The NAACP and Black History Month

February is Black History Month. February 12 also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This is the date of the declaration by the founders and cited as the official birthday.

The date, February 12, was chosen by the founders because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln who emancipated African Americans from slavery. The actual date of the meeting of the founders took place three months later.

The NAACP is one of the oldest and most influential African American organizations in the United States. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination." Its name, retained in accord with tradition, is one of the last surviving uses of the term "colored people."

The 100th anniversary of the NAACP is especially significant this year because our first African American President was took office last month. While this event is a dramatic and symbolic testament to the work of the NAACP and other African American civil rights organizations, much work remains in their ongoing struggle for full economic and social equality.

Students can learn more about the NAACP and other African American civil rights organizations when you assign a research activity in the spirit of Black History Month.

Assign students to create a report of at least 150 words or a presentation of at least two minutes and seven slides, cites at least three resources, and addresses the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can add or substitute others):

• What are at least two of the most significant accomplishments of the NAACP?
• Who are at least three of its most influential leaders and why?
• What are at least two other African American civil rights organizations and what do they do?
• Why are African American civil rights organization important to the equality and how does their work help support other civil rights organization?

Click Topics search tab > type "NAACP" in the Search box > Click National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (company/org) AND Black history > Select View Documents

Use our custom ProQuest models for written and PowerPoint-style reports.

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