Misconceptions & the Free Ride

By: Brian McCoy

This skit is based on actual events and goes into casual conversation with students and average people. Excusing the grammar, this skit has been effective in getting the message across to students and the like about the NAACP’s difficulties in obtaining members.

Misconceptions

Member: Hello, how are you?

Girl: I’m fine. Where are you going?

Member: Girl, I’m going to the NAACP meeting.

Girl: Why? What’s that jacket for?

Member: That’s for my organization.

Girl: Oh, NAACP. That stands for Nu Alpha Alpha Chi Rho right?

Member: Yea, that’s what it stands for. Nu Alpha Alpha Chi Rho. Do you know anything about the NAACP?

Girl: Well I know Jesse Jackson and them is over it.

Member: Who is and them?

Girl: You know who them is. Them is they!

Member: Who they is?

Girl: They is them folks that be marching all the time.

Member: Well the NAACP doesn’t march for no reason. By the way Jesse Jackson is not apart of the NAACP, he is over the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Girl: Oh, really.

Member: Yeah, the NAACP usually marches when we have an overall good for all people. Such as with the voting rights march in Atlanta.

Girl: When that happened?

Member: That happened a few months ago in Atlanta. Let me give you some knowledge right quick.

(Talking sedity proper) Let me talk like I’m from Atlanter now:

Girl: Atlanter? How do I talk like I’m from Atlanter?

Member: First, You do your lips like this. (Stiffens lips) And you talk with your bottom lip moving all the time and you keep your mouth as closed as possible when talking. Mhm, watch: (Starts speaking in “Atlanter”)

The NAACP supported the re-authorization of Voting Rights Act which expired in 2007. The African American right to vote did not expire but certain preclearances did.

Member: What are preclearances? Glad you asked.

If some city wants to change it’s voting districts. They have to go through the Department of Justice to make the change just to make sure things are right before they go ahead with the changes.

Girl: Oh, you get knowledge like that in the NAACP?

Member: Yeah girl, and we get to travel and network. Girl at this one conference I went to, it was a dude there that looked just like Boris.

Girl: For real girl?

Member: Yep, with the ball head and everything.

Girl: I guess I’ll check ya’ll out. I want to join.

Member: But you have to get slapped to get in.

Girl: You’re kidding right?

(Girl picks up her hand and Looks at girl like, “WHAT?”)

Moderator: You do not have to get slapped to get in the NAACP. Membership consists of you paying your fee. $15 18-20 years old and $30 if you’re 21 and up. Then all you have to do is signup for a committee.

Free Ride

(Telephone: Ring-Ring. Ring-Ring)

NAACP: Hello.

Parent: Yeah Umm. This the NAACP? (screaming) Lord my son in jail!

NAACP: Yes, I’m a part of the NAACP. May I ask who’s calling?

Parent: Yes, this is an emergency. Call Cochran Associates, Jesse and them right now. I mean now!

NAACP: Hold on, hold on calm down. Tell me what happened.

Parent: Well, my son was in the grocery store and this white man saw my son run out of the store. Racist I tell you!

NAACP: Well, did they find anything on him?

Parent: Yes, but that doesn’t matter. You’re gonna help get him out right?

NAACP: Well, maam there was no discrimination shown if the stolen items were found on your son.

Parent: Ya’ll are the NAACP. Ya’ll suppose to do something. Ya’ll ain’t ‘bout ___.

NAACP: Maam, there’s no need to curse. First of all the NAACP is funded from donations, not from your taxes and is volunteered by hard working people like the ones that are in my chapter. By the way maam, when was the last time you paid your membership to the NAACP?

Parent: Um, a-ra. Um, a-ra (scratches head)

NAACP: Exactly. We need to remember as black people that we do not get an NAACP Membership card at birth.

Parent: You need to get off my back and get on Bush and on BET. My grandbaby was doing the Can’t wang wit it outside on the porch and I know I didn’t teach her to do stuff like that.

NAACP: Maam, Can’t wang wit it is not the problem. Its time for us to get more involved in our communities and in our local NAACP Chapters. I will do as much as I can to help your son but you are going to have to put in the work to solve your family’s problems.

Parent: Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m sorry. How can I join?

NAACP: You can go to naacp.org and join or contribute to the organization. I’ll be calling you to see what I can do.

Parent: Thank you sir.

NAACP: Take care. Bye.