The Rev. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., fired three months ago as NAACP executive director, re-emerged on the Baltimore scene last night with a plea for black unity at a State of the Race conference.
But Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, failed to appear as scheduled for a "town hall meeting" at the 5th Regiment Armory.
Ron Daniels, organizer of the conference, told the crowd of about 1,000 that Minister Farrakhan was in Baltimore but that unspecified "security concerns" had prevented him from appearing. He said the black separatist would join the four-day conference later.
Nation of Islam members were present at the armory, but they did not search those who entered, as is customary at Minister Farrakhan's appearances.
Dr. Chavis, who headed the NAACP for 16 months, was given a standing ovation.
DTC "We're not asking for grants from the Ford Foundation or the Rockefeller Foundation," he said, alluding to the deficit-ridden NAACP. "We must do for ourselves. . . . Wake up, African-Americans!"
Dr. Chavis was fired by the board of the Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People after he made a secret deal to pay a former aide up to $332,400 in NAACP funds to settle a threatened sexual harassment suit.
He caused controversy by reaching out to Minister Farrakhan, whose black separatist group has a history of anti-Jewish statements. Dr. Chavis included the Nation of Islam leader in two recent National African-American Leadership summits in Baltimore.
Many summit participants were back for the State of the Race conference.
Despite the familiar cast, Mr. Daniels said the meeting offered a fresh opportunity to move beyond "the paralysis of analysis" to share grass-roots, black nationalist strategies to help African-Americans.
Workshops through Sunday will focus on African-centered education, "environmental racism," formation of a black political party, reparations for blacks in America, the crisis of black youth and "freeing our black political prisoners."
Conference events will be held at the armory, Dunbar High School, Sojourner-Douglass College and Coppin State College. Registration is at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore hotel.
Disenchanted NAACP youth members took part in the town hall meeting.
Earlier yesterday, a group of 11 NAACP youths marched outside the civil rights group's headquarters, chanting, "Jim Crow is back, and this time his face is black." They were protesting an NAACP board ruling that youth members can't vote in local NAACP elections this month.
The protesters carried signs saying, "NAACP Poll Tax Unfair."
Chavis allies, trying to win control of the Baltimore and Chicago ,, branches, have signed up more than 3,500 new youth members, who pay $3 annual dues, in the two cities. But the board ruled Oct. 15 that only adult members, who pay at least $10, will be permitted to vote.
Zachary L. McDaniels, a former Coppin State NAACP leader, called the board's ruling "hypocritical" and contrary to the democratic ideals for which the NAACP stands.
NAACP officials were not available for comment. The NAACP, facing a nearly $4 million deficit, has ordered most employees to take a month-long unpaid furlough.