Why Would the NAACP Be Honoring Someone Who is Loyal to the Confederate Flag?

7Mar/1113

Why Would the NAACP Be Honoring Someone Who is Loyal to the Confederate Flag?

In one of the most interesting "What the hayell" moments in recent memory, the NAACP Detroit branch has announced that they plan to give singer Kid Rock an award at their annual Great Expectations Dinner, which typically draws 10,000 participants. The dinner is going to be held on May 1, and if recent protests are an indicator, there won't be 10,000 people in the audience ready to celebrate.

The reason that people are up in arms is because Kid Rock has often used the Confederate Flag as part of his routine on stage. The singer has argued that the flag stands as a symbol of southern rock and roll, but many protesters don't quite see it that way. But in contrast to the flood of criticism the organization is receiving over the decision, the chapter leadership is going to move forward.

"Kid Rock ... has consistently lifted up the Great Expectations of many persons … concerning the future of the city," said Donnell R. White, interim executive director of the Detroit Branch NAACP.

If anyone ever wants to understand why so many in the black community have lost faith in certain elements of the NAACP, you need to look no further than Detroit. It would seem to me that the great city of Detroit would have heroes in its community who DON'T carry around the Confederate flag during their performances. The Confederate flag, for African Americans, stands as a symbol that is no less tragic than the Swastika for Jewish Americans. This flag is the calling card of those who've longed for the days in which black people were raped, beaten, hanged, castrated, burned alive, had their families torn apart, and were forced into involuntary servitude. It's one thing for the NAACP to remain quiet about Kid Rock's use of one of the most traumatic symbols in American history, but quite another for them to step up and give him an award for it. Yes, my friends, this certainly makes me sick.

I can't help but wonder if this award is somehow linked to money. There is no other rationale I can come up with for such a confusing move by one of our most storied civil rights organizations. One also cannot disconnect this incident from the national NAACP's decision to take money from Wells Fargo, the bank that is accused of taking the homes of hundreds of thousands of black folks across America through predatory lending. In both cases, our community's continuous fixation on money over character leads us to throw away our chance at true liberation. The biggest mistake that black people have made thus far in America is that we've come to depend on others to get the things that we need the most. We are also unwilling to engage in the serious introspection necessary to help us realize that you can't take money from just anyone without sometimes selling a piece of your soul in the process.

None of us knows for sure if money is part of the motivation behind the decision of the NAACP to honor someone who loves the Confederate flag. It may also be the case that the local chapter is so enamored with Kid Rock's fame that they are among the legions of us who think that being famous overrides even the most serious character flaws (remember when BET gave R. Kelly an award right after he was accused of having sex with young girls?). Either way, honoring Kid Rock at an NAACP event is beyond insulting, and Detroit residents should certainly make their voices heard on this issue.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

Tagged as: kid rock, naacp Leave a comment

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Kimberly
March 7th, 2011 - 05:09

The NAACP is a joke and has been for quite some time. They are like the bureaucratic negligent government or like agencies that truly disgrace every aspect of respect for civil rights. They like to leech on to “hot topic” stories in the media to bring them false recognition. Don’t they know we’re all watching? The NAACP is a useless group of buffoons and ignoramuses drawn to hype and fame rather than protecting the rights of citizens. Blah..

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Carolyn
March 7th, 2011 - 07:33

NAACP lost credibility some time ago and when these public displays of poor judgment surface; it only substantiates the premise of many that the organization has lost its way and is no longer relevant.

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Siddan
March 7th, 2011 - 15:36

Very interesting how the author made the narrative all about money and then waxed on for several paragraphs about nothing. How about calling the NAACP and getting some facts. As it stands, this article is pure bull shite. Regarding the rebel flag, I think you are totally uninformed about what black folks think. Just beause some people display the flag don’t necessarily make them haters. How about digging a little bit and tell us more about Kid Rock the person…what charities he sponsor, etc., etc. Your article seem designed to inflame…. I believe you can do better.

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- chill
  March 8th, 2011 - 17:31
  
  You are obviously NOT from the USA…..go back to your country.
  
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ICDATRUTH
March 7th, 2011 - 16:24

Hmmm, I understand the situation, but has it ever occur to you that his acheivements far out weighed his love for the flag? If his loyality to that flag is based on something other than what we as blacks see it as, that should be taken into consideration. Notice that he said that “it was symbol of southern rock and roll”. He never said anything about perserving “southern culture”, or any of the other hidden buzzwords many of the closeted racist use.

