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Audacity of Truth
Charlotte, NC mayor being asked to apologize for true but ‘insensitive’ remarks about black youths (ADDED: CONTACT INFO FOR McCRORY)
The local chapter of the NAACP right here in my hometown is outraged over McCrory’s recent remarks criticizing black youths who participate in gang activity and commit crimes:
The NAACP wants Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory to apologize for remarks he made about African American youth after last week’s arrests during Fourth of July festivities in uptown.
Ken White, president of the Charlotte Branch of the NAACP, on Wednesday called the mayor’s comments “insensitive” and said he’s concerned they painted “African American youth with a broad swath that cuts deep in many of our communities.”
McCrory’s comments came July 5 in a letter to the city manager congratulating police on their efforts the night before, when 169 people were arrested in uptown. McCrory also wrote that “too many of our youth, primarily African American, are imitating and/or participating in a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action.”
Later Wednesday, McCrory said he won’t apologize.
Why not?“Because my comments were accurate. Period.”
White asked for the apology at a news conference, where he was joined by Michael Lawson, president of the N.C. Democratic Party’s African American caucus, and Joyce Waddell, who serves on the boards of the local NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women.
“Everyone is aware that black people have been saddled with many negative stereotypes…,” White said. “Mr. McCrory’s comments reinforce that stereotype… especially to those inclined to hold on to racist thinking and behavior.
“His comments, quite possibly unintentional, characterized all young black people as troublemakers and gang members.”
He also said he is concerned that black parents and families in Charlotte feel they “have been slapped in the face by an insensitive comment made by our mayor.”
[...]
“My role as mayor is to communicate what I consider to be concerns and in doing so you have to step on some toes,” he said. “What you say can’t always make people feel good…. We can’t run away from the situation and shoot the messenger.”
After disturbances marred July Fourth celebrations the previous two years, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police assigned more than 300 extra officers to patrol streets in or near uptown during this year’s festivities.
Officers stood on street corners, rode bicycles and watched over the crowd from a raised platform.
They made six times more arrests than in each of the previous two years, but no large disturbances were reported.
The uptown crowd was primarily African American, as were most of those arrested: Of 143 adults arrested, 122 were black. Police later noted that those arrested comprised fewer than 1 percent of the uptown revelers.
[...]
On Wednesday, he cited statistics showing more than 60 percent of Charlotte’s gang members are African American. And, he said, the victims of gang violence also tend to be black.
“One thing we agree on is that it is a horrible stereotype,” McCrory said, “but it’s being perpetuated by those who continue to dress like, behave like and act like gang members. It’s not productive to our community, our neighborhoods, our schools, or to those individuals who are doing it.”
I’m not a Pat McCrory fan, because he’s primarly a RINO and he also played a big role in bringing a new arena to town that was financed largely by public funds, in spite of the fact that voters had voted against public funding for a new arena. But I am more proud of him today than I ever have been for not apologizing for speaking the truth, and for not bowing down to the winds of political correctness.
And isn’t it just typical that the black ‘leaders’ who have spoken out against Pat’s comments didn’t address the substance of what he said – which was true? They don’t even challenge it. Probably because they can’t?
Rather than screaming about ‘insensitivities’, their time and energies would be better spent focusing more on why gang activity/violence among black youths is on the rise in Charlotte, and what needs to be done about it. If the NAACP spent as much time zeroing in on the problems that plague black youths not just in this city, but nationwide, as they did whining about ‘hurt feelings,’ think of the progress they could make. Instead, a disproportionate number of black youths and familes continue to wallow in a sea of poverty, crime, violence, and hopelessness because the NAACP would rather their feelings not be hurt by speaking the truth – which in essence shows how much they aid in keeping that cycle of violence alive and well.
Update: I should have added this to my post to begin with. If you’d like to show your support for Mayor McCrory and encourage him not to back down, here’s how to do so:
Phone: 704-336-2241
E-Mail: mayor@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Mail: Office of the Mayor
600 E. Fourth St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
Personal Website: You may visit Mayor McCrory at his personal website: patmccrory.com
Jeff Taylor at The Meck Deck blog calls McCrory’s comments his “Sister Soulja moment” 
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Pat McCrory for president
The truth hurts…sometimes….kinda’….almost…
The NC NAACP is not the most credible organization after their behavior in the Duke Lacrosse Rape Hoax.
