NAACP Chairperson gives MLK week keynote address
Posted on January 22, 2008
Julian Bond, current NAACP chairperson and veteran civil rights movement leader, spoke to students and community members Monday night as part of the Center for Multicultural Student Services’ weeklong celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Bond cited King’s monumental work to enfranchise, educate and employ the American black population during the 1960s and 70s, but wasted no time telling the audience that King’s work was far from done.
“Those who say race is history have it backwards,” he said. “History is race.”
Bond did not shy away from polarizing current issues, from the current presidency to racism to affirmative action, and said that America is currently run by opposing parties of “neocons, theocons and nativists,” and a party that “cannot unite to make a decision,” Bond said.
Bond spent much of his speech addressing the current political climate and tension between Republicans and Democrats, as well as how race and gender play into the race to earn a presidential bid.
“The NAACP does not endorse candidates,” Bond said, but he did not hesitate to speak out about how candidates are forced to run their campaigns.
“Frontloading may be a good idea for washing machines, but not for elections,” he said.
Bond said the NAACP’s outspoken and blunt criticism of President Bush almost cost the organization its tax-exempt status.
“Bush wanted to be a uniter,” Bond said. “It took him almost seven years, but boy, has he succeeded.”
Because of this, Bond said, King’s message of the importance of voting is still relevant today.
“King was the most famous, but he didn’t do it alone,” Bond said emphasizing that his success was a direct result of a grassroots movement that reached the common man.
For more on Bond’s speech, read Thursday’s issue of The Breeze.
