Date: Wed, December 11, 2002 5:58 pm
From: Marion I. Ferreira
To: washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org
Subject: Your Organization
Dear Sirs, I, as a multiracial person in America, a Native Born Creole American, of the formerly French Territory of Louisiana, has been reached many times to join your organization.
However, although I note that you advertise as an organization for Colored people, most of your concerns are for the African American. I was thinking that in that respect you should call your organization, The National Association for the Advancement of African Americans for that would be your true title.I never see you addressing issues which concern the multiracial American.
Right now I am waging a racial war against the Catholic Church, the Sisters of the Holy Family of New Orleans, La. in particular, who are placing our Mother Henriette Delille up for canonization , a “Native Born Creole American” as a “Native Born African American” which she definitely was not. How can you help me in this instance?
It is very seldom, if at any time, that I read any articles of you taking any stands for the person of color, and there are many problems which confront the person of color or the multiracial person in America.
I note that in your president’s remarks about not attempting to establish a branch in Cuba, you made it quite evident that you were not attempting to do so. Cuba’s people are to many extents the same as the persons of color although there are many who also Afro-Cubans. Is this not what your organization states it’s purpose for – to represent people of color? Why do you seemingly avoid the problems of mixed race people, like Puerto Ricans, Phillipinos and the like?
Multiracial people with some African descent have just as many and perhaps because of the hypodescent problem – many more than those who identify as ‘so-called “African Americans” by Jesse Jackson, since we are not in the majority.
I never hear of you taking steps to help correct or change the identity or image of the multiracial American with some African ancestry.
If I am wrong, would you kindly enlighten me. Thanks in advance.
And would you kindly forward a copy of my letter to Mr. Julian Bond, who I saw on Nightline last night addressing the Trent Lott statements regarding the 100 year old senator from Mississippi and his obvious concensus with the senstor’s segregationist stand in 1948, and to all of your other entities.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Mrs. Marion I. Ferreira, of Creole Connection and Society for the Preservation of Creole Heritage and Identity
Editor: The above letter was sent by Ms. Ferreira to the Washington Bureau of the NAACP. It is reprinted here at her request.