I was disturbed a few days ago when I visited the African American Parent Network in Birmingham to discuss the issues surrounding blatant racism. which is reoccurring, again in that community.
I was angry when I learned that Detroiters supported the gas station that gunned down Michael Haynes, to save, 40 cents on Gas.
I was disturbed when I learned that BP donated $10,000.00 in gas to support the promo for the gas station.
I was disturbed when I learned about racial discrimination issues at one of our local community colleges involving a black man, I was disturbed when a 25-year old Wayne State student was beat up in West Bloomfield and so many things that are happening locally and nationally. People where are you?
Why are most of you pretending that it will not happen to you or your family? Some of you have the fine house in the suburbs and that wonderful six figure incomes or a memberships to exclusive clubs, or married to a white man or woman ...but that does not mean you are exempt from racism. Just keep on living. Some of us have been fighting the fight for a while now and we can't do it alone. We must band together. I am appealing to those who read this message.
We are a volunteer organization. We receive NO salaries at SOC NAACP, no United Way grants, no Skillman dollars. We just do the work, whether its in the city or the suburb, or state or your state. We depend on donations and memberships to do the work. We have been very busy!! If you can make donations, take out a $30 annual membership or $750 lifetime membership and /or donate your time that means you are fighting with us. We are in a major struggle. It will be a long hot summer. This is an election year and racism is alive and well. You could probably tell me about a few stories that you know about. The point is there are far too many so too many stories for us to keep up with. It’s time from you come out from under the rock, down from the Eiffel Tower, up to the challenge.
Go to our website (
www.socnaap.org) and join us in the struggle and the fight for not only our lives but our children’s lives. You decide. Tomorrow.... might be too late. We need you if you have a sharpened pencil, some resources, office space, some comfy Chuck Taylors, can make a strong cup of coffee and a pound cake, some sandwiches, can make some phone calls, volunteer, or have some organization skills, can sing a spiritual, can pray for us, whatever you can bring to the table. Folks we need you....they are killing our children, beating them, calling them everything but a child of God. Discrimination is alive and well in America. Please join us in the fight and wake up your sleeping neighbors, your co-worker, call your cousins and wakeup those deacons at the church. Join the Southern Oakland County NAACP where anyone can be a member, no matter what city, county or state that you live in.
The time is now!!!!
Gwen Thomas, SOC NAACP President
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