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National Association For The Advancement Of Colored

People Essay, Research Paper


National Association for the Advancement of Colored People


Born from the Niagara Movement, led by William E. B. DuBois, the NAACP


has had a volatile birth and a lively history (Beifuss 17:E4). The impetus for


the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People


came in the summer of 1908. Severe race riots in Springfield, Illinois,


prompted William English Walling to write articles questioning the treatment of


the Negro. Reading the articles, Mary White Ovington and Dr. Henry Moskowitz


were compelled to meet with Walling. Consequently, the three along with a group


of black and white citizens had considered the present state of the Negro,


disfranchised in the South and taxed while going unrepresented in the


government, a national conference needed to be held to answer the “Negro


Question” (Jenkins). It was then that the idea of NAACP was created.


February 12, 1909, Lincoln’s birthday, a conference to review the


progress that the nation made since Emancipation Proclamation and to celebrate


Lincoln’s birthday took place; Thereupon, a statement, now known as “The Call”,


was released. This statement reiterated the treatment of the black race since


1865. Many notable figures in history signed “The Call” , e.g., Ida Wells


Barnett, Jane Adams, W.E.B. DuBois and John Dewey. In a matter of two months,


another conference was held. As a result of that conference, the NAACP was born.


A distinct factor of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored


People, which set it apart from its congruent movement, the Niagara Movement,


was involvement of both races. The early success was due in large part to the


interracial membership (Franklin 91). A large part of the membership consisted


of white socialist and liberals (Franklin). For some time the NAACP was white-


led. In time the Association became black dominated; Specifically, under the


guidance of James Weldon Johnson. During the rule of Johnson, the NAACP began to


form its reputation for using litigation. Although many of the NAACP’s landmark


cases did not occur until the 1950’s and 1960’s, the foundation was laid in the


1920’s and 1930’s. In short the National Association for the Advancement of


Co

lored People transformed from a white dominated, infantile organization too


the first black led organization, which influenced Congressional legislation


under Harding’s administration. During the next twenty years, the NAACP would be


embattled in court cases which changed the face of America. One of the landmark


cases that occurred, Brown v. Board was argued by lead attorney Thurgood


Marshall (Lang F12). Another case which created opportunities for blacks, was


Open Housing Act of 1968. Under this law it became illegal to refuse to sell


property solely based on race. Since that time in which the blacks truly gained


their civil rights, the NAACP tried to register 3 million voters throughout the


South (Jenkins). Indeed the most productive period of National Association for


the Advancement of Colored People in the courts was the 1950’s and 1960’s. As


civil rights that the NAACP and leaders fought for, were attained. The


involvement of the Association in the courts decreased. However, the NAACP


played a key role in persuading the United States to pose economic sanctions


against South Africa (Lang F12). In the past decade the NAACP made it presence


known during the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1988 (Lang). Besides these


two major examples, NAACP spent most of its time dealing with retirement of


Benjamin L. Hooks and finding an adequate replacement. Furthermore, the


Association was plagued with internal scorn, lack of leadership and scandals


that drove the NAACP into debt. For example, Benjamin Chavis’s wasteful


spending and using $324,400 of NAACP funds as hush money in a sexual


discrimination suit, cost him his job (Cose 27). Despite the above, a new


executive leader was chosen which gives promise to the future of the NAACP.


Everly Evers, spouse of the late Medger Evers who was the NAACP’s field


secretary during the 1950’s, brought a fresh blood into the NAACP. The focus of


the Association shifted from civil rights to personal gains; in all, the future


of the NAACP is similar to its beginning, uncertain. In a personal opinion,


future depends upon the competency of Mrs. Evers, her independence, and her


ability to surround herself with people that are able to provide leadership to


an organization that once led.

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