NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
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Formation	February 12, 1909
Type	Non-profit organization
Headquarters	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Membership	N/A
Language	N/A
Leader title	President
Leader name	Derrick Johnson
Website	naacp.org

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans. The NAACP is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States.

History

The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, in response to the ongoing violence against African Americans around the country. The founding group included W. E. B. Du Bois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey, and Ida B. Wells. The organization was formed partly in response to the 1908 Springfield race riot in Illinois.

The NAACP's mission in the early 20th century was to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The organization has played a significant role in the civil rights movement, including the fight against segregation and discrimination in the United States.

Key Achievements

The NAACP has been instrumental in several landmark legal cases and civil rights actions:

• Brown v. Board of Education: The NAACP's Legal Defense and Educational Fund, led by Thurgood Marshall, successfully argued this case before the Supreme Court in 1954, which declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: The NAACP was a key player in the passage of this landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

• Voting Rights Act of 1965: The organization was also pivotal in the enactment of this law, which aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Structure and Leadership

The NAACP is structured with a national board of directors and a network of local branches and state conferences. The organization is led by a president and CEO, with Derrick Johnson currently holding this position.

The NAACP's activities are guided by its mission to "ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination."

Current Initiatives

The NAACP continues to focus on issues such as:

• Criminal Justice Reform: Advocating for fair treatment in the criminal justice system and addressing racial disparities.

• Economic Opportunity: Promoting economic sustainability and closing the racial wealth gap.

• Education: Ensuring equal access to quality education for all students.

• Health: Addressing health disparities and promoting access to affordable healthcare.

Also see

• Civil Rights Movement
• Thurgood Marshall
• W. E. B. Du Bois
• Ida B. Wells
• Springfield Race Riot of 1908