Alright. A lot of people are not going to like what we’re about to say here, so let us toss in a few disclaimers for disclaimers sake.
First, in our other life, SV is a member of the Seattle King County NAACP and have been for a while.
Second, there are a lot of really nice, well intentioned folks volunteering for the organization and we think that’s great.
But whether or not members of the Executive Board are nice certainly is not the point of this post, nor does it do anything to secure the rights of a people in our communities.
There is a silent war going on against children of color in Seattle et al. It has two fronts; violence and education (or lack thereof).
Other than offering token action where these issues are concerned, the Seattle King County NAACP hasn’t done shit.
Let’s set aside the violence and death for the sake of this post and focus just on the academic front; Seattle Public Schools is getting ready to close or repurpose more minority schools, disproportionately impacting kids of color; where the hell is the NAACP? Nowhere on the map.
Yes, we’re familiar with their Edu Chair. Other than having a well-known name, there isn’t much to speak on where she is concerned. Sure, she’ll show up for a meeting (sometimes), express the support and “concern” of the organization and what-not, but we have yet to see her actually do anything.
Same for their President. Smart as a whip, talented legal mind.
…….
…….
That’s about all we can say there.
The current President, James Bible was the President the last round of closures in ’06. Like this round, that closure process targeted minority schools and disproportionately impacted minority children. The NAACP was late on the issue and that’s putting it midly. They got on the mic a few times and thumped their chests….had a candle light vigil outside the JS Center (wtf was that even about?!), but as for ballsy action? No there was none of that.
And here we are again. A pathetic case of deja vu.
A community member who is actively advocating against closures attended the most recent NAACP executive board meeting.
He said there was concern around the table, even outrage. As for action?
They can prepare a statement for the press.
They can contact the Super and express their objections.
Anything else? They need…ahem….permission from the National office on the East Coast.
Boy that shit is laughable. Permission. Sheesh.
We find it fascinating that when a client complains to the Nat’l office about the actions or inaction of any local charter (including Seattle) they are told “there is nothing we can do, we don’t control them”, but when one of those local charters is urged by its community to take on an issue, the reply is “we need permission from National”.
Permission that is never coming. That’s…rich.
We here at the SV have been gently calling the NAACP to the carpet where closures are concerned. We just knew that after the whole Sundquist/Cooper/Arbor Heights/Rainier Beach drama hit the fan that the NAACP would be along in short order to demand answers and probably an investigation to boot. Nope. Not a word.
One could argue that they didn’t know what happened, however, we know otherwise thanks to well placed eyes and ears.
Finally we decided last night to go ahead and ask for an official statement from the NAACP. You might be wondering why we chose to wait so long if we were so concerned about what the org. is or is not doing. Because we really did not want to hear anything that would make us cringe.
<sigh>
We contacted one of their board members, who shall remain nameless (cuz it ain’t about her) and posed this question:
Can you give me contact info for your President; we would like an official statement on the SPS closure proposal, should the NAACP have one.
(Note that we specifically requested contact info for the President of the Seattle King County NAACP) This was the response we got:
I’m on it! I am looking into it now and will get back to you asap.
Huh? O….okay…*waiting*
We then replied:
Thanks. I’d also be interested to know the NAACP’s take on what happened with Board Member Sundquist and Arbor Heights/Cooper/Rainier Beach.
Then came the kicker to our inbox:
Looks like there will be a press conference/release done tomorrow. Also the PI will be doing an article on the NAACP response. Once I get a hold of it I will send it to you.
We nearly choked on our Merlot. Where-t-f is the contact info for the President? Where is the statement? Did she just tell us to read it in the PI?! Whoa….or is it wow? Eff it, how about whoa AND wow?
We’ve had out eyes peeled all morning and have found nothing about the local NAACP or a presser. We’ve called around to our “mainstream” press friends and they haven’t heard a word either. Interestin’.
And just so we could say we did it, checked the PI; nadda folks, nadda.
Sorry to say we are not shocked. We would be shocked if the Nat’l office got involved and filed suit against SPS to stop school closures, in which case we’ll take back everything we’ve said here (like anyone cares). Somehow we doubt we’ll have to eat out words on this one.
And it seems the Seattle NAACP is not the only branch in the country to fail its children in the face of public school closures. We were sent this bit of news today:
Where is NAACP?
http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/jan/08/thurslets67745/?wap
The recent proposal for the closing and consolidation of a number of Charleston County schools under the guise of financial crisis is affecting only schools that are predominantly black. The NAACP is frighteningly silent regarding this matter. The community is in an uproar.
All of the meetings that were held supposedly to explain the proposals should give the school board and other community organizations, including the NAACP, a reading on the pulse of the community. Both blacks and whites are opposed to the reorganization or closure plan.
Yet the local NAACP has not made a sound about how devastating these closings would be for black children. For example, the proposed closing of E.L. Frierson Elementary School would mean that 4- and 5-year-old children would have to get up at 4:30 a.m. or 5 a.m. in order to be bused to schools on James Island and Johns Island.
They would probably not return home until 4 p.m. at the earliest. That is a tremendous amount of stress to put on a young child.
Does the local NAACP not realize that the children who would be dislodged from St. John’s High School on Johns Island to West Ashley High or from Lincoln High School in McClellanville to Wando High in Mount Pleasant would be severely impacted?
Is the local NAACP in the vest pocket of the Charleston County School Board and those who control it?
Perhaps Arthur Ravenel is right in saying the local NAACP is an irrelevant organization.
While I might not go that far, I do think the present leadership of the local NAACP is not doing any good for the Charleston community regarding the school closure problems.
REV. MICHAEL R. MACK
Barnes Drive
Charleston
Folks have been debating the relevance of the NAACP for many years now. While we have always thought that with a bit of evolution it could remain a vital part of achieving social and civil rights justice, we are forced yet again to ask ourselves if that is possible, or even matters when they can’tseem to pull it together and address one of the most hotly contested issues of race and privilage facing our city today.
Get your shit together.
UPDATE 7:04PM THURSDAY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY NAACP IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PLAN TO CLOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY MINORITY
The Seattle/King County Branch of the NAACP maintains the position that public education is fundamental to a society that seeks to promote and maintain equality for all people. The Seattle School Districts school closure plan will disproportionately impact children of color and the poor if it is implemented. Because of its impact on vulnerable populations the NAACP will stand in opposition of the school district’s plan.
On 1/16/09 at 8:00 a.m. the Seattle King County NAACP will be outlining the various areas in which we believe the school district’s school closure plan is unhealthy for Seattle. Further, we will be discussing some of the steps that we may take to in order to voice our displeasure and prevent school closure in our city.
When: 1/16/09
8:00 a.m.
Where: Seattle Urban League Building
105 14th Avenue
Suite C, 1st Floor
Seattle , WA 98122
We’ll see what’s up tomorrow AM I guess…
UPDATE 9:01AM
SeaNAACP claims it will file suit against SPS if the vote to close schools goes ahead. An NAACP lawsuit cannot happen with out the Nat’l office agreeing to do so. Just spoke to Nat’l:
“[We] don’t know anything about this.”
Also, Seattle NAACP wants to help parents file complaints with the US Dept of EDU.
More to come, I’m sure…
Just for curiosity Sable…why do you think a school District with a black superintendent and two black school board Directors would choose to ” close or repurpose more minority schools, disproportionately impacting kids of color”? You obviously think it a racist move, yet the very leader that you accuse of organizing this racist act is black. I’m curios to hear your opinion on why you think blacks have been more impacted than any other group and who you feel is responsible for these decisions? Thanks, Denice
Just so people won’t think it’s just you – I contacted the Seattle NAACP Edu Chair (or attempted to, at least) in February about a FREE science summer program for young people and I got the same response you got when trying to reach her. Almost verbatim, actually. Everything but the part about the PI…
Irrelevant.
Free?! THIS summer? Details por favor…..
Well said, Sable and it’s about time someone took them to task publicly for their complete lack of response to this situation. Do we need an Amber Alert for the Seattle branch?
And where the hell is Carl Mack when you need him?? They need to look that guy up and take a lesson. As I recall, when that man headed up the local chapter, he was vigorous when it came to demanding action and/or answers from local leadership.
I rarely see or hear anything about them anymore and honestly, if they were to close the Seattle branch tomorrow…..would anyone even notice at this point?
Nope, free LAST summer. Silly me, thinking they would want to take advantage of that kind of information.
Well damn. Next time let US know. We’ll put it out there…
What a crappy attitude. Anyone who doesn’t agree gets the wrath of Sable’s snotty, scarcastic and very ingnorant response. No wonder you have so few readers and comments, you run eveyone with differing opinions off with your narrow minded, no excuse me, closed minded views. Typical of people who use racism as their escape hatch. Do you really wonder why the NAACP wants nothing to do with you? Do you really wonder why they won’t respond to you? Sable, you’ve been dissd’.
Someone give the woman a pasifyer….
Can you point me to a source for the press release? My google-fu is weak this evening.
I got it over email.
Well I guess the NAACP “isn’t for the cause either” huh Sable. Or could it be that, well, um, the NAACP just finds you unreasonable and closed minded and don’t want to associate themselves with you? Oh, darn, there goes my supremism again. Gotta stay on that better. But really Sable the list of high level black folks, that you deem “not for the cause is growing…..the NAACP, Carla Santorno, MGJ, Harium and Mary Bass. They have all put their great big hands up in your face…..one has to wonder why? Brahahahahahaha
I’m moving on now………….
Goodness…if you’re going to put the blog master on blast, Denice, it would help to have your facts straight. Reading youir posts, it’s quite obvious you are not up do date on YOUR facts, nor do you have a historical perspective with the mentioned orgs. And maybe it’s me…but I don’t recall reading that Sable wanted to work with the NAACP, so I’m not sure how they have given her “the hand”.
As for experiencing the “wrath of Sable”..please. You give yourself way too much importance. You are a lightweight all around sweetie, and it’s not that serious.
Go play someplace else- this is a grown folks conversation.
Thanks:-)
Where were they months ago when all this started? A well-planned coordinated set of action could have kept if from getting this far.
Late to the party as usual. And they haven’t even mentioned it to National? That’s a waste of office space.
They say they HAVE contacted Nat’l but have not heard back. Nat’l well, you already know…
Not sure what complaints to US Dept of EDU will do, and not sure why the organization itself is not also filing a complaint. They filed a complaint with the US Dept of Justice over police misconduct, so why not this?
Wow, there are some STANK comments on this one. Yuck!
I didn’t take Sable’s post to mean the NAACP was somehow dissin’ her, I took it to mean they don’t have it together, and they don’t. I am a district employee AND a parent and I have lost track of how many times I have tried to get them to say something more than “we’re concerned about the districts plan”, and I’m sorry but, complaints to the Department of Education? I don’t know about that. I’ll do it, but I don’t know.
And correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t an NAACP board member officially ask you, Sable, to join their Executive Board just a few weeks ago? Yes, now that is a major diss! I guess they were dissin’ you when they sent you the information about the press conference. I guess they were dissin’ you when you talked to them via phone today.
Denice I remember you and all of your higher than mighty opinions about parents, families and PRIVATE SCHOOLS. Despite what you insist, private schools are NOT falling over each other to enroll our Black kids. You have no idea what you’re talking about, you just THINK you do, and being the privilaged woman that you are, you’re trying to shove it down everyone else’s throats. Thanks but no thanks.
We’ve got work to do, so please go away. You obviously have NO interest in helping.
And get yourself a copy of the Urban Dictionary if you want to use the “hip” and “cool” terms properly. Diss?
Sable: Truth to power- keep it up!
The post is not about me or my interactions with the organization. The post is about their timeliness, effectiveness and relevance, as well as what, if anything, they plan to actually DO about school closures. Let’s keep the focus there. We have very few people that are in a position to potentially effectively advocate on behalf of our children, hell, ALL children for that matter. The NAACP is one of those entities. What are they doing with that position? Not enough. One thing they did get right this morning; the time for candle light vigils and marches is DONE.
Filing complaints to the US Dept of Edu, I doubt, will do much. The ONLY thing that is going to stop buildings from closing is a Board vote AGAINST closures (that ain’t happening) or LEGAL ACTION. Period. Period, period.
Hey Sable- thanks for shining the light here. Some of us are still optimistic…just a little.
My understanding is that families who are impacted by this round of closure can/should file a complaint with the Dept of Ed. I interpret “impacted” as having a child in a school that closes, was threatened with closure, moves, or receives children displaced in this process. I’m tired of trying to understand or work with the powers that be in the district and will be taking my case to the feds. Not sure it will result in anything, but even if a dozen of us made a claim, we might get some attention around here. Maybe encourage the district to do it’s job- face challenges with education-centered solutions, not lies and closures.
Claims can be submitted here-
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html
I believe the Superintendent was very careful to protect her proposal under the
the protection of the No Child Left Behind Act. She can interpret the law and apply it without a concern for All the chidren that are being left behind, again.
We have only 8 days to give the School Board Members a reason that convinces them that giving their Superintendent a vote of no confidence, is the only way
to really achieve Excellence For All.
We need to take Excellence For All apart, and show them how the schools that have been neglected, will continue to be so. We need to show them that their proposed closures will not create the programs we want our children to have. We need to tell them what programs we want.
We need to tell them that we want to build our schools with their support, not neglect. We need to use NCLB Act to our advantage, lets turn Excellence For All inside out.
We need the talents of all members of the community!
We have 8 days!!
The School Board members will not sway if we do not offer a reform that has data to
back it up!
Finally. The last opportunity I got to post my response was swamped with the most gawd awful thread bombs from a poster i will not not name. It is historic fact that if you want to undermine a group you use its own members to help. the native American plains Indians were brought down by other native peoples working as scouts. This is not new nor incredible. And i’m tired of hearing blacks or whites question whether these are racially motivated acts. As a teacher in the district and a special ed grad student who has worked with at risk kids all over this nation, hell yes this is racially motivated and SPS must be held with its feet to the fire. Especially if blacks are doing the dirty work of an area that has a documented and entrenched racist history. Don’t argue with me about it; study a little Seattle history. instead of making vacant rebuttals, READ the history.
Lawsuit? Absolutely damn right.
Your comments regarding the Seattle Branch NAACP are outdated and invalid.
Firstly, there was a co-written Editorial in the Post Intelligencer/Seattle Times
regarding the NAACP’s opposition to school closures and the reasons why.
Second, the ed. chairperson attended several community meetings speaking out
against the closures as well as held a community meeting at the Mount Zion Baptist
Church in Seattle – where over 150 plus parents attended (testimony was documented).
Thirdly, there are at least two court cases filed against the Seattle School Districe/Board of Directors with the assistance of the NAACP.
Fourthly, the Seattle King County Branch has assisted over 200 parents and community activists in filing complaints against the Seattle School Board with the Office of Civil Rights.
Fifthly, since you are not with the King County NAACP ed. chr. 24/7 you are not aware of the numerous non-high-profile discrimination cases she investigates.
In conclusion, The Seattle/King County Branch participated in two community marches
against the school closures.
To “Ilene Ratcliff”:Was your head with you all day January 15th? I ask this only to point out that your “Ilene Ratcliff said” is in response to an article posted almost two month ago…hhhmmmm.
Yeah! Firstly eyeyeyeye. Nothing good ever starts this way.
First as to the article allegedly in the the Times/PI. Why was that the ONLY place citizens of Seattle could go TO see the NAACP’s position on school closures? Was there a meeting to organize before the vote? NO! Was there a meeting to organized sit downs with board members, the NAACP and parents at effected schools? NO! So while this sounds like a point of pride to you I AM NOT IMPRESSED and NEITHER IS THE REST OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE!
Second the Ed. Chair? THE ED CHAIR? Would this be the same Ed. Chair that James was looking for the night of 01/29/09 while the SPS board was passing the Soops “Excellence for Some” plan? Bigger fish to fry I guess?
And as far as the 150 parents that attended the meeting where you thanked an absent Mary Bass for coming there were not that many people there! Third- If the NAACP filed law suits against the district than I want back pay for my process server services. I served the district on behalf of Gloria from AAA and also served the district on behalf of TT Minor. You can make the check payable to “Visionaries of Tomorrow” the non-profit that is supporting Cooper’s legal bills.
