Pattern of abuse claims at NAACP kept quiet

Baltimore Sun ^ | 5/8/05 | Kelly Brewington, Ivan Penn and Greg Barrett

[mathprof]

The same day in May 1999 that Kweisi Mfume abruptly announced that he would not be a candidate for mayor, an internal investigative memo was sent to top officers of the NAACP describing allegations of Mfume's mistreatment of female subordinates at the organization's Baltimore headquarters.

For the next five years, the civil rights organization - still recovering from the 1994 sex scandal under former Executive Director Benjamin F. Chavis - kept that memo secret and did nothing more, even as Mfume refused to answer any questions from the board's lawyers about the allegations.

But in an internal report last year, more serious accusations were made against the former Baltimore congressman, alleging that sexual harassment and favoritism festered for years within the national office of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Within months of the completion of this 2004 investigation into his leadership, Mfume resigned as president - but, sources say, not before every board member had signed a confidentiality pledge.

The two written reports, as well as interviews with people both inside and outside the NAACP, provide a detailed look at an organization struggling to remain the pre-eminent voice on civil rights while trying to avoid another public embarrassment within its top leadership.

[snip]

Meyers, a critic of the NAACP, said it is also past time for Mfume to publicly respond to the allegations, in particular because he is running for Senate.

"He's got to answer the questions. This is the worst example of a person who has no shame," he said. "He must withdraw from that race."

Mfume recently pledged to an enthusiastic crowd at a Democratic rally in Prince George's County that his campaign will not quit.

[Dan from Michigan]

NAAcommunistP

[Pan_Yan]

Things like this always seem to come up in groups that transition from being about 'the cause' to being about 'the organization.'

The NAACP is definitely now all about 'the organization.'

[A.A. Cunningham]

Once a pimp always a pimp Frizzell Gray

[MisterRepublican]

Kweisi is only following the damage control methods outlined in the chapter of the DNC play book regarding sexual harassment allegations.

Rule #1 Categorically deny all charges. Blame out of control media, right wing conspiracy and (if you are a "minority") racism.

Rule #2 If allegations persist, continue denial, initiate "Wife and Family" procedures to promote image as devoted husband, father. Appear often entering and leaving church. "Big Giant Bible" is a nice touch here.

Rule #3 If allegations should lead to lawsuits and court proceedings, hire high profile lawyer and initiate "Politics of Personal Destruction" procedures outlined in Appendix C.

Rule #4 Repeat Rules #1 thru #3 if necessary. Declare "Exoneration" and institute "Getting Back To The People's Business" procedures outlined in Appendix C.

Rule #5 If all attempts to evade, deny and obfuscate fail, launch "Insincere Apology and "I'm Also A Victim" media operations. "Biting Of Lower Lip" and "Crocodile Tears" are sometimes effective, but must be done in a controlled environment.

Rule #6 Ignore any attempts to hold you accountable (You're a Democrat, damnit!). Continue career as if nothing ever happened, seek greater positions of "leadership" and enjoy your view from the top.

[MississippyMuddy]

NAACP = National Association to Aggravate Caucasion People.

Jeff :P

[paul_fromatlanta]

It is strange that an organization dedicated to what they consider racial justice doesn't seem to get gender equality but it's not a new problem. I remember an All in the Family episode that made that point 30 years ago.

But seriously folks, they aren't communists at the NAACP - I was in one their mentoring programs where we intervened with male teens right after their a first arrest to try to stop it from becoming a pattern....

I was the only white face in the room on that board but they were all businessmen and capitalists... they just have a misguided idea of how helpful government intervention can be - but they came by that opinion honestly - the fact that black man can vote in the south and go to the school of his choice is due to government intervention.

[Tacis]

Good list but you left out the "Let's all band together because whitey is still out to get us" entry.

[mwp99]

"There are inaccuracies, in my opinion," Mfume said in a phone call to The Sun. "It's clear these are unsubstantiated, unproven allegations from one employee to the board."

-----

Mfume, who denies having seen the report but is quoted in it, said he doesn't think it was thoroughly researched.

"The attorney was asked to give a worst-case scenario," Mfume told The Sun.

=====

Mfume hasn't seen it, but knows there are inaccuracies in it?

[MississippyMuddy]

How dare you make rational observations lol.

Jeff

[sgtbono2002]

Why would anyone who has 5 illigitimate kids by 5 different women ever be suspected of not being able to keep his crank in his pants?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Another in a long line of 'distinguished' NAACP leadership!

[thombo]

I assume Kweisi is hoping to ride this out until he gets in office?Why no media outrage?

[traviskicks]

In other words: lie, deny, counter accuse? :)

[lilylangtree]

NAACP lost its credibility years ago due to degenerate leadership. Its motto: "All the honkeys are keepin' us down; blame the honkeys."

[Sonny M]

Rule #1 Categorically deny all charges. Blame out of control media, right wing conspiracy and (if you are a "minority") racism.

He can try to blame the right wing in public or racism, but in private, unless he's a total idiot and brain dead he's got to know something is up.

The NAACP is as far left wing as possible and is totally controlled by the democratic party. The people in it are democrats. The people leaking this stuff are democrats.

There is not a single republican involved in any way, shape or form anywhere. Everyone is a democrat in this.

At some point, he must have noticed that.

[Sonny M]

I assume Kweisi is hoping to ride this out until he gets in office?Why no media outrage?

Democrats are leaking, accusing and going after.....another democrat.

Kweisi can't be so stupid not to see whats going on.

The NAACP is a total tool of the democratic party, and everyone, involved in this is a democrat.

Whats the media going to do, obviousley you have democrats trying to sabotage another democrat, and using other democrats (the media) to do it.

[thombo]

"Kweisi can't be so stupid not to see what's going on."It could be a combination of stupidity and arrogance.Have you ever noticed polititians tend to deny any wrong doing all the way to the bitter end?I think he may have just pushed his luck too far.He's a liability now.