Before the Sherrod fiasco turned racial politics in America over in its grave, again, I was thinking: The Tea Party may have just messed with the wrong group of Black folks – reenergizing the Democratic Party’s most reliable voters in the lead-up to a crucial mid-term election. The NAACP – under the relatively new leadership of Benjamin Jealous – made headlines all week during its annual convention in Kansas City.
Pre-convention, there was certain disappointment among the ranks that the president didn’t show up, but they got Michelle Obama to come through and that’s almost better.

The First Lady of the United States thanked the 100-year-old civil rights organization, saying:

“I know that I stand here today, and I know that my husband stands where he is today, because of this organization, and because of the struggles and the sacrifices of all those who came before us.”

The NAACP and its strongest local partner, the Black church, is still the premier organizing platform that exists in this country for African Americans and other people of color.

The NAACP has its detractors inside and outside the Black community, but I saw firsthand how effective and relevant this one-two punch (NAACP + Black church) -- along with the Black press --- can be when pushed against a wall of hurricane water and stone-cold neglect. In 2005, in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina cut its way through the Gulf Coast, when FEMA was nowhere to be found, it was the NAACP and the Black church that got food, water and ice to the remote areas where our most isolated and poor people were in need.

They had resources: special offerings, vans, motivated volunteers and a network that extends all across the country.

There are numerous examples before and after Katrina that reinforce the reality of the limited but effective power of the NAACP, which is why it burns me up that the right elements in the multicultural (but still mostly white) progressive movement, and many Black people as well, don’t give credit where it is due, or arrogantly assume that somehow they could do better. Hmmmmpph. Michelle Obama knows what time it is.

That’s not to say that the NAACP is perfect and above critique. The perception that they are elitist, too tied to the Democratic Party and out of touch with the masses of the Black underclass is not lost on the observer.

But the old wooden cross of the human and civil rights' struggles in the United States positively and brilliantly propelled itself into the national discourse for a golden week. The less than stellar (but solid, if not visibly halting and nervous) performance Mr. Jealous pulled off in front of the country on Face the Nation – debating a Black Tea Party official several shades darker than the young NAACP president (ONLY in America!) – notwithstanding.

And then – brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiipppppppppprrrrrpppppppppppppp.
(The sound you just read was a giant turntable needle cutting its way across a tune called “FIRE Mrs. Sherrod.”)

HEADLINE: Conservative Blogger Exposes Racism at NAACP Convention

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERSHIP (including the White House): She said what? Fire her!

SHERROD: Listen to the whole tape!

USDA: You’re Fired!

And then – brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiipppppppppprrrrrpppppppppppppp.
(The sound you just read was a giant turntable needle cutting it’s way across a tune called “Oh, We’re Sorry Mrs. Sherrod Amore.”)

Now Sister Sherrod – whose life story reads like a heroic novel on race relations – is close to saying screw (sue?) you all – Right wing blogger losers, Obama, Jealous, NAACP, USDA, John Brown, Jesus, Joseph and Mary. She’s earned that right.

One big sad takeaway from this comedic drama hits like a ton of bricks; it’s almost too horrible to think about:

Maybe we (my generation of civil/human rights' leaders) ain’t ready to lead the rhetorical struggle against our enemies.

Maybe my generation of human/civil rights leaders ain’t qualified to lead, period.

If we can make the mistake of taking a white blogger’s word when dealing with our elders -- actually handing out consequences before all the facts were out -- maybe we should bow down to the real experts: Mrs. Sherrod and her generation.

I feel like I should apologize to her and the thousands of trailblazers that felt the full sting of total segregation for this political misstep.

Listen, the only way Kayne West could leave the MTV Awards alive, after recklessly eyeballing and putting his hands on a white girl’s (THE white girl’s) award, interrupting her and telling her she should have lost – is because Emmett Till died for his right to act an ass. That kind of context is lost on us, my generation – those that came after the fight against Jim Crow was won.

And as the Jim Crow generation fades away, we, their literal and idealogical children, seem uncomfortable with the task of continuing the battle. The civil rights leadership in this country – at the time I write this – is like a fish on a lakeshore flapping around for air, struggling to flip its way into the life-saving refuge of cool water.

Look, everyone makes mistakes. I believe the NAACP and Jealous will get it together in time to salvage their mantel – but this week should tell them they have to get it together with the quickness, or risk waiting another five to 10 years before being trusted again.