Purpose
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To inform youth of the problems affecting Africans in the Diaspora and other people of color.
To advance the economic, educational, social, and political
status of Africans in the Diaspora and other people of color.
To stimulate an appreciation of the African American
contribution to US civilization.
To develop an intelligent and militant youth leadership.
History
During the
NAACP 1935 National Convention several young people challenged the organization
to provide young people with an opportunity and a vehicle to address the civil
rights issues facing the nation’s youth.
The NAACP
National Board of Directors passed a resolution, formally creating the Youth and
College Division in March of 1936.
Under the
guidance of Ms. Juanita E. Jackson, Special Assistant to the Secretary, a
National Youth Program was created for youth members of the NAACP. This program
provided national activities for youth that were supported by monthly meetings
discussing local needs of the community. The major national youth activities
were demonstrations against lynching and seminars and group discussions on the
inequalities in public education.
The new plan
called for the scraping of what was then known as the junior branch with the old
age limits of 14 – 21 years old for youth members. This was replaced by junior
youth councils, ages 12 – 15, youth councils, ages 16 – 25, including college
chapters, and the creation of a youth program similar to that of the adults.
At the
historical first youth meeting in Baltimore, June 29 – July 4, 1936, 217 youth
delegates held a national conference simultaneously with adult members.
Delegates outlined a national program that addressed four major areas: equal
educational opportunities, equal economic opportunities, civil liberties, and
physical security against lynching.
This spirit of
solidarity among black youths was sparked by years of racial discrimination,
segregation, and mob violence. “Flesh and blood and the breath of life must be
added to the skeleton we have constructed,” declared youth member, Edward A.
Lawrence in an article in the September 1936 edition of The Crisis.
Under the
leadership of Herbert L. Wright, the youth program reached an all-time high in
civil rights action in 1961. In March that year, youth and college units
launched sit-ins in Jacksonville, MS, integrating 2 public places and demanded
jobs in all-white establishments. The NAACP records that nearly 200,000 young
people were registered in 1962.
The NAACP Youth
and College Division is currently comprised of over 500 Youth and College Units,
representing thousands of young people across the United States dedicated to
fighting for social justice advocacy.