NAACP asks blacks to avoid Target, others
Gordon says companies ignoring community
ERIN TEXEIRA -Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Even companies that make an effort to work with minority-owned businesses typically spend barely 5 percent of their contracting dollars with them, the NAACP president said Monday.
Blacks shouldn't spend money with companies that don't hire them or advertise in their communities, NAACP President Bruce Gordon said. Gordon's comments were part of his keynote convention speech at the 97th annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The NAACP has graded corporations since 1997 on how well they work with blacks in employment, charitable giving, advertising, contracting and community service. This year, the civil rights group looked at the telecommunications, lodging, finance, retail and auto industries.
Telecommunications companies scored best with an overall B-minus grade.
Wachovia Corp. and SunTrust Banks were the highest-ranked banks with a 3.17 score.
Wachovia got a perfect score on community relations. The company pays all employees to donate four hours a month to local charities, and employees volunteered for 650,000 hours in 2005, said Dewey Norwood Jr., an assistant vice president.
Of the 50 companies contacted by the NAACP, five did not respond. Retailers Dillard's Inc.; Kohl's Corp.; Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Target Corp. were given Fs for not answering. The other company that failed to answer was Excel, a telecommunications company; it also received an F.
Gordon called on blacks to stop shopping at Target, in particular, until they answer the NAACP's questions.
A Target spokeswoman said via e-mail that the company opted out of the survey "because Target views diversity as being inclusive of all people from all different backgrounds." The NAACP survey asks only about blacks. She added that minorities make up 40 percent of Target employees and 23 percent of all officials and managers.
SUPPORT PASSAGE OF ANTI-GANG LEGISLATION
to highlight their growing concern about the negative impact of street gangs in
The group will unveil a resolution appealing to legislators to pass statewide legislation to help fight
gangs. Mayors attending include the mayors of
and
Coalition has endorsed House Bill 274 and Senate Bill 1358, the Street Gang Prevention Act,
currently being considered in the General Assembly. The mayors strongly support action in the
legislature this session.
The NC Metropolitan Coalition was established in 2001 and is comprised of 23 of the largest cities in
assigned to work on gangs full time. The city council in its last budget did not allot additional
funds for a police gang unit but did approve more police officers for downtown. This unit would
have an opportunity to try and be proactive in our city in dealing with this serious threat to
citizens and communities.
Gangs have become more of a serious threat in many cities and
more proactive approach to helping our youth and try to hold the line on this kind of activity in our
city. Police and legislation to put offenders in jail can not be the only solution to this problem.
We need to work with individuals, communities, churches and organizations that want to work
with our young people who are being recruited or are engaged in this type of behavior.
The city of
such a the program
For more information you can go here or Contact Program Director Keith Vermillion 912-651-4350
This program was brought to the attention of the Mayor and city manager 2 years ago by me.
We do have some initiatives that are in
Hope Project by
Community in Winston Salem with Dr. N. Lewis targeted at helping our youth, all of whom are
at risk.
There should also be a youth advisory panel that has the attention of elected officials to help us
understand what the needs are of this population. There are many youth groups from middle
school to college age out there that could give some valuable input on concerns like this so that
we can address this since it has the greatest direct impact on their quality of life. Youth and
young adults need to get their voices heard more clearly and help move their agenda needs along
with the help of government, organizations and individuals. There is a Hip Hop Conference
scheduled for Greensboro on September 8th at NC A&T State University. This conference is
focused on the concerns and needs of this generation in a proactive way. This years conference
will deal with financial responsibility and empowerment. If we plan to make a difference with our
youth we must talk with them, support them and show them.
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