Harvard NAACP Revamped

A week before the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, students from across the University gathered to re-charter the Harvard chapter of the historic organization last night.

In front of nearly 75 attendees, HLS student James A. Nortey addressed the lack of social justice and civil rights initiatives on campus.

“This is Harvard University. How can there not be an NAACP?” Nortey asked.

The organization’s current on-campus absence may be part of a larger statewide trend.

Once known for bitter anti-discrimination battles and struggles against segregated Boston public schools, the NAACP Boston chapter has become less vocal in recent years, according to the Boston Globe.

Since the 1960s, the membership of the Boston chapter has declined from nearly 5,000 to 400. At Harvard, the NAACP has followed a similar trajectory. Though a group of students founded a chapter in 1998, it soon became defunct due to a “lack of leadership,” according to Nortey.

This time around, students are working to establish a more enduring presence at Harvard by enlisting talent from across the university.

“We want to harness the skill sets of lawyers-to-be, doctors-to-be, policy-makers too-be, and businessmen-to-be,” Nortey said.

Kennedy School student Desiree M. Cormier stressed the NAACP’s historic role as not only a vehicle for discussion, but also as a direct agent for action.

“We want to use the resources that we have from across the different graduate schools and college to benefit the surrounding communities in need,” Cormier said.

Some initiatives include achieving greater diversity amongst university faculty, obtaining free diabetes screenings for the public, and engaging in active debate during the impending Criminal Record Offender Information reform.

James Hoyte, Assistant to the University President, was present at the meeting in a demonstration of support for the Harvard chapter.

Juan Cofield, president of the NAACP New England Area Conference, spoke about the need for youth participation and the cultivation of new leadership. Cofield noted the importance of attracting a diversity of membership as a means of reinvigorating the NAACP.

“Colored people come in all colors,” Cofield said. “Our arms are open, and we are inviting all people to participate and become involved.”

—Staff writer Courtney P. Yadoo can be reached at cyadoo@fas.harvard.edu.