The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, held it’s 67th Freedom Banquet in Fairbanks last weekend. The civil rights group is very diverse and has a mission of preventing racial and ethnic prejudice.
The audience of African-Americans, Alaska Natives and whites represented the outreach officers have done in recent years to partner with other Fairbanks and North Pole social groups. Tables for various churches, the American Legion, UAF, Climate Action Coalition and Native Movement seated members.
One speaker, Jessica King, said the intersecting groups reminded her of strategies from her mother, Virgie King, who died in 2018. Virgie King was a past president of the organization.
“Whether it’s our religious body, a social organization or public service, we are all a part of something greater. And when we fellowship together and support each other, especially with these fellowships, we can get so much done.”
The theme of the event was “Freedom Only Knows One Direction – Forward.” Keynote speaker Johnathan Kenney, was the Fairbanks NAACP Youth Council President until 2012.
“We cannot pass policy on our own, we cannot move different issues in our community on our own. If we must move forward, we must get past our differences. For us to move as a community, we must join forces and move together.”
The Fairbanks branch of the NAACP was chartered in November, 1952, and the first president was Marie Guffey, a white woman. The current president is Bennie Colbert, who recalled how he was recruited by Virgie King, who was known as someone who would not take “no” for an answer.
“There were two black bankers in this town. Two black bankers. She came into the bank, and she let me know that I was coming to the meeting. Well, I was like, uh… But you know that meant I went to the meeting.”
Colbert was joined at the dinner by many family members including his parents, and his sister Latissue Colbert, whose son Chancelor Fields-Colbert, died in July. The West Valley High School scholar-athlete played basketball for Sierra College in Sacramento and was accidentally shot at a gathering there last summer. His brother, Cornelius Mingo, read a tribute.
“He was a phenomenal four-sport athlete, but was a phenomenal student as well, always maintaining a 3.5 or higher GPA. Chancelor was friends with just about anybody he came in contact with.”
“Chance” Fields-Colbert was on the NAACP youth council. The Sacramento Sherriff’s Office has been investigating the shooting.
The Association also honored Alaska Senator Bettye Davis, who died last December. She was the first African-American woman in the Alaska Senate.
The NAACP Fairbanks Chapter meets the third Saturday of the month.