Jealous, 35, bravely plunged ahead in what was his first speech before the NAACP’s annual gathering since he was voted into his new position, becoming the youngest person to take the helm of the 99-year-old advocacy organization.

“Change is difficult for a lot of people…but it’s time for us to move on.”

The crowd’s response—a mixture of smattering applause and awkward silences interspersed with bursts of shouted support and hand claps—reflected wariness of the relatively unknown activist and lingering tension over the 64-member Board of Directors’ controversial choice.

Jealous’ selection by a vote of 34-20 in a long, contentious debate that lasted into early morning, was met by consternation and anger by some, especially among older, establishment members and the clergy, a fraternity from which the organization has often culled its leaders and to whom Jealous’ chief rival, Rev. Frederick Haynes III, belonged.

The Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Chapter, the group’s

largest, and a national board member said in a press release at the time that

though Jealous possessed great potential, he “was not my first choice.”

“The first choice for me was Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Pastor

of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas,” he continued.  

Other comments were less gracious.

Very early in his speech, Jealous extended an olive branch to his former

opponents.  “Let me acknowledge the civil and social rights leaders from

outside this organization who are with us today and the many clergy who are

here with us, including my new friend the Rev. Dr. Fred Haynes,” he said.

“Who would have thought it would come down to two boys from California,” he added in a comment met with low murmurings.

He picked back up the baton. “Freddie and I have had several conversations and we’re both looking forward to working together,” he said, and that was met with more robust applause. Haynes, himself, got into the spirit when he walked over to Jealous’ wife, Lia Epperson and bussed her on the cheek.

Jealous has been working hard to breach the divide between him and the religious members of the old guard, since they are integral to the work of the organization.

Last week, he met with leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the premier African-American denominations, at their 48^th Quadrennial General Conference in St. Louis.   He told the AFRO there: “We have a crisis in our schools, we have a crisis in our job market, we have a crisis in our criminal justice system and then they’re all linked….it’s a vicious cycle and we need to break that cycle.”  He added:  “We will need the help of every church in the country to boost our membership back up and to get our work done this fall. We want to make sure we get as many people registered to vote as possible.”

Jealous’ footing seems to be bolstered by Board Chairman Julian Bond and Interim President and CEO Dennis Hayes. Both men flanked Jealous when he came to the stage, pausing for a few minutes to take photos but also in a show of support.  In his speech the night before, Bond praised Jealous for his devotion to civil rights.  “Our nation and our association stand on the brink of new leadership. It remains to be seen whether the nation will opt for the visionary and the vibrant, but the NAACP already has,” he said. “The man we’ve chosen as our new CEO-designate knows all about organization—he organized his first voter registration drive when he was 14 years old; he has devoted all of his professional life to the issues and causes that are the mission of the NAACP.”

And in his introduction Monday, Bond gave a rundown of Jealous’ curriculum vitae: his role as president of  the Rosenberg Foundation, a grant-making organization that provides economic support to working people in California; his work with Amnesty International, particularly on the issues of racial profiling and sentencing disparities; his work in 1991 as a community organizer with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where he worked on health care access in Harlem; his belonging to a family with a five-generation membership in the NAACP; his serving as managing editor of the Black newspaper, The Jackson Advocate (that one elicited a shout of approval from someone that was clearly from Mississippi); his work with the NNPA, a coalition of 200-plus Black-owned newspapers and more.

Hayes, too, urged members to bury the animosity and unite behind the new leader.  “Some changes are necessary to withstand the future challenges we must face. [And] we must not let personal feelings get in the way of the work of the NAACP,” he said. “Let’s stand behind Mr. Benjamin Todd Jealous,” he added. “As the new member of our family, he is entrusted into our love and care.”  Jealous’ speech, which warmed up and became more fervent in the end, was met by respectable applause. Many attendees seemed willing to give Mr. Jealous a chance, except for this one man who walked out of the auditorium muttering, “He hasn’t won me over yet.”

Younger delegates were pumped by the young leader.  “I think he’s a great guy to lead the NAACP through many more years of our movement,” said Alyssa Forde, 17, of New Britain, Conn. “I think he will be able to focus on the youth and involve the youth instead of just going to adults.”

Pauline David, youth advisor for the New Britain Harriet Tubman Youth Council, said she was “excited” and “fired up” after Jealous’ address.

“He renewed our spirits so we’re fired up and ready to go. We know we have a struggle ahead of us but I think under his leadership and direction—a new man with new ideas—that we can go as far as the stars. We need somebody like him to lead the organization,” she said then added, “Change is difficult for a lot of people…but it’s time for us to move on.”

Some pinned their hopes on Jealous’ ability to bring younger people back into the fold.  “I think he’s good to bring young blood into the organization,” said Bernest Hawett, of North Carolina.

Still, most are like James Waters, 66, of New Jersey, encouraged somewhat by what they heard from and learned about the new NAACP chief but wanting to “wait and see.”  “His speech was outstanding and his presentation outreaching. I did not know a lot about him [but] I view him a lot more favorably now that I’ve heard him,” he said.  Waters said as someone who experienced Jim Crow and more overt discrimination he had had reservations about Jealous’ ability to lead the fight for equality and social justice.  “It wasn’t about age; you have to wonder about experience and how they relate to civil rights issues,” he said. “I think we [veterans] have to turn the baton over to young people at some point. You young people are our future and we’re going to have to entrust that mantle to you but you’ve got to win us over.”