Welcome to 2010! Climb aboard – it’s gonna be an interesting ride.
If you’re like most people, and especially if you’re an African American person, the NAACP is just one of those things you maybe don’t really think about, like trees. They’re nice. They’re shady. They just… are. You didn’t plant them, and you don’t chop them down. They do their thing, and you do yours.
And, most Februaries, people pay a little more attention, during Black History Month, and give a bit of a nod to this grass-roots organization, which came together in 1909, and decided that they would be responsible for encouraging and exhorting and protecting African American people. Interestingly, the first group meeting was in response to lynchings and a race riot in 1908… and included many Caucasian people.
Didn’t know that, didja?
Well, I didn’t, anyway. Remember that tree thing? Yeah. Trees. Just doing their thing while I did mine. The NAACP, I thought, was always this great organization that fought for the rights of all people to be considered free, be able to vote, and be equally protected under the law — Amendment guaranteed rights for all Americans — and they made statements in the press, and had lots of dinners that got shown on TV or something, and …that was about all I knew.
Finding out that I’ve been nominated for a NAACP Image Award was beyond startling. I got a note from Carol Rasco, the CEO of Reading Is Fundamental, congratulating me… and I just sat there and said, “Huh???!” and went and checked the website.
Whoa.
You know who else is there??? KEKLA MAGOON! for The Rock and the River!!!!!! Though we haven’t met, I’ve enjoyed reading her thoughts at Chasing Ray’s What A Girl Wants literary series. I have heard SUCH AMAZING THINGS about that book, and now that I’m here in the U.S., that’s a quick reminder to PICK IT UP.
I’m not sure what to think of this nomination — whomever is responsible for it, I’m grateful — but still shocked. So very, very shocked. An image award nomination? Seriously? Me??
I’ll have to think about this. But congratulations, Kekla!! I can totally see the rightness of this nomination for you!