The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP) faces implosion after the former chair of the political committee allegedly embezzled more than $60,000 of the money raised to support candidates endorsed by the political committee.
Floyd McKissick, Jr., the chair of the group founded in 1935 to address issues impacting Durham’s Black residents, led a process that involved contracting the services of Lolita A. Wynn, a Durham certified public accountant, to measure the damage.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating the findings of the report. The name of the accused is not being disclosed by the Rev-elution to honor the process of the investigation until the DCABP makes an official public statement.
Key members of the leadership team resigned during the May 19 meeting of the political committee citing a lack of transparency since the accusation of embezzlement in January.
While the SBI investigate the case, members of the DCABP haven’t seen Wynn’s report. McKissick claims the right to protect the person accused during an ongoing investigation.
“This evening, I resigned as Vice Chair of the Durham Committee of the Affairs of Black People PAC,” Donald Hughes posted on his Facebook page. “The PAC Chair, former Mayor Elaine O’Neal, also resigned this evening.”
Hughes shares the reason for his decision.
“So much has happened since being sworn in a few months ago, but it boils down to disrespect and undermining by Floyd McKissick – Chair of the Durham Committee of the Affairs of Black People general body,” said Hughes.
DCABP Housing Committee Chair Jacqueline Wagstaff (Hughes' mother), and former Durham County Commissioner Nimasheena Burns resigned from their leadership roles.
“I honor your voices and your choices,” said Stella Adams, former chair of the housing committee, on her Facebook page. “I look forward to working with you as we continue to find ways to improve the lives of the Black community.”
McKissick defeated Larry Hall, a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to become chair of the DCABP. Within days of his installation, McKissick faced unravelling the controversy that may sidetrack the work of the political committee in upcoming elections.
