1900 - 1918 |
1920 - 1922 |
1930 - 1939
1940 - 1948 |
1960 - 1979 |
1980 - 1989
1990 - 1999 |
2000 - Present
1909
On February 12th The National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People was founded by a multiracial group of activists,
who answered "The Call," in the New York City, NY. They initially called themselves the National
Negro Committee.
FOUNDERS
Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington,
Oswald Garrison Villiard, William English Walling led the "Call"
to renew the struggle for civil and political liberty.
1910
In the face of intense adversity, the NAACP begins its legacy of
fighting legal battles addressing social injustice with the Pink
Franklin case, which involved a Black farmhand, who unbeknowingly
killed a policeman in self-defense when the officer broke into his
home at 3 a.m. to arrest him on a civil charge. After losing at
the Supreme Court, the following year the renowned NAACP official
Joel Spingarn and his brother Arthur start a concerted effort to
fight such cases.
1913
President Woodrow Wilson officially introduces segregation into
the Federal Government. Horrified that President would sanction
such a policy, the NAACP launched a public protest.
1915
The NAACP organizes a nationwide protest D.W. Griffiths racially-inflammatory
and bigoted silent film, "Birth of a Nation."
1917
In Buchanan vs. Warley, the Supreme Court has to concede that states
can not restrict and officially segregate African Americans into
residential districts. Also, the NAACP fights and wins the battle
to enable African Americans to be commissioned as officers in World
War I. Six hundred officers are commissioned, and 700,000 register
for the draft..
1918
After persistent pressure by the NAACP, President Woodrow Wilson
finally makes a public statement against lynching.
1920
To ensure that everyone, especially the Klan, knew that the NAACP
would not be intimidated, the annual conference was held in Atlanta,
considered one of the most active Klan areas.
1922
In an unprecedented move, the NAACP places large ads in major newspapers
to present the facts about lynching.
1930
The first of successful protests by the NAACP against Supreme Court
justice nominees is launched against John Parker, who officially
favored laws that discriminated against African Americans.
1935
NAACP lawyers Charles Houston and Thurgood Marshall win the legal
battle to admit a black student to the University of Maryland.
1939
After the Daughters of the Revolution barred acclaimed soprano Marian
Anderson from performing at their Constitution Hall, the NAACP moved
her concert to the Lincoln Memorial, where over 75,000 people attended.
1941
During World War II, the NAACP leads the effort to ensure that
President Franklin Roosevelt orders a non-discrimination policy
in war-related industries and federal employment.
1945
NAACP starts a national outcry when Congress refuses to fund their
own Federal Fair Roosevelt Employment Practices Commission.
1945
Kerr v. Enoch Pratt Free Library argued by Charles H. Houston creating the " Kerr Principle". A Baltimore library refused to admit Louise Kerr to a training program because she was black. Not that it had anything against blacks, but its patrons did. When Kerr launched a civil suit against the library alleging a violation of equal protection of the laws, the courts credited the library’s claim that it had no racist purpose, but Kerr still prevailed. The Kerr principle forced us to address when and why is the state responsible for enabling exclusive preferences, whether by an overextended applicable rule that assist them or by state inaction that fails to block them.
1946
The NAACP wins the Morgan vs. Virginia case, where the Supreme Court
bans states from having laws that sanction segregated facilities
in interstate travel by train and bus.
1948
The NAACP was able to pressure President Harry Truman to sign an
Executive Order banning discrimination by the Federal government.
1951
December 25, Harry T. Moore was killed when a bomb was placed beneath the floor joists directly under his bed; his wife, Harriette, died nine days later.
1954
After years of fighting segregation in public schools, under
the leadership of Special Counsel Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP wins
one of its greatest legal victories in Brown vs. the Board of Education.
1955
NAACP member Rosa Parks is arrested and fined for refusing to give
up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Noted as
the catalyst for the largest grassroots civil rights movement, that
would be spearheaded through the collective efforts of the NAACP,
SCLC and other Black organizations.
1960
In Greensboro, North Carolina, members of the NAACP Youth Council
launch a series of non-violent sit-ins at segregated lunch counters.
These protests eventually lead to more than 60 stores officially
desegregating their counters.
1963
After one of his many successful mass rallies for civil rights,
NAACP's first Field Director, Medgar Evers is assassinated in front
of his house in Jackson, Mississippi. Five months later, President
John Kennedy was also assassinated.
1963
NAACP pushes for the passage of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Act.
1964
U.S. Supreme Court ends the eight year effort of Alabama officials
to ban NAACP activities. And 55 years after the NAACP's founding,
Congress finally passes the Civil Rights Act.
1965
The Voting Rights Act is passed. Amidst threats of violence and
efforts of state and local governments, the NAACP still manages
to register more than 80,000 voters in the Old South.
1979
The NAACP initiates the first bill ever signed by a governor that
allows voter registration in high schools. Soon after, 24 states
follow suit.
1981
The NAACP leads the effort to extend The Voting Rights Act
for another 25 years. To cultivate economic empowerment, the NAACP
establishes the Fair Share Program with major corporations across
the country.
1982
NAACP registers more than 850,000 voters, and through its protests
and the support of the Supreme Court, prevents President Reagan
from giving a tax-break to the racially segregated Bob Jones University.
1985
The NAACP leads a massive anti-apartheid rally in New York.
1987
NAACP launches campaign to defeat the nomination of Judge Robert
Bork to the Supreme Court. As a result, he garners the highest negative
vote ever recorded for a 1989 Silent March of over 100,000 to protest
U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
1989
Silent March of over 100,000 to protest U.S. Supreme Court decisions
that have reversed many of the gains made against discrimination.
1991
When avowed racist and former Klan leader David Duke runs for
US Senate in Louisiana, the NAACP launches a voter registration
campaign that yields a 76 percent turn-out of Black voters to defeat
Duke.
1992
The number of Fair Share Program corporate partners has risen to
70 and now represents billions of dollars in business.
1995
Over thirty years after the assassination of NAACP civil rights
activist, Medgar Evers - his widow Myrlie, is elected Chairman of
the NAACP's Board of Directors. The following year, the Kweisi Mfume
leaves Congress to become the NAACPs President and CEO.
1997
In response to the pervasive anti-affirmative action legislation
occurring around the country, the NAACP launches the Economic Reciprocity
Program... And in response to increased violence among our youth,
the NAACP starts the "Stop The Violence, Start the Love' campaign.
1998
Supreme Court Demonstration and arrests
2000
TV Diversity Agreements. Retirement of the Debt and first six
years of a budget surplus. Largest Black Voter Turnout in 20 years
2000
Great March. January 17, in Columbia, South Carolina attended
by over 50,000 to protest the flying of the Confederate Battle Flag.
This is the largest civil rights demonstration ever held in the
South to date.
2001
Cincinnati Riots. Development of 5 year Strategic Plan.
Under the leadership of Chairman Bond and President Mfume, the NAACP
continues to thrive, and with the help of everyone - regardless
of race - will continue to do so into the next millennium...
NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
Toll Free:
(877) NAACP-98
Local:
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