And in another news item, black parents in New York demonstrate against the NAACP for its opposition to charter schools.

Wish instead of listing all the people who should not have been nominated you had spent a little of your time telling us who you thought should have been. That might have been a wee bit more instructive.

I looked at the NAACP's charter--they were formed to fight for civil rights, not pal around with celebrities. They've seriously lost their way, and they've been corrupted by special interest money. I have purchased music by a number of the gospel artists on their list, but I didn't write this to explore my musical tastes. Dorothy Parker, who left her copyrights to the organization, would be crying in her grave to know that they support an abuser like Chris Brown. I don't disagree that his music is sometimes interesting--but is he a model to be held up as an example to the kind of young kids I see in the inner-city schools I work with? No way.

Since as you pointed out the NAACP, isn't exclusively a Black organization what does it matter what color the parents who demonstrate against them are? You, like them, can't have it both ways. The problem for them is those Black lifetime members who have supported them for the last 50 years may not be aware their mandate changed.

I didn't really comment on who you dislike and why you dislike them as a choice, that is a choice. What I said is it would have been nice if you spent some of your space to uplift someone. Big difference, should have made it very clear that is what I meant.

Okay--I like Kirk Franklin, who's up for an award in gospel, very much. I have his "Still in Love" on my iPod--as far as I know the only song in the African-American gospel tradition that combines inner city roller skating with praise for Jesus.

Well there you go I like Kirk Franklin too, and I have been able to move beyond his porn addiction because like domestic violence it is a learned response not necessarily a natural one. I don't advocate for either don't see one as more harmful than the other, because both can do damage. But I do think that when a person has to deal with their demons, you don't continue to judge them for eternity. And as you see your choice for an image award might not look so shiny to someone else.

I think your original thought was that this award show should be about what or how you have moved the Civil Rights ball down the court or great achievements that move humanity forward. I agree that should be the focus and in the sports and entertainment field only first, or stars who are using their fame to push a positive agenda through their foundations should be honored. Since they are saying they represent many cultures their show should relay that message, because its Afrocentric theme doesn't say that.

I suppose this just shows that the organization has become mainstream and has perhaps become co-opted by the Establishment. Its not as radical or ascetic as it once was because much (but not all) of its founding principles have been realized.

There's still a long way to go, but much, much progress has been made.

If only we could make similar progress in terms of workers' rights.