NAACP to Organize DC March for Jobs and 'Justice' Without Consequences, It's Just a Walk

In a recent article on The Grio, NAACP President Ben Jealous outlined the fact that jobs and related employment issues will be a priority of the NAACP in the coming months. To support this new focus of the NAACP, Jealous also announced a march sponsored by his organization that will take place in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2, 2010, aimed at "jobs and justice." In addition to the NAACP, 100 other organizations are also sponsoring the march.

It has become almost reflexive for many black people to belittle anything the NAACP does. I must admit there has been plenty to criticize over the last several years. However, it is only fair when providing criticism to be able to give praise when it is due. Thus, I must give Jealous credit for many of the things he has done since taking over at the NAACP. Jealous seems to have listened to critiques directed at the NAACP, such as the belief that it is a "do-nothing" organization and relic of the civil rights era unable to adapt to present times. He has taken measures to focus on issues that are directly relevant to the lives of millions of black people of varied socioeconomic status. I have to commend the fact that Jealous has decided to focus on jobs -- and do something about it!

Now, I know many will say "another march?" Yes, another march. I understand the frustration that many have with the idea of marching. It is argued that marching is a waste of time, and does nothing to address issues directly. This can be true. However, throughout history marching has been very useful in helping to promote drastic social change. The key element that has been lacking in many recent marches has been an "or else" component -- basically, consequences for not having our needs met. Any movement has to have three basic parts: an issue, a demand and consequences. We march to promote the issue, we explicitly demand a solution and if we don't get it then we need to levy consequences.

The result of having repeated marches, protests and rallies without demands or consequences has been to destroy a useful tool for battling injustice. Any target of a protest led by most organizations has been conditioned to believe that the majority of passionate marchers will go home afterward, so that the consequences of ignoring demands are nil. And please note: "consequences" does not mean we need to burn down a city. Consequences can take various forms, including economic boycotts, electoral support (or non-support), more disruptive future protests, etc.

A march on D.C. without any planned and clearly stated consequences is just a large group walk, which is fine if people want to do that. I live in D.C., so I may attend either way. Because I have seen the positive things Ben Jealous has done to improve the NAACP thus far, I'm going to give him (and the other organizers) the benefit of the doubt. I hope that I will be attending a march that has a complete plan of action, including consequences. The black community does not have time to just take another walk.

Will you support and attend the march for jobs and justice sponsored by the NAACP to be held on October 2, 2010? If we cannot get the government focused on the creation of jobs, what should the consequences be?

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