Fort Wayne NAACP President Retain Seat

Rev. Michael Latham, executive director of Fort Wayne NAACP won his re-election bid for president. This election, according to a blog post by Vince Robinson, was a close one. Latham winning only by a slight margin. This could be membership sending a message to the NAACP leader, that the community expects more from the NAACP leadership.

According to an article in the Journal-Gazette, Latham took the high road and offered his contender an olive branch. In other words, Latham suggested that Robinson is needed in the organization. Latham is on the right track, the work of the membership is just as important as the networking that Latham is doing for the organization.

This was not a political election and Robinson should be commended for showing that if leadership is not going in the right direction it will be challenged. At times the election battle got ugly, which could have injured the organization. But instead it appears to have mobilized the membership in to action. That's a good thing.

In addition, the membership should be informed about any disagreements before the media is brought in. The membership pay to be told of any changes before contacting or granting headline grabbing attention getting moments in the media. The NAACP is made up of its membership not just of it's leader or political parties.

Rev. Michael Latham and Glass Houses

I wrote about the Wal-Mart boycott being a fake, not real or whatever. And I suggested that Rev. Latham's position in the NAACP might be challenged. So it was nice to read that Rev. Michael Latham confirmed my statement and yes indeed there are some men wanting that position of influence. Nice articles to read in the Journal-Gazette and now the Frost.

Some state this is airing dirty laundry, when in fact it's revealing the game played by self-appointed African-Americans among themselves. Who among us is more favorable among the raced white man to represent the African-Americans community? The answer the sleekest one in not getting caught trying to pull the wool over uninformed African-Americans eyes with a wink and a smile.

Should it be that way? Of course not, because African-Americans have diverse opinions about how things should be handled. But, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, unless challenged and that is why I suggested that someone with legal knowledge should sit in the NAACP seat.

Now, I know there are a few good women who could beat these men hands down. I would love to give their names, but they have a few days to become members before the NAACP election.

Word !

Word on the streets is that a few young men are gunning for Rev. Michael Latham,Executive Director position at the Fort Wayne-Allen County NAACP chapter and pastor of Renaissance Baptist Church. Some are a little peeved about the handing of the Wal-Mart opening with the threat of a fake boycott. Some are suggesting that Rev. Latham has his hands full with the new job given to him by MY MAN MITCH, AKA Governor Mitch Daniels. Latham, was hired as full-time chaplain of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Some of these same folks are encouraging membership enrollment to the NAACP in order to oust Rev. Latham.

If there is a coup going on to up seat Rev. Latham, I would like to see a female with legal background and a legal team. The NAACP in Fort Wayne needs a strong litigator to fight the long entrenched plantation mentality of the city.

Speaking of Wal-Mart, take a peek at this article and this and this. All together, sing, "Woo-Woo-Woo."

Rev. Michael Latham have you seen my glasses?

I don't have my glasses, but I needed to post this, if only for selfish reasons. Remember, I told you that there would not be a boycott of Wal-Mart lead by Rev. Michael Latham of the NAACP? And I was righht. Right? Well, I just wanted to be the first to say that the rally against Kweku Akan came to a screeching halt, last night at the Fort Wayne Community Schools Board meeting, also Rev. Latham did rally the troops, but there was no fireworks.

I remeber a story about the boy crying Wolf. Do you think that the Rev. Latham is just calling wolf, to keep the folks from rising up when a real issue hits the city? me think so.

Fort Wayne Community School embraces Inclusion

Leo Morris laments about the decision to offer courses in Africa, African-American, and Latinos studies. Morris go so far as to state diversity obsession as just a feel good moment. When in fact it will teach about inclusion. Africa and African-American history has always been taught in schools for a long time. I remember, learning about slavery, however, a more inclusive and detailed telling of Africa and African-American history will give students a much more diverse history of Africa and its people.

Kweku Akan and his staff has been teaching Africa history at Weisser Park Center. It is good to know, that his voice as a Fort Wayne Community Schools Board member is not just talk, but he willing to put it into practice. Baba Akan has taken many students to countries in Africa. What a life lesson for these students!

The Rev. Michael Latham, of the NAACP, has decided that there is a riff between Dr. Wendy Robinson and Baba Akan, even going so far as to call for a rally against Baba Akan at the FWCS school board meeting scheduled for September 25, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. From reading the article published in the Journal-Gazette, Rev Latham must be mistaken, and I hope he uses the time to apologizes to both Dr.Robinson and Baba Akan instead of making much ado about nothing.

