NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous encouraged union members to come off the sidelines and take their place alongside other human rights advocates and fight to take back “our America.”

“It’s time for us to come back together in this country and to recognize the great power that we have when we work together,” Jealous told delegates on the closing day of the 35th Constitutional Convention.

“You see the way that mathematics works is that if you were the majority 18 months ago, you’re still the majority now.”

NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous says we're moving toward a nation of haves and have nots. Photo by Rebecca Cook.

He began his speech reminiscing on his college years when he got his first taste of human rights activism. It was at a rally for striking UAW members at Columbia College of Columbia University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science that inspired Jealous to pick up the fight for justice.
 
“I was shown how to use a bullhorn, and I’ve never looked back," he told delgates. "I’m here today as somebody who believes deeply in the union movement -- someone who has worked in the trenches of the Civil Rights movement and who understands that truly that there is only one great movement for human rights and that belongs to all of us.”

While Jealous highlighted the energy on Capitol Hill and the legislative victories of the health care bill, the Lily Ledbetter Act and the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Act, he noted that there was more work to be done and more division to bridge in our nation.

“We must demand the rest of the change we voted for. Because if the NAACP could change the civil rights in this country just by itself, If the labor constituency could pass the Employee Free Choice Act just by itself, if the National Council of LaRaza could make sure the state of Arizona changes its motto of 'show me your papers' all by itself, if the teachers could take care of securing a quality education all by itself, I’m sure all of us would,” he said.

“But the reality is that our kids live in one nation, our kids will inherit one nation. And right now, that one nation is heading faster and faster toward two nations off haves and have nots than it has at any point in my lifetime,” Jealous added.

Delegate Vandaris Simpson, UAW Local 2250 financial secretary and Missouri Community Action Program chair, was thrilled with the energy at the convention and noted the NAACP leader’s remarks echoed themes that delegates from around the country promoted all week.

“I’ve always felt that the UAW was at the forefront of the human rights fight, and it’s something that I still feel we make a priority,” Simpson said. “We’ve seen some great changes in the workplace. We’ve seen some great changes in this country. But none of our work is done until all workers have justice – and all people have equitable rights and fair treatment.”

Gwynne Marie Cobb