Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher

Beyond the n-word

MOne of the highlights of the recent NAACP convention was the mock funeral for the n-word. That was a good thing to do, but it is unfortunate that concern about the n-word and other inappropriate language was precipitated by the Don Imus uproar.

Imus provided an enormous service to African Americans by making people aware of the extent to which blacks have been gratuitously insulted. And what was even worse, blacks became fully aware of the extent to which they disrespected themselves by tolerating such verbal abuse within their own community.

Until the Imus episode, black leaders followed the conventional pattern of keeping their sights squarely focused on erring whites. Black comedians, rap stars and entertainers who liberally used the n-word or misogynistic insults were lionized as long as they were able to gain general public attention. Black leaders were largely silent on the use of inappropriate language.

Now the venerable NAACP understands that words matter. A little post-funerary thought might cause the leadership to realize that the NAACP needs a new agenda, a new mission, if it is to remain relevant. It would be a novel approach to leave the vestiges of racial discrimination to be pursued by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, while the NAACP focuses on how to inspire blacks to assume responsibility for themselves, their families and their communities.

There is an unfortunate belief among many African Americans that if they are to be saved from present unfortunate circumstances, they must be rescued. The concept of self-help has not taken hold.

Blacks from Africa and the Caribbean, on the other hand, come to the United States with a great motivation to succeed by their own effort, and they often do.

The NAACP could help African Americans realize that racial, religious and class discrimination are human traits that can only be restrained, but not eliminated. Even so, with a sound strategy, African Americans can still overcome.

Blind-sided

Major media seem to delight in unfairly criticizing African American efforts to move ahead. A prime example of this is a recent attack on OneUnited Bank by an esteemed Boston Globe columnist.

Steve Bailey’s July 11 column mocks the mission of OneUnited Bank as stated by its chairman, Kevin Cohee: “You talk about the turnaround of a company. We’re trying to turn around a whole race.”

Bailey’s complaint is that the bank filed a foreclosure notice against the Roxbury Veterans Housing Limited Partnership. According to Bailey’s logic, that is something OneUnited would not do if it were sincerely committed to the community.

Banks that make loans without the expectation of repayment do not survive for long. The loan in question has been in default for three years. In addition to failing to make any repayments, the principals have also failed to file annual financial statements as required. No matter how meritorious the objectives of the debtor organization, there is still an obligation to comply with financial commitments.

There can be no doubt that the mission of OneUnited Bank is to serve the financial needs of African Americans. OneUnited was organized by rescuing failing black banks in Boston, Miami and Los Angeles. Its core customer base is low- to moderate-income communities. More than 50 percent of the bank’s loans are in low- to moderate-income census tracts. As a community development financial institution, OneUnited has received the highest Bank Enterprise Award from the U.S. Department of Treasury for each of the last three years.

In Boston, OneUnited Bank has played a major role in developing the Grove Hall area. It held and maintained the land for the Mecca Mall, it financed the renovation of both the Silva Building and the strip mall opposite Blue Hill Avenue, it financed the Nation of Islam Mosque, and it is also financing the community service center for the Charles Street A.M.E. Church.

OneUnited has carved out an area of business that some consider risky. The financial risk is one reason that large banks once red-lined this market. Bailey apparently wants to increase the risk by expecting OneUnited to hand out funds to nonprofit organizations with no questions asked.

“Now that that’s gone, we
need to bury violence and
drugs in the community.”