Dear NAACP and Corporate office of Wal-Mart and fellow bloggers

NAACP National Headquarters or NAACP Legal Department
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Bruce S. Gordon, CEO
Andrea Brown
410-580-5116

and

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 Southwest Eighth Street
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611.
Lee Scott. CEO
amy.wyatt@wal-mart.com
or click here.

If you're a customer, call 1-800-WAL-MART (1-800-925-6278).
If you're an investor or analyst, call 479-273-8446.
If you're a journalist, call 479-273-4314.

Attention: Lee Scott

Dear NAACP and Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart:


Today, I read in Frost Illustrated issue dated September 20, 2006 some serious issues about the Wal-Mart store opening in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Southtown Centre Mall. This Wal-Mart on the southside has a dress code, but no U scan lanes, and no layaway. This store and will not be opened 24 hours nor accept the WIC vouchers of women and children. This is totally unacceptable. We know Wal-Mart's history of discrimination against women.

From the story in the newspaper, John Wolf, the marketing manager has decided that this disparate treatment is okay in discriminating against clients who live on the southside. However, I find it troubling, even rising to a level of a class action suit in the federal court. How deplorable it is that Wal-Mart does not support a program that support women and children without health care.

Our local representative of the NAACP and Mr. Wolf appears to believe that somehow the majority of the folks will view this as a slight inconvenience rather than blatant discriminatary actions by your marketing manager who represents your stores in Indiana.

We ask that Mr. Gordon and Mr. Scott immediately demand that all policies that apply at any Wal-Mart stores should apply at all stores as a matter of fairness included this one that is located in the heart of the largest African-American and Latino population. Let this letter serve as notice that Mr. Wolf is discriminating against the southside with arbitrary policies that are not consistent with Wal-Mart policies at other stores in the city. We know that the "NAACP is dedicated to accelerating economic growth in our communities and eliminating existing racial and ethnic economic disparities." But we know that Wal-Mart is reneging on it's promise, "...on fostering and deepening these community partnerships because we know they're critical to our future. Good working relationships will ensure that we grow responsibly and intelligently, and help us build stronger communities together." Remedying this problem will be a start for Wal-Mart in building a stronger southside.


Sincerely,


Your Name

Fort Wayne's NAACP Executive Director, Michael Latham Announces NO STRIKE for Wal-Mart

According to a source, Rev. Michael Latham, Executive Director of the NAACP, Fort Wayne, Indiana announced there will be no strike at the new Southtown Centre Wal-Mart. Latham rallied the troops to support marketing manager John Wolf by shopping at supposedly the largest Wal-Mart in the State of Indiana. With a parade of African-Americans workers on stage as a symbolic commitment by Wal-Mart to the southside with this display representing over 51% of Wal-Mart employees. In response, the audience gave a thundering round of a applause for Rev. Latham's heroic effort in getting Wal-Mart to buckle so early to the people's demands.

Wait a minute, I thought, demands had something to do with self-check-out lanes for its clients, the lack of a layaway at the store during the greatest spending spree season from October to December, for shoppers, last but not least, the issue of discrimination? All that has come to a shrieking halt based on the tiny offering that the store will have over 51% of his employees represented by the African-American community or the inclusion of other groups.?!! Come on now people, this is 2007, what about demanding more than token placement? What about managers and training programs to capture the population of African-Americans that make up over 90% of the population on the southside?

But more important, what about the CReED dollars that will be lost from those who will shop at the stores with layaways on the northside. Surely Rev. Latham was aware of this lost of revenue for redevelopment on the southside when he accepted the measly offer of limited employment, and smarter than just simply agreeing to a wink, smile, and a limp handshake. Southtown Centre is a CReED district meant to capture "increases in Sales and Income Taxes generated by the investment must be used by the local government for infrastructure and improvements within the district. " This information If not, surely had he talked with the council person who represents the southside, would have supported his boycott, maybe?

The media knew it was a CReED district and the issue did not come up. Did the media play Rev. Latham stupid by focusing on the layaway issue and not have to response to the discriminating impact of redirecting dollars that was targeted for the southside in the building of the Wal-Mart?
Instead of keeping the spotlight on Wal-Mart, which has a history of not doing right by the southside community, he has turned the platoon around and find a new target for the NAACP, Baba Akan, (formerly known as Carl Johnson, Fort Wayne Community Schools Board member.

