DIVERSITY WATCH : Honoring All

The National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, synonymous with advocacy for African-Americans, embraced the diversity of Los Angeles this week when it honored Bong Hwan Kim, a young Korean-American leader, and Edward James Olmos, the Latino actor and community activist.

Before--and after--the riots Kim co-chaired the Black Korean Alliance, which worked to repair tense relations between Koreans and African-Americans. He continues to advocate the concept of civil rights for all in his post as executive director of the Korean Youth and Community Center.

During the riots, Olmos picked up a broom--and lifted the city’s spirit. Others were happy to join him in sweeping the streets and soon, thousands--Latinos, Asians, whites and blacks--worked side by side picking up debris during massive community cleanups in the riot zones.

The salute, organized by the western region of the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, also paid homage to the NAACP’s retired executive director, the Rev. Benjamin L. Hooks, a champion of the movement. He led the NAACP during difficult years when civil rights was not high on the nation’s political agenda. Despite a sometimes hostile environment in Washington during Hooks’ tenure, the NAACP won legal and congressional victories that helped safeguard equal opportunity in schools and the workplace. All minorities have benefited.

Civil rights are no longer a matter of black and white in America. The NAACP is right to salute the diversity.