In a story by CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart, State Senator-elect Marilyn Moore says “If there were an NAACP in place, there would be a point place for people to go and organize and have direction. People want to do more than just march. They want to put together some plan and solution. … If it’s not the NAACP, where is the leadership taking on these issues? People are calling me asking, ‘Who do I go to? Who should I see?’ ” From Lockhart:
The silence from Bridgeport’s NAACP branch has been deafening following the two court cases involving police use of deadly force in Ferguson and New York.
Minority leaders nationwide have expressed outrage over the exoneration of police in the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y. Meanwhile, Bridgeport’s contingent of the National Association For the Advancement of Colored People is consumed with reorganizing and emerging from a state takeover in April 2013.
Full story here.
For background on local NAACP issues see here.
Oh how true this comment is: Pastor Anthony Bennett of Mount Aery Baptist Church recently traveled to Ferguson and recounted his visit in a guest column for the Connecticut Post, arguing both the city and Bridgeport “have majority black and brown populations, yet the majority of municipal leadership as well as rank-and-file positions are filled by non-black and brown persons.” Well, Mayor Finch has done NOTHING to change this picture, in fact all one has to do is to look at his hiring and appointing record of blacks and Hispanics and in fact this will be an issue in the mayor’s campaign for reelection. He wants our votes but we are not good enough to be hired by Mayor Finch.
Ron. When all the black leaders and all the black pastors and all the black churches come together for a summit on the mount, then and only then will Bridgeport have its first black mayor.
Until then, Mario Testa is your shepherd!
Jimfox, is that how whites do things? They have all the white churches and white pastors come together for a summit on the mount?
Yes Ron, it’s called the DTC.
LOL, yeah, DTC speaks for the white churches and white pastors.
Jimfox, isn’t that a bit presumptuous and condescending? You sound like Rick Torres and seem to assume things about the black community and act as though you believe a black mayor is what black people want. As though what they stand for and their platform is irrelevant. As though all black pastors are revered by the black population. As though our black neighbors are a different breed. Jimfox, sometimes I find you humorous, sometimes I think you are an obsequious sycophant who gives the impression you give a shit about having a black mayor because you are a black man trapped in a white man’s body.
Yes Steve, that is what the black community wants, a black mayor.
Yes Donald, in your deluded mind. Just like a huge part of the black community wanted Hillary over Obama. I GUESS THAT IS WHY A CITY WITH SUCH A HUGE POPULATION OF BLACK RESIDENTS HAVE A BLACK CANDIDATE EVERY ELECTION WHO JUST HAPPENS TO LOSE. I KNOW YOU WANT A BLACK MAYOR. YOU BELIEVED OJ WAS INNOCENT AND IF MARION BARRY WAS RUNNING YOU’D VOTE FOR HIM. THANK G-D YOU ONLY SPEAK FOR A SMALL MINORITY. THE EDUCATED WILL LISTEN TO A PLATFORM. YOU IMAGINE A BLACK MAYOR WILL TAKE CARE OF ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY. MAY I REMIND YOU THE WORST OFFENDERS DURING TIMES OF SLAVERY WERE THE “House Niggexx” who were the most abusive. A man should not be judged by the color of his skin, no? Is the reason you supported Marilyn Moore because she has a black agenda? Will that be her downfall as a one-term State Senator? You want a black mayor? Maybe you or Ron Mackey should run. Apparently, Charlie Tisdale was the closest you ever got and that was sooo long ago. Get busy sir, it is the 21st century. We have a black President and yet in Bridgeport we still do not have any individuals who are willing to rise up and run for Mayor who could actually win. Maybe Donald Day, you should consider it. You certainly are a very eloquent man and well informed. Be a leader and stop being a sheep.
No Steve, I’m a lesbian in a man’s body.
Apparently, an ass-kissing black lesbian.
Steve, just when I think you can’t possibly be a bigger asshole than I thought, you say some ignorant shit like your last post. What you know about the black experience from slavery to today wouldn’t fill a thimble. My hope is I can run into you again so I can give you a real history lesson on being black.
