As World War II came to an end, the work of the NAACP was only beginning to gain ground. A nucleus of strong leadership composed of Walter White, Thurgood Marshall, Ella Baker, Roy Wilkins, and W.E.B. Du Bois had emerged to move forward the NAACP’s overarching goal: “to end racial discrimination and secure full citizenship for black Americans” (Sullivan 293). Du Bois, despite a few years absence, was asked by White to represent the black voice in anticolonial movements, and he agreed (292).
Together, Marshall and Baker emerged as the frontrunners of the field campaign. “Both shared an understanding that, as Marshall bluntly put it, ‘the NAACP can move no faster than the individuals who have been discriminated against’” (Sullivan 295). The two uplifted communities by nurturing local leaders—Marshall through local lawyers and Baker through community members at large (295) Throughout this period, the NAACP played a central role in garnering the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice and began to see rewards from their efforts.
Fast forward to today. As the murder of Trayvon Martin continues to garner media attention, a quick Google search of “Trayvon Martin + NAACP” offers 823 results. Just like in the days of Marshall and Baker, members of the NAACP have traveled to Florida to hear the personal accounts of community members. Within one article titled, “Community speaks out against Sanford officials following death of Trayvon Martin,” from ABC Action News, one of the attendees shares the following statement: “The Justice Department needs to come and clean all of Sanford up. They need to take all the judges and most of them need to go.”
It is disheartening to know that a half-century since the prime NAACP organizing of Baker and Marshall, there are still communities struggling to overcome institutionalized injustice. While it is somewhat comforting to know that the NAACP continues to respond to cases of injustice, an inkling of optimism—or naivety—continues to hope there would be no need for the NAACP to respond to any issues dealing with the justice system (because there wouldn’t be any), and that ferries and ponies and princesses could again populate the world. As social media outlets, friends, and classmates continue to discuss the case, the thought of the individual’s role—and more importantly MY role—within the protest consistently emerges.
WWED? (What would Ella [Baker] do?) If this case were being read in a textbook instead of in the news, what would the desired response of young Americans be? It is doubtful that it would be limited to casual conversations over coffee and scrolling through timelines and feeds.
Read the full article here: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/community-speaks-out-against-sanford-officials-following-death-of-trayvon-martin