TENSIONS GROWS IN
NCDP
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CAUCUS
By Cash Michaels
Editor
Controversy
has once again enveloped the African-American Caucus of the North Carolina
Democratic Party at a time that it can least afford it, namely in the strategic
leadup to the all-important 2016 elections.
On the
table are two key issues – first, given that African-Americans comprise over 50
percent of North Carolina registered Democrats, why doesn’t the state
Democratic Party give more respect to arguably its most loyal base of
supporters. The argument that white Democrats take the black Democratic vote
for granted because few resources are invested in the black community to
galvanize and deliver the vote, continues to have currency.
“There is a
move to disenfranchise our vote and dilute our power, but they cannot win
without our community,” charges Jannet Barnes, member of the NCDP’s State
Executive Committee, adding that black Democrats deserve “fair representation”
in the party hierarchy and decisionmaking.
On that
issue there is a unanimous “Amen” from both black and white Democrats The Carolinian spoke with, with many
surmising that had Kay Hagan listened to black leaders in 2014 when the
first-term North Carolina senator fell just a few thousand votes short of
holding back Republican challenger Thom Tillis, she would still be in Congress
now.
But then
there’s the second, more prickly issue – is Willie Fleming of Charlotte, the
recognized president of the African-American Caucus of the NC Democratic Party
(AAC-NCDP) for the past two years, legitimately that body’s president.
In an
interview this week, Fleming tells The
Carolinian “yes,” and says with just two months remaining in his tenure, he
will finish the job until new elections are held this coming November.
But Jannet
Barnes, the president of the Wake County chapter of the AAC-NCDP, strongly
disagrees, alleging in word and documents that in fact, Fleming was “removed”
from office on January 31st of this year “for cause,” and that she
and a new slate of officers were just elected to lead the statewide auxiliary
organization of the state Democratic Party in early August during a state
convention of membership.
Both sides
have dug in their heels, and when, and where the contentious dispute will
ultimately be decided is anybody’s guess.
Founded in
February, 2003, the AAC-NCDP is a chartered auxiliary of the party’s State Executive
Committee. Its “mission,” according to its bylaws, “…is to promote political
participation and education within the African-American community, encourage
African-Americans to seek public office, represent issues and concerns of its
membership to the Democratic Party Leadership and to work towards strengthening
the Democratic Party.”
The AAC-NCDP’s
elected officers consist of a president, first vice president, second vice
president, third vice president, secretary, treasurer and parliamentarian. It’s
membership is made up of registered black Democrats across the state in at
least 22 counties.
In its
bylaws, the AAC-NCDP maintains that, “By voting, the General Body (membership)
is the sole arbiter of all issues, concerns, rules, regulations, policies and
etc. for the AAC-NCDP.”
According
to Mr. Fleming, he had been president of the AAC-NCDP since being elected in
2011, and re-elected in 2013.
But
according to documents and a timeline provided by Ms. Barnes, NC House Rep.
Rodney Moore [D- Mecklenburg] “disbanded” the Mecklenburg AAC chapter in 2009,
and that’s the way it allegedly remained in 2011 when Fleming, who hailed from
that chapter, ran and was elected AAC state president.
Barnes
contends that because the bylaws maintain that all state officers come from
“organized” chapters, Fleming should have been ineligible to run. She states that
Fleming “retroactively” formed a new chapter in order to retain his state seat,
but that is not allowed and any actions he took as chair were “fruit of the
poisonous tree.”
There are
additional allegations of a bank account and missing money, in addition to a
failing to file reports with the State Board of Elections for two years.
“The
AAC-NCDP By-Laws has an internal resolution of disputes provision, as required
by the NCDP, and the Elected Executive Officers did render a decision to remove
Mr. Fleming on Saturday, January 31st, 2015 at a called meeting
which Fleming refused to attend,” stated an April 28, 2015 memo from Paul
Brandon Johnson, listed a “President” to “County Caucus Presidents, Members and
Friends.”
That Fleming
was indeed “removed for cause” was later maintained in subsequent missives on
AAC-NCDP letterhead from Johnson in a complaint and followups to the State
Board of Elections (SBOE), and to Democratic Party Chairwoman Patsy Keever.
Barnes
maintains that the SBOE “is investigating” and “has issued subpoenas,” and if
that doesn’t pan out, she promises her group will “file a complaint with the
[US] Dept. of Justice.”
