Benjamin Jealous

The organization’s president, Benjamin Todd Jealous told the gathering that the long-standing civil rights organization, which last year celebrated its 100th year, is entering a new phase targeted at attracting younger members and dealing with issues other than those that affect Black people primarily.

Already there is evidence of this new phase, as there are several chapters of the NAACP nationwide that have non-African-American leaders, including white, Hispanic and Asian presidents. The NAACP has also been actively protesting Arizona’s harsh immigration laws, which affect mainly Hispanic immigrants in Arizona.

Younger people have been steadily joining the organization. Jealous said that the majority of the over five percent increase in the organization’s membership last year was comprised of people between the ages of 20 and 40 years. The national membership of the NAACP is estimated at 600,000 of which an estimated 25 percent is under the age of 40, including Jealous who is only 37. The chairperson, Roslyn Brook, 44, is responsible for the creation of Leadership 500 to meet the objective of getting young people to be involved in civil rights activities.

Jealous said it was impressive that membership increased five percent, especially when the country was experiencing a severe economic recession.

During the four-day meeting (Thursday to Sunday) the youth participated in numerous workshops. Some of these were led by representatives of the U.S. Army, the National Security Agency, the FBI, and successful Internet entrepreneurs. One of the more popular was a workshop related to healthcare reform which participants regarded as a new civil rights cause applicable to all Americans. One panelist said that the fight for the implementation and expansion of the new healthcare laws has to be dealt with as aggressively and with similar focus as the fight for civil rights for Blacks. “Not because the law is signed means that comprehensive healthcare is to be taken for granted,” she said.

The youth discussed matters not only related to civil rights, but their development through education and career opportunities, and leadership opportunities in the NAACP that would help to develop the nation’s youth.

Two Hollywood young men, Kareem Josephs and Orane Laidlaw, both white, recently became members of the Leadership 500, attended the meetings and said they were, “Very thrilled and encouraged to be a part of the movement, because the NAACP is a “reliable movement for change” and has a great history of success for Blacks. “But the NAACP is for all people of color, and white is a color too,” said Josephs.

Both men said they learned of Leadership 500 and the NAACP mainly from friends on Facebook, which has been a significant tool in pulling members to the NAACP. Laidlaw believes that America’s youth is changing. “More Youth are for racial tolerance. We are not concerned about who is Black or who is white like our ancestors were. We just want to live in a successful society with all people, of all color and of all races. I think the NAACP can accomplish this.”