In the 1960′s, civil rights groups like the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC were prominent in the fight to all African-Americans to be treated fairly. They worked for legislation to gain the same rights as their white counterparts in the workplace, in schools, and in life.
There were lots of protests in the streets in the sixties- complete with posters, signs, chants, and subsequent arrests.
Today, especially after the police-involved death of George Floyd, there have been new grassroots groups forming; notably the national movement of ‘Black Lives Matter,’ and locally, ‘Dayton Young Black Professionals.’ Their goal, their protests, and their message appears the same. So, are they really needed?
News Center 7′s Letitia Perry spoke with state and local leaders about the differences between civil rights group back then and the groups making news now.
Churches and civil rights groups like the NAACP and the SNCC, were the leaders in demanding the basic civil rights of black people to be written into law.
Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, W.E.B Dubois and the late Congressman John Lewis helped to progress the 1964, 1965, and 1968 civil rights, voting rights and fair housing acts.
In the last 7 years, grass roots activist groups like Black Lives Matter have been at the forefront of modern protests.
Locally, the “Solution Movement” and Dayton Young Black Professionals are joining protests demanding the justice system deal with police brutality and racial injustices.
Dayton Young Black Professionals President Dej’za Demmings spoke to News Center 7′s Letitia Perry about the generational gap she felt when thinking about joining an established civil rights group.
“So I would go to a meeting, and they all went to high school with my grandmother- at a high school that’s not even here anymore,” said Demmings.
Demmings explained that new groups like hers are doing something different: meeting young people who want to join the movement.
“With different generations, you’ve got to adapt. You know- social media wasn’t there then," explained Demmings. “And they think- ‘hey, we don’t have to get on social media! So we’re gonna send a letter!’ We don’t open mail!”
Demmings' group has taken to social media to push their initiatives, like encouraging early voting and advertising free rides to the polls.
The Dayton Chapter of the NAACP is also working to embrace young people.
“We have 3 young chapters; one at Thurgood Marshall, and 2 inside NAACP,” explained NAACP State President Tom Roberts. “So if you’re young and want to be involved and engaged, we have an opportunity to be involved at the high school and college level as well.”
Roberts admits there is a place for all groups: both historic and present-day.
“We need as many people as possible to help fight the issues of institutional racism,” said Roberts. “So you can’t have enough bodies engaged. Until we eradicate, get rid of, remove- there are enough issues that we have to deal with at multiple levels.”
Black Lives Matter’s Dayton chapter founder Carlos Buford agrees.
“There’s a difference in how they operate, but at the end of the day I believe they’re trying to get to the same goal; which is more for the black community," said Buford.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture Curator Dr. Aaron Bryant says that any civil rights group’s central theme should always be community and collaboration.
“Activists who were in the same place as some of the younger activists working today but they were in that same place 50 years ago." explained Dr. Bryant. “They can share lessons learned and best practices for bringing people together.”
Local leaders agree.
“No other group in America- civil rights group- has the training like we do," said Roberts. "We train our leaders to be good civil rights leaders.”
“If there wasn’t an NAACP, if there wasn’t an Urban League, there would no way in the world be a Dayton Young Black Professionals. You know what I mean?” said Demmings. “We learn from our elders.”
“There’s a difference in how they operate, but at the end of the day I believe they’re trying to get to the same goal: which is more for the black community,” said Buford.
These groups say as long as there’s injustice, there’s a need for any and all groups to fight it.
Cox Media Group
