Feb. 16, 2009

University of South Carolina commemorates 100th (centennial) anniversary of the founding of the NAACP

Thursday, February 12, 2009, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP is the oldest continuing Civil Rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1909 by approximately 50 people--white, black, male, female, Christian, and Jewish--to address issues of segregation, political disenfranchisement, and racial injustice in America. Since its founding in 1909, the organization's membership has grown to over 500,000 members, and today addresses issues of providing quality education, equal justice, and bridging the continuing gap of economic disparities that exist in housing and employment with respect to race, color, sex, religion, age, and national origin in America today.

As President of the University of South Carolina, I salute the student chapter here on the campus for its continuing efforts to address issues of mutual concern on the USC campus and for its leadership in helping to create a culture within our University which promotes diversity within our faculty, staff, and student body. I also salute the many members of this organization here in South Carolina on the commemoration and celebration of 100 years of service as the lead Civil Rights agency in America. Because of the continuing efforts of the NAACP, America has made great progress in the area of race-relations and has made significant progress to promote equal justice for all and to end discrimination against all persons with respect to race, color, sex, religion, age, and national origin. Every step of the way over the past 100 years the NAACP has been in the forefront of leading this fight and advocating on behalf of disenfranchised people: black, white and other. On behalf of the University of South Carolina, I join with our many state leaders and mayors around the state of South Carolina in commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the NAACP and wish its many members "God's speed and best wishes on 100 years of service."

Harris Pastides
President, University of South Carolina