So what
does Willie Fleming, who is still touted as the president of AAC-NCDP on
websites and listed among NCDP auxiliary presidents, say in response?
“It bothers
me that Jannet and her group do not believe in democracy,” he told The Carolinian this week during a phone
interview from Charlotte.
He says
unless, as prescribed by the AAC-NCDP’s bylaws, “two-thirds” of the General
Body present votes to remove any officer, he cannot be removed any other way.
Fleming adds that the Elected Executive Officers can only recommend removal,
but not do it themselves without the General Body.
Fleming
maintains that there has been nothing improper about his election to office, or
the two terms he has thus far served. He says when NCDP Chairwoman Patsy Keever
was confronted with deciding whether Fleming had indeed been removed as
AAC-NCDP president, she put in writing that the party still recognized him as
president, and he “gives her credit” for that.
Fleming
charges that Barnes and her supporters are “troublemakers” who have been
removed from party organizations. He also promised that any allegations about
his having anything to do with missing money, “…my attorney will take them to
court and make them prove it.”
He says he
spoke to the SBOE, and if it had determined something was wrong, something
would have been done by now.
A spokesman
for SBOE did not return The Carolinian’s
call for comment by press time Wednesday.
Chairwoman
Keever confirmed that Fleming’s version of events to The Carolinian during a telephone interview Tuesday.
Confirming
a notarized letter from her recognizing Fleming as AAC state chair, Keever made
it clear that it wasn’t a “personal” choice, but rather something she had party
officials look into to determine who should rightfully sit on the State
Executive Committee, as all auxiliary chairmen are allowed to.
By the
party’s own “Plan of Organization,” NCDP officials, including the chairman,
have no say in the inner workings of its auxiliary groups.
Chairwoman
Keever said on Feb. 7, 2015, the SEC accepted the AAC bylaws during its
gathering in Pittsboro, and Fleming was recognized as AAC chair at that time.
Keever also said at the first SEC meeting after that, Fleming was recognized by
the “vast majority of that body” as the president. At the May 2nd
general body meeting, he was recognized again “by the vast majority” as chair.
She maintains that the issue comes down to one group not recognizing the other.
“The party had to come down on one
side or the other because we had to recognize who will sit on the SEC,” she
said. “But the party is neutral, and working to ensure that the AAC is alive
and well.”
“I’m sorry that these complications
have come up,” Keever told The Carolinian.
“The state party is neutral on President Barnes or President Fleming. This is
an internal issue of the African-American Caucus, and I hope and pray that
they’ll get it fixed so that we can get on with having a very strong and united
AAC. And that’s what we all need.”
Keever also
said that “It’s totally untrue” that the AAC and other caucuses of color have
been left out, and have no place at the table of the NCDP. She says no other
caucuses have had the “internal conflict” that the AAC has had.
So what the
next step is in all of this is up Barnes and her supporters. With no further
word from the SBOE, there is no doubt that Fleming will remain in office until
new elections in November. If a complaint is filed with the US Dept. of
Justice, it could be years before a final resolution is reached, assuming any
alleged criminality is proven.
Meanwhile
blacks in the state’s Democratic Party remain untrusting of its leadership, and
apparently of each other.
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CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 8-20-15
“PARDONS OF INNOCENCE” IN WILMINGTON MONDAY – For all of our friends in Wilmington, remember, the return screening of “Pardons of Innocence: The Wilmington Ten” Monday, August 24, 6 p.m. at Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street in downtown. This will be only the third time that the film has screened in the port city since its premiere at UNC-Wilmington in April 2014, so if you’re available to come out, by all means. We’ll also have DVDs of the film, plus a special book highlighting all of the memorable Wilmington Journal stories from 2012 that led up to the dramatic pardons of innocence for purchase. And there’ll be a special panel discussion directly afterwards for the audience to participate in.
So we’ll see you Monday, August 24th, 6 p.m. at the Jengo’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street in downtown Wilmington for the next screening of “Pardons of Innocence: The Wilmington Ten.” Tell your friends and family.
THANK YOU – Thank you to all who took the time to come out to the Richard B. Harrison Library in SE Raleigh and share the afternoon with us as we once again shared our documentary, “WLLE REMEMBERED” about our now defunct, but always beloved 570WLLE “WiLLiE” radio station. Special thanks to cosponsors Marian Fragola of the NCSU Libraries and Prof. Sheila Smith McKoy of NCSU Africana Studied Program for making it happen, Wink and Cheryl Moody, along with daughter Ella, who all came out for support, and the many of you who filled the room to share old times and memories. Hopefully we can do it again in a few months.
