vote at Essence.com.

Another (board member) said “when we left the room, many were in disbelief.”

Those who didn’t support Jealous say he was marked as the primary choice of board chairman Julian Bond, who began calling board members two weeks ago to line up support.

There was vigorous discussion to postpone the vote to allow the board to hear from the other two finalists, but that effort was beaten back by those who backed Jealous on the board.

In a subsequent article, Roland says “According to multiple board members, the search firm employed by the NAACP to find a new leader, the San Francisco-based Hodge /Niederer / Cariani / Lindsay, ranked Jealous second, and Dallas megachurch preacher, the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, first” Roland also says Haynes’ desire to remain as Senior Pastor of Friendship-West in Dallas, raised a “red flag among members.”

Throughout these last few weeks I was warned “this is a highly politicized process.” It’s obvious that I felt Dr. Frederick D. Haynes would make the best President, but then again I thought Ben Gordon was good also. And knowing how the NAACP is, I still figured he would at least be presented to the Board, though reports from the very beginning said otherwise.

I can only think that the selection of Jealous and his support among the NAACP brass i.e. Julian Bond means more business as usual. I’ll leave it at that.

From Roland Martin:

Those who didn’t support Jealous say he was marked as the primary choice of board chairman Julian Bond, who began calling board members two weeks ago to line up support.

There was vigorous discussion to postpone the vote to allow the board to hear from the other two finalists, but that effort was beaten back by those who backed Jealous on the board.

Be on the lookout for other board members revealing details of the boardroom battle.

The NAACP has a lot of work to do and business as usual is not likely to help them regain any ground. We’ll be watching Benjamin Jealous to see how he chooses to lead the organization forwardI personally wish him the best of luck. will also be interesting to hear from other folks such as dissenting board members and Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes. Here’s Haynes speaking last year on CNN discussing religion and socio-political issues and who is an interesting emerging leader: