500 pack NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet
Denice Thibodeau/Register & Bee
About 500 people gathered at the Pittsylvania County Branch of the NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday in Ringgold.
The multi-purpose building at Cherrystone Missionary Baptist Association in Ringgold was packed with about 500 people Saturday night for the Pittsylvania County Branch of the NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
Branches of the NAACP nationwide are celebrating the organization’s 100th anniversary this year with the theme “Bold Dreams – Big Victories.”
Area pastors and politicians greeted the crowd, with the Rev. Robert P. King Sr., of Mr. Airy Baptist Church, leading with the invocation.
Debra Brown, a member of the NAACP’s national board and president of Emporia Branch of the NAACP, was the guest speaker.
She gave the crowd a brief rundown of the organization’s history, and how the need for it grew even after the Emancipation Proclamation with signed in 1863.
Brown said about 3,000 African Americans were lynched in America between 1863 and 1909.
“These were freed Americans,” Brown said. “There was a need to make a stand.”
In 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was born, but it still took a long time for things to change.
“Until 1949, in Virginia, lynching was still legal,” Brown said. “We’ve come a long way, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
She encouraged everyone in attendance to work together to build stronger communities.
Life Members of the NAACP were recognized, and plaques were awarded to new Life Members. A number of awards recognitions were made, including a proclamation from the state honoring the life of Clyde Banks.
Sen. Robert Hurt brought the proclamation, which was patroned by him and delegates Danny Marshall, Don Merricks and Charles Poindexter. Banks, a Chatham resident who died last year, was recognized for his effort to improve the community and his work during the Civil Rights Movement.
The program ended with a benediction offered by the Rev. Anthony Pass of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Ringgold.
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“There is no single black culture. Take a note on the word “single.““ Danriver22
Well I see you have now added the word “single”. There is no monolithic black culture: but in America, there is an always has been an African American culture. Learn. Then we can talk.
“Let me ask you this Miles, do you have many white friends? Do you study the different white cultures? Ever listen to white music, or read books by white writers?“ Danriver22
Yes. Yes, extensively. Yes (could name thousands, ever heard of Reinhold Niebuhr, just curious?).
Unlike most of you, my observations have an empirical and academic basis. I may be a lot of things, but ignorant on the history and current state of race relations in this country is not one of them. Learn. Then we can talk.
Let me spell it out for you again Miles. There is no single black culture. Take a note on the word “single.“ You really need to get out more buddy.
“Miles, what you are so blind to see is that there is no “African American Culture.““ Danriver22
Danriver22, if you truly believe this, then there is no frame of reference for further discussion. Until now, I did not realize the depth of your ignorance on this topic. Go in peace and may God be with you.
Today, one of the couple hundred posters in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the Joker banner, who identifies himself as a former member of the NAACP, writes, “It’s very important to understand the nature of the NAACP - they’re a seagull organization - they fly in, make a lot of noise, crap on everything and fly away.“
One again miles davis proves that blacks can do anything and say anything without repercussion. Miles your embody the true essence of racism when you defend a scumbag like wright. A man who said “G D America” and spewed hatred towards whites in his sermons. I am proud to say I dont know and would never want to know or associate with a man who hates this great country like him or Obama. The fact that I do not know either of those scumbags does not change their own statements and actions. If G. Bush accidently went to a church and a loon was saying crazy things about blacks miles davis would be on here screaming racists. I sure hope every black church in america does not believe the nonsense in that lunatics sermon. I hope that most blacks are not racists like miles davis. Maybe one day blacks will stop seeing themselves as african americans and see themselves as americans. The irony here is that Obama himself is not a african american at all. He is not the decendant of an african slave in america. His ancestors sold slaves in africa oh and his mom was white. Miles davis ia a faux intellectual who instead of backing up his arguments with facts he asks questions. Do you know this person? Do you know that person? I categorized nothing and said nothing about any other church than the one Obama spent 20 years at. The facts are the president went to a church that praised the sept. 11th attacks saying we deserved it and the chickens have come home to roost. Thats just the tip of the iceberg. Miles do you know the president? Know one does, he is a liar and a chameleon. Miles just sit there in your own stupidity and use your same old talking points. You are a racist and a moron. Your racist values show through on here. You are not fooling anyone pal. The NAACP is becoming obsolete. We have the 1st black president and everyones a racist. Go figure.
Miles, what you are so blind to see is that there is no “African American Culture.“ What you are doing is generalizing a race into one big culture. That would be like saying that I am very well versed on white culture; it’s such a silly and naive comment. Pull out your dictionary and look up the word culture. There is a big difference between a culture and a race. They are in a way interrelated, but not completely like you seem to think. Read jess4uandme’s previous post; there is a lot of truth to what she/he said. I too, like her/him, have been judged and ridiculed by whites because I came from a different background.
“Learn. Then we can talk.“ I don’t claim to know everything about culture, society, and race. At least I am honest enough to admit it. Maybe you should get your head out of the textbooks and get out there and experience life a little bit more. Maybe then, you will realize what incomplete ideas you so strongly believe.
Let me ask you this Miles, do you have many white friends? Do you study the different white cultures? Ever listen to white music, or read books by white writers? The point I’m getting at is that your thoughts are very strewed to one side of the horizon. Experiencing new things and people is one of the most interesting things one can do. Give it a try sometime, you never know what you might learn.
Danriver22, calling you or anyone else on this forum racist would be duplicitous and contrary to the very essence of my posts. First, you should know whether or not you are a racist and confirmation should not needed. Second, while certain entries contain clearly racist statements and conclusions, I do not know these individual posters and have no substantial facts on which to base a broad conclusion. In other words, I refuse to do what you and others find so easy-categorizing people based on your own ignorance and biases rather than on objective facts. I have extensive knowledge of African American culture and American history. That is why I can conclusively state that racist African Americans are indeed rare. Learn. Then we can talk.
Jess4uandme, sorry I misunderstood your earlier posts. I guess the differences between everyone on this forum really just boil down to our generation and our life experiences. But good post and I totally agree with you.
Greatamerican, no intelligent discourse can be had with you. You have proven absolutely nothing except your bias. You have simpy categorized churches and people, typical of those who have no command of the facts and are interested only in spewing their own brand of race hatred. Do you know Jeremiah Wright or the President? Have you ever attended Rev. Wright’s church or spoken with any of its members? What do you really know about African American culture? How frequent and over what period of time have you been exposed to it? The answers are obvious based on your posts. The sad part is that you don’t even recognize your ignorance and try to pass yourself off as someone with true insight. This will be my last entry directed toward you since I would not would not wish to mislead anyone into thinking that you are a rational person capable of informed discussion. Remain ignorant.
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