“Fourthly”… please stop that now!! I feel dumber for having to say it out loud. “THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY BRANCH ASSISTED OVER 200 PARENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS IN FILING COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD WITH THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
NO THE FUCK YOU DIDN’T!
I WENT DOOR TO DOOR IN HIGHPOINT MET FOR NEARLY A WEEK EVERYDAY. I MET WITH OVER 40 SOMALI FAMILIES AND WITH THE HELP OF A DEVOTED MOTHER IN THEIR COMMUNITY EXPLAINED WHAT THE COMPLAINT FORMS WHERE. WHAT THE BENEFIT TO THEIR CHILD COULD BE BY FILING THESE FORMS. I ALSO WORKED WITH TWO OTHER PARENTS WHO ALSO WENT DOOR TO DOOR IN THEIR NEIGHBOORHOODS AND COLLECTED COMPLAINTS.
AND ON 02/26/09 I DELIVERD 87 COMPLAINT FORMS TO MY MOTHER SUE SUTTON WHOM ON BEHALF OF THE COOPER COMMUNITY WALKED IN THE MARCH AND ATTENDED THE RALLY AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING. SHE WAS THE WHITE LADY PULLING A BRIGHT YELLOW AND BLUE BOX ON WHEELS BEHIND HER. JAMES COLLECTED OUR COMPLAINTS AND ALL BY HIMSELF WENT INSIDE TO TURN THEM IN. HE ALSO TOLD MY MOTHER TO TELL ME TO CALL HIM ASAP BUT DIDN’T GIVE HER HIS PHONE NUMBER. AND AS I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN TO JAMES ON THE PHONE I DON’T/DIDN’T HAVE A NUMBER TO CALL.
But I did send an email to the NAACP office asking them to pass a message from me to him it said. James I don’t have your phone number here is mine call me. I guess he never got it? I still haven’t heard from him nor anyone else with the org.
Not a thank you for half the complaints the org is taking credit for. Not a thank you for giving us a copy of an appeal that with names would be ready to file.
Oh great there’s another one “fifthly” I think that most people refer to it as a fifth not a fifthly oohhhh wait sorry you were counting. My bad.
I think that a large part of the problem with the org where SPS issues are concerned is that no one is with the Ed chair 24/7. It would seem to me that would be the only hope of any real response to the continued racist actions of the SPS. Clearly when the Ed chair is by herself her best use of time is praising the org for someone else’s job well done.
And why the hell would you spend any time on “non-high-profile” cases when 4K+ children most of whom are not white are being inventoried, cataloged, and surplused for all the world to see. Or was someone else supposed to take care of that? In conclusion…..you ought to have permission from National before you put anything in print.
You tout the org when really TT, AAA, and Cooper saved their asses at that rally! Without the grassroots efforts of these parents the rest of Seattle would have known the org is useless! So instead of patting yourself on the back for no job well done and instead of squeezing James cheeks and telling him he’s such a good boy or instead of making me waist my time telling you things you wont remember tomorrow, why don’t you do us all a favor and update your resume and let someone else take over -or start for that matter- protecting the education of children of color in the Seattle Public Schools. Please check your facts next time before you start handing out “atta ways”. I don’t have time for this shit I got laundry to do.
Shelley Williams
Cooper Mom
It takes community support, community activism, and everyone in the community to make a change. All have to work together. When people sit around on their buts and complain rather than taking any kind of personal action or initiative, and when people are in it for personal aggrandizement, or when people are in it to “get some money” or a claim to fame or attention for their deeds, they’re not in it for the right reasons. Winning requires sacrifice! Winning requires a giving attitude, winning requires a belief in humanity, winning looks for harmony and people who are “right on” when it comes to having the same belief system and working towards a goal, NOT people who want to write a column filled with hate and non support, not people who want a claim – like their supposed money back, not people who care to receive all the credit ….but, people who believe in a cause and are willing to work with all available avenues to achieve results. I believe the NAACP is working hard. I also believe some people in the community are working hard. It takes a village to make a change!