"VII. INTERNAL AFFAIRS

1. Resolution abhorring the Confederate Battle Flag on State  Flags Approved 

WHEREAS, the tyrannical evil symbolized  in the Confederate Battle Flag is an abhorrence to all
Americans and decent people of this country, and indeed the  world and is an odious blight upon the universe; and,

WHEREAS, African-Americans, had no voice, no  consultation, no concurrence, no commonality, not in fact  nor in philosophy, in the vile conception of the Confederate  Battle Flag or State Flags containing the ugly symbol of  idiotic white supremacy, racism and denigration; and,

WHEREAS, we adamantly reject the notion that African-Americans should accept this flag for any stretch of  the imagination or approve its presence on State Flags;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the national  office of the NAACP and all units commit their legal resources to the removal of the Confederate Flag from all  public properties."

 Letter From Kay Patterson (Senator, Richland County, SC) to the NAACP 
 

Last week, at the NAACP national convention, Kweisi Mfume called the lawmakers like Patterson who put the compromise together, "Weak-kneed, shifty-eyed back-bending legislators." Senator Patterson fired back, saying that as a paid in full life NAACP member, he expected the NAACP president to at least sound presidential and "not like a civil rights poverty pimp." Patterson also enclosed his NAACP membership card.

14 July 2000 

Honorable Kweisi Mfume, President& CEO 
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE 
4805 Mount Hope Drive 
Baltimore, Maryland 21215 

Dr. Mr. Mfume: 

My purpose is to acknowledge your remarks (such-as-they-wuz) at one of your recent photo-opts on Monday, 10 July 2000. Your remarks (such-as-they-wuz), were interpreted by me as an attempt on your part to "dress-me-down" because I elected to represent my constituents (80,000) rather than march in lock-step with the NAACP. While I can attempt to understand your attitude, please be advised that I really don't appreciate your uncomplimentary-and-derogatory remarks worth-a-damn! 

As a former congressman and chairman of The Congressional Black Caucus, I find it hard to believe that you referred to members of the S.C. Legislative Black Caucus (and Whitefolks too) as "WEAK-KNEED, SHIFTY-EYED, BACK-BENDING LEISLATORS WHO SCRATCHED WHEN THEY DIDN'T ITCH AND WHO BENT OVER WHEN THEY WERE NOT ENGAGED IN PRAYER, WHO WERE BLACK AND WHITE ... PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING CALLED THE COMPROMISE." 

Mr. Mfume, I really thought that you were more intelligent-than-that --- but you can't judge a book by its cover, can-U?! As a paid-in-full LIFE_NAACP member since 1985, and a FRIEND OF THE NAACP / 6 April 2000, according to your letter ( after taking my little-$25 to be your friend) --- I expect MY NAACP-President to atleast "sound" Presidential--- and not lak a damn-civil-rights-poverty-pimp!! You owe the greatest civil-rights organization in the world more- than -that. Well, if you and the NAACP's MY FRIEND ----- Then I sure-as-hell don't need any enemies!! 

Here are some facts, if you are interested in facts, rather than heated-street-rhetoric. Elected to the S. C. House of Representatives in November 1974, I started fighting for the removal of the Confederate, and was the "lonely-voice crying in the wilderness" for 26-years, with some help from my Congressman Jim Clyburn, Chairman of Congressional Black Caucus. Then came my friends Mr. Nelson Rivers, and my "Home-Boy" Bill Gibson which got the S.C. Branch NAACP involved several years ago. Mr. Mfume, I was the "one" that got the death-threats and "Dear-Nigger" mail while-U and the other "Instant-Leaders" (lak instant grits) casually went about your business-as-per-damn-usual and didn't even know the flag was there 'til I told-U! Now, permit me to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and I tell this from the mountain-top where ever I go: IT WUZ THE NAACP UNDER PRESIDENT JAMES GALLMAN & MY FRIEND DR. LONNIE RANDOLPH THAT INIATIATED THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT BROUGHT THE "POWER-STRUCTURE" TO THE TABLE --- THEREFORE, THE NAACP DESERVES THE CREDIT FOR BRINGING THE FLAG DOWN. However, to balance-the-equation, it was the Governor and The S.C. General Assembly that had to VOTE it down. 

PROBLEM: Some people can win, and ain't got 'nuf damn-common-sense to know that they've won! Hell, Joe Louis had 'nuf common-sense to say, "I-glad-I-win! & "A-'nuther lucky night"! The NAACP resolution stated that the flag should come down and be placed in a place of historical-context --- which has been done. Now if you wanted it "OFF THE GROUNDS", then why-in-the-hell didn't you put that language in the RESOLUTION Mr. Former/Congressman/Chairman Congressional Black Caucus??!! You and the NAACP-Chairman Juilan Bond (Former State Senator of Atlanta, Georgia) didn't fall off the turnip-truck yestiddy!! Mr. Mfume, this is on state-senator that do not expect and will not accept denigration and kicks-in-the-ass from you or no other son-of-a-bitch. U-ain't no cabbage --- all head and no ass! For your next attack on me --- bring-it-wid-ya! 

With all the problems facing Americans in general and us-black folks in particular, it would seem to me that you would have emore to do than attack The SC General Assembly. Why don't you help my Congressman Jim Clyburn and The Congressional Black Caucus get Sen. Jesse Helms outta the way and elect some federal judges to the 4th Circuit of Appeals & federal judges, period? Ain't that more useful and constructive than kickin'somebody in the ass? I think so. Hell, even a poverty-pimp off the streets of Baltimore ought to see that! 

In conclusion, life is too short for either of us to waste precious time and energy on things which do not contribute to improving the quality of life for our people. Let's concentrate on making this world a better place in which to live, because of our having passed through it--- not in spite of us! 

Peace be with you and with thy spirit.

Yours in the struggle, 
signed Kay Patterson 
Kay Patterson