Intercultural Competence Case Study of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Intercultural Competence
Case Study of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has made a great deal of progress and history since it’s beginning in February 1909. The NAACP was originally formed to help end racial discrimination, and promote education and social and economic equality among colored people. Since then, the group has expanded and grown and is now worldwide. The NAACP presently advocates civil rights for all colored people and partners with other groups to advocate for other minority groups as well. This helps these smaller groups to get heard and get results as it is the largest and most powerful advocacy group to date. The group helps fight issues such as arrest rates being substantially higher for black males than other races, blacks being pulled over and searched without reasonable cause, and blacks being refused credit while other races with the same credit and situation were able to obtain credit. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has made a substantial impact on the issue of discrimination for ethnic groups in its 110-year existence and has been successful in getting laws in place that protect minorities from future discrimination.
The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is “To ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.” (NAACP, 2018)
Main objectives of the NAACP as listed on their site are:
•To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens
•To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States
•To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes
•To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights
•To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination
•To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP’s Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution. (NAACP, 2018)
The organizations most competing groups in terms of finances would potentially be other advocacy groups, such as Black Lives Matter, if any of these were large enough to compete.(SANDS, 2015) But the NAACP has grown so large that there really is no competition anymore. After the 2000′ census showed a growing number of Hispanics, the NAACP realized the need to join forces and help pro-immigration Hispanics and did just that (“NAACP Seeks To Join Forces With Hispanics – American Renaissance”). Since, the Hispanic Federation (among other Hispanic advocacy groups) and the NAACP have worked hand in hand to give all minorities regardless of color or nationality equal rights and the chance to prosper. Unlike the NAACP, Black Lives Matter is a group that advocates civil rights for blacks only. Black Lives Matter has its strongest presence in the streets where the actual discrimination and brutality is taking place and on social media, while the NAACP has its strongest presence in courts.(Lartey) Black Lives Matter is described as a younger, bolder, and more hostile black advocacy group that focuses on fighting police brutality against blacks, while the NAACP id described as the worlds largest civil right advocacy group. The two have not competed, that I could find, and did decided to join forces as each have their own set of strengths that help their cause. (Lartey)
The strongest of these two in securing financial resources is usually the NAACP. Black Lives Matter is popular among young people in the black community but companies that wish to donate to the cause are leery about donating to Black Lives Matter because they have been known to sometimes use aggressive tactics. “Major donors are usually not radical or confrontational as an activist most in touch with the pain of oppression.” said Steve Phillips, a Democracy Alliance member and significant contributor to Democratic candidates and causes. Some of the various outfits that make up Black Lives Matter wish to remain independent and even make a point of not asking for donations. They bristle at any suggestion that they’re susceptible to being co-opted by a national group with lots of money. (Wheaton et al.)
The NAACP receives funding from federal grants as well as income it produces through advertising, memberships and subscriptions. The NAACP also receives donations from large corporations while Black Lives Matter receives smaller donations from smaller businesses and individuals. Specific revenue information was not available online.
Black Lives Matter obtains private and now public funding as well, and was successful in obtaining over $133 million in donations in 2016, money that would have formerly gone to the NAACP. Black Lives Matter has grown and uses tactics the NAACP has not such as social media to raise interest and support for their issues and has done quite well. This is causing the NAACP to asses whether to try new means drawing attention to their issues to gain support. (Lartey)
Donors of the large sum included the Ford Foundation and Borealis Philanthropy. These organizations recently announced the formation of the BLMF, or Black Led Movement Fund, which is a six-year pooled donor campaign aimed at raising $100 million for Black Activists groups. More than $33 million in grants to the Black Lives Matter movement came from top George Soros through his Open Society Foundations, as funds from the Center for American Progress. (Lartey)
Knowledge of Civic Responsibility
The NAACP encourages its members to participate in accomplishing their goals by offering the opportunity to work with activists and organizers in local NAACP branches, and support access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The opportunity to advocate for laws and policies to improve your community, as well as participate in voter registration and get out the vote campaigns, and attend the Nation events and Regional conferences. (NAACP, 2018)
NAACP memberships will help fund initiatives and programs to support our mission of racial equality and equal justice and is a citizen’s opportunity to give back to the organization that has done more to change this country for the betterment of people of color, women, and the disenfranchised than any other in the nation’s history. Membership in the NAACP makes members a part of a force of 300,000 people who stand for the freedoms guaranteed in our nation’s constitution and makes a direct and positive impact in the community through joining a NAACP branch. Membership also grants access to our benefits program that provides discounts on products and services across the country. (NAACP, 2018)
Membership for anyone who is interested in making a difference toward ending racism is important because the NAACP is the largest Civil Rights Advocacy group and has a long history of making progress toward total equality. The NAACP has the human resources as well as financial resources to get policies changed by use of our own legal system.
