NAACP strives to stay relevant

WASHINGTON, July 14 (UPI) -- The NAACP is facing the question of whether it remains relevant after the election of the nation's first black president, officials say.

In its upcoming 101st annual meeting, President Benjamin Jealous and the new NAACP chairwoman, Roslyn Brock, say they intend to inject energy into the organization as it aims to stay a force in national debates, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The organization's recent passage of a resolution denouncing what it called "racist elements" within the "tea party" movement has drawn strong criticism from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, the newspaper said.

A statement appearing on Palin's Facebook page read: "The charge that Tea Party Americans judge people by the color of their skin is false, appalling, and is a regressive and diversionary tactic to change the subject at hand."

Debates on charter schools, minority contractors left out of the clean-up process in the Gulf of Mexico and racism among members of the Tea Party are on the agenda hoping to spark involvement among members, Jealous said.

"My hope is that our members leave fired up and focused and ready to organize," Jealous said.