Published: May 02, 2009 11:00 pm      

NAACP celebration

NAACP chapter celebrates anniversary with jazz concert

The Raleigh County NAACP chapter had a 100th anniversary celebration at Mountain State University’s John W. Eye Conference Center Saturday evening.

“The organization was started because of a necessity, and we’re maintaining it as a necessity,” NAACP president Clifford Washington said.

“We’re still like the watchdogs of the community. We bark when things aren’t looking right. We have to look out for those who are unable to look out for themselves.”

Washington said there were many lynchings in the South when the NAACP was established and the organization has been fighting for the freedom and justice of minorities and women ever since.

“We need to reflect that we’re still important,” he said.

In 2008, more than 95,000 job bias complaints were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Locally, the NAACP continues to receive job bias complaints from minorities.

The Raleigh County NAACP says it responds to every complaint it receives and will work to help anyone who has a legitimate grievance.

“We’re interested in education,” Washington said. “We’re trying to work toward narrowing the achievement gap between minorities and others. We try to help recruit, hire, retain and promote minorities.”

It’s important that minorities secure jobs where they don’t have any presence, Washington said.

“For instance, the fire department. I don’t think there’s any African-Americans who work for the fire department in Beckley. We’re always looking at our police department. Places that serve that broad community, but don’t have the representation of all people. We’re constantly looking at that.”

The Raleigh County NAACP says it was fortunate to have the Bob Thompson Unit, a world-renowned jazz band from Charleston, to play at the event.

The band travels around the East Coast and has played in Europe, South America, Brazil and Swit-zerland.

“This is such a great event,” Thompson said.

“I’ve been familiar with it and involved with it since I was kid.”

Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, Thompson saw a lot of the “legal arm” of the civil rights movement.

“A lot of doors we’re opened for a lot of people because of the work that was done.”

The renowned pianist was present at the first march on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.

“At the time, I didn’t realize what a historic event it was going to be,” he said.

The Bob Thompson Unit produces a Christmas show, “Joy to the World,” which goes out to 100 stations internationally annually.

This year will be its 17th annual show.

Thompson has appear-ed on BET and Mountain Stage and has released several critically acclaim-ed recordings.

For those who were unable to attend the concert, music from the band can be purchased at Tamarack and Amazon.com.

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The national NAACP was constituted Feb. 12, 1909.

Branches throughout the country will continue having 100th anniversary celebrations throughout 2009.

The event was made possible through the Beckley Area Foundation, RESA I, United Bank, Mountain State University, Raleigh General Hospital, BB&T, City National Bank, Beckley Loan Co., Phillips Machinery and others.

The Raleigh County chapter of the NAACP has about 200 members.

To join the local chapter, contact Diane Copney, vice president and membership chairperson, at 304-253-5891.

— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com