NAACP Branch Regains Autonomy but Loses Show

The 3,000-member Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch of the NAACP, which for two years has operated as the stepchild of the national organization, has won back its autonomy. But the local branch has lost a fight with the national leadership over who should run the NAACP Image Awards show, which the Hollywood membership began 23 years ago to honor black entertainers.

In October, 1989, the national organization took control of the chapter after officials described it as being in a state of “paralysis.” Branch leaders later resigned and a new board of directors took office.

“It was no longer desirable to keep the chapter under administratorship,” said William F. Gibson, board chairman of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People. He said the initial reasons for taking control were “an internal matter.”