At their recent national convention, Benjamin Jealous charged the Tea Party Movement with having exhibited racist behavior and mistreated black members of Congress to racial epithets and threats because of what was alleged to have happened on the Capitol Grounds earlier this year.  

The NAACP is like any other organization that has achieved its original goal.   The leaders must find a way to keep the organization alive, lest they be forced to find a real job.    In order to do this it is to their advantage to keep old issues alive, even if those issues are tired and no longer broadly apply in our society.  Sadly, those they pretend to represent are treated like pawns to do the bidding of those that truly do have power over them.  

The call of "racism" is such an issue.   Where would the NAACP be without someone reminding people that we have racists in this country?  What country doesn't have racists in their midst?   I will guarantee there are racists in this country and many are right there within the NAACP.

Main Entry: rac·ism

Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\

Function: noun

Date: 1933

1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination

— rac·ist \-sist also -shist\ noun or adjective

As noted by the above dictionary definition, racism can be white on black, black on white, white on red, yellow on black, brown on black, brown on white, etc.   There is no limit to the distrust that can be generated in the minds of individuals who have been properly prepared that would cause them to harbor racist feelings toward one another.   Add an organization whose membership lives vicariously through the harm perpetrated on their ancestors and have their leaders stoke the flames of distrust by calling anyone who disagrees with an NAACP position or this president a racist and yes, the bigotry is kept alive.   The bigotry is kept alive by the very people who state without exception that they are the ones who want it eliminated.  

Add to this an unwillingness to listen or to demand proof that a racist statement was made, that someone was spat upon or that a banner depicted the POTUS in a racially insensitive manner and there are thousands willing to believe whatever they are told.   They won't demand proof from an organization they mistakenly trust.   They accept as fact that during the April Tea Party on the steps of the Capitol that signs were raised, racial epithets were hurled and a congressman was spat upon because they heard the accusation on national television.  They ignore the bounty pledged by Andrew Breitbart to pay $100,000 for evidence from any of the hundreds of cameras and microphones that were trained on those individuals as they crossed the Capitol Grounds that day.   The lack of evidence to substantiate claims is of no consequence.  They won't be dissuaded by a lack of evidence.  They will cling to their belief that it happened whether it did or not.   They will be so convinced that they will react with hatred and distrust toward anyone trying to convince them otherwise.   Those who challenge the statement of a black man are thought to be racist.   If they are black themselves they are Uncle Toms.   No, they are not necessarily either.  Most are simply trying to be objective and they want all races to treat each other fairly.  

Many black men that I have heard interviewed in the past have stated that it is impossible for a black man to be a racist because they hold no power over the white man.   But this was all prior to the election of Barack Obama and the appointment of Eric Holder as Attorney General.   Persons in the Tea Party are accused of racism yet we in the Tea Parties possess no power over the black man.   Some participants in our Tea Parties are black themselves.  It would seem that the power is in the hands of two black men right now and by that tired old definition, today only the black man can be racist.   Perhaps this is what the NAACP is trying to demonstrate.  After all, the only racism on display is demonstrated by the behavior of Benjamin Jealous and the NAACP.