The Wichita NAACP to launch a new "Black History is American History" initiative

Weekly Black History Presentations dealing with various under-reported areas of American History will be Free and open to the Public

Last Friday marked 47 years since the infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door" of then Governor George Wallace. He had pledged to fight any effort to integrate the University of Alabama, even if that meant that he'd have to stand and block the doorway. June 11th, 1963, was that day. Two young African Americans, James Hood and Vivian Malone, were set to enroll... Governor Wallace called up the State Troopers and had them provide a perimeter to keep the Black students out. President Kennedy responded by federalizing the Alabama National Guard to provide security and to escort the two young students; thus staging the only stand-off of American Forces outside of the Civil War. 

Here was the President of the United States and the Governor of a large State squaring off, each under arms with their own branch of law enforcement, wrestling over the implementation of a Supreme Court Decision. By ANY objective measure, this was a pivotal moment in our Democracy. Yet, this, and a thousand other moments that deal with our Nation's troubled history on Race are largely omitted from public school history/social studies curricula. You see, Vivian Malone and James Hood were both Black, therefore this isn't "History", this is "Black History" - relegated to a special "Black History Quiz" question in February, or a 'Saturday school', or church play...

We say NO MORE...

Beginning July 1st and running every Thursday evening through August 26th, the Wichita Branch NAACP and the Wichita NAACP Youth Council will host a series of weekly presentations on Black History. These presentations are intended to shed light on critical and pivitol moments in history and also to clearly demonstrate that "Black History" IS "American History".

Presenters will come from various fields and areas of expertise, each detailing the history, role, or siginificance of our History-makers or institutions.

Want to learn more about the Dockum Sit-In? Or maybe learn more about the history of Blacks and Education here in Kansas? Or perhaps you'd be interested in hearing more about the founding of the Divine 9 Black sororities and fraternities? Or maybe you'd like to learn more about Tulsa, or Tuskegee, or Nicodemus... Whatever your curiosity, this summer initiative is designed to educate and inspire.

So please come out and join us, beginning July 1st as we unveil our newest initiative. We welcome and encourage participants of all ages to come, learn, and dialolgue with us...

We are also accepting proposals for new presentations as well. If you have a piece of History you'd like to share, please Click HERE to contact us...

This initiative is a companion project to a full length presentation of the same name, currently being developed by the Wichita Branch NAACP Youth Council, to challenge school social studies curriculums to teach the fullness of our history in a comprehensive and chronological manner. So fasten you seatbelts... it's going to get exciting!

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The NAACP Youth Debate team continues to grow!!!

Just 3 months ago, in late July, the NAACP Youth council held it's first debate in a small conference room. Since that day, the NAACP Debate team has grown steadily with each passing week. Beginning with only 5 youth, the Debate team has now grown to 23 members ranging in age from 9 through 17.

The Debate team meets weekly at our Branch office and debates topics chosen by the youth themselves. Each week, as one debate finishes, the youth choose their topics for the following debate and they each have the next week to research and prepare. The children don't know which side of the proposition they will have to argue so they are all forced to research both the affirmative and negative positions. The sides and teams are determined on-site by coin toss.

Each week, we invite different community and civic leaders to come to the debates and serve as a guest Judge. Our Judging panel has included School Board member Betty Arnold, City Councilwoman Lavonta Williams, Jazz Musician Sterling Gray, Black Arts Festival Vice President Terry Toney, and most recently State Senator Donald Betts.

The children debate using a three-round Karl Popper format and are judged for logical consistency, delivery, the quality of their facts, their ability to effectively cross-examine, and their ability to spot and expose logical fallacies. Examples of some of our recent Debate topics include:

• Proposition: Children in USD259 should be required to wear uniforms to school
• Question: Should children under 16 be allowed to carry cell phones?
• Proposition: School Resource Officers in USD259 should be allowed to conduct random searches of students and their property to look for drugs and weapons.
• Proposition: the City of Wichita should enact an ordinance against "sagging".

The NAACP Youth Group is open to all children between the ages of 9 and 17. If you have a child who would be interested in joining the NAACP Youth Group and participating on the Debate Team, the Chess team, or the Praise Dance team; or if you would like to serve as a guest judge for one of the debates, please send us an email at youthleadership@wichitanaacp.org

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The NAACP New York State Conference to protest the acquittals in the Sean Bell case

Please join us in our Quest for Justice For Sean Bell - Prayer Vigil/Civil Disobedience

Hazel N. Dukes, President NAACP New York State Conference, Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network, Reverend W Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of. Chairman National Action Network, Rev. Herbert D. Daughtry, Pastor, House of the Lord Church, Brooklyn, NY, Cynthia Dorsey, Mothers Against Guns and other organizations will lead a "pray-in" on Wednesday, May 7th, at 3:00 p.M. to protest the acquittals of the three detectives in the Sean Bell case and to call upon the United States Department of Justice to intervene in the case. "If you are not going to lock up the guilty in this town, then I guess you'll have to lock up the innocent," says Rev. Sharpton. This action is a lead-up to an eventual citywide shut down this spring.

All are encouraged to attend the rallies and then, if you are able, to also participate in the civil disobedience. There are 5 gathering points.

• Varick and Houston Street (Led by Hazel Dukes, NAACP NYS Conference and Labor One)
• Police Plaza (led by Rev. Al Sharpton, Chairman of National Action Network)
• 125th and Third Avenue (led by W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of National Action Network)
• Third Avenue and 60th Street (Led by National Action Network senior staff)
• 34th and Park Avenue (Led by National Action Network senior staff)
• The House of the Lord Church, 415 Atlantic Ave ( Led by Rev. Herbert Daughtery, Pastor)
  

Civil Disobedience
If you are going to participate in the Civil Disobedience (going to jail) part, please make certain that none of the following conditions apply to you:

You owe any New York City or New York State taxes.
You have any outstanding parking tickets.
You have any outstanding summons.
You owe any child support (even if it is owed in another state).
You are on Parole
You are on Probation

Do:
Carry Government issued ID (passport, driver’s license, non- driver’s license)
Make sure your name and birthday is as it appears on ID.
Give your name and address as it appears on ID.
Dress for comfort
Refrain from violence
Make sure captain has your name.

Do Not:
Wear jewelry
Carry cell phone, camera, Ipods, etc.
Carry pens, pencils, nail files, mace, razor blade, box cutter, knife, etc.

Please Join Us and Pray for Justice For Sean Bell!

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