NAACP Opposes the Screening Process which has Restricted Access to Afri

WHEREAS, for NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization standing on the principles of equal justice, freedom and equality for all; and

WHEREAS, correctional institutions like the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan have faced cultural bias when they have attempted to access African American literature, to purchase and read; and

WHEREAS, correctional institutions' house disproportionate numbers of African Americans who are incarcerated while the reading material and publications do not reflect the demographics of the correctional institution's population; and

WHEREAS, books authored by Caucasians like Jackie Collins, Fabio and many others are widely available throughout correctional institutions promoting subject matter like infidelity, deception, murder, rape and robbery, among other socially deviant issues; and

WHEREAS, correctional institutions librarians and the library resources often do not reflect the cultural values which are significant for the correctional institution's population; and

WHEREAS, public and private correctional institutions and all governmental agencies have the duty to address cultural fairness in policy- making, purchases and literary resources in a non-discriminatory manner to promote the rich cultural heritage of African Americans who are overly represented in the correctional institutions; and

WHEREAS, the current screening process of correctional institutions at the Lakeland Correctional Facility and others nationwide pose restrictions to African American literature and has resulted in a cultural bias that has blocked access to African American literature, publications and newspapers.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP units oppose the lack of African American literature and cultural resources in correctional institutions nationally, and that the NAACP units will increase its efforts to render assistance to those housed in correctional institutions to promote fair, equitable, non-discriminatory policies with respect to African American literature, African American librarians, African American publications and African American cultural resources in a manner consistent with the demographics reflected in the correctional facilities.