Fort Wayne NAACP Rev. Michael Latham is still in charge

I have never been a member of the NAACP. I’ve been asked by several folks throughout the years, but it was something about the term Colored People that I personally found offensive. However, years of resistance, just two days ago, for the first time, I plucked down my dollars for a NAACP membership. But, to be honest, I had an ulterior motive. And that motive was to run against the current NAACP Executive Director. That’s right, the word on the street is that it was time for Rev. Michael to go!

Simple enough, except for one thing, my gut was telling me something is missing and you need to talk to the “Man”. Fort Wayne’s NAACP Executive Director Rev. Michael Latham was the “Man”. I was moving on rumors. I picked up the telephone and called him. Rev. Latham was still recovering from a bout of meningitis as he reflected back on a tough year.

And a tough year indeed, by anyone’s standard of tough.

Rev. Latham loses a job. A job that raised more than one eyebrow as to how could Rev. Latham qualify for such a position. The bottom line some believed, including myself, that the position was a political appointment. And if losing a job was not scary, an illness taking him close to death should have done the trick. Rev. Latham was hospitalized with meningitis, an illness that he is still attempting to regain his strength. And to add insult to injury while Rev. Latham,under the weather, his position with the NAACP was under seige during his hospital stay. Folks, including myself, believed that this was the best time to rid the NAACP of Rev. Latham, once and for all, except for Rev. Latham.

Rev. Latham does not agree with all the speculations that he is no longer wanted as the organization leader or the rumors dooming the future of the local NAACP.

Matter of fact, according to Rev. Latham, the community is confident in the NAACP leadership. Rev. Latham points out that either those whom voices are being heard, are non-members of the NAACP or those who are attempting to make a name for themselves as NAACP Board members.

Rev. Latham stated that, in his role as executive director, there have been no complaints about him until last year’s election for officers at the NAACP. One of his opponents, who runs a newspaper, wrote stories about Rev. Latham’s leadership that was simply not true, according to Rev. Latham. Rev. Latham believes this was to paint him in an unflattering light to the local community.

Vince Robinson who operates INK ran against Rev. Latham and lost. Rev. Latham suggests that Robinson is a sore loser. As to why Robinson was gunning for the NAACP leadership position, Rev. Latham simply stated he did not know. Nevertheless, Robinson unsuccessful challenge to Rev. Latham’s position in the previous election has not stopped others Board Members which may or may not include Robinson from secretly plotting and working in the background to oust Rev. Latham from his seat.

Some Board Members are actively campaigning for others to run against Rev. Latham. These same Board Members are building up memberships in a similar fashion that they alleged that Rev. Latham used to win his own reelection. The rumormongers charged Rev. Latham with buying the election through purchases of NAACP membership for family members as well as church members.

Not true stated Rev. Latham, as several prominent donors contributed funds specifically for memberships. In addition, Rev. Latham went on to point out, that many senior citizens are unable to afford NAACP’s memberships. These were the individuals who benefited from these funds and not Rev. Latham. Rev. Latham went on to debunk another rumor about funds that were charged with belonging to NAACP coffer but was used instead to support another program ran by Rev. Latham.

Not true because the supporter stipulated that a certain amount of funds were earmarked for Rev. Latham’s legal non-profit called United for Change and not the NAACP. The funds were for United for Change exclusively. According to Rev. Latham, a busload of students traveled to the south on a four day Civil Right Tour that was paid for by these funds.

Controversy comes with the position it seems. When asked about membership requesting his resignation, Rev. Latham suggests, that if membership truly wants him gone it will have to send him a clear message. This message is not from mumbling among the masses but during the election. Furthermore, if memberships at that time voted him out, he would no problem with that. However, just because some Board Members are dissatisfied with his leadership is not enough to end his reign as the local NAACP spokesperson.

Moreover, the whispering campaign to remove Rev. Latham requires a petition signed by 25 members and allegation substantiated, not just a simply letter requesting his resignation. Rev. Latham suggests that the Board Members should be aware of this fact and should be familiar with the provision outlined in the bylaws of the organization.

Unless, the Board Members are thinking , like I was, that they are better than Rev. Latham and that he is dumb as a box of rocks and it will be oh so easy to get rid of him by the those who are far more educated. In answer to that, Rev. Latham suggests that there is room in the NAACP for everyone and enough work for everyone.

Rev. Latham is working on gaining his strength and I think others, should be working on strengthen the NAACP.