So I guess you will not run for Mayor and everything I said was wrong. I didn’t call you an asshole, but anyone who thinks electing a mayor who is black is going to solve the problem in Bridgeport really is a fool, notice Donald Day I said a fool, not an asshole. But as I read more and more of your posts maybe asshole would apply. Maybe we just need to agree we are both assholes arguing in a public square. Now, to be clear, I do not think you are an asshole. 🙂
The black community will vote for him again.
And so will whites and Hispanics.
Not really, Steve. I know plenty of folks who are wishing for an alternative and are not fooled by the timing of Finch’s economic progress initiatives. The coincidence in the timing of the re-election bid and the “Look what I am doing for you” is much too obvious to ignore. I realize we could ignore the timing and just place heaps of praise on Finch for actually achieving these things, but experience tells us there are NO coincidences in Bridgeport. He did not JUMP right on these things. He waited and left the constituents hanging until theses “aces” in the hole could benefit HIM the most. That kinda really sucks. We are an afterthought to Hizzoner’s personal goals. What a guy.
You may be correct, Bond Girl, but when you do not have any opposition, you win. Plain and simple.
I cannot speak to the NAACP being silent on the Ferguson issue. I can say not all people of color disagree with the grand jury verdict. Furthermore, I am glad CNN has been interviewing black police officers and their disgust with the violent protesters. That is all I have to say on this topic, other than I wonder why Moore’s constituents haven’t also called Ernie Newton and Ed Gomes. It is not like there hasn’t been black leadership as far back as Alvin Penn and Margaret Morton.
On another note, regarding the renaming of the new Harding High School. I have really given this some serious thought. I am not so sure Barack Obama or Bill Clinton would be appropriate, if we are looking to honor an individual who has contributed to humankind. If we are looking for an individual who has contributed to history for generations to revere, I’d like the school to be named after Harriet Tubman or Dr. Martin Luther King. These two individuals have had an amazing impact and though they are no longer here, they should always be remembered. The personal sacrifices they made changed the United States forever in their own way. Future generations will always remember them for their greatness.
My hope is the choice for the new President of the NAACP not be entered into lightly. I know George Mintz and he seems to be a personable guy, but he lacks the characteristics it would take to be what Bridgeport needs and deserves as its president. George Mintz isn’t the leader Bridgeport needs to lead the black community during these troubling times.
Bridgeport needs an individual who knows the history of this city from city hall to Bro Halls. Bridgeport needs an individual who is invested in this city and the uplift of this city and its black residents. Bridgeport needs an individual who knows the major players in the black community from the supposed political leaders, religious leaders and from the brother on the block to the brother in the board room. Bridgeport needs a fighter for the rights of blacks without fear of whose feet they step on, whether they are black or white. Bridgeport needs an individual who understands the struggle of the common black man who struggles every day of his life to put a roof over his head, to make a good life for his wife and children and one who does what is right, what is moral and what is just.
If you ask me who that individual is I can tell you unequivocally I don’t know, but I just know it isn’t George Mintz. It’s like the story of the young black kid in a school that is predominately white and the conversation of racism and bigotry comes up. The teacher asks the black kid to explain to his classmates what are racism and bigotry. The kid thinks for a while and says to the teacher and his classmates, I don’t know how to explain racism and bigotry, but I know it when I see it. That’s what I’m saying here, I don’t know who should be the new president of the NAACP I just know it shouldn’t be George. Ultimately the decision will be made by the membership of the Bridgeport NAACP and my hope without the influence and/or collaboration of the State or National.
So you have no clue who it could possibly be but you definitely purely know it couldn’t possibly be George Mintz. I don’t know who could possibly be the Mayor of Bridgeport but you’d support Joe Ganim or anyone who wasn’t Bill Finch. Why not you?????????
Donald Day, one thing will happen is Mayor Finch will have his candidates in place to run in this election. He cannot have black organizations speaking out on issues and concerns that could make the mayor look bad. Look, this mayor believes in controlling speech. He took the voting rights from Bridgeport voters to vote for whom they wanted for the BOE and after that was overturned he then got certain BOE members to change their positions and now he is in control of the BOE.
Finch will have his government and City workers plus a few IMA ministers who are very friendly with Finch in the NAACP leadership. Hopefully I’m wrong but time will tell.