Buzz
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is an organization committed to fighting racism against ethnic minorities through legal, democratic means, as well as disseminating education and conducting outreach to mobilize and advocate for the interests of ethnic minority communities within the United States. Since its inception, it has played a pivotal role in voter mobilization efforts, monitoring equal opportunity in both public and private sectors, and remains the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization in the United States.
Procedures
Locating Your Nearest Branch
Find an address. The NAACP provides a website where you can find any local units near you.
- Go to the main page of the NAACP website and look at the right side of the main banner. There's a menu titled “Get Involved” with three options. Select “Find Your Local Unit” from the list.
- You'll be directed to a screen featuring a map and a blank command line asking for your zip code. Enter your zip code and click “Search.”
- The map will display red markers indicating the nearest location(s). Click on a marker; an address box will appear, showing you where to find this local unit.
Join “Action Alerts” or become a member of the NAACP. If you're interested in being more involved with your local NAACP chapter, follow these steps:
- Visit the NAACP website and locate the Command Bar near the top of the page. Find the tab labeled “Take Action” and click on it. A drop-down menu will appear; select either “Take Action,” “Become a Member,” or “Petitions.”
- Furthermore, you can subscribe to their mailing list by providing your email and zip code in the designated fields at the top right corner of any page on their website. Click “Sign Up” to receive updates on NAACP activities and how you can help.
Connect with your local NAACP branch on social media. The NAACP maintains active social media accounts on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. To stay updated, follow these instructions:
- Visit the NAACP main webpage and look for the “Get Involved” menu on the right side of the screen. Under the “Stay Connected” header, you'll find icons for various social media platforms. Click on these icons to link your personal account to NAACP's profiles.
- You can also follow the NAACP blog for additional updates. Navigate to the blog through the command bar or add the blog link to your preferred RSS reader.
- Note that you need an account with these providers before you can link it to NAACP's feed.
Contacting a Regional or National Office
Explore the website. The NAACP website features a “Contact Us” section with FAQs for reaching out to regional or national offices. You can find it on their website.
- Access the Command Bar on the NAACP website and locate the “About Us” tab. Click on it to reveal a drop-down menu, then select “Contact Us.”
Reach out to the appropriate office. The NAACP contact page aims to direct individuals to the correct regional or specialized bureau offices and provides various email addresses and contact numbers for specific inquiries. To expedite your request, consider contacting these offices directly. Some of these offices include contacts for:
- Youth outreach
- National events
- Field organizing
- Fundraising
- Education and scholarships
Directly Reach Out to the National Office. To contact the national office, you have the options to write, call, or email using the following details:
- Mailing address: 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore MD 21215
- Local telephone number: (410) 580-5777
- Toll-free telephone number: (877) NAACP-98
Complete the Form. The NAACP “Contact Us” page provides an electronic form for general inquiries. Scroll down past the address list to the bottom of the page and fill it out. Make sure to indicate in the check boxes if you want to subscribe to updates or be added to an email list.
Understanding the Mission of the NAACP
Combatting Injustice. The NAACP was established to “secure for all people the rights guaranteed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution.”
- These amendments promised an end to slavery, equal protection under the law for all individuals, and universal adult male suffrage.
Ensuring Equal Opportunities. By striving for political, educational, social, and economic equality for ethnic minority group citizens of the United States, the NAACP aims to eliminate racial discrimination through non-violent democratic means. Some of the most notable achievements of NAACP actions include:
- Desegregation of the US Armed Forces (1948)
- Overturning Plessy vs. Ferguson, a ruling that had upheld segregation as legal under the 14th amendment (1954)
- Passage of the “Civil Rights Act” and the “Voting Rights Act,” ensuring the end of institutional segregation and enabling universal suffrage (1964-65).
Empowering through Education and Assistance. The NAACP remains committed to utilizing community outreach and scholarships to uplift minorities across the United States and advance racial justice nationwide.
- Offering legal representation and assistance during the Civil Rights Movement (1950s-60s) for notable activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr., the Freedom Riders, and members of the Southern Leadership Conference, a Christian organization involved in boycotts and marches advocating for civil rights. Today, the NAACP continues to advocate for those facing racial discrimination.
- Administering scholarships, the POISE Foundation, on behalf of the NAACP, annually grants over a hundred distinct awards from named endowments to accomplished Black students. Additionally, it maintains a general endowment fund to provide support to students ineligible for other endowments.
- Providing support and defending the rights of ethnic minorities through pro bono legal services and courtroom representation, the NAACP remains steadfast in its fight against discrimination. If you're a US citizen belonging to an ethnic minority and have experienced institutionalized discrimination and bias, reach out to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to determine eligibility for their assistance.
