Category Archives: General

Women have served an integral role in the history of the NAACP, and they continue to play a vital role today.

The story of the NAACP begins with a woman. On February 12, 1909, a white journalist and woman’s suffragist named Mary White Ovington joined with two other activists to call for a national conference on the civil and political rights of African-Americans. The ensuing conference was called the National Negro Committee, and it was soon renamed the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Ovington served as the third chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors from 1919-1934 – the highest position in the NAACP — and twice as Executive Secretary — then the highest position on the NAACP staff. She added a woman’s touch to NAACP leadership in its first few seminal decades, helping to build a strong field staff against seemingly insurmountable odds, protest racist depictions in the media like “Birth of a Nation”, and push for anti-lynching legislation.

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In Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Cecil Gaines and his son want the same thing: equal protection under the law. The film is an important reminder that there are many different ways to play a significant part in achieving that dream.

Forest Whitaker delivers a commanding performance as Cecil Gaines — the fictional character loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, who grew up on a plantation and became a butler at the White House, where he served eight consecutive presidents. Cecil is a master of his emotions and has a deep understanding of his place in the social order: whether on the farm or in the Oval Office, his job is always to be in the room without being noticed.

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This past weekend, NAACP Chairman Roslyn Brock returned to her hometown of Ft. Pierce, Florida for a Get-Out-The-Vote canvass sponsored by the NAACP and coordinated with Tamika Mallory, Executive Director at the National Action Network. Volunteers from the local chapters knocked on over 300 doors to ensure that everyone in the town was encouraged to vote on Election Day and make their voice heard.  Chairman Brock returned to her hometown because it is important to her that the people there know that their vote matters this election season.

On Election Day, please remember to go out and vote because as Chairman Brock says,  “Courage can not skip this generation!”

Watch the video below.

By L. Joy Williams

I have friends who make rallies and marches their hobby. They are experts in sign making and have special clothing including jackets with buttons that tell the story of every rally and protest they have ever participated in. I on the other hand have long ago packed away my protest jacket. Not because I disagree with the goals and merits of rallies and protests but simply because I have chosen a different path of civic action. But this Saturday, I will pull my protest jacket out of storage, put on some comfortable shoes and hit the streets to protest what is the greatest coordinated attack on voting rights since the dawn of the Jim Crow era.

Just this year alone, 34 state legislators have introduced voter suppression legislation with laws passing in 14 of those states and laws up for consideration soon in 8. New state laws such as voter ID requirements and eliminating or cutting early voting opportunities disproportionately impact people of color, students, seniors and immigrants. None of this is by accident. The attack on your right to vote has been guided by Charles and David Koch through their funding of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) who has convinced legislators to propose these oppressive laws. The Koch brothers have also contributed close to a quarter million dollars directly to candidates that support the suppression legislation.

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By Glynda C. Carr

Almost 40 years ago, Shirley Chisholm boldly declared her candidacy for president and changed the face of leadership by challenging the status quo. She once said, “I am, was, and always will be a catalyst for change.”  She made an enormous impact on women (particularly Black women) and the way they perceived political power and leadership.

If she were alive today, November 30^th would mark Chisholm’s 87^th birthday.  A daughter of immigrants – who not only aspired to transform her community but a nation – became the quintessential leader that inspired a generation of women to think and lead boldly.

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By Morgan Shannon and Jonathan Lewis

“Virginia, I want you to know that you are not invisible because I see You” – Chairman Roslyn M. Brock.

During this year’s NAACP convention, the Health Department created a “tag line” for their youth workshop entitled, Get HYPE- Healthy Young People Everywhereas a unique way to attract young health advocates and present our national health initiatives. Based on the positive feedback, we decided to expand the workshop to a national college tour designed to engage young advocates attending universities in conversations around health and civil rights. The featured speaker on this tour was our own health advocate, Chairman Roslyn M. Brock. The Chairman spoke to students on the campuses of Virginia State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and her alma mater Virginia Union University (VUU) on Monday, November 7, 2011.

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