By Devona Walker
(MCT) — Oklahoma’s chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host a regional celebration of the 100th birthday of the national NAACP.
The NAACP centennial will take place in February.
On Feb. 12, 1909, the NAACP was founded by a group in New York City that initially called itself the National Negro Committee, according to the NAACP Web site.
The Oklahoma chapter, founded in 1913, is the oldest statewide chapter in the nation, said Oklahoma NAACP President Anthony Douglas. It was partially chosen as a location for the regional centennial celebration due to this distinction, he added.
An exact time and place for the celebration has not been chosen.
“Our primary goal is to increase NAACP membership in Oklahoma,” Douglas said.
The NAACP has officially launched its Centennial 100 by 100 Campaign, a fundraising and membership drive leading up to February. It seeks to raise the $100,000 necessary to host the event. It also calls upon chapters across the state with 50 or fewer members to grow that membership to 100 by February. For NAACP chapters with 100 or more members, the goal is to add 100 additional members. There are 77 NAACP chapters across the state.
“In short it is a massive mobilization of local units and highlights the continued importance of the NAACP to the state of Oklahoma,” Douglas said.
After 100 years, the state and national chapters must now formulate their message and goals for the next 100 years.
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