A new generation of warriors is working to ensure the battle for civil and racial justice continues.
Among young people working to level the playing field and standing up for themselves and others is Edward E. James III, newly elected president of the Sarasota County Branch NAACP Youth Chapter.
The 18-year-old scholar, the third generation in his family to lead the community's fight for justice, is a three-sport athlete and a senior at Pine View School. Known to many by his nickname, E, his résumé is already packed, but one of his most distinguished is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People leadership role.
"Young Ed James was elected president from a group of strong candidates vying for the presidency as well as all of the offices in the Youth Chapter," said Trevor Harvey, Sarasota County Branch NAACP president. "Ed is an intelligent, highly motivated youngster with a real commitment to social justice issues."
James received the branch's first "Rising Star" award at the annual Freedom Awards Banquet in 2005 and is a graduate of the Sarasota County NAACP Leadership Academy, founded in 1999 by Dr. Judy Wilcox and others to develop leadership skills of local students.
"A Youth Chapter ensures that the leadership of tomorrow in the county NAACP is knowledgeable, committed, informed about the issues and serious about making a better tomorrow than the one they inherited," Wilcox said.
Other NAACP Youth Chapter officers include Booker High School junior Jasmine Watson, vice president; Riverview High junior Raven Cokley, secretary; and Pine View sophomore Augustine Obi, treasurer.
James said the Youth Chapter plans to make its presence known throughout the Sarasota community. The group's first major project, in conjunction with the adult branch, will be running a voter's registration drive on Dec. 15.
"We expect Ed will continue to serve his community in the tradition of his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, all life members of the NAACP," Harvey said.
James' other accomplishments include being a semifinalist in domestic extemporaneous speaking and a quarter finalist in foreign extemporaneous speaking at the University of Florida's National Blue Key Debate Tournament last month.
For the past two summers, he worked at the office of the public defender of the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Fifth District Court Judge Emerson Thompson selected James to be a student observer at the National Bar Association's annual convention in Orlando during the summer of his freshman year.
James' legal experience has him considering a career in law to enhance his civil rights work.
"Upon graduation, I plan on attending a four-year university, and thereafter attending law school," James said. "I am extremely interested in labor law because the basic premise of this branch of law is to protect the interest of the proletariat, working-class people. I plan on dedicating my life to serving people, thus I hope to one day represent my fellow Americans by becoming an elected official on the state or even the national level."
James describes himself as a driven man who has persevered because of the positive role models around him.
"Whether it was my parents, my grandmother, my teachers, or people in the community," he said, "all those who've influenced me have helped me mature into the person I am today."
For Ed and Helen James, years of shuttling their son between academic, sports, community and church activities are paying off.
"As parents, you always strive to provide opportunities for your child's success, and be supportive of all of their endeavors," Helen James said. "I truly believe that when parents are supportive, children succeed. We feel blessed."
His father said, "The gift of a child is God's special grace and favor which ought never be taken for granted. We have always tried to instill in Edward a sense of responsible decision making, and he has not let us down. We thank God daily for this special blessing."
This article was provided by: Herald Tribune
written by:Yvette Kimm
