On Feb. 12, 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded by a multiracial group of six men and women, including Ida Wells-Barnett and W.E.B DuBois. Dedicated to civil and political liberty, the NAACP has continuously been involved in the struggles of minority life.
The University of Memphis chapter of the NAACP, located in the Minority Affairs Office was formed in 1995, after several members of The U of M baseball team were allegedly beaten at a fraternity house party.
Now in its seventh year, the chapter boasts 72 members, including 11 officers, headed by President Kevin Spragling and Vice President Undria McClendon.
While the NAACP was initially created as a voice and service for the African-American community, Dorian Harrison, chair of memberships and socials, said the organization strives to make their services available to all minorities, including women.
“If you feel you are a minority or you feel that you have been discriminated against or you don’t feel your rights are being upheld, you can join the NAACP,” Harrison said. “And you can come fight for what you believe is right and what you believe should be happening on campus.”
However, most students on campus are either not familiar with the organization or they prefer to watch from the sidelines, something sophomore member Samantha McWhite said should change.
“I think it’s important for people to know that you can’t sit here and complain about the racism and not do anything about it,” McWhite said.
Harrison agreed with McWhite, saying students walk around campus thinking things are fine when they’re not. She said there are still a lot of things going on and that discrimination is still present and prevalent in Memphis.
“Our job is keeping everybody aware and active and involved politically,” said Harrison, a sophomore. “You have to keep working towards making things better.”
In an effort to make people more aware of their chapter, they hold several events throughout the year.
“This year we’ve done so many programs,” Harrison said. “A minority awareness forum, a police brutality forum for the males in the dorms and we’re doing the first annual Mahogany Awards, which is the first award ceremony on campus highlighting minorities specifically.”
The Chapter also sponsors the annual Freedom Ball every February. They work with area high schools, and this fall they plan to help freshmen move into dorms — things they said they cannot do without help and support from others.
“The biggest thing we have here is a lack of participation,” Harrison said.
“Everybody wants something done, but nobody wants to come out and support and actually put the work in to do it. When you don’t have support you don’t really have the initiative to do the program.”
The chapter will hold its second mass meeting of the year today at 3:30 p.m. in the UC Delta Lounge.
