HISTORY OF THE AUSTIN NAACP
Since 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been the foremost defender of individual and collective civil rights in America. Beginning with its campaign against the lynching of blacks in the early part of the 19th century; to its national protest of D.W. Griffith’s racist film “The Birth of A Nation” in 1915 and its historic 1954 legal victory in Brown v. Board of Education that led to the eventual desegregation of the American society the NAACP has ensured the political, educational, social and economic equality of Americans of all hues and color. Today, the NAACP stands as the vanguard against racial prejudice, racism and civil injustice in American society and promotes equal rights for all of the nation’s citizens regardless of race, creed or color.
The Austin branch of the NAACP has been a part of the association’s long and storied tradition since 1915 and has waged historic fights against racial injustice in Travis County. Beginning with protest against the lynching of blacks in the early part of the 19th century; to the frightful battle for school desegregation of the 1980’s; to the public protest of police brutality of 2002-2004 the local branch has continued the work of the association.
The local branch envisions a community that actively supports its own institutions by utilizing its own resources as a primary means of achieving economic, social and political empowerment. Our mission is to solicit the support of all instiutions and organizations that accept and promote the association’s goals of creating a society that believes in justice, equity and equal opportunity for all groups regardless of race, creed or religion.
Our objectives are to ensure community empowerment, create a positive and productive coalition with other ethnic groups, install the national Fair Share and Economic Reciprocity Initiative locally; continue the tradition of voter registration, education and empowerment; implement a religious affairs program; establish the Back-To-School/Stay-In-School program; establish a health committee; create a local website and produce a consumer survey on racism in the city. Finally, the local branch seeks to be revelant in every aspect of African American life in the city and help contribute to the overall quality of life of Austin’s citizentry.
Austin Branch Officers and Executive Committee members:
Nelson E. Linder - President
Barry Hall - 1st Vice President
Pamela Wade - 2nd Vice President
Marlene Washington - 3rd Vice President
Polly Street - Treasurer
Rochion Gregg - Interim Secretary
Captain Louie White – Committee Member
Renita Sanders– Committee Member
Annie Whitley– Committee Member
Jeffrey Brooks– Committee Member
