An Illustrious History: The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs
This month the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs celebrates it's one hundred and twenty-ninth anniversary. Founders of the NACWC included an illustrious group of nineteenth century Black women: Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Harriet Tubman, Margaret Murray Washington, Frances E. W. Harper, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Victoria Earle Matthews, Josephine Silone Yates, and Mary Church Terrell (who served as the organization's inaugeral presedent.). It's founders are honored on July 21st, Founders Day.
The NACWC pursues social justice through a national network of clubs for youth and adults.
The following are excerpts from it's website describing it's mission and work:
Our mission is to empower women of color, uplift families, and promote racial harmony through dedicated service, education, and scholarship assistance. We strive to protect the rights of women and youth, improve the quality of life in homes and communities, and advocate for civil and political rights for all citizens. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that African American women can excel in every field and foster inter-racial understanding for a more just and harmonious society.
The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NACWC) established in 1896, stands as the first national organization for African American women. We have played a pivotal role as the foundational bedrock for numerous other clubs, sororities, and organizations that followed our inception. Many founders of these subsequent organizations were originally members of NACWC, a testament to our influential and enduring legacy.
NACWC embraces the motto "Lifting As We Climb" as a unifying call, promoting self-help endeavors among women. During our initial years, the organization actively tackled a range of social issues affecting the Black community; including but not limited to lynching, suffrage, childcare, elderly care, education and job readiness, fair wages, segregation, housing, and women’s health.
Today, NACWC continues to be a trailblazer and advocate for women, youth, and families; championing programs that emphasize economic opportunities, health and vitality, education, and social justice.
We salute the long history of accomplishments of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.