beautiful life

my email to the naacp

 abuse

I'm posting this because I want productive feedback and a civil (by golo standards) discussion on the topics I mentioned.  I would like to find out what you all think are viable solutions to this bussing issue...

I will delete nasty or childish comments.

Dear Ms. Turner, 

I am a citizen of Wake County, a graduate of Wake County public schools and mother to a child that will enter Wake County public schools next year.  I called your office in Durham this morning to get additional information on your organizations proposal for a better solution to diversity in Wake's schools.  I was greeted by a young lady that wanted to know, "And...who are you?" I explained to her that I am a citizen, I've already been to your web site and there's little more there than press releases and sound bites.  She had no idea where I might be able to find a more comprehensive explanation of your organizations ideas for maintaining diversity.  Obviously I feel like she was flippant and dismissive but that is not why I am writing.  I'm writing because I still want my questions answered. 

Let me tell you a little about myself.  I come from an upper middle class family and I graduated from a Wake County public school.  My family lived in the same home for 9 out of my 12 years of schooling, yet I changed schools all of those years except high school.  The county kept redrawing lines to satisfy so-called diversity and even though in most cases there was a school within 3 miles of me, I would get up at 5:30 every morning to catch a bus by 6:30 and ride by the closer school to a more "diverse" school.  I am a black female so trust me, I see the value in being around people from different backgrounds but be bussed halfway across Raleigh didn't seem logical to me as a child and as an adult, it doesn't seem logical to me now. 

Please help me understand.  Explain to me how bussing children is more beneficial than bringing neighborhood schools to equal standards and working in communities WITH parents to increase the amount of parental involvement in households.  I don't understand.  Explain to me how in such a tight economy, the school board is supposed to pay for a lengthy legal battle with your organization.  Who will benefit from that money down the toilet? 

I was taught growing up to respect the NAACP as an organization that produced change from the inside out, an organization that gave a voice to those that were stepped on and screamed over, an organization that would get into the trenches of communities and do whatever necessary to help.  I'm saddened because with regards to this situation, I feel that the NAACP is behaving like a group of spoiled republicans: sore losers, the party of no.  What happened to, "I disagree with your idea but here is a viable alternative to what was done in the past AND what you're suggesting right now."? 

That is the question that I pose to you. Since the NAACP is against "neighborhood" schools, what is your viable alternative?  I mean an actual plan that will maintain diversity, create well educated and productive children and also be cost effective. 

In addition, what types of work does the NAACP do in poor and high crime neighborhoods to help resolve these issues? 

Please don't feel like I'm being critical of you or your organization because that is not my intention.  I just want to know how to help you all help us.   

Thanks in advance for what I'm sure will be a timely and comprehensive response,

Concerned Citizen in Wake  

I will post the reply when (if) I get one.

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