We as blacks must not be oversensitive to every little thing that is put before us as an insult and ignore the more glaring issues that we as a people must face. Things such as; an unjust judical system, how we are being represented to the world through rap lyrics, unequal education and the lack of employment are just some of the things that we must focus on. Personally, unless someone is commiting a racist act or insinulating that they are racist, I really don’t care what they do with that flag. To me like many others should understand that actions speak louder than words.

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SteelerNation
March 7th, 2011 - 16:45

NAACP, Please do not SELL OUT, the LEADERS that have FOUGHT for the STATUS for BLACKS in AMERICA, would not like the FACT that a PERFORMER is coming to an eVENT that is giving by the NAACP, that PERFORMER is a RACIST!!!

Yes, the FLAG IN WHICH KID ROCK use for a STAGE PROP, is a RACIST SYMBOL, the REAL CONFEDERATE FLAG has {STARS ALONG with the X} but the FLAG with a FULL X is a RACIST symbol!!!

MONEY, must be eNVOLVED for the NAACP to have KID ROCK to be a GUEST, why couldn’t NAACP INVIATE a BLACK PERFORMER, from the Past, like NEW ADDITION, TONE LOC, {SLAVE with STEVE ARRINGTON}, Bar KAYS, CAMEO, CON~Funk~Shaun, CHAKA KUN, the LIST COULD go on an ON but not KID ROCK!!!

DETROIT, stay at HOME DO NOT SUPPORT THAT, next the KLU KLUX KLAN will be on the ROUND TABLE with the NAACP!!!

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M. Rick Turner
March 7th, 2011 - 16:45

What a tragic circumstance. Money as we know is the motivating issue in this matter. We will sell our soul for the $$

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Shahid Raki
March 7th, 2011 - 18:55

If Kid Rock is like so many people, both black and white, he either doesn’t know or care what his actions and thoughts portray just as long as he gets people to buy his music and come to his concerts. There are many people who think that the Red Black and Green flag has a different conotation to it than what it stands for. Some call if the Black Freedom flag and some just don’t know that it stands for the black of the people, the blood they shed and the green for the land from which they came, Africa. That is the simplest explanation that can be given for our flag. Anyone who thinks that Kid Rock’s statement about the Confederate flag standing for Southern rock and roll needs to really do some research. The fact that it’s called Confederate tells us that it is before rock and roll music period. Rock and roll was not around in the 1860′s people. Wake up and smell the coffee, please.

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Tewdros
March 8th, 2011 - 00:15

Why in the hell would they honor kid rock any way,if your going to honor a white artist why honor someone who follows a BLACK music tradition like Mick Jagger of the rolling stones,Eric Clapton,Robert Plant, Rod Stewart ,or even Emniem this is some sick negro minded crap.I personally am a big Rolling Stones fan and can not think of anyone white who has been at the forefront for preserving BLACK music then Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones,not to mention they were also apart of the foundation created by Eric Clapton to pay money to the great BLACK artist’s who influenced them.THE HELL WITH KID ROCK & all southern redneck so called rocker’s…

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Denise Wallace
March 8th, 2011 - 08:50

I cannot believe that the NAACP has made a decision like this. WTF are they thinking? I’m so disgusted that I am officially revoking my membership in the NAACP. I am removing myself from their email list and I will never ever make another donation to the organization that supports individuals that align themselves with white supremacy. Give an arward to a Man that promotes white supremacy through his performances?? SMH Does the NAACP even care that they will lose membership over this idiotic decision? Somebody there must be on crack.

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J hall
March 8th, 2011 - 12:14

Hear, Hear!

I’m not a member of the NAACP and never have been, primarily because I do not agree with central elements of their tenets and philosophy. I wasn’t ever a member of SCLC either for largely the same reasons. I was and am a member of SNCC and CORE though.

It seems to me that the NAACP is no longer relevant to the Black community and hasn’t been really since the days of the Honorable Thurgood Marshall.

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Riki Smith
March 8th, 2011 - 18:05

ALL AWARDS ARE BOUGHT NOWADAYS! These awards aren’t earned anymore. Everybody pays for their award: BET, NAACP, Oscars, Emmy’s, etc. They are all bought. Now, with that being said, it’s no longer important what your character, charities, morals, skill – set, or anything else is nowadays because THE AWARDS ARE ALL FOR SALE! So it doesn’t mean anything anymore. The only people unaware of this are the lay people who aren’t in the industry. People like us. I know because I have a few family members who are in the industry and they told me. Doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do. You get an award if you pay for it, plain and simple.

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oren elow
March 9th, 2011 - 02:59

There are so many things, in our society, that doesn’t make sense that I’v stopped making a big thing out most of the things going on; for tomorrow it happens all over again.

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