NACWC Salute

We often hear NAACP, Jack & Jill, and the Greek organizations. But what about other organizations in the trenches working alongside them. Let me salute of them.

In the Fall of 1997, I became a member of the first college chapter at The University of Texas at Arlington (founded in Fall 1996), of a wonderful organization. Through this organization, I learned to further my volunteering & fundraising skills, another meaning of sisterhood and even met one of my lifelong friends. That wonderful organization is the National Association of Colored Women Clubs (NACWC).

Founded by Josephine St. Pierre in 1896, the National Association of Colored Women Clubs is the oldest black secular organization in America. It was founded to moral, mental, and material progress made by people of color through the efforts of our women. They organized to disprove a letter written by James Jacks, of the Missouri Press Association, African-American women were not respectable and referred to them as thieves and prostitutes. Mary Church Terrell became the organization first president of the National Association of Colored Women in the United States. Charter members include Hallie Quinn Brown, Victoria Earl Matthews, Josephine Silone Yates, and Margaret Murray Washington. Evelyn Rising is the current president with chapters and members from every state in the United States of America.

NACW has helped all people by working on issues of education, civil rights and injustice of the past, such as women’s suffrage, lynching, and Jim Crow laws and presently sexism, voting rights of citizens, and, health care reform. In 2010, it was named as one of the top 10 non-profit organization in the country by Ebony Magazine

Club Objectives
 1.To work for the economic, moral, religious and social welfare of women and youth.
 2.To protect the rights of women and youth.
 3.To raise the standard and quality of life in home and family.
 4.To secure and use our influence for the enforcement of civil and political rights for African Americans and all citizens.
 5.To promote the education of women and youth through the work of the departments.
 6.To obtain for African American women the opportunity of reaching the highest levels in all fields of human endeavor.
 7.To promote effective interaction with the male auxiliary.
 8.To promote inter-racial understanding so that justice and good will may prevail among all people.
 9.To hold educational workshops biennially at the Convention

Though I am no longer a current member, I know many active members. These ladies work with the local youth & homeless in the areas of education & self-awareness. I also know the UTA chapter is still an organization on campus still promoting and doing the works of its founders.

So I tip my hat off to the fabulous & strong women of the National Association of Colored Women Clubs. Continue “Lifting as We Climb" like you always have!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms