Do you go to the library often? It’s very relaxing to read for entertainment and to gain knowledge.
Libraries are now showcasing books by African-American authors. I found a history book on the NAACP, Celebrating a Century of 100 years in Pictures. I learned that the NAACP was founded February 12, 1909. The NAACP stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It is the oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. It has more than half a million members and supporters.
The NAACP seeks to remove barriers of racial discrimination. Its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all people. After seeing so much violence, in 1908 a group of white liberals came together to see how best to address the issue. Appalled at the violence that was committed again blacks, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Vilard, William English Walling and Dr. Henry Moscowitz issued a call for a meeting to discuss racial justice. Some 60 people, seven of whom were African-American (including W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Well and Mary Church Terrell) signed the call, which was released on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
The first president of the NAACP was a white man who had been a member of the American Bar Association. The local Tri-County Branch of the NAACP is under the leadership of Ms. Tori Bailey, president. The local branch was chartered on February 8, 1965. Prior to 1956–1957, it was known as the Tri Cities Branch of the NAACP.
In the fall, the Tri-County Freedom Awards Banquet was held. Mr. Harlan “Peaches” Winston provided musical entertainment. There were many guests from Russellville at the Radisson Hotel attending the banquet. Dr. Will Boyd, pastor of St. Mark Church, was the featured speaker. The Freedom Fund Banquet honors local citizens for their outstanding service to the Shoals area communities.
The freedom awards are named to honor the memory of past officials of the NAACP Tri-County Branch for their faithful struggle for freedom, equality and justice. One of the local Service Awards is named for Mrs. Rosie B. Groce of Russellville.
As a resident of Russellville, she was a Past Membership Chair and provided many hours of dedicated service to the organization. She was faithful in talking to individuals and registering them to become members. Her outstanding work spoke for itself when the membership roster increased tremendously. Mrs. Rosie B. Groce was the widow of the late Rev. Alonzo Groce. This couple worked side by side to make Russellville a better place.
Other awards presented were for Education, Leadership, Humanitarian, Religious, Civic and Youth.
The NAACP Image Award Program was Saturday, February 11. It showcased many African-Americans in leading roles in the television, movie and entertainment industry. Cornell Brock is the national president; Bernard Simelton is the Alabama state president.
