Straight from the Mike…Misplaced Priorities?

Just maybe you were as stunned as I was with the news that Black Americans should avoid the State of Florida. In fact, a boycott was proposed by none other than the premier, and esteemed civil rights organization in America, the NAACP. In fact, they were calling for Blacks to avoid Florida like the plague.

If I had not just gone for my annual eye exam, I would have thought I was experiencing an optical illusion in reading about the decision. The action is so incredulous given other far more pressing issues relating to freedom, equality, safe streets, education, workforce housing, and good paying jobs.

Frankly, it would have been a real treat for me to have been a participant in the executive suite of its Baltimore headquarters when the decision was made to launch such an auspicious boycott on a state that by several measures is in the top quarter percentile in key measurements affecting Black Americans. 

Well, let’s go the down the list according to my factoids. Florida is in the top 10 states most favorable for Black entrepreneurs, top tier ranking with HBCU schools with significant prowess in education and athletics, a leader in supporting workforce housing (Sadowski Act), the home of one of the foremost Black attorneys in the nation in Willie Gary out of Stuart, Florida. I could go on but you get my drift.

In that imaginary meeting, I would have raised my hand to be recognized by the meeting Chair. “Hey, how about our failing schools throughout this country, especially right here in Baltimore where you are headquartered? How about Black on Black crime that is taking a harmful toll on our urban cities? How about our health disparities and the losing battle of obesity, both in youth and adults? How about the continued existence of red lining with too many of our financial institutions placing a disconcerting roadblock on the road to wealth for Black families? How about the proliferation of food and bank deserts that results in junk diets and existence of payday lenders? Let me pause here and simply ask, can I get a witness, ya’ll?” Not hearing a pin drop, or even a cricket chirp, I am left with only knowing; I have to answer my own question. No one is listening to me.

Unfortunately, those priorities are not relevant in the scheme of things for the NAACP. It is not even relevant to its officers, especially ones who actually are residents of Florida. Furthermore, I would bet a fair number of the board members present have relatives in the Sunshine State.

The key to the success of a long-standing organization is zeroing in on the right priorities, the ones that have a significant impact on the lives of its members, community, and their quality of life. And yes, there is a difference between ‘lifestyle’ and everyday life itself. I would suggest being as impactful as possible on the latter. 

The action taken by the NAACP does such a disservice to the historical significance of ‘boycotts’ in our civil rights history of boycotts. I would bet the participants of the Wilmington 10, Alabama Bus Boycott, the TSU 5, the Greensboro 4, would wonder what’s this one about, really now? 

By the standards set by the founders of this grand organization, their action misses the mark.  The wrong priority by a long shot.