by Sharelle B. McNair
August 15, 2025
Aaron Mair, who served as the primary Black president of the board, stated Jealous has been “a sufferer of racism, white privilege and white victimhood.”
Civil rights activist and founding father of the Nationwide Motion Community (NAN) is looking on the Sierra Membership, an environmental group to behave in “good-faith” and host a mediation with Ben Jealous, the group’s first former Black government in its 130-year existence, after he feels Jealous’s firing will spark racial implications, in keeping with a press launch shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Sharpton is looking for an impartial mediation to happen between each Jealous and the Sierra Membership following a overview of the state of affairs, feeling “one other set of eyes is required to look at what has gone on right here. “I’m troubled by the Sierra Membership’s method wherein they parted methods with Ben Jealous, a person who has carried himself with dedication, professionalism, and integrity within the time I’ve identified him,” Sharpton stated in an announcement.
“There are severe racial implications in firing a Black man of Ben’s caliber, on this style, at a time when variety is beneath assault. It additionally runs counter to the Sierra Membership’s personal precept of eradicating racism.”
The group has failed to stipulate particulars on the explanations behind Jealous’s firing after being on the Sierra Membership since early 2023. The previous chief of Individuals for the American Approach and the NAACP was introduced on after Sierra’s former chief, Michael Brune, stepped down in 2021 amid sustained requires the group to intensify variety amongst its management.
Shortly after, the group was flooded with complaints about Jealous from staff and the Membership’s workers union, Progressive Employees Union (PWU), in keeping with E&E Information. After taking up a $40 million price range deficit, the chief introduced layoffs shortly after arriving, leading to a public spat between Jealous and workers members.
Whereas members of the PWU’s Black, Indigenous, and Individuals of Shade Caucus despatched a letter to the Membership’s board of administrators pushing issues concerning Jealous’s management, Aaron Mair, who served as the primary Black president of the board, stated Jealous has been “a sufferer of racism, white privilege, and white victimhood.” He seemingly agrees with Sharpton’s sentiments, labeling Jealous as “knowledgeable” who used his tenure as government director to take care of the group’s fiduciary situation. “He was fired for stabilizing this group,” Mair stated.
Again in a 2023 interview, Jealous stated PWU was “attacking the model of this group for years” and accused the union of sending reporters to leaders with “a number of lies” that “comply with racist tropes about Black management.” The previous gubernatorial candidate for the state of Maryland known as their techniques “uniquely harmful.”
Sharpton desires to convey each events to the desk to hopefully attain a decision. “Whether or not it’s myself or one other trusted third-party, somebody clearly should step in to convey a decision to this difficulty,” the NAN president stated.
“We should always as a substitute deal with making this planet cleaner and more healthy. I urge the Sierra Membership to come back to the desk and put this chapter behind all of us so we are able to get again to that shared mission.”
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