The Ark-La-Tex Gazette Archives
By Dr. Carla Buntyn
December 14, 2025 | Editorial Desk
In the African American community, conversations about oppression, racism, and systemic inequities remain constant. These discussions echo across social media, in churches, barbershops, classrooms, and political spaces. Yet, despite the persistence of these concerns, membership in the NAACP, once the backbone of organized Black resistance, has steadily declined since its height in the 1960s. The question we must ask is not whether racism exists, but whether traditional civil rights organizations are still meeting the needs of the people they claim to represent.
Generational change is often cited as the primary reason for declining membership. Younger Black Americans tend to organize differently, favoring digital activism, grassroots movements, and decentralized leadership over legacy institutions. But this explanation alone feels incomplete. Many Black Americans are politically aware, socially engaged, and outspoken, just not through the NAACP. That disconnect deserves honest examination.
The tension between activism and economic empowerment is not new. Even W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the NAACP’s founders, grew disillusioned with the organization in his later years. He believed it had become dominated by a Black elite and had lost touch with the common Black worker. Du Bois argued that integration without economic power was insufficient, and that true liberation required self-sufficiency, ownership, and structural transformation. His resignation in 1934 should not be viewed as a footnote in history, but as an early warning.
Today, the NAACP continues to fight legal battles and issue public statements on racial injustice. While these efforts matter, many in the community question whether they translate into tangible improvements in everyday life. Too often, activism feels reactive, designed to provoke outrage rather than build solutions. Meanwhile, economic disparities persist, Black-owned businesses struggle, and working-class families are left without meaningful institutional support.
This raises a difficult but necessary question: Are we facing racism alone, or are we also facing a failure of advocacy to evolve? In 2025, we understand what systemic racism looks like. We can name it, document it, and debate it endlessly. But naming the problem is no longer enough. The focus must shift toward building systems that work for Black Americans, systems rooted in economic development, workforce pipelines, entrepreneurship, and community investment.
The NAACP was founded at a time when Black Americans had little to no legal protection. Today, while some rights feel threatened and others unevenly enforced, we live in a vastly different reality. That reality demands a broader vision, one that prioritizes economic empowerment alongside civil rights litigation, and one that includes not just the educated or elite, but the everyday Black worker.
If the NAACP is to remain relevant, it must reconnect with the people at the margins of its mission. It must move beyond symbolism and return to substance. Fighting the system has its place, but building our own may be the work that finally closes the gaps that activism alone cannot.
By Dr. Carla Buntyn
December 12, 2025
SHREVEPORT, La. — Residents, business leaders, faith representatives, and elected officials gathered for a Community Focus Group hosted by the African American Chamber and moderated by Drayden Dunn to examine the potential economic, environmental, and infrastructure impacts of a proposed $10- $30 billion development.
The forum emphasized transparency and accountability, providing community members with the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from project leaders and state representatives. Organizers described the meeting as an information-sharing session designed to ensure residents have a clear understanding of how the project could affect the region long term.
Justyn Dixon, with North Louisiana Economic Partnership, outlined the project’s workforce expectations, noting the creation of approximately 150 permanent jobs with an average annual salary of $85,000, requiring certifications. An estimated 150 contractor positions would also be required. Hiring will be facilitated through staffing agencies, and while only five specialized contractors are qualified to perform certain aspects of the work, officials said local businesses would benefit from support services, including food providers and other contractor needs.
Attorney Michael Busada, representing the state’s economic development team, described the project as a multi-generational investment. He explained that the original $10 billion plan can expand to $30 billion to address community concerns related to noise, pollution, and environmental safeguards. Busada emphasized that no chemicals will be produced at the site, noting that the facility will house only computers and employees.
Built-in accountability measures were also discussed. Project leaders said employment levels will be reported quarterly to the state to ensure job commitments are met. If those targets are not achieved, tax incentives will be adjusted, and the difference will be owed back to the parish. This review process will occur annually. Public Service Commissioner further assured attendees that the development would not result in increased electricity rates for residents.
Infrastructure considerations were a central part of the discussion. Attorney Busada stated that extensive studies have been conducted on the electrical grid to support data center operations, and they would be responsible for 100 percent of grid-related costs. Backup generators will activate only during power outages. Water and sewer capacity were also addressed, with Chris Erickson noting that sewer upgrades will be required to support the project. He added that the development will comply fully with the Clean Water Act and that increased water usage is expected to generate additional revenue for the water department, despite seasonal fluctuations in supply.
Providing firsthand insight, Ursula Bowman shared her experience visiting a similar facility in Manassas, Virginia. She described quiet surrounding neighborhoods, minimal noise, and the presence of physical barriers separating the facility from nearby homes. Bowman emphasized that the visit was not promotional in nature and acknowledged the confidentiality requirements tied to such projects. She stated her commitment to ensuring that constituent concerns remain a priority as discussions continue.
As the meeting concluded, participants expressed a mix of cautious optimism and continued concern. While many welcomed the prospect of high-paying jobs and long-term investment, community members stressed the importance of ongoing oversight, environmental responsibility, and open communication.
Organizers noted that additional forums and updates are expected as the project moves forward, reinforcing the message that community engagement will remain a central part of the process.