NAACP Breaks 75-Year Tradition — Snubs Trump, Sparks Firestorm Over Civil Rights and Power

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Real 4-1-1. I’m Dr. Chelsea McGee, and today, we’re talking about a decision that’s got a lot of people fired up—maybe even a little rattled. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has just broken a 75-year tradition by not inviting President Trump to its one hundredth 16th National Convention. That’s right. From Truman to Obama to Biden, every sitting president has been invited—until now. And this isn’t just a snub for the sake of headlines. There’s a lot more going on here, and it’s about civil rights, democracy, and, honestly, who gets a seat at the table. We’re going to dig into why this matters, what it signals for the future of civil rights in 2025, and how it connects to other fights—like the environmental justice battle happening right now in Memphis. If you’ve been listening to this show, you know we don’t just stop at the headline. We connect the dots—public health, power, and protests. So, let’s get into it.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Before we get into The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's decision, I want to talk about what’s happening in Memphis, because it’s all connected. If you missed our episode on Elon Musk’s xAI project in Memphis, let me catch you up really quick. xAI, Musk’s company, set up a massive data center in South Memphis—right in the heart of Boxtown, a historically Black neighborhood. And to power this thing, they installed thirty-five methane gas turbines. Here’s the kicker: they did it without any permits. Not one. The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, just sent xAI a notice of intent to sue under the Clean Air Act. Why? Because these turbines are pumping out pollution—formaldehyde, smog nitric oxide, all the stuff that’s tied to asthma, heart disease, and even cancer. And Boxtown already faces a cancer risk four times the national average. I mean, it’s not like this is new. These communities have been overburdened with pollution for decades—oil refineries, steel mills, you name it. I remember during my residency, working in Memphis clinics, I’d see kids coming in with asthma attacks all the time. We’d treat them, send them home, and then they’d be back a week later. It was like a revolving door. And now, with xAI’s turbines running full blast, it’s just more of the same—big corporations treating Black neighborhoods like they’re invisible. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are not having it. They’re fighting back, and honestly, it’s about time.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

So, let’s talk about this convention. First, let's hear from the President of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. For 116 years, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has invited every sitting president—Democrat, Republican, didn’t matter. Harry Truman was the first, way back in 1947. Even presidents who clashed with The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's mission—like Reagan or George W. Bush—showed up, sometimes after a lot of criticism. But this year, Derrick Johnson, president of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said enough is enough. He laid it out: Trump’s actions on civil rights, democracy, and especially his rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion—DEI—are just too much. Johnson said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “This isn’t about party. Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president’s mission is to eliminate them.” The White House, of course, fired back, saying The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is just promoting hate and division, and that Trump is focused on uniting the country. But let’s be real—this is about more than just a speech. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is drawing a line in the sand. And it’s happening at a time when, weirdly enough, Trump’s support among Black men is actually rising. Some polls show he doubled his share of Black voters compared to 2020, especially among younger Black men. So, what does this mean for The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's mission? For its relationship with Black voters? I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this: you can’t claim to stand for civil rights and then invite someone who’s actively working against them. That’s not how you build trust—or power.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

And it’s not just about the convention. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has been in the trenches, legally and politically, fighting Trump-era policies that target DEI, voting rights, and even the Department of Education. They’ve filed lawsuits to block the administration from cutting federal funding to schools that keep DEI programs. They’re challenging executive orders that, frankly, are designed to roll back decades of civil rights progress. And then there’s the SAVE Act—this so-called “election integrity” law that would require passports or birth certificates to register to vote. Sounds neutral, but in practice, it’s a way to disenfranchise millions, especially in communities of color. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are also pushing for the convention to be a “safe space”—not just a slogan, but a real commitment to multiracial democracy. I’ve followed some of these lawsuits closely, not just as a doctor but as an advocate. I remember one case—can’t remember the docket number, but it was about Medicaid access and hospital closures in the South. The stakes were so personal. Patients I’d seen in my own clinic were suddenly at risk of losing care because of policy decisions made hundreds of miles away. That’s what’s on the line here. It’s not just about politics—it’s about real people, real lives, and whether or not we’re going to let these rollbacks stand.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

If today’s episode helped you see the bigger picture, do me a favor—like, comment, subscribe, all that good stuff. And share this with someone who still thinks The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is just about speeches and photo ops. Because it’s about power, resistance, and legacy. We’ll keep following these stories, connecting the dots, and asking the hard questions. Remember—The Real 4-1-1: Because the story is never just the headline. See you next time.