While most of the media naturally focused on the speeches by Senators Barack Obama and John McCain at last week's NAACP convention in Cincinnati, Sprawl-Busters founder Al Norman says that Wal-Mart was the subject of the most intense debate. In the end, the NAACP passed a resolution calling on Wal-Mart to address several aspects of its socially irresponsible business model. Here's the full text of NAACP Resolution #14:

Oppose Wal-mart and Other Retailers Unfair Labor Practices Resolved: That the NAACP will challenge Wal-Mart and other retailers to overcome any of their practices that are inconsistent with the highest standards of Labor and Civil Rights, to ensure equal opportunity and equal pay for Women, people of color and other minorities, and work with local communities to effectively address Wal-Mart's and other retailers negative impact on issues like the environment and local businesses, and establish a 'Buy American' program that annually increases the percentage of 'Made in America' goods purchased by Wal-Mart and Other retailers to help protect American Jobs.

Norman points out that Wal-Mart has donated extensively to the NAACP as a PR move to improve its image among the African American community. The NAACP should be commended for taking a strong stand against Wal-Mart's terrible business practices despite this fact.

According to the NAACP, African Americans contribute $700 billion to the American economy every year. The NAACP, and all Americans for that matter, are right to demand that giant corporations like Wal-Mart behave responsibly in exchange for profiting so handsomely from American workers and consumers. Until Wal-Mart cleans up its act, I hope more and more organizations follow in the NAACP's footsteps in calling on Wal-Mart to do better.