Engaging effectively in regional, national, and global communications
In 2003 the NAACP sought to obtain the U.N. distinction, which would give them the ability to influence the international agenda. One issue the NAACP says it has encountered while working internationally is that some believe that the group is not doing enough domestically. Another issue is that countries such as Africa, that they are now working in, are so far behind the the U.S, and are in need so much assistance. (“NAACP Goes International”)
The NAACP is a social group in terms of its members all believing in the same causes and working together to better lives of people they advocate for. They provide support to those in need using their legal fund and other legal resources to fight for civil rights violations. The group helps individuals fight for their civil rights and works to get policies changed to prevent civil rights violations in the future. It is a political group in terms of it is heavily involved in politics so that it can make a difference. The group must be a player in politics to be heard and be able to influence agendas and get policies changed. The NAACP must also have the involvement and support of as many as possible and obtain funding from involved parties to keep going. This group, like any advocacy group, is highly dependent on its half a million members, their work fighting issues and funds obtained from them, and would not be successful without them.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People started as a result of the race riots of 1908, and in the 1950’s and 1960’s was able to win major legal victories in the fight against racism and oppression such the famous Brown vs Board of Education. These victories enabled the group to grow and gain astounding support. Other groups have since joined the fight against inequality and have formed separate groups, most of which the NAACP now works with through partnerships. Being the largest group of its kind, they help other interest group in exchange for support. This is how the NAACP has consistently stayed the largest civil rights advocacy group and continues to make its presence in court rooms fighting inequality issues. The group partnering with other groups keeps competition non-existent and adds strength to their cause. Many large corporations financially support the NAACP for their long-standing role in civil rights advocacy and successful approach. However even though successful, times do change and Black Lives Matter, a newer antiracism group has shown the NAACP that fresh approaches such as the use of social media, could be beneficial. As Black Lives Matter grew rather quickly, and was very successful at attracting attention to their causes, the NAACP has partnered with them as well and are considering updating some of their long-standing activism approaches to include using tactics such as social media. The NAACP has helped numerous oppressed groups fight back and be heard, and even change laws, and will continue to do so with the appreciated support of its many members and affiliates.
Works Sited
NAACP. (2018). NAACP | What is the Mission of the NAACP?. online Available at: https://www.naacp.org/about-us/ Accessed 12 Nov. 2018.
(NAACP, 2018)
“NAACP Seeks To Join Forces With Hispanics – American Renaissance”. American Renaissance, 2018, https://www.amren.com/news/2006/07/naacp_seeks_to/. Accessed 12 Nov 2018.
(“NAACP Seeks To Join Forces With Hispanics – American Renaissance”)
Sands, Darren. “The NAACP And Black Lives Matter Are Talking Past Each Other.” BuzzFeed News, BuzzFeed News, 17 July 2015, www.buzzfeednews.com/article/darrensands/the-naacp-and-black-lives-matter-are-talking-past-each-other.
(Sands, 2015)
Vega, Tanzina. “In The Age Of Black Lives Matter, Can The NAACP Stay Young?”. Cnnmoney, 2018, https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/19/news/naacp-black-lives-matter/index.html. Accessed 20 Nov 2018.
(Vega)
Lartey, Jamiles. “NAACP Considers Role Alongside Black Lives Matter At Annual Convention”. The Guardian, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/18/naacp-convention-black-lives-matter-cincinnati. Accessed 20 Nov 2018.
(Lartey)
WHEATON, SARAH et al. “Major Donors Consider Funding Black Lives Matter”. POLITICO, 2018, https://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/major-donors-consider-funding-black-lives-matter-215814. Accessed 20 Nov 2018.
(Wheaton et al.)
http://www.washingtontimes.com, The. “Black Lives Matter Cashes In With $100 Million From Liberal Foundations”. The Washington Times, 2018, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/aug/16/black-lives-matter-cashes-100-million-liberal-foun/. Accessed 20 Nov 2018.
(Lartey)
“NAACP Goes International”. Cbsnews.Com, 2018, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/naacp-goes-international/. Accessed 20 Nov 2018.
(“NAACP Goes International”)
