Black Owned Beach Town Looks To Protect Itself From NAACP

Sun News ^ | 2/13/02 | Erin Reed

[shuckmaster]

The NAACP says the economic border patrols are still on, but officials in Atlantic Beach, a predominantly black town north of Myrtle Beach, say they can't support the patrols, at least for one weekend this year.

Atlantic Beach, one of the few remaining historically black-owned beaches in the United States, can't go along with the border patrols because the patrols threaten its financial stability, town officials say.

"The NAACP is going to do what it has to do, and Atlantic Beach is going to do what it has to do," Mayor Irene Armstrong said. "Atlantic Beach will never sit at the table to negotiate our livelihood and our existence here. That's not negotiable. My interest is that of Atlantic Beach."

The Confederate flag's continued presence on Statehouse grounds in Columbia has triggered economic sanctions by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and more recently the threat of "border patrols," in which NAACP members pledge to stand at S.C. rest stops this spring and summer discouraging tourists from spending money in the state.

This poses problems for Atlantic Beach's 22nd annual Memorial Day Bike Festival, which is one of the town's main sources of revenue. But NAACP officials say Atlantic Beach is no exception to the economic boycott.

"We can't make any exception if we're going to be fair," said the Rev. H.H. Singleton, the one S.C. member of the NAACP's national board. "It is an economic sanction against South Carolina. That includes all people, including the NAACP members themselves."

Councilwoman Gloria Lance said she agrees with the mayor that Atlantic Beach must look out for itself.

Town leaders say the small town of about 400 residents supports the removal of the flag, but can't afford all the consequences of the planned border patrols.

"I feel that people are going to come no matter what," Lance said. "It's left up to a person's choice."

Ed Wilson, a Red Bluff community activist and NAACP member, said Atlantic Beach has to look at the bigger picture and shouldn't consider itself an exception to the boycott.

"Everybody has to suffer for things to come right," he said. "White, black, Mexican, everyone has to suffer."

Singleton said the board has not decided the exact date for the patrols to begin.

Wilson, who plans to participate in the patrols, said he'll tell the bikers to go farther south.

"I'd tell them to go on to Florida," he said.

Armstrong said there are other ways the flag dispute could have been resolved among state lawmakers and the NAACP rather than using a tactic that threatens a town constantly struggling with money problems.

"It's always about coming to the table," she said.

[mrswasp69]

We like to think it is a selling point. As a matter of fact, tourism is doing well.

[mrswasp69]

It's funny you should say that. The "normal" black folk, good, hardworking folk, are not the ones we are having problems with. The educated, professional people seem to be reasonable. It's the sheeple who cause the hate and discontent. I was in period clothing when I stopped at the grocery yesterday on my way home. An older black lady, 50-65 yrs. old asked me about my dress and said she loved to see the old period dress because it makes her feel like she can almost see what her ancestors saw. We talked for a few minutes. She was sincere. Those are not the kind of people who are causing the problems, it's just a shame there are not more of the good people out there.

[Colt .45]

"Everybody has to suffer for things to come right," he said. "White, black, Mexican, everyone has to suffer."

I hope that he is ready to suffer the wrath of thousands of pissed off people.