JULIAN BOND – It was a Saturday, October 11, 2014. Former NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond was flying in for the annual NCNAACP Convention, where he was the keynoter, and had to land in Charlotte first, to board a connecting flight to Fayetteville. Except that there was no connecting flight.
As part of the documentary production crew for “Origin of the Dream,” it was my responsibility to make sure that this man of history arrived in a timely fashion at the NCNAACP Headquarters hotel in Fayetteville because we were scheduled to interview him on camera prior to his going to the banquet and delivering his remarks.
“On arriving in Charlotte, we are told our flight to Fayetteville is cancelled,” Bond emailed me. “We will see what the alternatives are and get back to you.”
A little later on, Chairman Bond emailed me again.
“We are going to rent a car and drive as soon as we get our bags - that maybe an hour’s time. As soon as we are on our way we will be back in touch.”
So now Bond and his lovely wife would be driving all the way from Charlotte to Fayetteville. Fat chance he would be in any shape to do an on-camera interview with us when he arrived. A long trip like that for someone even experienced like the great civil rights icon Julian Bond required some rest for him to properly prepare for his keynote speech, let alone our scheduled sitdown interview.
“Can you inform Rev. Barber?” Bond asked me by email, referring, of course to NCNAACP Pres. Rev. William Barber. Of course I did. It was by the graciousness of Rev. Barber and his terrific staff at the NCNAACP that we were able to setup a place at the hotel in preparation for the interview. We’d have to change the timing now, shooting for directly after Bond’s banquet remarks.
I made the chairman that we thought it best that we aim for after the banquet.
“Let's do it after work. However you'll have to allow for the many people who want to say hello, shake hands and so on,” he replied. In other words, be patient because folks aren’t going to want to let me go that easily.
After confirming the after dinner interview, the chairman replied, “ That’s fine with me.”
Later that evening, Julian Bond arrived to applause after resting in his room. And after his remarks, he took time to take pictures, talk with people, and gladhand. Thanks to his wife, we were able to get him back to the hotel, and to the room where the camera crew was setup an diligently waiting. After the interview at 10:30 that night, we all took a picture together, and thank a clearly tired Julian Bond for his grace and cooperation.
I had met this champion for human rights who had marched with Dr. King, and helped to found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) at Shaw University in 1960, when he and other veterans of the 60’s civil rights struggle came back to Raleigh and Shaw’s campus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of SNCC in April 2010. I served as media coordinator for the conference which hosted luminaries like singer Harry Belafonte, Congressman John Lewis, and then US Atty. Gen. Eric Holder.
Bond took part in many of the activities and lectures, taking time to speak with students on campus about what the ‘60s struggle was really all about.
I still have many of our email correspondence with each other, my trying to get as much availability as possible for the press with Bond and others.
I have one in particular when someone had asked the chairman if he’d be able to speak with a certain news organization, and he simply replied back, “ Cash Michaels can set it up.”
No, Julian Bond and I were professional acquaintances, not personal friends, but he was straightforward, yet easy to work with. Bond had a quiet nature about him, yet that fire for justice is something that he couldn’t hide when the time was right. All of the battles he’d been through, and all of the gallant soldiers for justice he worked closely with…to be able to just hake the man’s hand, let alone trade a few emails with him, was something to be proud of.
That’s why, when I heard last weekend that he had passed after a brief illness, I was in shock. In his seventies, Bond gave no sign that he had been suffering any constant illness when we were in his presence last October.
But I was glad that before he went, Julian Bond did share his thoughts about Dr. King with us for our documentary, “Origin of the Dream.”
Rest well Chairman Julian Bond, and job well done.
Make sure you tune in every Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. for my talk radio show, ''Make It Happen'' on Power 750 WAUG-AM, or online at www.waug-network.com. And read more about my thoughts and opinions exclusively at my blog, ‘The Cash Roc” (http://thecashroc.blogspot.com/2011/01/cash-roc-begins.html).
Cash in the Apple - honored as the Best Column Writing of 2006 by the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Columnist Cash Michaels was also honored by the NNPA for Best Feature Story Journalist of 2009, and was the recipient of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP’s President’s Award for Media Excellence in Sept. 2011.
Until next week, keep a smile on your face, GOD in your heart, and The Carolinian in your life. Bye, bye.
