Will a Cincinnati chapter of NAN work? And ,Rev. Sharpton coming to town

Will a National Action Network chapter work in Cincinnati. Rev. Sharpton is coming to town.
The answer is yes, with a resounding maybe.
Usually when an organization, law, or fill in the blanks is formed  it's because there is a void, more reaction than action. It's forty founders state that it is not
meant to be in competition with the local chapter of the Cincinnati NAACP.  Instead it was formed to fill a needed void. 
We all can agree that there can never be enough organizations or people willing to volunteer and make a difference in what seems like war ravaged communities.
For years and countless hours which would total into the hundreds of thousands NAACP members have been volunteering at everything from school mentoring which
includes South Avondale and now Rolling Hills school, to fighting injustice in criminal justice system (although not so much lately), to partnering with crime stoppers
mainly because mothers with dead black sons have sought our help.  While we haven't taken on every case and because some of the dead sons were not choir boys, their
mothers have come to the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP for  help. We have provided help to them by  partnering with crimestoppers to help solve their dead sons
homicide. Unfortunately when young black men make bad choices in our communities they go to one of two places - the morgue or prison.
Early on under President Christopher Smitherman's leadership the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP tackled cases of injustice. The chapter did not support or condone
crime, but we handled cases of double standard injustice.  We also supported African American contractors getting work, loans for small businesses and political seats.
In years past we would have never stood for the attacks on competent and heroic black women such as Janaya Trotter, Tracie Hunter or Liz Rogers. But lately the
Cincinnati President of the NAACP has partnered with extreme Tea Party elements and our chapter no longer focuses on civil rights issues.
Executive committee and general members that are strong community leaders like are determined to keep the local chapter of the Cincinnati NAACP focused on civil rights issues as evident by Robert Richardson,Jr. introducing and successfully
passing a motion by an overwhelming majority of members in attendance,  to stop Governor Kasich from privatizing prisons. Privatizing of prisons is a most crucial issue for our communities.
While Cincinnati NAACP members work hard to keep the chapter focused and on track NAN members and chapter founder Bishop Bobby Hilton are looking forward to
a visit and swearing in by National Action Network founder Rev. Al Sharpton. 
There will be much excitement but little to no mainstream media coverage on Rev Al's appearance at NAN'S swearing in.  This is due in part to a city and Hamilton
County that wreaks of racism.  The "R" word is not popular with  politicians, black elite, Tea partiers and some others cringe at the mention of  the word.
To answer the question, will a NAN chapter work in Cincinnati?  It can and we certainly hope that it succeeds. NAN cannor  and should not try to compete with the oldest Civil Rights organization in the country.


The NAN chapter has much work to do. The least of them will want the most from you. They will bring you their crisis, but rarely will their sleeves be rolled up,
you'll be criticized for the VOLUNTEER work that you perform, people will analyze and criticize your back door deals, Mahogany meals and if you are above board.
Critics  will declare that Rev. Al is too controversial - a liberal on MSNBC and not progressive or accessible enough to the people.  Some, not many will join and it's going to be hard
getting them to work and commit.  You'll be called an activist like it's a dirty word, when all it means to be an activist is to shine a light on a problem and work
for a solution.
Rev. Sharpton is one of the best civil rights leaders in the country.  Our hero at this blog.

Bishop Hilton, NAN president and others we  wish you well although others have stated that secrecy,envy and jealousy can't work - whatever that means.

In Blessing and Truth
CAJD    (being typed on notepad, with no editing.