Dear NAACP Family:
The Board of Directors has asked me to be the spokesperson for the Association, and I wanted to provide you with our interpretation of recent events.
Resignation/Contribution Acknowledgement:
- We support Bruce Gordon in his decision to resign as president and CEO of the NAACP.
- We thank him for his service to the NAACP.
- He possessed many of the qualities that we will continue to seek in a new leader - familiarity with the corporate world and attentiveness to our bottom line.
- We do not believe it is productive to debate the chronology or other details surrounding his resignation. Bruce Gordon chose to resign and the Board accepted.
- As we have stated, we fully support him in his decision and acknowledge his efforts during the past 19 months.
- We have only had five CEOs in 60 years – a good record for non-profit organizations. Through all these years, the Board has set policy which the CEO was obliged to follow.
- Our primary focus now, in addition to moving forward with everyday operations, is to ensure both a quality search process for our new president and CEO and the necessary due diligence which this position deserves.
Next Steps:
- We are naming a search committee to begin the process of identifying potential candidates. To ensure the integrity of the process, we will not discuss candidates until this process is complete.
- We have assured funders, coalition partners, and others who work with us that our mission remains the same and our work continues.
- The daily operations of the NAACP are unaffected. We are moving forward undeterred in our work to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic rights of all people.
Stability:
- The NAACP stands strong upon 98 years of social, political, legal, and economic victories that have enabled countless Americans to have enhanced opportunities to build better lives.
- The NAACP’s sustained and rich record of achievement demonstrates that we are larger and stronger than one individual.
- As long as our country faces the racism and prejudice that nourish inequalities and disparities, the NAACP will exist as a stable force actively working to eliminate them.
- The best way for us to respond to those who question the future of the NAACP is to rise to the immense challenge of continually fighting injustice and inequality during a time when apathy and indifference abound.
- Regular democratic election of NAACP leadership has created stability and permitted orderly change.
Future:
- The NAACP today stands strong with a dedicated membership, including dynamic young leaders with the courage to be at the forefront of social change. They are helping to build upon our legacy and shepherd us through the next century.
- We are committed to being guided by a strategic, forward-looking perspective enriched by the lessons of our past.
- As we enter into a new phase of leadership, we seek mutual accountability.
- Those who seek to hold us accountable must recognize their responsibility to participate in our work.
- It is not enough to call attention to problems; we must all be committed enough to actively working towards solutions and having faith in our collective power to effect change.
Best wishes,
Julian Bond
Chairman
NAACP National Board of Directors |