subject: The Niagara Movement/NAACP and its Members [print this page] The Niagara Movement/NAACP and its Members
Fighting for rights is a factor that is almost addressed in every country. The United States is not an exception especially with the disparities that exist among the different groups that is ethnic and racial differences. There are bodies that have been fighting against the inequality one of which is Niagara Movement and NAACP. NAACP continues to be a big influence in fighting for African Americans and people of other minority grouping in the United States of America.
Niagara Movement
The Niagara Movement was established in 1905. This body came about as an organization started by W.E.B. Dubois and William Monroe Trotter. This occurred when the Negroes were denied the right to access services in hotels and this led to their meeting at Niagara Falls. The grouped composed of business men teachers as well as the clergy. The main purpose of their meting was to fight against accomodationalism as stipulated by Booker T. The philosophy was discriminating on racial basis.
This Movement helped the African Americans fight against inequality in the economic sector, religion and education as well as the health sector. They also fought for the rights of the black men and women to be voted and to exercise voting rights just like the whites. It grew to include 170 members. These members came from other states where the same problem was still felt. To air out their grievances, the movement came up which a declaration of principles which was written down by its secretary Du Bois. Most of their complaints included the suffering of African women in the United States. They were sexually abused and no one was ready to listen to their grievances. They were also complaining of poor housing and inequality in the access of education. The movement also advocated for equal treatment in the courts of America, they wanted to receive the same punishment and avoid discrimination in terms of race. Black soldiers were not being treated well and so this movement also called for good treatment which will include promotions and wanted them to be given a chance to attain military academies. It emphasized that any form of discrimination either from the church government or commercial sector was not going to be taken kindly. In addition, the labor unions were asked not to segregate the blacks when employing them and even in the pay they gave for the service offered by the blacks. They insisted that the African American should also be given permanent jobs just like the whites.
The movement picked up well to an extend that the white government was touched. Unfortunately, it received opposition from Booker T. He did not want any sympathy to be extended to the blacks but fortunately enough the movement still managed to leave a legacy. Some white like Mary White Ovington joined the movement to fight for the rights of the blacks. Apart from that, it managed to form a basis of NAACP that picked up from Niagara and worked towards the establishment of its goals. The movement did not last for long because it did not have enough funds to move on and the then established NAACP not only was an African American movement but it also included the whites so it was a good start to have whites also fighting for the Africans.
NAACP. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
When NAACP took over from Niagara movement, it purposed to establish the rights of the blacks in the USA. Its vision is to establish a society whose people have equal rights with no racial piety nor hatred. This is aimed at by fighting for equal political, economic as well as social fairness to every one in the country. Democracy is one of its greatest advocacies; this involves educating citizens on the constitution so that they may know how to air out their views. When it began, there were tremendous changes in the lives of the African Americans up to 1990's. It is reported that their economic problems went down a bit although their status still would not be could not be compared with the whites'. The likelihood of the blacks to be poor is thrice when compared to the blacks and twice to be unemployed as to the whites. This is not to say that NAACP has done nothing, it has assisted the blacks a great deal. The Hispanics whose population is growing at a higher rate than the blacks have their grievances addressed by NAACP.It managed to push for the establishment of school desegregation and in 1965 through this movement the African Americans were able to be granted their voting rights since then up to date. The African Americans are still facing the problems they used to face and NAACP has tried to solve these problems. Currently, the unemployment exceeds 15 percent and so with the election of the black president, Barack Obama, this movement has hopes of their grievances to be heard. The group is planning to join hands with other groups so as to meet the president over the issue of joblessness especially hitting on the blacks and other minor groups. Hillary O. Shelton one of the senior leaders of NAACP emphasized the fact that the issue of black unemployment is so critical and calls for immediate action the group together with A.F.C.I.O and National Council of La Raza a Hispanic body wants to meet the president to air out their complaints. According to NAACP, to end the unemployment, they want to suggest to the president that the government should give more funds to education, roads and give funds to local government authorities to help the disadvantaged communities. The NAACP leaders say that their efforts are not geared towards; fighting the president but it is their strong conviction that that is where he ought to be pressed towards. In addition, NAACP has addressed to the president the discriminative crime bill and the Fair pay Act. This will help all employees not to be discriminated in their pays depending on race. Other groups which have joined them include Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. The leader of this group Wade Henderson said that the unemployment crisis if not dealt with will affect other priorities put in place by the government.
