The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and largest civil rights organization which seeks to ensure that minority groups are given equal rights and opportunities. It was established in 1909 and to date it has approximately half a million members in the US and around the world. Its mission is to “insure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens; achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States; remove all barriers of racial discrimination through the democratic processes; seek to enact and enforce federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights; inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and seek its elimination; educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action in furtherance of these principles”.
The NAACP has a great impact on the lives of colored people because it protected their civil rights. The association defended their rights through political and legal means. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed through the efforts of NAACP. The Act allowed African Americans to vote. Another impact on colored people’s lives achieved by the NAACP is its fight against racial discrimination with regards to employment opportunities. Their supporters demanded for equal work for equal pay (NAACP).
Equality in the criminal justice system is a major benefit that NAACP is offering colored people. Through their Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. they are able to fight for social justice and do litigations in behalf of the colored people . One other important function of the NAACP that benefits colored people is its role in lobbying congress on issues of social reform that uphold the civil rights movement. In media, NAACP fights against the negative portrayals of colored people in television and film (NAACP).
Through the NAACP, the colored people are assured that there is no racial and ethnic disparities in the allocation of health care benefits. They are working towards the increase in the number of colored people employed in the health care profession (NAACP). Colored people also benefit from the NAACP’s campaign against HIV/AIDS. Since statistics show that African Americans have a high incidence of HIV/AIDS, NAACP advocates education and increased testing among colored people (NAACP). The lives of colored people are affected by the NAACP with regards to education. The NAACP sees to it that every individual has access to a good quality public education and that they are not subjected to education-related racial and ethnic disparities (NAACP).
In conclusion, it can be said that the lives of colored people have never been better since the inception of the NAACP. Colored people and other ethnic minorities have found a protector, defender and voice in the NAACP. They feel more secure because they know that they have an ally in NAACP.
Works Cited
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. "LDF." n.d. naacpldf.org. Web. 19 March 2013
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People . "Media diversity." 2013. naacp.org. Web. 19 March 2013
—. "NAACP victories." 2013. naacp.org. Web. 19 March 2013
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Education." 2013. naacp.org. Web. 19 March 2013
—. "Health programs." 2013. naacp.org. Web. 19 March 2013
—. "NAACP: 100 years of history." 2013. naacp.org. Web. 19 March 2013
Ward, Etta. "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)." n.d. learningtogive.org. Web. 19 March 2013
