After providing years of advocacy, equality and justice to people of color, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People turned 100, Thursday.
As one of the oldest and prominent civil rights organizations, it has been responsible for offering counsel to some of the most controversial cases such as the Little Rock Nine. They joined and inspired a slew of other organizations in the fight against segregation and took a stand against the hateful “separate but equal” motto, perpetrated by white supremacists.
In light of the recent election and installment of President Barack Obama, this political feat is a prime example of the fruits of their labor and other organizations with the same mission.
For years, the NAACP has played a pivotal role in the fight for equality and this milestone should not be taken lightly. Fortunately, it isn’t.
According to reports on MSNBC.com, the Yakima Chapter, situated in the state of Washington, plans to celebrate by hosting a civil rights panel. Despite the fact that the NAACP has been around for several decades, they are still vibrant in their ongoing fight.
James Parks, the president of the Yakima chapter said the organization is still fighting to make the nation a better place.
“The NAACP is still on guard, you know,” Parks said. “I think that despite some problems that we have had, the organization as a whole has had in the past, we’re still here.”
After 100 years of fighting to establish equality, it is a shame that racism still exists.
But thankfully we all still have the support of a long-lasting organization to stand behind us as pillars of justice for social change.
Yewande Addie for the Editorial Board.