We must resist the temptation to mistreat, mistrust, or stereotype our fellow Americans on the basis of color, nationality, race, or religion. The survival of our nation depends on our success in this endeavor. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
We know that in the wake of a horrifying shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, the recent assault of an Army reservist in Morrow, Georgia, the shooting by police of an unarmed man in Rockford, Illinois, the burning of a teenager in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and other recent events, we may find ourselves mistrustful of Americans who are different from us. Hatemongering, name calling, and the use of slurs in the media also contribute to a growing atmosphere of discord; some members of our community make inflammatory statements to get attention. Meanwhile, extremist organizations and politicians use current events (the health care debate, the war on terror, the election of America?s first black president, et al) to expand their base of support.
We (the NAACP) have spent 100 years acting, speaking, and writing against hate, prejudice, and racism. Indeed, we are proud to say that we have been the "conscience" of this great nation. In 1909, we formed the Association. In 1915, we stood up to oppose "Birth of a Nation," a highly offensive motion picture. In 2007, we laid the n-word to rest, effectively banishing the n-word from the vocabularies of informed and thoughtful Americans of all colors and races.
We ask you to support us and oppose hate, prejudice and racism. Write letters to the editors of local newspaper. Speak up against hate, prejudice, and racism. If someone tells a crude joke or uses a slur, tell him or her that you disapprove. Join an organization that opposes racism and prejudice; we highly recommend the NAACP. Keep yourself informed on hate groups in your area. One very good source of information on hate groups is the SPLC website (http://www.splcenter.org/index.jsp).
Information in this article has been taken from an earlier installment in the NAACP Point of View series of articles.
Note: Rev. Mary A. Pulley, the president of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP, has approved this article. The purpose of the ?NAACP Point of View? series is to communicate the positions of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP concerning subjects of interest. For more information, or to join the NAACP, please contact the Rolla Area Branch by e-mail (unit4093@naacp.org), regular mail, (PO Box 1534, Rolla Missouri 65402-1534), or telephone (573-426-3323).
