Cincinnati NAACP
A Legacy of Impact
Cincinnati NAACP has a rich and vibrant history, but we are more than our past. Who we are is every bit as much about our present and future. It’s about our legacy of advocacy, activism, hope, and progress. The legacy we will leave is the history we continue to make, the narratives we change, and the ability to create a sustainable positive impact on the lives of people in our community now and yet to come.
Who We Are Today
Founded in 1915 as part of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, the Cincinnati NAACP is among more than 2200 branches with more than two million activists across the country united in the fight to end racial inequality. We are an IRS-designated 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization operated by local members and leaders in our jurisdiction of Hamilton County, Ohio.
Through our many active Committees fueled by active members and residents across our community, Cincinnati NAACP fights against disparities in housing, education, economic development, and healthcare to name just a few. We advocate and raise awareness to address the inequities that exist in vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged communities. We also stand up against racial discrimination and hate. We receive complaints reporting such issues by phone and by email and provide referrals to assist complainants. We also provide voter registration, education, and engagement as well as political campaign forums for the community.
We Are:
Neighbors and role models
Helping hands and healing hearts
Community leaders and “boots on the ground”
Passionate in our actions and grounded in our convictions
Staunch advocates and tenacious adversaries
Inclusive collaborators and fierce competitors
Dedicated players and strategic coaches
Courageous survivors and social justice warriors
Multi-generational and multi-cultural
Change agents of today and the hope of the future
The Mission of a Lifetime
Our ongoing work across Hamilton County remains consistent, aligned, and supportive of the mission of the overall NAACP to prioritize Black lives in all spaces, to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons, and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination by working to:
A Legacy of Leaders and Change
Founded in 1915 with just 15-20 members, the Cincinnati NAACP is a branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). With no office, the group met in member’s homes, feared discovery, and was considered radical. By the mid-sixties, membership had grown into the thousands, and demonstrations and sit-ins became useful tools for accomplishing goals.
One of its earliest successes was the elimination of the separate school system for African Americans. It also achieved breakthroughs in employment and public accommodations by relying on the power of the courts and public persuasion. See the timeline of our history for more details about our successful activism.
The home of grassroots activism for civil rights and social justice, we carry forward the legacy of W.E.B. Dubois, Ida B. Wells, Thurgood Marshall, and many other giants of civil rights. Learn more about the powerful and fascinating history of the NAACP.
