Pair differ on future for local NAACP

For two men so passionate about using the Terrebonne Parish National Association for the Advancement of Colored People branch to improve conditions in the African-American community, Jerome Boykin and Troy Johnson have very different views of the association’s direction.

Boykin, 49, the chapter president for 13 years, sees an organization that has grown in clout and community service under his stewardship.

“When I took office, we had less than 25 members; now we have over 500 members active in the parish,” he said.

Johnson, 45, manager of the Senator Circle public housing complex, sees a group that has lost its way and has been used for Boykin’s benefit under his tenure.

“The integrity of the organization has dropped under his leadership.” Johnson said. “I want to restore some integrity, pride, truthfulness and justice back into the organization.”

Johnson wants to become the first challenger to Boykin’s presidency when the chapter holds an election for officers Nov. 1. But Johnson says the chapter’s nominating committee will not let him.

At the Sept. 25 meeting, NAACP members seeking office were given a consent form to fill out and turn in to the nominating committee for their candidacy to become official.

Boykin said Johnson was the only person who did not return his form at that meeting. According to Johnson, when he tried to turn in his form at the eight-member nomination committee meeting on Sept. 29, Committee Chairman Gregory Harding refused to accept it.

“The (NAACP) bylaws don’t state that they have to be turned in at a certain time,” Johnson said. But I was going to turn it in at that meeting anyway. Greg Harding wouldn’t let me turn it in. That’s where I think they’re doing their best to keep me from running.”

Johnson also said the chapter violated bylaws by sending notification letters for the September and October meetings in less than the required 10 days before a meeting is held. The letters were postmarked Sept. 19 for the Sept. 25 meeting.

Boykin said that was irrelevant and that Johnson is the one who does not know the organization’s protocols.

“The real problem is the fact that Mr. Johnson has only been to one meeting in his life,” Boykin said. “If he had any interest in being president, he would have come to more than one meeting.”

Johnson admits he has only attended the Sept. 25 meeting, but claims it is Boykin’s closed-mindedness that has kept him away.

“I have spoken to Jerome on several occasions concerning his leadership and how I feel he should address certain issues,” Johnson said. “Most of his supporters have only been to one or two meetings lately because of the direction the organization is going.”

Johnson has one more chance to be nominated as a candidate for chapter president at tomorrow’s regular meeting.

According to Boykin, after the nominating committee report is read and the floor is opened to members, anyone who wants to be a candidate for office will have the opportunity to run. Johnson would automatically be added to the slate of candidates.

But Johnson has another bone of contention – getting access to the chapter’s membership list. He wants to be able to contact members and inform them about his positions before they vote.

Boykin claims NAACP bylaws do not allow Johnson to receive a copy or review its membership list even if he becomes a candidate.

“If he wanted to get fliers out to the membership, he would have to fill the 500 envelopes and bring them to the secretary,” Boykin said. “She would take those envelopes and put all the address labels for the members and mail those fliers out. Memberships are confidential and not given to anyone. Not even me.”

“He said he could easily beat me three-to-one, but I guess that’s only by trying to make it difficult for me to run,” Johnson said. “He’s trying to make it difficult with technicalities. If he wants to base this whole election on technicalities, he violated the bylaws to start. Hopefully we can have this rectified quickly.”

If Johnson becomes a candidate, NAACP members will be choosing between men with completely different experiences and agendas for their term.

Boykin, a retired Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputy, has set getting a minority judgeship for the parish as his top priority. He asserted the current system for electing judges makes it difficult for an African-American to win a parish-wide election.

“Louisiana has many minority judgeships. We’re not asking the legislators to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “All we’re asking for is a minority judge here in Terrebonne Parish just like they have in other parishes.”

Johnson, a former NFL wide receiver, has three main concerns – high incarceration in the black community, recruiting volunteers to work with students with educational and behavioral problems and more loans for minority-owned businesses.

“These are some real concerns we have in the black community that haven’t been addressed,” he said. “I said ‘Enough is enough.’ I’m running to help make a difference in the community.”

Although NAACP branch president is not a public office, in a way Johnson is trying follow in the steps of his father. Melvin Johnson Sr. was the first black official in Terrebonne Parish back in the 1970s, when he was elected justice of the peace in Ward 7.

“He was the only African-American running against white candidates in a majority white district and he won,” Johnson said. “That showed me something. It showed me if you work hard, talk to people, listen to their concerns and be fair, the racial stuff won’t matter.”

The Nov. 1 vote of Terrebonne Parish NAACP branch president could be seen as a coronation or the first real contest for the office since the chapter was established.

“No one has a problem with me continuing to be president of the local chapter,” Boykin said. “My administration has done more for the NAACP than anyone in history since there’s been a chapter in Terrebonne.”

“To be an effective leader, you have to be able listen and surround yourself with people who can give you constructive criticism and advice,” Johnson said. “Jerome has eroded the integrity of that organization. We have regressed.”