Comments on: Dr. Boyce: Why are a Video Vixen and Predatory Lender Appearing at the NAACP Leadership Summit?

By: Marcia L Dyson

Marcia L Dyson — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:12:04 +0000

Hello Dr. Boyce Watkins,

I hear you on your comments about your expectations as to who can and should address the masses who come to the NAACP’s annual convention.

I applaud Roslyn Brock for reaching out to the younger generation as not to leave anyone behind.

If we were to rest solely on the morals of past African American leaders whom we lift, then Dr. King, Jr., would not have a seat at NAACP’s banquet table. As we read the personal account of his life, we note that his extra-martial affairs during the movement were many and frequent.

I happen to mentor Melyssa Ford. I challenge her on the public perception of what she appears to be as to whom I know she is not. She uses her past to talk with young girls as a peer and not from a high pious perch. She has gone to Haiti with me to change the lives of the women there and she comes to campuses and lifts young women with her positive messages of allowing oneself to become exploited.
I have seen in situations where she was approached and retreated the advances of the disrespectful and gazers of her “I don’t hate you for it ” body.

If fact, if Melyssa can’t speak to others to empowers, I too am not in a position to do so based on my past. I try hard to be a brother’s keeper and work more diligently to be a sister’s keeper because most women have been harmed and damaged in some way or have co-op themselves and their self-respect in order to be seen and hear.

We all wish we could have saved Tupac, prayed for O.J. Simpson and Mike Tyson. We rush to pardon our male leaders for their indiscretions and not women.

For Melyssa, I conclude with a line from Rev. T.D. Jake’s sermons, “you might have done what they said you did, but you are NOT what they say you are.”

I would have Melyssa anywhere by my side to uplift and not tear down our people.

By: Ms Ford's Sister

Ms Ford's Sister — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:56:59 +0000

You all have made very valid points in regards to what is happening with the NAACP but to focus on Melyssa as proof of the downfall of this organization was completely uncalled for.
Let us remember that we are all human beings and that she like many of you is someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, she is more than the pictures you see or the videos you may have watched; she is a real person with feelings just like you and I. Take a moment and ask yourselves how you would feel if these comments were directed at you or someone that you love, you would probably have chosen your words more carefully. Let me make things perfectly clear for those of you who think you know “all things Melyssa Ford” my sister has never been a stripper and she didn’t have to sleep around to get to where she is today. It is her natural beauty and the beauty that lies within her (which you wouldn’t know anything about) that has taken her from being in music videos, to talk shows, to radio shows and to the place she is know where she can reach out to this desperate generation of young people who thinks it okay to be degraded in a music video. She speaks out on the issues of today like Aids, young girls self-esteem and the list goes on and who better to get their attention than someone who has been there and can warn them about the possible pitfalls of the industry and how to avoid them. She is not going to apologize to all the self-righteous for the choices she has made instead she is going to take this opportunity, hold her head high and spread the message that she has been given. Most of us have not lived a life without spot or blemish but I can guarantee you this, that the perception you have about Melyssa based on the pictures you see is all wrong. Melyssa,baby girl, you just continue use what God gave you (ther will always be haters) and walk through any and every door He opens for you and as far as all the negative comments….”people in glass houses should not throw stones”

By: Darealiss1

Darealiss1 — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:56:12 +0000

Influence, influence, influence! Sex, money, and women always seem to find there way into a respected situation. The NAACP has been on the decline lately, as far as popularity, as well as relevancy. So this shameful attempt to do nothing more than draw a crowd, failed miserably. Try again guys!

By: justjones

justjones — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:51:25 +0000

I agree with Dr. Boyce, but think he goes in much harder on Ms. Ford, a VICTIM of this racist/white supremacist system, than on Wells Fargo, owned by the white supremacist perpetuators of this racist/ white supremacist system.

THE PROBLEM IS WHITE PEOPLE!

By: bobby g

bobby g — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:34:49 +0000

That's so stupid , it doesn't even deserve a comment. The NAACP needs new leadership. I

By: bobby g

bobby g — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:34:05 +0000

That’s so stupid , it doesn’t even deserve a comment. The NAACP needs new leadershiwp

By: MarthaJean

MarthaJean — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:28:28 +0000

Just because the Naacp have decided to be represented in this manner, does not mean that there is a diminsihing in values among AAs.
I am AA, and I still value decency, self-respect,honor, and impartiality. I do not practice self-righteous, if I can help it.
The Naacp does not represent AAs as a whole. It is an organization. It has an organizational structure that arrive at concensus. The Naacp does not belong to AAs. They have a membership that pays dues, and they consider what issues they will pursue.
I recently had a personal experience with a local chapter. It is the result of that experience that I have decided that I have no real interest in suppoting the NAACP in any way. The local president was very indifferent and arrogant toward me, and I got the impression that he was just acting in a perfuntory manner-no heart no soul.
Now what do you expect from the NAACP as a whole?????

By: lynetta thompson

lynetta thompson — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:51:00 +0000

Personally, I think you are being to judgmental without knowing all of the facts. How many of you are members of this organization or any black organization that trains your children. Do you even know what the mission of the NAACP and this new leadership? I don’t know why an invitation was extended to this individual and this company but I can enquirer because I am a member. The NAACP does a lot to help educate our Youth and Colleges about their civil and human rights. Many of our Black organization only want to train on separation from your past instead of learning from your past by knowing YOUR HISTORY.. I only ask that you don’t throw out the baby with the bath water get all the information and then become involve so you can become part of the change you truly want to see. Love you..

By: Julius

Julius — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:50:03 +0000

This whole conversation is appalling. Who are all of U holier than thou people. Melyssa Ford did nothing wrong & was highly respectable in her profession which she was paid very well. She was no HO, & didn’t get to the top of her craft by sleeping around. And I know her. Now there can be questions about what she will speak about but not until she does. Last time I checked Tyra Banks isnt famous for just having a talk show. I do believe her ASSETS in LINGERIE had something to do with IT. As far as WELLS FARGO that’s another matter. #Stop Hate…

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:41:54 +0000

When MLK was murdered other Black leaders and organizations all got in line to get their share of the American pie, meanwhile tellin us to wait a change is gone come. Can you see the change. But we are crazy when say Black people should demand Reparations for Slavery for years of Red lining, for the war on Drugs that has lock up so many people of color that age dosen’t matter. From age 6 to 60 and beyond we are being arrested or killed in record numbers and knowone has a problem with it. NAACP don’t want you to think about Reparations and what it could do for the Black community, and you know you can’t call NAACP when you have been dicrimated against on a job unless you’re a 2500.00 member all you 10.00 members. You get what you pay for. Song and dance is what they want from us and athletes are entertainers 2.watajoke we hv been to da world