NAACP 2

NAACP

The NAACP, also known as the “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People”, is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, which means that it has been founded for 100 years as of this year. According to NAACP’s own website, “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, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.” The website goes on to mention some of the early members, which mentions some very familiar names including Mary Mcleod Bethune, Charles Darrow, and Fanny Garrison Villard. So why was this organization formed? This organization was formed in response to the continuing horrific practice of the lyching and the 1908 race riot in Springfield. (NAACP) Obviously, the founders and others were appalled at the violence that was committed against blacks. This organization has directly and indirectly assisted in great accomplishments with people such as Martin Luther King Jr and the now president Barack Obama. Although the road has not been easy, this organization still stands strong with many accomplishments after 100 years.

The NAACP describes their goals very well. They have many missions, objectives, and goals, but try to separate them in detail on their website. The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. (NAACP) The NAACP also have a vision statement to help onlookers to understand their purpose and commitment even more when they state that, “The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.” To help people to understand their long and short-term objectives and goals, they have created a NAACP constitution. In this Constitution it states that, “the principal objectives of the Association shall be:

·  To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens

·  To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States

·  To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes

·  To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights

·  To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination

·  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.”

The goals and objective that have been mentioned are both long term and short term because they are all ongoing goals and objectives. Most of their interventions are on problems that are in need at the moment, which would then generate a short term goal. The goals are believed to be manifest since they are being actively pursued. Although the NAACP has been around for 100 years, they have not disappeared or have not become latent in any area of their organizational goals and objectives.

The difference between the goals and objectives for this organization is that the goals and objectives are clearly stated on their official website, and labeled what they are. An example of this is one of the goals that they have which is to “is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.” On the other hand, the objective is also clearly stated in the five main objectives, which includes the last one that states, “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.” (NAACP) the website does an excellent job of clearly separating the two, which have similar meanings.

One of the many programs that I am analyzing is called “Women in the NAACP” or WIN. Their main theme is “Outstretched Hands and Open Hearts to Women and Children”. They too have individual objectives which include:

Women in the NAACP(WIN) is an official committee of the NAACP. The purposes of WIN are:

·  to enhance the leadership role of women

·  to serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children

·  to advocate for the positive development of children

·  to support the on-going work of the NAACP and its units, especially civil and cultural activities to enhance membership (NAACP)

This program is just one of the many programs within the NAACP that are thriving with members and helping to make progress in our society.

Overall, the NAACP has accomplished many things, directly and indirectly, throughout 100 years and counting, and will be around for many more. With their help, black people everywhere are able to advance and have equal rights. Although the struggle is a continual one, it is organizations like this that helps this journey along. Moreover, NAACP, with their numerous programs, are making history in a category of their.

Reference

NAACP (2008). Retrieved February 22, 2009 from

http://www.naacp.org/programs/women/index.htm