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Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), headquartered in the 7th District of Maryland:
“One hundred years ago, a group of 60 came together to stand up against the egregious racial injustice that ran deep within our nation’s threads. During a period of lynching and other violence toward Blacks, when the voice of African Americans was silenced by gross inequality and the absence of a vote, this group stood up and called for a renewed struggle for civil and political liberty in our nation. Over the past century, the membership of the NAACP has grown to 500,000, and the actions of this group have saved countless lives and brought America closer to a land of true equality.
“Every single one of us has been affected either directly or indirectly by the tireless efforts of the NAACP to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all and to eradicate racial hatred and discrimination. In my own life, the impact was first realized by Juanita Jackson Mitchell and the NAACP Baltimore Branch who, by standing up for us as we marched to integrate South Baltimore’s Riverside Swimming Pool, showed me that I have rights that others must respect.
“Earlier this year, our nation came together to celebrate an historic moment when Barack Obama was sworn in as America’s first Black President. This victory symbolized the progress our nation has made in recognizing individuals not by the color of their skin, but by the contributions they bring to our society. And, importantly, it paid tribute to the one hundred years of blood, sweat, and tears by the NAACP to make African Americans visible. As we enter a new era and the NAACP’s focus shifts from civil rights to human rights, I applaud the organization for everything it has done for me, my family, and my community, and I look forward to a continued legacy of justice and opportunity for my children and my children’s children.”
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