Does not Rev. Latham know that this is a diversion tactic Superintendent Wendy Robinson, nor Baba Akan are the target? The puppet master is using him as a pawn to go after the huge hunk of money that is with the school system and which schools will be left standing. Does not Rev. Latham understand that it's never about improving our community but about the money and where it will be spent?

Shame on him.

This information comes from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana webpage about Southtown Centre CReED was unable to link:

"Community Revitalization Enhancement Districts (CReED)
Designed to assist cities in overcoming significant obstacles to downtown development
Legislation allows 1st and 2nd class cities, with a CReED to designate one additional CReED. Indiana Code 36-7-13.
25% Investor Tax Credit for Qualified Investment. (Qualified Investment: the taxpayer's expenditures for redevelopment or rehabilitation of property located in the CReED and made under an adopted CReED plan.) Does not include cost of real property or equipment. Indiana Code Section 6-3.1-19.
For the Investor:
Dept. of Commerce approves and determines eligible portion of investment before project begins.
Except in certain approved expansion/relocation circumstances, the Tax Credit is disallowed if the investor substantially reduces or ceases operations in Indiana in order to relocate operation within the CReED.
The Taxpayer claims the credit on the taxpayer's annual state income tax return. If credit exceeds state tax liability, the taxpayer may carry the excess over to subsequent taxable years.
For the Local Government:
Capture of up to $750,000 Downtown / $1,000,000 Southtown annually in sales and income tax increment
Duration of the district designation is a maximum of 15 years, beginning with receipt of first increment.
Captured increases in Sales and Income Taxes generated by the investment must be used by the local government for infrastructure and improvements within the district. "

Wal-Mart Media Ping-Pong rally of the troops with the NAACP and the MEDIA

Just finished reading the News-Sentinel attack on Rev. Michael Latham's, executive director of NAACP attack on Wal-Mart. BobCaylor writes that Latham's call for a boycott could hurt the revitalization on the southside. Caylor suggests that clients on the southside are not entitled to the same treatment, because Wal-Mart is not a public service, but a privately owned business. In other words, Wal-Mart can do what ever they darn please. And just like Wal-Mart, the private citizens can do whatever they darn please, including boycotting the store.

But, let's take a closer look at the underbelly of the beast, meaning the body of the threat of a boycott, and the arms and legs of the media coverage of the threat of a boycott, and the market manager of Wal-Mart indifference to the threat. Begs the question, who is really benefiting from all of this posturing? I believe all three, the media sells paper, NAACP will get sponsorships, jobs or money, and Wal-Mart will hire less people to operate it store on the southside.

Wal-Mart is not doing the folks on the southside any favor. Wal-Mart is coming to the Southside because of the amount of disposable dollars spend on the southside. The author of the Million Dollar Slaves writes that a star athlete's father tells his son, to hold out for the best offer by a college. The college is not giving you a scholarship, you earned the scholarship. In other words, the son is bringing something that the college wants, no different for Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart wants the southside dollars to support it store, than it needs to listen to the wants of its shoppers.. scanner, lay-away, longer hours.

Besides, the SouthCentre Mall is not being developed for shoppers, it's a training center for police recruitment. The real development is happen on the boulevard to downtown. I just saw another business going in to meet the needs of the southside, a laundry mat. Ricker's City Laundry at 3817 South Calhoun, has invested in brand new washers and dryers in a building next to a gas station, ice cream place and bus stop. Somebody researched the market demographics of that area to meet the needs of the people. I just hope they use hot water unlike some of the laundries on the southside. All the money is going north to downtown, why else would the city want to build a baseball stadium downtown?

SouthCentre Mall is a sham, being used to drive up the prices of home in the area for homeowners who are going to need housing after the city's programs begin razing the homes closer to downtown.These rumors of a staged boycott, is just puppet master rallying the troops, to pretend that someone is looking out for the average hard working joe. Latham is just a puppet among the puppet master, but I stated earlier, I didn't say he was a friend of mines. But I have to hand it to him, the appointed honorary privileged representative of the Africian-American monolithic community does knows how to work the system. Matter of fact, this Saturday, I believe the NAACP is having an event in the downtown area, the Grand Wayne Center, September 16, 2006 at 6:00 p.m., but the media already knew this.

So who's zooming who?

WAl-Market has marked it's spot

Wal-Mart appears to be a hot topic for the southside, or is the topic Rev. Michael Latham or the NAACP? Let's see, the new Wal-Mart will open with limited hours on the southside, but not at it's other stores which are not located in a highly populated African-American and Latino population. Hmm, let's take a moment pause, before continuing. Next, the new Wal-Mart will not have a lay-away because lay-aways will be discontinued at the other stores sometime around November.

