ABOUT

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 race-based discrimination.

Vision Statement:
The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.

Objectives:
The following statement of objectives is found on the first page of the NAACP Constitution - 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. 

On February 12, 1909 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. For more than ninety-five years, the NAACP has built and grown on the collective courage of thousands of people. People of all races, nationalities and faiths united on one premise that all men and women are created equal. the nation's oldest civil rights organization has changed America's history. Despite violence, intimidation and hostile government policies, the NAACP and its grass-roots membership have persevered.


Founders:
Ida Wells-Barnett
W.E.B. DuBois
Henry Moscowitz
Mary White Ovington
Oswald Garrison Villiard
William English Walling

NAACP Youth and College Division
The NAACP’s official organ, The Crisis Magazine, carried information on young people and encouraged formation of youth units for a number of years before any action was taken to form a division in the Association devoted to youth activities. In 1935, during the St. Louis Convention, a fiery address was made by one of the youth delegates, Miss Juanita Jackson, to create a department for youth.



Subsequently, on September 15, 1935, Miss Jackson joined the Association’s staff and became the first Youth Secretary. The NAACP National Board of Directors passed a resolution formally creating the Youth and College Division in March of 1936. Under the guidance of Ms. Jackson, a National Youth Program was created for youth members of the NAACP. This program provided national activities for youth that were supported by monthly meetings discussing local needs of the community. The major national youth activities were demonstrations against lynching and seminars and group discussions on the inequalities in public education.




VSU NAACP Chapter History

In Fall 2003, an organizing committee, led by Christina M. Jameison, was formed to develop a chapter of NAACP on the Valdosta State University campus. Other members of the committee were Selena Lane, who became vice president, Bridgette Burr, who became the secretary, and Michelle Faison, who became treasurer. Rallies were held to recruit new members for the college chapter and at the May/Spring Executive Board Meeting of National Officers, the application for unit chartering was reviewed and accepted.


Charter Members:
Taya Combs
Crystal Tolbert
Casey Sherman
Cocoa Williams

Zorine Ponder
Selena Lane
Shanice Richardson
Michelle Faison
Robert Church
Cynthia Clegg
Rick Lasseter
Marsha Wallace
Fallon Richardson
Tenisha Brown
Marquida Webster
Christi Waller
Ashlie Perry
Kelsey Sellers
Warren Luke, Jr.
Brandon Ferguson
Candace Person
Moses Tejuoso
Tyara M. Bell
Ricky Tolefree, Jr.
Kedisha Stevens
Jamia Peterson
Bridgette Burr
Patrice Mosley
Victoria Weldon
Christina M. Jameison

Visit www.NAACP.org for more information.