By Hugh Fisher
hfisher@salisburypost.com
Thirty years ago, a group of local citizens re-formed the Rowan-Salisbury branch of the NAACP.
Today, with more racial diversity in our area and a black president in the White House, some have suggested the civil rights organization no longer has a purpose.
Not so, said the Rev. Dr. William Barber II, president of the group’s North Carolina conference, at last night’s Harvest Banquet.
“The NAACP is not a black organization,” Barber said. “It is a justice organization.”
This year saw the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Formed by a coalition of white and black leaders to promote racial equity, the group has fought against segregation, racial violence and educational inequality.
“In a time that was ugly, in a time when a white person who associated with black people could be killed as well ó in the midst of this, they decided to stand,” Barber said.
Dr. Bryant Norman Jr., president of the Rowan-Salisbury branch, said he’s proud of what the local chapter has done over the years.
“We’ve fought to get district representation on the school board,” he said.
“We worked with Rowan Regional Medical to bring minority physicians to the area.”
But, Norman said, much work remains.
“So many things we’re fighting are still present in society,” he said.
Poverty, lack of quality education and black-on-black violence were among issues raised by speakers at Friday night’s 15th annual Harvest Banquet.
As for race relations between white and black residents of Rowan County, Norman is optimistic. “I don’t think we’ve diversified enough, but the climate has certainly improved,” he said.
Retired Bishop Joseph Johnson, formerly of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, and wife Dr. Dorothy Johnson ó both charter members of the re-formed Rowan-Salisbury branch ó traveled from Fort Mill, S.C., to celebrate.
“I’m really proud that the branch has continued to flourish,” Bishop Johnson said.
“I’m proud to see that they’re still moving forward, gathering people to register and vote, to create more harmony between the races in the city of Salisbury and the county of Rowan.”
Dorothy recalls a childhood in Wilson County when her father, the late Mark B. Sharpe, traveled to NAACP meetings.
“It was in my bones,” she said.
She said her father was instrumental in the court battle to open black high schools in Wilson County where there had been none.
Sharpe died in April at age 98. But Dorothy said his legacy, and that of other civil rights pioneers, lives on.
Several of those men spoke again in the voice of Michael Connor, professor of theater arts at Livingstone College.
During the dinner hour, Connor read famous speeches of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In his keynote address, Barber praised the Rowan-Salisbury branch for its accomplishments.
He also spoke of present-day issues such as health care reform and the continuing need for acceptance of black leadership.
“You could look at President Obama’s election and say that’s it, the NAACP can go out of business,” Barber said.
He said today’s black Americans should look at political issues with history in mind, observing that Franklin D. Roosevelt was branded a “Socialist” for his campaign for social security.
“The cousins of our forces of greed and division fought him,” Barber said.
Now, he said, the time has come to fight back and continue the struggle for reform, in line with the evening’s theme: “Bold Dreams ó Big Victories!”
Several local leaders attended the banquet.
N.C. Rep. Lorene Coates (D, 77) was present, along with Salisbury Mayor Pro Tem Paul Woodson and City Council members William “Pete” Kennedy and Bill Burgin.