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NCNAACP PREPARES FOR
AUG. 29TH
“JOURNEY” LEG
By Cash Michaels
Editor
The NC
NAACP is urging all to take part in the North Carolina leg of “America’s
Journey for Justice,” scheduled to come through the state starting August 29th.
A national
coalition led by the national NAACP and its President/CEO Cornell William
Brooks, “America’s Journey for Justice” is a 40-day, 860-mile protest march
which began in Selma, Ala. on August 1st – the fiftieth anniversary
of the 1965 Voting Rights Act - from the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, where
civil rights marches were beaten and attacked by Alabama state troopers as they
marched for voting rights in March 1965.
The
modern-day Journey for Justice is routed from Alabama, through Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, finally arriving in Washington, D.C. on
Sept. 15th. The North Carolina leg of the march is scheduled to
reach the state August 29th through Sept. 7th, before it
moves on to Virginia.
Marchers from
nationwide will say to the nation and world family, “Our lives, our votes, our
jobs, and our schools matter,” the NAACP, a major coalition in the march, says.
With each state stopped in, a designated
issue of concern to African-Americans – like fairness in the criminal justice
system, jobs with sustainable wages, improved public education, and protection of
voting rights - is addressed.
In North
Carolina, according to NCNAACP Pres. Rev. William Barber, the issue is voting
rights because the state has become “the national battleground for voting rights.”
In an
effort to challenge a regressive southern legislature and Congress’ failure to
act on strengthening the Voting Rights Act, the NC NAACP, the Forward Together Moral
Movement, and other justice-loving North Carolinians from across the state will
join the march and continue on across the Virginia state line, “Rev. Barber
said in a statement.
Thus, a major “Rally for Voting
Rights” featuring Rev. Barber and President Brooks, among others, will be held
at the State Capitol in Raleigh on Thursday, Sept. 3rd, with
activities beginning at 5 p.m.
Leading up
to that, Pres. Brooks will take part in a Monday, August 24th Moral
Monday Livestream online to promote the Sept. 3rd rally. On August
29th, marchers are expected to enter North Carolina from South
Carolina at U.S. Highway 1 near Rockingham County at the state line.
Later that
evening there will be a Journey for Justice Youth and Cultural Artist Teach-in,
7:30 p.m. at Southern Middle School, 717 Johnson Street in Aberdeen. On Monday,
August 31st at 7 p.m., the Journey for Justice Voting Rights
Teach-in at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street in
Raleigh, and on Sept. 1st at 10 a.m. at various congressional
offices across the state, simultaneous press conferences on voting rights
action.
Supporters
from across the state seeking to join the Journey for Justice March while its
in North Carolina may sign up by logging onto www.naacpnc.org,
and click onto the American Journey for Justice tab, or call 919-682-4700
RACIAL ATTITUDES OF BLACKS IN MULTI-RACIAL CONGREGATIONS MIRROR THOSE OF WHITES, STUDY FINDS
by Terry GoodrichBaylor University News Service
WACO, Texas (Aug. 17, 2015) — Troubling questions about multiracial congregations’ potential to address racial inequality are raised by a new national study done by researchers at Baylor University, the University of Southern California and the University of Chicago.
The study — “United by Faith? Race/Ethnicity, Congregational Diversity, and Explanations of Racial Inequality” — is published in the journal Sociology of Religion.
“We find little evidence that multiracial congregations promote progressive racial views among attendees of any race or ethnicity,” the researchers wrote. Views of minorities in multiracial congregations contrast to those generally held by religiously affiliated blacks and Hispanics.
“Whose interests are multiracial congregations serving?” asked researcher Kevin Dougherty, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. “We want to believe that they promote a shared, integrated identity for all. But the truth may be that many are advancing a form of Anglo-conformity instead.”
The study’s focus was explanations for socioeconomic differences between blacks and whites in the United States. Previous research shows that blacks and Hispanics point to discrimination as a cause of black disadvantage, while whites often emphasize personal motivation as a cause, researchers said. But inside multiracial congregations, explanations for inequality become more similar across groups, coming to resemble the views of the whites.
Although more of America’s faith communities are becoming racially and ethnically mixed, the dominant white racial frames may go unchallenged. That potentially influences minority attendees to embrace those attitudes, or multiracial congregations may attract minorities more likely to accept the attitudes in the first place.
