Founded in 1909
Founded in 1909
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded on February 12, 1909, the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. A multi-racial group of activists answered ”The Call” for a national conference in response to a vicious episode of white racist violence against Black people in Mr. Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois. The racist attack came 10 years after the prototype of such attacks, the ugly racist coup d’etat in Wilmington, N.C. in 1898. The Wilmington terrorism had been condoned and covered over by racist histories, and no one was brought to justice for it. This set the stage, throughout the next decade for similar attacks across the South. When these pogroms reached Lincoln’s hometown, it sparked enough outrage among some white progressives to put out a call to action which said, in part:
“We call upon all the believers in democracy to join in a national conference for the discussion of present evils, the voicing of protests, and the renewal of the struggle for civil and political liberty.”
Many distinguished leaders responded to this Call, including Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, and William English Walling. With many years of hard work, they and hundreds of thousands of other members have built the NAACP into the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States.
“We call upon all the believers in democracy to join in a national conference for the discussion of present evils, the voicing of protests, and the renewal of the struggle for civil and political liberty.”
Many distinguished leaders responded to this Call, including Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, and William English Walling. With many years of hard work, they and hundreds of thousands of other members have built the NAACP into the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States.
Quotes
"Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will. find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."
— Frederick Douglas
— Frederick Douglas
"My life is the direct product, if you will, of the legacy of the blood, sweat and tears of the NAACP and so today I'm particularly mindful that the NAACP has made America what it is, and certainly made my life possible and we are all grateful heirs of that legacy."
— Cornell William Brooks
— Cornell William Brooks
Our Mission
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.
Our Vision
The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination.
Objectives
The following statement of objectives is found on the first page of the NAACP Constitution - the principal objectives of the Association shall be:
1. To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens
2. To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States
3. To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes
4. To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights
5. To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination.
6.To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP's Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution.
1. To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens
2. To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States
3. To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes
4. To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights
5. To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination.
6.To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP's Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution.
Partnerships
Partnerships between the NAACP and other organizations are built on a shared vision of a fair world, free of racial discrimination and injustice, which implies solidarity beyond the implementation of specific programs and activities.
Advocacy and Issues
Founded February 12, 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s foremost, largest, and most widely recognized civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, leading grassroots campaigns for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization.
SGV NAACP Service Area
The San Gabriel Valley NAACP has a long history of working together with civic leaders, community members, businesses, and judiciaries to make our beautiful city more equitable for all.
We continue to have great success in accomplishing our goals, and we invite all to join us in this great work!
Azusa
Baldwin Park
City of Industry
Covina
Duarte
El Monte
Glendora
Hacienda Heights
Irwindale
La Puente
Monrovia
Rowland Heights
Walnut
West Covina
Whittier
We continue to have great success in accomplishing our goals, and we invite all to join us in this great work!
Azusa
Baldwin Park
City of Industry
Covina
Duarte
El Monte
Glendora
Hacienda Heights
Irwindale
La Puente
Monrovia
Rowland Heights
Walnut
West Covina
Whittier