Scientology's NAACP Awards

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People  is the United States' premier civil rights organization. Why would it bestow awards on the Church of Scientology, an inherently racist organization, and one with little regard for its own members' civil rights?

L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology's "Source", was a product of his time, when racial attitudes were dramatically different. His writing reflects that. Prejudices of youth can be forgiven, except when they continue into maturity as Hubbard's did. It's noteworthy that many historical events of the Civil Rights Movement occurred during Hubbard's most prolific period of religious development, yet are completely ignored. It's an odd omission for a Church whose creed proclaims "that all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights". Instead, Hubbard busied himself with an uninvited "tentative constitution" for Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe) that would have ensured the continuation of white supremacy.

Today, Scientology's racism is covert. It is dressed in sweetness and light, covered over by slick PR and claims of universal acceptance. But the racism is as real as the Church's immediate and energetic attacks on negative publicity.

Hubbard's racism lives on in Scientology's immutable scriptures. Society changes, but the Church cannot, and therefore gives official sanction to prejudice and discrimination.

From International Scientology News, August 1997 (also see Scientology's Freedom Magazine  [Links added -ed.K]:

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), among the most prominent and influential civil rights organizations in the world, recently honored the Church of Scientology for providing and implementing the most effective solutions to rampant illiteracy, with LRH Study Tech through the World Literacy Crusade . In recognition of Scientology's contribution, the NAACP presented the church with two of its most distinguished awards.

The awards, named after NAACP founding fathers, are presented only when the occasion arises - not an annual affair. When the NAACP recently bestowed five awards, two were presented to members of the Church of Scientology.

Mr. Heber Jentzsch was presented with the "Roy Wilkins Distinguished Leadership Award" for his decades of support and contributions to the African-American community, through the forwarding of LRH tech. As the International Spokesman for the World Literacy Crusade, IAS Lifetime Member Isaac Hayes was awarded the "James Weldon Johnson Award" for his contributions to advancing the cause of human rights and improving education and living standards.

Following the presentations, The Western Regional Director of the NAACP, Ernestine Peters, told the audience she had one more award to present. This was the "Dr. W.E.B. DuBois Award," one of the most distinguished the NAACP bestows. It was presented to L. Ron Hubbard who, in Ms. Peters' words, is "the man behind this all — a man who has made this all possible. A man who has done so much around the world to help our people and all people in all areas of life, all over the world."