Mobile County (AL) NAACP AUGUST 17, 2014 PRESS RELEASES

Mobile Native Dr. James Averhart Says Racism Can No Longer Be A Crutch Moving Forward

Mobile Native Dr. James Averhart Jr., National President of the Montford Point Marine Association, is the keynote speaker at the Mobile County NAACP’s Annual Freedom Fund Banquet at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Bishop State Community College.

The theme is “Delivering on America’s Promise and Passing the Torch On To the Next Generation.” His speech will explore how far the African-American community has come, where it is today, and where it is going in the future.

Dr. Averhart says part of the problem in moving from the past into the future is that too many young people don’t know the history that got them to where they are today. He says that foundation is necessary for moving the community and its next generation forward.

“It’s important that we teach our kids about racism, and how their action can cause a reaction. Yes, we know racism is alive and well today, but we still have to do our part,” he says. “We are too quick to blame ‘the white man’ for all our problems, using it as a crutch.”

Dr. Averhart says that some adults have also forgotten why the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was initially created. “We can’t just be card-carrying members. We have to be in tune with our chapter, to know why the NAACP was established, why we marched, why we faced the water hoses and the German shepherds. We’ve got to make sure the blood that was shed be for nothing.”

He says moving forward is about building an agenda that actively engages the community in improving itself. That means dealing with internal violence and raising alarms about other issues that threaten its future. “We have to be about our business and an agenda that we must follow,” he says. “Sometimes we don’t use our powers as we should because we’re too worried about stepping on people’s toes.”