BREAKING: NAACP Endorses Marriage Equality

[Number23]

76. The "better late than never" and "this is HUGH!!" group

(and I strongly suspect some of the "timing is significant" crowd as well) are once again displaying a paternalistic attitude towards black folks that has nothing to do with reality. And you said it perfectly, "Their preconceived notions are now turned on their heads." I noticed some other black posters upthread also wondering at some of the comments in this thread.

We've been talking about this issue a bit in the AA forum for the last week, before the NAACP's announcement. http://www.democraticunderground.com/11871581

One poster posted an analysis after the Prop 8 debacle in California, which was also placed at the feet of black Americans until that was proven to be incorrect, that found that when religion was placed aside, black folks actually opposed Prop 8 at greater numbers than anyone. And religious whites still supported the Prop more than any other group. We all know that blacks can be homophobic but this meme that we have somehow cornered the market on homophobia and are worse than everyone else is racist and offensive but alot of folks have still swallowed it hook, line and sinker.

(You really must read the piece from The Black Snob from the thread as well. She sums up the combination of disgust, resigned acceptance and bewilderment that many blacks feel about being held to a different standard on this issue in a way that very much parallels my own feelings.)

I strongly suspect that is what's leading to much of the "OH MY GOD!! THIS IS HUGH!!" here from folks who are apparently blissfully unaware that the NAACP leadership and membership has quietly and not-so quietly supported marriage equality for a while now. I am still so happy to hear of this announcement. It's the right thing for them to do. But it would also be great if this was not crouched in so much SHOCK! and SURPRISE!! as if people cannot believe that a group that represents black people would feel this way on the issue. Lots of us do.