The NAACP: A Century of Civil Rights Advocacy

Founded in 1909 by an interracial group of activists and intellectuals including W. E. B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States. Its mission is to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure equality in political, educational, social, and economic realms, using strategies like political lobbying, litigation, and publicity campaigns. Over the decades, the organization has been led by prominent figures such as Thurgood Marshall and Roy Wilkins, and it has expanded its focus to address issues like police misconduct, economic development, and the status of black refugees. The NAACP also publishes the influential quarterly magazine The Crisis, which Du Bois edited for 24 years, and bestows prestigious annual awards, including the Image Awards, Theatre Awards, and Spingarn Medals. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the organization maintains a vast archive of its records at the Library of Congress, documenting its monumental impact on American history.