Amid thousands of employees out of work due to federal furloughs, the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming and threats to federal funding for teaching Black history, the 116th Annual NAACP National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, held July 12-16, emphasized the importance of strengthening Black entrepreneurship, passing the advocacy torch to youth, and a recommitment to the core principles of civil rights.
Featuring panel discussions, workshops and a Black business showcase, the conference was a moment to work toward furthering the mission of the NAACP since its founding in 1909: advancing the needs of people of color.
“The NAACP Convention has always been a place where people across the country come together to map out our advocacy and mobilization strategies to advance civil rights and democracy for all,” Johnson said in a June statement announcing President Donald Trump would not be invited to the convening. “Our annual convention is meant to be a safe space for all people — regardless of political ideology — who believe in multiracial democracy and the ideal of building a more perfect union.”…