I am an officer of the local branch NAACP an we are finding it difficult getting our local AME churches involved, the Bapstist, COGIC, the catholic, quakers, Church of Christ and non denominational are heavily involved. The hotest item on our agenda now is the degrading game know as ghettopoloy. The web site is www.ghettopoly. We have other issuses we are fighting, but the AME in our city seems not to be interested in the NAACP. I can remember when the older preachers were very active in the NAACP. Some of them were allowing meetings to be held in their churches. Is your church involved with your local NAACP branch? Our motto is "Don't talk about it, Be about it."

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2003

Answers

Linda -

This Sunday (October 26) is NAACP Day at Bethel AME in Tallahassee, FL. My fellow church member and friend Charles Evans is the local President and will be the speaker at the 11:00AM worship service. I'm really puzzled about the lack of NAACP participation among Tampa's AME community. One of the challenges for the NAACP will be to remain politically neutral. Too often this organization has overtly revealed its own partisan goals. Bashing the GOP and Bush at every turn is counterproductive. The mid-year elections proved that anti-Bush rhetoric only increases the likelihood that a Republican will win state-wide office. QED

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2003

Thank you Bill, You said what has bothered me for some time. For years (since 1972), I have wanted to become a member of the NAACP but there is no place for the GOP in the organization. Before 1972, I served in the military and it was not PC to be active in the NAACP. BE Blessed Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2003

My experience has been totally different from the two of you. I was born and raised in Darby borough, just outside of Philadelphia. During my early years and into my thirties Darby was Republican as well as the surrounding Philadelphia counties. Most blacks were registered Republicans and very active in the NAACP.

On the other hand, many were forced into the Republican party during the early years to survive and go unmolested in the community. My parents owned and operated a tailor shop that opened there in the early 40s. My mother told me of a visit she received from an officer in the Darby police department, at the start of her business, that in order for her to do business in the town, she should register Republican.

In the end it was left up to the black community to decide how they would be treated. To their credit and honot I must state they were valiant fighters and knew how to fight a good fight. They took a stand for themselves and future generations and brought down many barriers and the way the borough did "business" for many years. Now, our town has black republicans, democrats and independents. I am most thankful for the diversity.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2003

I apologize for the earlier typos. It should read as follows:

My experience has been totally different from the two of you. I was born and raised in Darby borough, just outside of Philadelphia. During my early years and into my thirties Darby was Republican as well as the surrounding Philadelphia counties. Most blacks were registered Republicans and very active in the NAACP. On the other hand, many were forced into the Republican party during the early years to survive and go unmolested in the community. My parents owned and operated a tailor shop that opened there in the early 40s. My mother told me of a visit she received from an officer in the Darby police department, at the start of her business. She was told by the officer that in order for her to do business in the town she should (ought to) register Republican. Many of our people suffered many veiled threats during this time.

In the end it was left up to the black community to decide how they would be treated. To their credit and honor I must state they were valiant fighters and knew how to fight a good fight. They took a stand for themselves and future generations and brought down many barriers and the way the borough did "business" for many years. Now, our town has black republicans, democrats and independents. I am most thankful for the diversity.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2003

Bro. Bill you are in a blessd conference, Most of the pastors in the Tampa, Florida Conference are more concerned about their church budgetrather than helping to supprt the local NAACP. Most of them purchas tbales and ads during banqurt time. However, when ask if they would have a NAACP day like you are having at your church it's taboo.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2003

Linda -

I read in the St. Pete Times today about the death of Perkins Shelton. He was a true giant in the field of civil rights in southwest FL. My sincere condolences to his family and the people of Pinellas & Hillsborough County during this time of loss. QED

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2003

The vision has been lost because we still are not equal I moved to Fl in 99 & that was the worst move i ever made.I lived in Darby also i live in tenth St across from the old cotton club my brother was a man that drove around the streets selling food on a truck to every one when every one supported every one & the NAACP did too those days are gone Leslie Carter

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2003

My point exactly.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2003

I don't think the NAACP knows what its about any more. What is the saying, Too many irons in the fire ruins the what?

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2003

To the Darbyite:

My maiden name is Tibbs. My mother had a tailor shop on North 9th Street called Tibbs' Tailor Shop. I remember the Cotton Club on 10th Street and a house across the street. Did you go to Darby-Colwyn? What year did you graduate?

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2003