Since murder is the number 1 killer of African American young men, you would think this guy would have more to worry about than the mayor decrying the fact that…..murder is the number 1 killer of African American young men!
THANK YOU PAT MCCRORY. FINALLY someobody has the guts to stand up for what’s right. Please keep speaking out against thugs and do not back down!
And that IS the definition of *IS*!
Good job Mr. Mayor but communicating where the problem is, is not what they demand you do. Na how they gonna have any progress wit da mooovmunt if he keep talking bout those dumbasses who bought the bling thing and traded their marbles for a Glock? Bueller? Shawpton?
I’ve not seen anyone from the NAACP say it wasn’t true… just that they didn’t like it being said. Well, I hate to tell these folks, but the thugs they are worrying about offending probably don’t care much anyway, so this really isn’t a problem.
What I think they are most upset about is that a white mayor said it and showed up the NAACP in NC for what it is NOT. It is NOT an organization that actually speaks about problems so they can be fixed. It is NOT an organization that promotes personal responsibility. It is NOT an organization that helps people lift themselves up, but one that seeks passes for bad behavior and avoidance of responsibility.
If there are any families in Charlotte that feel the “slap” that NAACP calls it, then it is probably well-deserved. Being black doesn’t make you a good parent any more than being white or Asian does. It’s in the character and your kid has none, then do something about it other than whine that someone noticed.
What the NAACP has become is a racist left-wing mouthpiece for the Democratic Party and has one ultimate purpose – to keep black people in line and voting Democratic. As I see it, the NAACP has become the new Master, speaking as though it has THE voice for all black folks and telling them scary stories of white people and Republicans and holding the Democratic party out as the only party “if you are really black”.
What could be more empowering to black youth that taking credit for when things are done right and responsibility for when they are done wrong? Pride has nothing to do with your gene pool. It is only legitimately felt when you have accomplished something or stood your ground on moral principles when it would have been easier to let it slide.
But neither am I going to slap Mayor Mc on the back for a single statement of the truth unless he plans to carry it forward. One north shot off the bow is a 30-second soundbite meant to tell his conservative constituents, “remember me, I am tough on crime”, but it accomplishes nothing more than for political purposes.
What will impress me is if he takes this message forward instead of running to his corner, and try to engage black leaders to deliver this message of responsibility.
Good attitudes lead to good actions lead to accomplishments lead to justifiable personal pride. It is never achieved simply because you breathe. This isn’t hard and it isn’t rocket science – but it doesn’t feed the political machine.
Speaking of the NAACP…
Remember that kind of person in school. You know… those that ran around causing devisiveness, telling others, “Hey, you know what Susie said about you”, whether Susie said it or not. And if Susie said anything, it got all twisted around and perverted because by itself, it was nothing. These people got caught up in the joy of creating a problem where there was none, and the purpose of their existance was to generate strife. Add to that the characteristic of some that then rode in to save the day and call themselves a peacemaker. Yup! that’s the NAACP.
One question for the NAACP – you want an apology from the mayor for telling the truth. His comment was general in nature with no particular person in mind. Where’s your apology for spreading the lie about the Duke players and being willing to see specific innocent boys burn and lives ruined because they were rich and white? I haven’t heard piddly on the subject from you since your precious Democratic DA that wanted to impress you soo much dropped the charges and was disbarred and resigned in disgrace.
There goes what little moral high ground remained in your organization.
Papadoc: I thought that was P-diddly.
Instead of demanding an apology, they need to be working with the mayor to combat the problems of that city. There is a reality that he pointed out and they didn’t like it. Do something about it!! Do blame him, we need to blame ourselves and start to do better.
Reminds me of the tactics used to destroy Joe McCarthy. Never address the substance of the statement, but attack the speaker. Very typical Lefty shenanigans.
Please listen to my interview with the mayor about this very topic by clicking the link below:
LINK