Wait a minute, so that MEANS that folks can still place lay-aways at the north stores, meaning the folks who are more than likely budgeting for Christmas who could use a lay-away with have to go north to shop. Well, I think MetroEdge explained this littl drama as float--the number of dollars that leave the African-American community to NEVER RETURN.


Now, Mr. Latham, he has charged discrimination, well a powerful word indeed!!! But, look at the demographics and it speaks for itself. You would think the powers to be would want folks to spend their dollars in their store located in their own neighborhood, by meeting their clients needs...that just business sense. If not, it could only mean one thing, discrimination.
And Mr. Latham ain't my friend, but he's definitely got a big point on this here issue, if I say so myself!!!

NAACP.

That acronym speaks power..just sitting there by itself, but it respresents lots and lots of people. African-Americans alone spends billions of dollars the day during the Christmas shopping season, and I don't think, the Wal-Mart wants word to get out that it is not playing fair to its customers because it is located in a neighborhood that is made up of a large number of African-Americans and Latinos? And I would think that the raced whited folks would be a little upset too, by Wal-Mart treating them different simply because they live among these African-Americans and Latinos.

I don't think it's a Scott's store thing either, because, Rev. Latham would be jumping for joy over Wal-Mart closing early. We (meaning African-Americans) know discriminate when we see it, hear it or read about it, Wal-Mart stores on the northside , not Scotts, does not want the competition. What happened to equal opportunity? Yes sir, in the words of an African-American about spending dollar, SHUT THEM DOWN (that is on the northside). But, that's just MY opinion.

CAlling all african-americans voters

Mike Smith reports on the Democrat Convention held June 3, 2006. The theme was a Ditch Mitch. This message was more than likely aimed at independents and nonloyal republicans.

What I was searching for was some type of award that was being handed out by the Democratic leadership to the African-Americans community. Somethinh, like a "pimped out" award that targeted African-American' groups like the Urban Coalition to mobilize the African-American voters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I believe one member was granted a $20,000 dollar job by the Mayor. but lordy good god of molly, the Republican party were not to be outdone, and upped the ante. With a pimped them real man job with a high salary job with a $60,000 job, to a African-American minister in the same city. Can I get an amen.

So, what does the national republican does while the Democrats are recruiting independents and unloyal republicans? Tt seems that four Black Republicans are running for statewide elections. Is this a Republican battle cry that the south will rise again, with African-Americans males on northern states ballot ticket? In an article in the Washington Post, three African-Americans will be on Republican state tickets..see article

This appears to worry the Democrats just a little. In another article published in the Indyrecorder by Hazel Trice Edney or check out Frost reporting the words of Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. If anybody can holler loud enough to get the attention of the democrats, it has to be Dean.

DNC Chairman Dean can learn from Indiana's Republicans something better than just hollering in getting the attention of African-American voters. A $60,000 job was offered to Rev. Michael Latham by Mitch Rood of the FSSA. Sweet. Not a bad deal for a pastor just having a one night sleep over for the Governor of Indiana.

I am not a proponent of church and state sharing the same bed, however, I just want to note here for the Democrats, that it's better to give than to receive. The Republican led faith base initiative can only build the African-American male economical power base. Especially when the majority of churches are owned by African-American males, even if churches are not considered businesses.

In the same article found in the Indianapolis Recorder, Dean's take the position that power is simply being on the ballot and takes the place of African-Americans being at the table. Does Dean have rocks in his head? The power for African-American is still at the tablele..that is a table with like-minded inclusive thinking individuals and not those wanting to hold onto the old status quo.

Indiana Republicans may be on to something in going beyond divisive issues such as immigration, gay marriages and affirmative action. Surely employing African-American males and the provision in the contract to sell(lease) the toll road for an apprenticeship for training African-Americans for jobs will send a strong message to the Democrats to stop pimping African-American ministers like little girls.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote in Why We Can't Wait, as to the cross-fire of both parties when it came to the African-American's vote and suggested the forming of an Independent party for the convergent of interest amongst the people. King and his peers marched on Washington and it was a clear example of the electoral power of those who were fed up with exclusionary policies from both parties.

The Million Man March was another clear example of the voting strength of the African-American males and their dollar powers. And of course, the Million Woman March was a statement of simply saying you ain't seen nothing until you seen African-American women come together around an issue.

It may be hard out here for a pimp, but the African-Americans needs to demand that the Democrats up their ante, and I mean up their ante!!!