The 116th NAACP national convention is underway in Charlotte, and the theme is “the fierce urgency of now,” a phrase taken from speeches about justice for all by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We step back from the convention to explore the work being done in between gatherings — examining how the country’s oldest civil rights organization is evolving to meet the moment and what it means to move with urgency.
Dominik Whitehead, chief of field, membership growth and unit sustainability at the NAACP, oversees the organization’s grassroots efforts and implements strategies at all levels, local to national, to empower Black communities. His work includes listening to local needs, empowering leaders and addressing issues such as voter suppression. In cities like Charlotte, local branches are vital to the national strategy…