[Nfbf-l] picking and choosing NFB policies andconstitutional requirements

[Brian Norton]

The NFB rule prohibiting dual membership apparently is still 
controversial from the numerous emails recently discussing  this topic. 
I believe that this exclusionary membership rule  has an additional  
problem, at least with regard to  its impact on the blind community of 
my small southern city of ‘Tallahassee. Unfortunately, here the chapter 
membership in the two blind organizations are divided primarily along 
separate rracial lines. Although I do not believe that either group has 
any purposeful discriminatory intent in their membership 
recruitment,and I have no knowledge of the historical roots which 
caused this result, from the viewpoint of a newcomer to these two 
beneficial and well intentioned associations, I was surprised to 
encounter such apparent racial segregation still in existence.
I was involved in civil rights litigation in North Florida 30 years ago 
when purposeful racial discrimination was more prevalent. Although the 
conservate Supreme Court has recently eroded some of the legal 
principals of discrimination, I believe that this NFB rule of exclusion 
may have a discriminatory effect and impact,  possibly in violation of 
Title 7, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Further, this exclusionary 
rule  creates an unnecessary barrier for these two admirable 
Quasi-public blind organizations progressing towards more eventual 
intergration of their social/politcal goals, purposes, and activities. 
The exclusionary rule disallowing dual membership will perpetuate 
existing de facto segregation of the Tallahassee blind community, and 
does not promote any rational purpose.
I hope that the NFB will re-evaluate its rule in light of this 
obviously racially discriminatory impact which penalizes blind persons 
choosing to socially interact with both of these diverse groups for a 
common harmonious purpose. In fact, there might be substantial benefits 
if dual membership was encouraged. Obviously, many countries easily 
manage legitimate dual citizenship without much problem, and I am 
certain the NFB can similarly reasonably accomodate dual membership 
without jeopardy. The NFB and the FCB should promote sharing, caring, 
and diversity as well as independence,, equality, and freedom, and 
eliminate rules which inhibit achievement of these goals.