“The ongoing racial desegregation taking place in America’s congregations has many costs,” said lead author Ryon Cobbs, Ph.D., National Institute on Aging postdoctoral fellow at USC Davis School of Gerontology. “For blacks and Hispanics, affiliation with racially diverse congregations costs them a perspective on racial inequality that is distinct from their white counterparts within and outside their racially diverse congregation.”
Researchers analyzed nationally representative data from General Social Surveys and National Congregations Studies, with 1,485 respondents from more than 100 denominations encompassing all major religious traditions.
In a , the researchers found that congregation size also impacts attitudes about racial inequality. Individuals attending very large congregations do not tend to attribute social divisions and economic gaps between blacks and whites to discrimination or lack of quality education but to some other factors. Further research is needed to determine the “why” of those differing perceptions, researchers said.
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TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS
FOR 8-20-15
WAKE SCHOOL BOARD
SUSPENDS DRIVER’S ED
As of Friday, Wake County Public
Schools will no longer offer behind-the-wheel driver’s education to its
students until further notice. The drastic move is the result of stalled budget
talks by the state Legislature, forcing the school system to cut the continuing
expense it had been assuming for the past several months. Students already
enrolled will finish their classes on Friday, but no new students may be
enrolled.
WAKE TO ADD 13 NEW
SCHOOLS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS
With over
40,000 new students expected to attend Wake County Public Schools by 2024, the
school system announced this week that it will add 13 new schools to its total
over the next three years. Eight new elementary schools, three new middle
schools and two new high schools are planned for construction. That will be in
addition go the five new schools the system is scheduled to open next year,
along with a new student assignment proposal. Parents can see that proposal by
going to http://wcpss.net/newenrollmentplan.
OUR YOUTH MATTERS
GOSPEL WORKSHOP AUG. 29
Our Youth Matters is pleased to announce the 2015 G
Gospel Music Workshop for Youth, Afternoon Concert, Celebrity Tennis Clinic,
and Capitol City Play Day Cook-out, Saturday, August 29, 2015. Registration & Check-in begins 8:30 a.m.
@Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh. Round trip transportation will also be
provided throughout the day for registered individuals and groups to
participate in parallel activities being held at Pullen Park. Please call 919.795.8609 or 919.522.9635 to
make donations or secure more information about events throughout the day,
which will be hosted by professional athletes, entertainers, business leaders,
educators, government officials, organizational executives and local media personalities. Information available at www.ouryouthmatters.org.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR
8-20-15
GOVERNOR, LAWMAKERS
FINALLY AGREE ON BUDGET TOTAL
[RALEIGH] Beyond a month over
their July 1st deadline to have a new budget in place, state
lawmakers have at least finally agreed on what the total of state budget should
be once the details are finally worked out. After continuous talks with Gov.
Pat McCrory, both the state House and Senate have arrived at spending $21.74
billion. The figure is a compromise between the $22.15 billion that the state
House originally passed on its side, and the $21.47 billion the Senate adopted
for its limited spending plan. Budget writers in both houses can now put meat
on the budget bone on what a final compromise budget will look like that both
houses can ratify.
JURY TO DECIDE
CHARLOTTE POLICE EXCESSIVE FORCE CASE
[CHARLOTTE]
At press time Wednesday, closing arguments had been made, and the jury in the
Jonathan Ferrell excessive force case were in deliberations as to whether a
Charlotte police officer unnecessarily killed the black motorist in Sept. 2013
after he had crashed his car, and ran towards police unarmed apparently happy
to see them. The defense says that Officer Randall Kerrick was justified in
shooting Ferrell 10 times because he feared for his life when the black man
ran towards him. The prosecution,
however, maintains that Kerrick overreacted and broke department policy when he
fired his weapon at the unarmed Ferrell. Kerrick faces three to eleven years in
prison if convicted by unanimous verdict. If it is not unanimous, the verdict
would result in a mistrial.
STATE VENDOR FIRED AFTER
HEALTH INSURANCE MISHAP
[RALEIGH]
The new company that handled state employee health insurance enrollment and
eligibility has been fired after State Health Plan members found their health
plans erroneously classified as “inactive,” thus preventing many from seeing
doctors or getting needed prescriptions. The company, Aon Hewitt, took over
health plan enrollment on June 1st, but almost immediately ran into
computer problems. Reportedly, between 2000 – 4000 plan members, including
retirees, were reclassified as not having coverage when they did. The problems
are being addressed by the State Treasurer’s Office. Meanwhile anyone having
difficulty as a result is urged to call the toll-free customer service line at
855-859-0966.
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