The NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, stands as a cornerstone in the fight for civil rights and social justice in the United States. Founded in 1909, it has played a pivotal role in dismantling segregation, combating discrimination, and advocating for the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all people. But What Is The Naacp beyond a name? Let’s delve into its origins, evolution, and enduring legacy.
The seeds of the NAACP were sown in the aftermath of a brutal race riot in Springfield, Illinois, in 1908. This event, coupled with the pervasive violence and lynching targeting African Americans, galvanized a group of concerned citizens to action. This group, comprised of white liberals such as Mary White Ovington and Oswald Garrison Villard, along with prominent African American activists like W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Mary Church Terrell, issued a call for a national meeting to address racial injustice.
On February 12, 1909, the NAACP was officially established. Mirroring the aims of Du Bois’ Niagara Movement, the NAACP’s core mission was to ensure that all individuals, especially minority groups, enjoyed the rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments promised an end to slavery, equal protection under the law, and the right to vote, respectively. The NAACP dedicated itself to eliminating racial prejudice and removing all barriers to equality through democratic processes.
Early Years and Growth
The NAACP established its national office in New York City in 1910, forming a board of directors and appointing Moorfield Storey, a white constitutional lawyer, as its first president. Other prominent early members included Joel and Arthur Spingarn, Josephine Ruffin, and Mary Talbert. Despite its commitment to multiracialism, W. E. B. Du Bois was the sole African American among the organization’s original executives. He became the director of publications and research, establishing The Crisis, the NAACP’s influential magazine, in 1910.
By 1913, the NAACP had expanded, establishing branches in cities like Boston, Baltimore, Kansas City, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Detroit. Membership surged, growing from approximately 9,000 in 1917 to around 90,000 in 1919, with over 300 local branches.
Joel Spingarn played a crucial role in the NAACP’s growth, formulating strategies that fostered the organization’s expansion. James Weldon Johnson became the Association’s first black executive secretary in 1920, and Louis T. Wright was appointed chairman in 1934.
Early legal victories, such as the 1910 Guinn v. States case that challenged discriminatory voting laws in Oklahoma, solidified the NAACP’s reputation as a powerful legal advocate. The organization also effectively utilized publicity, notably in its 1915 campaign against D. W. Griffith’s film Birth of a Nation, which promoted racist stereotypes.
Fighting Against Lynching
Eradicating lynching became a top priority for the NAACP. For three decades, the organization tirelessly fought against this heinous crime, engaging in legislative battles, gathering data, organizing protests, and creating impactful artistic works. The NAACP championed the Dyer Bill, a federal law that would have penalized those involved in lynching, but it was ultimately defeated in the Senate in 1922. Despite failing to secure federal anti-lynching legislation, the NAACP’s efforts, including the report “Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889-1919,” are credited with significantly reducing the incidence of lynching.
Legal Advocacy and the Civil Rights Era
In 1930, Walter F. White succeeded Johnson as executive secretary. White’s research on lynching and his successful opposition to the nomination of segregationist Judge John J. Parker to the U.S. Supreme Court marked significant achievements.
Under White’s leadership, the NAACP entered a period of remarkable legal advocacy. The Margold Report (1930) laid the groundwork for overturning the “separate but equal” doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). In 1935, Charles H. Houston, as NAACP chief counsel, developed the legal strategy that ultimately led to Thurgood Marshall’s victory in the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
During the Great Depression, the NAACP focused on economic justice, collaborating with the Congress of Industrial Organizations to create job opportunities for African Americans. White also worked with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt to address job discrimination in the armed forces and defense industries.
By the 1950s, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, led by Thurgood Marshall, played a key role in achieving legal victories against segregation. The NAACP’s Washington, D.C., bureau, under Clarence M. Mitchell Jr., contributed to the passage of landmark civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1964, and 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, while embracing direct action strategies, benefited from the NAACP’s legal and financial support. The NAACP provided legal representation and bail for activists involved in the Freedom Rides and other protests.
Roy Wilkins, who succeeded White as leader of the NAACP, collaborated with A. Philip Randolph and other organizations to organize the historic 1963 March on Washington. The following year, the Association achieved a monumental victory with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The NAACP Today
Throughout its history, the NAACP has relied on the support of countless individuals, including prominent figures like Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne, and Jackie Robinson. Today, the NAACP continues its work through its 2,200 chapters, advocating for justice and equality in areas such as education, economic opportunity, and criminal justice reform.
As de facto segregation, job discrimination, and urban poverty persist, the NAACP’s role remains critical. The organization is committed to creating a future where justice, equity, and freedom are a reality for all.
The NAACP’s enduring legacy lies in its unwavering commitment to fighting for the rights of all people and its tireless pursuit of a more just and equitable society. The answer to what is the NAACP is not just an organization, but a movement, a history, and a hope for a better future.
