Newsmaker
Monday, May 12, 1997
Name: Bennie King
Age: 53
Education: Memphis State University, UH
Position: President, Hawaii branch of NAACP
Hobby: computer chess, reading philosophy
Bennie King was a youth in Memphis when Martin Luther King Jr. came to his hometown for what turned out to be his last civil rights march. The leader was assassinated there in April 1968. African-American activism
Bennie King wasn't an activist as life took its course - college, marriage, on the move with a wife in the military and eventually, a teaching career in Hawaii. But now he finds himself in the trenches in the continuing battle for equal rights for African Americans.
King was recently elected president of the Hawaii branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Not a week goes by without a call from someone who believes that racial discrimination has reared its ugly head. A military man is accused of sexual harassment but says he is the victim. A woman in private industry is bypassed for promotion again and again in favor of someone from an "in" group. A work force is downsized and a disproportionate number of those who are let go are black.
"Mostly our role is to help them go through the process, to take the steps like filing with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, to make the appeals," said King. The local NAACP doesn't have staff lawyers, but it does refer people to attorneys.
"At least half of the calls are from the military. It seems to be open season," he said. In the wake of highly publicized military sexual misconduct cases, there are numerous harassment accusations being made, he said.
King said his goal is to move the agency beyond responding to complaints and into doing "some positive prevention. We need to be out in the mainstream." The NAACP and other African-
American organizations should get active in the community, be agents of cultural sensitivity training by interacting with others, and make themselves known as prospects for positions on government and private advisory boards so the black community's viewpoint is shared, he said.
King, a mathematics teacher at Leilehua High School since 1989, has already done some ground work in sensitivity training. He organized a students' Black Essence Club - "the intent is to teach kids how to get along with each other."
"I'm very peaceful, I believe in world peace and inner peace," he said. "I like to help people, I get benefit from that." He is one of the directors of the Hawaii State Teachers Association and has been active in the Wahiawa and Moanalua Lions clubs.
He said volunteers are welcome at the NAACP meetings at 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Palama Settlement.
Mary Adamski, Star-Bulletin
