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NAACP president calls for action at Dayton conference

‘Commit yourselves to winning that battle ...,’ he says at Dayton convention.

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By Anthony Gottschlich, Staff Writer 11:21 PM Saturday, October 24, 2009

DAYTON — The election of Barack Obama as president fulfilled one dream for black Americans, but many dreams remain, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said at the Dayton Convention Center on Saturday night, Oct. 24.

Benjamin Todd Jealous, in Dayton for the Ohio Conference NAACP’s 79th annual state convention, told about 200 audience members it was the nation’s youth that help propel Obama to the White House, but their work shouldn’t end there.

“You, young people, have come of age just in time to find yourself among the most incarcerated population on the planet and the most murdered population in the country,” said Jealous, 36, the NAACP’s youngest president in its 100-year history. “What are you going to do about it? What you do is what NAACP’ers have done for years ... commit yourselves to winning that battle before you die.”

Jealous’ remarks were part of a concluding ceremony for the state convention, a gala recognizing the group’s ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) youth enrichment program.

Besides crime and incarceration, Jealous spoke of other pressing problems facing blacks in America, such as joblessness and rising HIV incidence rates, so-called “payday” lenders and challenges in health care.

He urged the audience to lobby their representatives in Washington to push for a public option in the final version of a health care reform bill, and he reminded them that, even with a black president, they can’t afford to be complacent.

“Change isn’t what just happens on election day,” Jealous said. “Change is about what happens every day.”

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What a bunch of garbage. 99.99999% of blacks are too STUPID to do anything but sell crack, carry a weapon and cause problems wherever they go. They move into an area, and the streets are covered with broken glass. They see something someone else has, they do their best to take it. They can't even comprehend the English language. Walking around with their pants falling off is cool? Give me a F&^KING BREAK. Worst mistake our founding fathers ever made was bringing that TRASH into this country.

NoneYa
6:16 AM, 10/26/2009

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Let's look at the real issue. From now on, I hope this group will at least have enough organizational talent to provide it's security forces at future polling places with tasers and walkie talkies. Carrying sticks and baseball bats went out in 1920's Alabama. C'mon NAACP, get with the times!!!If you are going to intimidate ,threaten ands glare, do it with style!!!!!

get serious
10:50 AM, 10/25/2009

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RAP REALLY REALLY KILLS EVERYONE THAT LISTEN TO THAT JUNK COPY'S AND TAKES IN WHATS BEING SAID BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE YOUNG AND TRYING SO HARD TO COPY WHAT THE RAPPER SAYING THAT THEY DON'T NO IF YOU DO THE CRIME YOU DO THE TIME, OH HOW I WISH THAT THE LAW PICK UP ON THEIR POWER AND JUST LET THEM THAT KILLS IF THEY MUST LIVE LET THEM LIVE THE LIFE WITH ONLY THEIR KIND, ALONG BURIED UNGROUND NEVER TO BE SEEM AGAIN, AND LET THEM GROW THE OWN FOOD UNGROUND, WITH THE BUGS THAT THEY ARE R.I.P

RAP REALLY KILL'S
12:38 AM, 10/25/2009

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No more ******** a-s rapper with all that kill this and kill that type of rap, We the people don't need to hear that s--t anymore, i'd kill your moma you whole family go kill your own mom,for giving birth to person like you, then put your own self to sleep before you take some one life, PLEASE THIS GOES FOR ANY BODY THAT SIGN YOU UP AN RECORD DEAL, LOOK IN YOUR HEART SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU TO AT'S CALL GREEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.

No more Rappers
12:27 AM, 10/25/2009

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"besides crime and incarceration"? Would that be the black on black crime that is ruining generations of black youth? Where was the talk about gangster rap that demeans women? Where's the Bill Cosby type talk that tells black folk to take care of themselves, to be responsible, to learn to speak english and to quit popping caps into and at each other? I see a speech about victimization of blacks instead of take responsibility for behaviors that are ruining communities and cities.

JJ
11:40 PM, 10/24/2009

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