In today’s version of “It’s about damn time,” Los Angeles Chapter NAACP president Leon Jenkins resigned Thursday over his connection to banned Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling. For some, the move comes five years too late. Sterling’s connection to the LA NAACP has been highlighted by a lifetime achievement humanitarian award that he received in 2009, and a recently rescinded lifetime achievement award. Yet, in all those years, no one bothered to check his documented past of race-based business practices, or so we would be led to believe. The gig of racial cloak and dagger was up last week as his racist ranting was tape recorded and brought to the light of scrutiny by girlfriend V. Stiviano. The light of truth was blinding and sobering to many the NAACP brain trust.
"The legacy, history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the presidency," Leon Jenkins, president of the Los Angeles chapter, said in a brief statement.
Jenkins said he made his decision to "separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused the NAACP."
Thank God.
Although this may be too little too late to stave off the avalanche of criticism that has befallen the 115-year-old civil rights institution.
