The High Point Branch of the NAACP advocates equitable access to sufficient resources for High Point Schools. We are committed to ensuring that High Point students receive a world-class education, but with eighteen (18) out of twenty-four (24) schools in High Point classified as Title I and 62.2% of students live in poverty, NOW is the time to change this trend. How can government, business, and the community say “So what, it’s not happening in my community ~ it’s not happening to me. “We make the laws; we don’t have to live by the laws.”
Our Mission: To achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.
Our Vision: We envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination.
What must we do? In the short-term, our commitment to school children parallels with the North Carolina Constitution and the Supreme Court ruling of its obligation to ensure all children have access to a sound basic education that includes competent and well-trained teachers and principals, as well as equitable access to sufficient resources. In the long-term, we must lift our communities out of poverty. How do we lift our communities out of poverty? For example, during COVID, 40% of families were lifted from poverty by a meager monthly income subsidy. Let us be clear, subsidy is not the answer. A subsidy is a mere Band-Aid for a larger more systemic issue.
Economics remain the driver and the remedy to this prevailing matter. The North Carolina Legislature should be required to do its part to ensure children in low wealth communities in High Point receive the funding equal to, if not more than, high wealth communities to sustain the education our children deserve. High Point employers must come to grips with the fact that “salaries must sustain the economic well-being of its employees. The Solution is clear: “Now is always the time to do the right thing.” (MLK, Jr.) There are more than enough bright minds in government and business to come together to provide the means and the will to level the field for all. Visit www.naacphighpoint.org for more information.
Dr. Elma Hairston, President
Related Resources
Leandro v. State of NC: Background & Resources
https://www.ncforum.org/leandro/
