Did the NAACP show up too late to help keep schools open? | Schools

By Dedrick Russell - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Charlotte - Mecklenburg school (CMS) district started conversations about closing school months ago, but the local National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) just recently showed up to voice their opposition.

CMS is recommending to close ten schools.  Most are filled with minority students.

Charlotte's NAACP president, Kojo Nantambu, admits the organization showed up late to the game.

"A lot of it is because this is the first year the NAACP has been together, you know in over three years," Nantambu said.  "A lot of us were trying to find our balance, trying to find our ground,  find out where we are going and how we are going to get there."

But the activist says now that he's in the fight, he's there to stay.

"What is happening is wrong," Nantambu said.  "It's wrong, if we're late or early, it's wrong."

The NAACP leader says he's not backing down.  He wished more local black mega churches would help with the cause.

"I'm very disappointed in the ministers," the leader said. "And most of the churches because the thing is most all of those churches, probably have somebody in their church that's impacted by this."

CMS says it's not too late for involvement or input.  The school board is scheduled to vote on November 9th.

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