[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E149-E150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW YORK BRANCH OF THE 
                                 NAACP

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Centennial 
Anniversary of the

[[Page E150]]

founding of the New York Branch of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People.
  On January 27, 1911, exactly 100 years ago today, the New York Branch 
of the NAACP received its Charter. Organized by Executive Committee 
members Mary White Ovington, Charles H. Suddin, Frances Blascoer, 
Oswald Garrison Villard, Gilchrist Stewart, Joel E. and Arthur 
Spingarn, the New York Branch was the first Branch established in the 
National Association's history.
  In April 1911, Dr. W.E.B. DuBois proposed that the Branch should have 
an investigator and organizer to examine cases and complaints, to raise 
funds and develop a ``forum for discussion.'' Gilchrist Stewart, a 
young attorney, was chosen to fill this role and become Chairman of the 
New York Branch Vigilance Committee. In the fall of 1911, the Branch 
opened in Harlem where ``colored people could report any cases of 
injustice before the law.'' During the first six months, three cases 
were handled involving police brutality, which led to the trial and 
suspension of one police officer.
  The New York Branch had successful campaigns to break up the pattern 
of theatre segregation. Despite these activities, the Branch was 
adversely affected by a lack of stability. In December 1913, the Board 
decided that the New York Vigilance Committee be reorganized and focus 
on fundraising for the National Association. The legal work handled by 
the Vigilance Committee was transferred to the National NAACP office, 
which by then, had a full-time lawyer.
  At one time, the New York Branch became inactive, and when the NAACP 
Annual Report was published in 1916, the Branch was not listed. 
According to historian Charles Flint Kellogg, the original charter had 
been lost. Since there was no record of its date of issue, a new 
charter had been issued on November 11, 1917, when James Weldon Johnson 
succeeded in organizing a Harlem Branch and became its Vice President. 
That same year, Ms. Mary White-Ovington secured approval from the NAACP 
National Board, to enroll those individuals who participated in the 
1917 Silent March on 5th Avenue. Each individual received a 
compensation of $1 while serving as a member of the branch for the 
duration of 1 year.
  During the fall of 1931, the New York Branch reverted back to an 
inactive status, and the NAACP National office enlisted Field 
Organizer, Daisy Lampkin to conduct a membership campaign which ended 
on October 2, 1931. As a result of the campaign, 500 new members were 
enrolled and $3,323.00 was raised. As a result, the Branch was 
reorganized and granted a renewed charter on November 9, 1931. Since 
that date, the New York Branch has been one of the largest leading 
membership Branches of the NAACP.
  Led by its President, Dr. Annie B. Martin, the New York (Harlem) 
Branch is continuing to work steadfastly on the front lines of the 
fight for justice. The Unit played a prominent role in the ``Overground 
Railroad'' demonstrations over voter registration concerns, started a 
Saturday program to help students develop study habits, and held legal 
redress forums, community health fairs and civic engagement activities.
  James E. Allen also served as president of the New York branch and 
later helped to organize and become the first New York State Conference 
President. Other former presidents of the organization include: Ella 
Baker, Russell Crawford, Jawn Sandifer, Lionel Barrow, Lind H. White, 
I. Joseph Overton, Hon. Percy E. Sutton, Hon. Basil A. Paterson, 
Richard A. Hildebrand, Jeff L. Greenup, Carl Lawrence and the current 
president Dr. Annie B. Martin.

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