As the NAACP celebrates 100 years of dreams, struggles and success, we honor them as we reflect on its history, past and future. Founded in 1909, largely as a response to lynchings and race riots, the founders of the NAACP were fed up with the seemingly indifferent Northern US and saw the need to organize a national conference to speak out against the racial injustice in the United States.
Over the years the NAACP was active through sit-ins (like the NC A&T students in 1960) demonstrations and legal influence for such laws such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and the voting rights act.
As the socio-political environment has changed, the NAACP has changed and even struggled at times be what the current civil rights movement needs. Today, many are questioning the need for and relevance of the NAACP as an organization in light of the election of an African-American US President. Yes, it is still necessary even though the needs of the civil rights movement have matured through several generations. We have gone from a need for entitlement to empowerment, from black inclusion to global inclusion, from activist to advocate to educator.
Think about how the NAACP has directly impacted your life...no matter who you are, you may be surprised at the impact this organization has had on your life as it is today.
