John McDonald

The death of John McDonald, president of the Los Angeles branch of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, is a loss to the civil rights movement as well as to the local chapter.

In two short years as the leader of the Los Angeles branch, McDonald showed that the NAACP and blacks have young leaders capable of changing local prospects for black youth. He also showed despondent blacks that the NAACP is not dead, and that energetic leadership is the answer to lack of support and progress for blacks, who still have to fight for equality.

McDonald’s leadership, cut short by death, should inspire other black businessmen that it takes more than complaining about the lack of equal opportunities--that it takes sweat and aggressiveness, not hand-wringing and complaints.

Those of us who worked with him from the day he announced his intention to be elected president of the Los Angeles chapter felt he had the drive and initiative to make the changes needed to make the chapter one of the best in the country, and if given this position, he could encourage a large portion of the black community to believe that the NAACP deserved their support.

McDonald left some large shoes to be filled. He will be greatly missed by both the black and white communities. As in the case of Martin Luther King Jr., the job will not be easy. Blacks need the NAACP more than ever, and must support its leaders.

EDWARD L. KUSSMAN Pacoima Kussman is past president of the San Fernando NAACP.