[nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud

Mon May 18 20:13:12 UTC 2009

Jedi, the ACB isn't so cohesive as that.  Some of the Southern 
affiliates of the time did want to segregate, and they allied with 
the faction that formed the ACB since the NFB leadership opposed 
segregation.  It wasn't really a factor in the split.  It was an 
incendiary thing that made lots of noise, but it had almost nothing 
to do with the split.

Joseph

On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 12:52:29PM -0400, Jedi wrote:
> Joseph,
>
> I haven't yet been able to read People of vision, but it's definitely on 
> my reading list for this summer. I recently had to read Walking Alone and 
> Marching Together on Dr. Maurer's request. It was, forgive the pun, an 
> eye opener. Not just regarding the aCB, either.
>
> I figured that it was mostly a tit for tat issue regarding the split  
> itself. But racism? I'd heard, and I don't know how true this is, that  
> the aCB wanted segregation by race and that the NFB didn't given Jacobus 
> tenBroek's scholarly efforts in Constitutional Law. Can you confirm or 
> refute that? I doubt racism is an overt issue in either group. But given 
> that we're a cross-section of American society, it wouldn't surprise me a 
> great diel if both groups dabbled in institutional/accidental racial 
> bias.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
> Original message:
>> Jedi,
>
>> I'll add only that both versions of the history appear to be
>> accurate, or close enough to it.  The composite effect is a tit for
>> tat sort of escalation with one major systemic cause: Two factions
>> were fighting for control of the organization.  The challengers were
>> unable to wrest control from those in power.  The factions' various
>> political alliances result in a large number of proximate causes for
>> the split from racism to term limits, and everything in between.
>
>> Joseph
>
>
>> On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 11:48:45PM -0400, Jedi wrote:
>>> Jim,
>
>>> There is some long history between the NfB and ACB. It's not just about
>>> disagreements on philosophy even though philosophical differences
>>> certainly set the two organizations culturally apart.
>
>>> The first members of the ACB split from the NFB mostly because of
>>> political banter. said individuals thought that Jacobus tenBroek and
>>> others were dominating the organization. Certainly, they had a right to
>>> their views, and they certainly had a right to leave. Unfortunately,
>>> these individuals went about voicing their opinions in all the wrong
>>> ways possible including undermining the organizational structure and
>>> creating a lot of bad feelings between people who would otherwise be
>>> friends.
>
>>> In the sixties and seventies, the NFB was under siege by agencies
>>> serving the blind. these agencies were staffed by well-connected people
>>> with a lot of money and a lot of power, but not a lot of positive
>>> philosophies and knowledge about the blind. These agencies often
>>> subordinated the blind through threats and bad dealings. The NFB called
>>> these folks out, and the agencies used the ACB like an ever-loving meat
>>> shield to say "See Federation! Not all blind people agree with you!"
>>> Naturally, it was much easier for the aCB just to go along with things
>>> because they were still angry with the NfB over past political issues.
>>> And certainly, they weren't going to put themselves in the line of fire.
>
>>> Fast-forward to NAC. I don't know what you know about NAC, but it was
>>> bad bombin'. Once again, the aCB never called NAC out, but we did. Once
>>> again, NAC spoke of professionalism in services to the blind. Instead,
>>> blind folks got left with a raw deal, threats to their livelihoods and
>>> well-being (even their health in some cases), and all kinds of things. A
>>> couple folks from ACB and a few other folks with a grudge against Dr.
>>> Jernigan even brought the FBI to the Jernigans' and Maurers' doors on
>>> trumped up charges of keeping weapons and possibly starting some kind of
>>> military effort. It was insane. People were getting death threats and the
>>> whole bit. Remind me to tell the story of my own state affiliate's
>>> frustrations with the ACB sometime.
>
>>> This isn't to say that the ACB is all evil and the NFB perfectly
>>> innocent. I wasn't there to know everything. But from what I read and
>>> have observed in current ACB/NFB behavior, there's good reason for a
>>> split in the organizations. At this point, we can certainly say that
>>> there are key factors in philosopy that separate the organizations to
>>> the point where nothing good would ever get done because the two parties
>>> would be constantly feuding. Better live and let live. Both
>>> organizations have compiled their versions of history if you want these
>>> facts for yourself.
>
>>> Respectfully,
>>> Jedi
>>> Original message:
>>>> Terri and Arielle,
>
>>>> I just wanted to let you both know that one of the members of MABS is
>>>> also VP of the National Student Division of the ACB. He is adamatly
>>>> opposed to the (bordering on childish) feud that exist beteen the two
>>>> organizations.
>
>>>> I am wondering if we can't use this oppertunity to somehow begin
>>>> bringing the two organizations back together. After all, we will be
>>>> then next generation leading these two organizations, and if we can
>>>> sieze this oppertunity, maybe we students can set the example for the
>>>> "adults" within the two national organizations.
>
>>>> I wonder if a join NABS/ACB student convention would be just the
>>>> solution to begin ending this conflict?
>
>>>> Thoughts?
>>>> Jim
>
>>>> Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology."
>>>>  Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated."
>>>>  Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
>>>>  Homer: "Okay, I will!"
>
>
>
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