Juneteenth observance highlights communication, community

The president of the NAACP’s Wendell Wake Branch told a Juneteenth-themed gathering in Zebulon that the group is trying to work itself out of a job on the anti-discrimination front.

Tony Derico, who leads the branch, told the audience he looks forward to no longer being occupied constantly addressing complaints of discrimination.

“We hope that we can work ourselves out of existence,” Derico said.

He said he looks forward to a time when the constant stream of concerns and issues that come across his desk will grind to a halt.

“That’s what the objective is,” Derico said.

Derico thanked Mayor Glenn York and the town of Zebulon for hosting the event.

The town held a kickoff celebration June 14 on the lawn at Zebulon Town Hall. The event included a variety of vendors and musical entertainment by the Tams.

The festivities continued at Zebulon Town Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 15. District Court Judge David Baker was a featured speaker.

Derico’s speech recalled the message of emancipation reaching enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a reminder that no one is free until everyone is free, he said.

The Wendell Wake Branch of the NAACP, which serves Wendell, Zebulon, Wake Forest, Rolesville and Knightdale, emphasizes voter registration, voter education and voter mobilization, Derico said.

The NAACP is nonpartisan and seeks to educate people about candidates for office, he said.

“We know that voting is a way that we can make our voices heard,” Derico said.

Derico said it’s a labor of love to serve neighbors in need.

In an interview after his speech, Derico said one of the biggest hurdles to being able to “work ourselves out of existence” — as he worded it in his address — is improving communication with town governments in the area and ensuring that people feel included in what the towns are doing.

He said the NAACP has met with mayors and chiefs of police in area towns with a goal of increasing the visibility of minorities in public service.

In the aftermath of high-profile police killings of George Floyd and others, there’s been a decrease in the number of minorities applying to serve with law enforcement agencies, he said.

Derico said the Wendell Wake Branch of the NAACP wants to encourage minority applicants to local law enforcement agencies and is working to end the sense of an adversarial relationship between police and the communities they serve.

The group is working to foster a sense of community and open communication, he said.

“Nothing is too small if it causes somebody to feel un-included,” Derico said.

The branch is guided by the acronym VCR, he said. He explained that it stands for “Visibility Plus Credibility equals Relevance.”

Derico said the NAACP wants to move beyond responding to complaints and concerns toward more of a proactive approach of helping connect people with community resources.

The brief address by Derico was presented during an intermission at the halfway point of the band’s performance. The Tams performed the upbeat soul music they are known for, including their hits “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” and “I’ve Been Hurt.”

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