[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 21 (Thursday, February 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E202-E203]
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

                      Thursday, February 10, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Centennial 
Anniversary of the founding o the New York Branch of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
  On January 27, 1911, 100 years ago, 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.
  In addition to Dr. Annie B. Martin, the New York Branch has had 
several distinguished activist and civil right leaders to serve as 
President during its history, including: James E. Allen who later 
helped to organize and become the first New York State Conference 
President; the Honorable Ella Josephine Baker, who was one of the 
visionaries who created the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 
1957; the Honorable Judge Jawn Ardin Sandifer was one of two NAACP 
staff lawyers who successfully argued Henderson v. United States, the 
unanimous Supreme Court decision ruled that railroads that operate 
across state lines may not bar passengers from eating in dining cars 
because of their race.
  It also includes two of my dearest friends and brothers, the 
Honorable Basil A. Paterson, former Secretary of the State of New York 
and renowned national labor attorney; and the Honorable Percy Ellis 
Sutton, our former Manhattan Borough President, civil rights attorney, 
business leader and founding Chairman of the Board of the largest 
black-owned radio stations in the nation, Inner City Broadcasting, Inc. 
Other past Presidents who served include Russell Crawford, Lind H. 
White, I. Joseph Overton, Richard A. Hildebrand, Jeff L. Greenup and 
Carl Lawrence.
  Today, 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

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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.

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