[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 25 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E217-E218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED 
                   PEOPLE ON THEIR 106TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 13, 2015

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize one of the preeminent civil rights organizations in America, 
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, on 
their 106th anniversary. Widely recognized as the nation's oldest and 
largest civil rights group, this organization has been essential in 
helping African Americans find and maintain their voice since its 
founding in 1909.
  Founded by W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells and a host of other 
progressive and forward thinking leaders, the NAACP has always been on 
the front lines for Blacks in this country.

[[Page E218]]

Established partly in response to the horrific lynchings of the early 
1900s, the group quickly expanded, focusing many of its early battles 
on the court system and legalized segregation. With the stated purpose 
of securing the rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments 
for all Americans, the NAACP worked tirelessly to secure equal 
protection under the law and the right to vote.
  With the founding of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund in 1939, America 
saw the brilliant litigation strategy of Charles Hamilton Houston and 
Thurgood Marshall as they advocated for the famous Brown v. Board of 
Education decision, which many credit with beginning the modern Civil 
Rights Movement.
  As the 20th century neared its close, and African Americans 
experienced the transition from the overt racism that plagues the Jim 
Crow South to urban areas plagued by poverty and crime. Again, the 
NAACP adopted its mantra to meet this challenge and remains a relevant 
advocate improving the lives of Blacks in America.
  I rise to recognize and celebrate the 106 year history of the NAACP's 
advocacy and. From the early 20th century, fighting for Blacks to serve 
as officers in World War I, to the present day efforts to address 
disparities in economic access and the criminal justice system, the 
NAACP continues to fulfill its mission of providing a voice to the 
voiceless and improving the quality of life for all Americans.

                          ____________________