The face of the NAACP is changing.

Over the past few years, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has pushed an aggressive effort to boost membership and broaden its agenda. Now many leadership positions that were once held by blacks are being filled with members of other racial and ethnic groups.

The chapter in Aiken, S.C., recently elected a white man as its leader. Other chapters, including one in Mississippi, have also elected white leaders. Last year, a New Jersey branch outside of Atlantic City chose a Honduran immigrant as its leader, and this month members of the Worcester, Mass., chapter made headlines when they elected a 28-year-old openly gay black man to lead them.

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The civil rights organization was founded over a century ago to promote equality for minorities. Now under the leadership of Chair Benjamin Jealous, the organization is also taking on the cause of fighting for the rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

Some fear the NAACP’s broadened agenda and increased diversity will water down its identity and cause the organization to lose focus on problems facing the black community.

QUESTION: Do you think a white man can effectively lead the NAACP?

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