The Roanoke Branch of the NAACP held its 68th Life Membership Luncheon “A Freedom Fundraiser” Saturday Dec. 5 at Tanglewood Holiday Inn.
The event, emceed by Roanoke NAACP V.P. Gloria Randolph-King was well attended which included a host of local dignitaries. It got off to an interesting start as Mayor David Bowers revisited the issue regarding recent controversial statements he had made about immigrants that led to nationwide scrutiny.
The mayor humbly implored the audience to “not believe everything the media says.” Admitting his mistake, he said “I’m the same David Bowers you’ve known for all these years, you know me! I’m steadfast in my support of diversity and the NAACP. I don’t just come around during election time.”
In a more humorous tone Bowers said, “I’m the one who stays and does the Electric Slide with Brenda Hale.” I want you to know I stand by my friends, you can always count on me.” In closing he quoted Psalms 147 and asked “Let this be the season of peace on earth, goodwill to all.”
The event was highlighted with songs by NAACP Youth Council members Kai and Kameron Washington-Brown. Chapter president Brenda Hale led everyone singing happy birthday to local SCLC matriarch Perneller Chubb-Wilson on her 82nd birthday.
NAACP awards were given to Sheila Umberger for her contribution hosing the Voting Rights Rally June 25; Dr. Rita Bishop for facilitating the ACT-SO competition at William Fleming HS and Althea Polk who represented the Women United for Community Action that also supported the 2015 ACT-SO program.
Those recognized as “NAACP Life Members” were Stella Carpenter of Liberty Tax Service, Anita Wilson-Virginia Health Co-chair and Chair of Roanoke Electoral Board and Andrea Chubb.
As keynote speaker, Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley immediately delved into his topic “Seeking Justice and Equality for All.” He said since he was 17, he took this endeavor (seeking justice) as his personal responsibility, “I had no moral choice, I noticed when I integrated into mainstream America that the definition of equality would retard the realization of justice for large numbers of Americans, especially those who were descendants of America’s slave class.”
In stark detail Hackley pointed out that, “True equality is not the notion that all human beings are equal in every respect in society, nobody really believes that anyway but true equality is an absolute of morality which holds that all human beings have the same value that should never be transgressed by other human beings.” In accordance with that he boldly added, African American culture evolved in a corrupted moral environment.”
He strongly urged the youth to listen, basically saying for our youth to break the negative, corrupt programming, the obstacles are a heap of deceit, fraud and treachery for thus advancement and success will be ensued for these enlightened people and their families that break the programming. Dr. Hackley confessed that he was a chauvinist and vengeful, “with no apology but an explanation.” He said, “I’m not the kind of chauvinist that’s a pig, racist or sexist, my chauvinism is that which gets me criticized by my people, African Americans as well as “those who do not want African Americans to share fully in freedoms available to other people in the nation of our birth.”
Hackley is a man whose logic, raw and penetrating, unearths the root elements that blatantly defy human equality at its most basic level.
“When the natural human drive to live in truth is thwarted, the people are prevented from acquiring the spiritual power for self-determination,” he said with an elevating veracity that spoke volumes.
Dr. Hackley made many strong points about conditions faced by African Americans and offered many solutions. He said, ”the way you hurt the enemy the most is when you achieve things they don’t want you to have.” He stressed that “African American children must be prepared with education and spiritually or crime and treatment against poor Blacks will worsen.”
He spoke on the social economic range of African Americans which goes from zillionaire to the impoverished and said he identified with African American impoverished children because that is where he–himself began.
Hackley declared himself “a Dubois defined chauvinist because of his extensive pride in his race, ancestry and self, “so deep, so absolute, so unswerving to scorn injustice to other human beings, my family, my ancestors or to myself by squandering my god given gifts, that’s the kind of chauvinist I am! It’s love not hate to anybody,” he explained.
Reflecting on his philosophy of avenging, he said, “I have considered it my divine duty to vindicate for the harm inflicted on our people all these centuries as best as I could to gain retribution, justice and equality. It’s my job to do that.”
Lloyd Hackley, is a native Roanoker who is one of many proud graduates of Lucy Addison High School. He is truly an unusual doctor with a cure that transcends far beyond idle conjecture and lofty ideals. His remedy involves intensified remedial adjustments through which our troubled civilization may be transformed into a well-balanced society based on “justice for all.”
Mayor Bowers was given the honor of bestowing the City’s Gold Star to this accomplished educator and skilled lecturer, who delivered a thoroughly empowering message.
The luncheon closed with a press conference whereby President Hale vehemently voiced concerns regarding the Confederate flag being displayed by certain groups at the City’s Christmas Parade on Dec. 11. Hale announced she would personally be taking steps to prevent the “despicable display” from happening.
“The Confederate battle flag is associated with the defense of slavery of Africans and resistance to the integration of African Americans into society.” The symbol not only represents a cruel sense of superiority over African Americans but the flag has been used by those who enslaved or lynched countless Black folks,” said Hale from prepared remarks.
