The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is one of the greatest American institutions ever formed. Today’s leaders stand on the shoulders of giants who went before them like W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Thurgood Marshall.
It, therefore, brings me no joy to say this once venerable, storied, and courageous group today debases itself as a Democrat advocacy organization. Its unserious activities nowadays are good mainly to advance the already high social and economic status of upper crust virtue signalers of every race and color. Its generous funders should, and can, find a better place to direct their resources.
Recent evidence of the NAACP’s sullying of its good name is a May 20 “travel advisory” its Board of Directors issued against the state of Florida. A Board, mind you, chaired by a longtime Florida resident.
In its warning, the organization claims black Americans need to “understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans.” It goes on to state that because of the restrictions Governor Ron DeSantis has placed on teaching children controversial subjects such as queer theory as black history—a required grade school subject—and limiting state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in colleges, Florida is “openly hostile toward African Americans.”
As a black Florida Man and civil rights lawyer, I can attest that this could not be further from the truth. But don’t take my word for it.
Recently, the Brookings Institution issued a report on what it called “A ‘New Great Migration.’” The report showed that between the years 2015 and 2020, black people were reversing the “Black Migration” of the early to mid-20th Century by moving back to the South in droves from urban areas mostly in the Northeast and Midwest. In that period, tens of thousands of black people moved to Florida making it among the top 3 most popular relocation destinations in the country.
Moreover, in 2019, PEW Research found that Florida had the second-largest black immigrant population in the country. The growth in that demographic since 2000 is larger than the entire 2019 black immigrant populations of Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Nevada, and Washington combined.
Florida is also home to the 0% income tax, one of the lowest black unemployment rates in the country, has a crime rate that has trended downward for half a century, and is a leading state for school choice. Don’t get me started on the weather and natural beauty.
It seems, then, black people are perfectly happy moving to, living in, and enjoying prosperity in Florida. In fact, some black business owners in Florida are more concerned about the loss of commerce the NAACP travel advisory might cause than the state’s alleged dangers.
So, why would an organization created to advance the lot of black Americans peddle in such harmful disinformation? One word: politics.
The NAACP has turned into an elite progressive arm of the Democrat political apparatus that chafes at a state functioning very well under exceedingly popular Republican leadership. And with the recent DeSantis presidential announcement, it seems eager to tarnish that reputation lest it be elevated to the national consciousness.
One could forgive the rank partisanship of the NAACP if only it also issued advisories for truly bad places for black people to visit or live. Places like, say, Chicago where blacks are more likely to be shot and killed than almost anywhere else in the country. Or Baltimore—where the NAACP has maintained its headquarters all of my life—where overwhelming numbers of black kids can’t read or do simple math. But no, that would irritate its Democrat friends who have run those places into the ground.
Or one might turn a blind eye to clear partisanship if the NAACP actually focused on “the challenges faced by African Americans” that it slanders Florida of devaluing. Challenges that we know disproportionately include poverty, maintaining the nuclear family, and educational opportunities for children. Instead, its focus is on radically ideological matters such as climate change and skin-deep diversity and other identity politics measures that mostly benefit the wealthy and well-off.
Above all, its mainstay is to preserve racial grievance, guilt, and division such that a U.S. president might make such a silly and ingratiating claim as white supremacy being the greatest terrorism threat to the country. It’s no wonder the working class has all but abandoned the Democrat party.
Good meaning people joined the NAACP, funded its activities, and continue to do so. I say stop. The group has failed to live up to the proverb that to whom much is given, much will be required.
Support is badly needed, instead, for organizations serious about ensuring progress for poor and disadvantaged Americans, many of whom happen to be black, by offering alternative methods and approaches for closing achievement disparities and promoting equality for all.
Devon Westhill is the president and general counsel for the Center for Equal Opportunity.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
