By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
This isn’t a decision I take lightly.
My grandmother was a life member of the NAACP. My father was a life member. And I, too, followed in that tradition—believing in the mission, trusting the legacy, and investing my time and resources to support what I thought was the cornerstone of civil rights advocacy in this country.
But today, I am choosing to walk away. I am canceling my life membership with the NAACP.
Why? Because I can no longer align myself with an organization that preaches civil rights, yet violates basic decency and justice behind closed doors. I’ve witnessed behavior from both the national and state levels that is not only disappointing—it’s harmful.
A respected branch president, a woman who has spent decades advocating and fighting for Black people in Columbus, was removed from her role without due process. No fair hearing. No transparency. No opportunity to defend herself or clear her name. And now, elections have been scheduled—before that process could be completed—with no opposition for the presidency. That doesn’t look like democracy. That looks like suppression.
Even more disturbing are the ethical concerns that continue to emerge. I now must ask—will civil rights complaints be forwarded to and handled by the law office of the newly installed president? If that is true, it represents a glaring conflict of interest and a total breakdown of integrity. Civil rights complaints should be reviewed by an impartial, transparent, and independent process. Anything less discredits the very mission of the NAACP.
To add insult to injury, internal branch matters—private matters—were made public in local media. That begs the question: Who shared this information, and what was their motive? This behavior is not only reckless but damaging to the individuals involved and the credibility of the organization.
And let’s be clear—it is completely unacceptable to try and tarnish the reputation of a woman who has given years of her life in service to the Black community. Her work, her leadership, and her voice deserve honor and respect—not calculated character attacks.
As a Life Member, I find it shameful that I receive local updates from the branch, yet I’ve never heard a word from the national office. No engagement. No accountability. Just silence.
This is not the NAACP my family believed in. This is not the NAACP that inspired generations of activism. And this is not the NAACP I can continue to support.
I will always fight for justice. I will continue to build platforms and spaces for Black voices to be heard and uplifted. But that work must happen in environments that operate with transparency, fairness, and ethics.
We deserve better. And we must demand better.
It’s time for a new chapter.
just my thoughts…rwb
