NAACP
chapter gives local voice
By Monica Levette Clark
Daily Forty Niner
 In
1909, a group of conscious intellectuals
from diverse racial backgrounds came together
to secure the equal treatment of all minority
groups living in the United States in all
aspects of society. As a nonprofit organization,
they formed the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People.
Following its goals to combat racial discrimination,
the NAACP established its Youth and College
Division in 1936. Today more than 400 chapters
exist throughout the country, and in July
2001 Cal State Long Beach established its
own chapter.
“Students from our school met with regional
director of the college division Amy Freeman
to discuss establishing the college chapter
on campus,” said Qiana Johnson, president
of the CSULB chapter.
“It was put into effect at the NAACP National
Convention in New Orleans, La, and was recognized
by the school administrators in the fall
of 2001,” Johnson said.
The campus NAACP chapter said it is dedicated
to advancing the economical, educational
and political status of all minority groups
on campus.
“The purpose of having a college chapter
is that we on campus would have a voice,”
Johnson said. “So, when we go
out in the community and see something that
is wrong, we have a voice to make a social
change in our community.”
NAACP college chapters are one of the largest
organized groups of young people of any
secular organization in the country, according
to the NAACP Web site. The objectives of
the organization are to inspire, motivate
and incite an interest among students and
youth to get involved in civic activities
and social change.
“I want to bridge the gap between college
and high schools,” said Jenkins, who heads
the education committee in the organization.
One of the main focuses of the NAACP College
Divisions is getting minority students registered
to vote each year. Rallying the students
to be registered stems from the said belief
of the NAACP that “a vote less people is
a hopeless people.”
The CSULB chapter will hold meetings every
Saturday devoted to the opportunity of students
to complete and file new voter registration
forms.
The CSULB chapter will also hold regular
meetings on the first and third Mondays
of the month at 7 p.m. in USU-305, and can
be reached at (562) 985-5342.
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