In response to the Springfield, Illinois riot, a group of black and white activists, Jews and Gentiles, met in a small New York City apartment to address the deteriorating status of African Americans. They proposed to fight the new color-castle system with a "new abolition movement" which became the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP pledged "to promote equality of rights and eradicate caste and race prejudice among citizens of the United States; to advance the interest of colored citizens; to secure for them impartial suffrage; and to increase their opportunities for securing justice in the courts, education for their children, employment according to their ability, and complete equality before the law.

 

The history is long and extensive regarding the NAACP, victories won and lost, legislative agendas that improved the lives of all American citizens. The primary goal, among others, of the NAACP is to end discrimination and civil rights violations for all throughout the land and to have every vote of every citizen count.

 

The basic policies of the NAACP are developed at its annual convention by delegates elected to represent local NAACP units. Resolutions are presented to the National Board of Directors for ratification. Once the resolution is approved, confirmed or endorsed, they become the policy position pertaining to any specific issue. Each unit then is expected to support the resolution and make strides to achieve the contents as appropriate.

 

Here in Lynchburg, a lot of the Lynchburg NAACP history has been misplaced, misfiled, destroyed or lost. Here is what we do know. In the early 20th century, Virginia Theological Seminary and College, now Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL), was founded in 1888. It remains the oldest college in the city of Lynchburg. At that time, Virginia Seminary was the leading African American cultural institution. In 1906, the unexpected death of its President, Gregory W. Hayes. His widow, Mary Rice Hayes, was appointed interim President and served until 1908 after which she continued to teach at the college. In 1911, she remarried Will Allen, an attorney in Danville.

 

It was 1913 that Mary Rice Hayes Allen was instrumental in the founding of the Lynchburg NAACP. Since most of the African American cultural took place at Virginia Seminary where she was a faculty member, many of the discussions of the day took place as she led the college. Another very prominent member of the faculty was poet Anne Spencer. After much deliberation and discussion at the Virginia Seminary, it was finally decided that there had to be a branch of the NAACP in Lynchburg.

 

The meeting to develop the Charter took place on Pierce Street at the home of Edward and Anne Spencer. At the time, their home was one of the very few African American homes in Lynchburg that was equipped with central heating and air along with an indoor bathroom. In addition to Mary Rice Hayes Allen and Anne Spencer. ther members of the charter meeting included Dr. Braswell, Ham Johns, Bill Gordan, Carl Hutcherson , and others.

 

Over the years, the Lynchburg NAACP was a force to be reckoned with in the central Virginia area. On the walls of the NAACP office, there are numerous awards for branch for the accomplishments, membership totals, and being a vital and active branch for the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP. Many will credit the late Charles Mangum for the exceptional performance of the Lynchburg NAACP during the 70's. Since that time, the NAACP has faced the challenges that many civil rights organizations have faced and that is a perception that "we have overcome." The truth is that the words of that song "we shall overcome" ring as loud today as it did during the civil rights era. While many advances have occurred for all people, there are still areas where much work is still required. Our educational system remains unequal in many ways and we still have the pipeline to the penal system in which most of the inmates remain people of color yet we represent less than 25% of the United States population. The struggle continues and we here in Lynchburg have once again reinvigorated our branch such that it is very progressive, productive and goal oriented.

 

Thank you for your support and know that the NAACP STILL needs you, your knowledge and your talents.