NAACP appoints Roslyn Brock as new Chair

The NAACP has realized that they can no longer be all things to all people, so instead they have decided to focus on young people to bring their organization in a fresh direction. The average age of NAACP member is 55-years-old, which is far from young by many standards. In order to change these demographics the NAACP has decided to bring in a younger group of top leaders to that connection to the youth and create a desire for young people to become involved. On February 20, the organization elected 44-year-old Rosyln Brock to succeed civil rights veteran Julian Bond, 70, who has headed the organization for the past 12 years. Brock joins 35-year-old Benjamin Jealous, who was appointed chairman and CEO of the NAACP in 2008, to lead the organization in what Board members called a period of political and social change.

"As the NAACP ushers in a new generation, it is a great honor to be elected chairman of the Board of this esteemed Association," said Brock in her acceptance remarks. "We are blessed with the opportunity to lead the fight for civil and human rights into another century."

Youth like University of Maryland biology student Chanea White have welcomed the election of 44-year-old Roslyn Brock as the new chairman. "I think that the fact that they chose a 44-year-old-woman says a lot about what the organization is trying to do," White said. "Now the NAACP can begin making moves toward our generation. She seems like she has the ability to make me want to get involved. Now I hope to see a better stand issues such as health care and education."

Brenda Smith, executive director of the Presidents' Roundtable, an organization of the nation's African American CEOs, is also giddy about the organization's move to pass the leadership baton to the organization's youth.

"It's a good strategy on the behalf of the NAACP, they need some young blood and some new ideas which I think she will be able to offer because of her non-profits and healthcare background. The NAACP needs to freshen their brand so that people understand what they are and what they stand for," Smith said.

Even with the huge legacy of the NAACP, there is still a huge gap between the NAACP and the black youth of America, who mostly only know of the organization for the scholarships they give each year, Smith said. She added that many of the youth in America have no understanding or desire to connect to the organization that helped pave the way for many prominent Blacks, including President Barack Obama.

Brock has been involved with the NAACP organization for about 25 years, starting as a youth board member at 19. "Ms. Brock understands first-hand how important the youth are to the success of the NAACP," said Bond in a press release as he handed the leadership reigns over to Brock.

The NAACP has decided to revamp the organization and fix the generational gap that many blame for the loss of youth interest and support. The youth has the responsibility to take the NAACP to the next level in this evolving society. The new young leaders want to show that their organization is still relevant, Bond said.

Shelton Grant, 23, ticket sales agent at Verizon Center, is not as positive about the appointment of Brock and the new direction of the NAACP.

"Honestly I don't know much of anything about the NAACP other than what I've read in history books, which I know is really sad," he said. "I just feel like it's something that relates more to my mom and dad's generation than to mine and I don't think anything can change that."

Brock is well aware of the problems facing her, but is optimistic about their solutions. In a press release Saturday, she said she hoped that she and Jealous can shift the NAACP in a better direction to get the African American youth involved in the future of America.

Hours before the NAACP announced her election, she sat down with NNPA special correspondent Herb Body and reflected on being the youngest and first Black woman to chair the Board, and the awesome responsibility handed to her.

"For me having the baton is to have a connection to those activists who marched in the fifties, sixties. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go," she told Body. "What we have to do is to strategically focus on what our agenda will be in the years to come. We have to recognize and acknowledge that we can't be all things to all people. There are other partners who have come into the public space that possess better expertise than we have, who are better financed than we are.

"And we have to reach out and build broad partnerships, extend our membership base, and then convene meetings of all like-minded partners to find out what part of the social and economic problem they are willing to own. No one organization can handle all of the problems. It takes all people coming together to deal with the many problems we have.