Branch History

This is the story of a journey. Come with me as we start our journey in the year 1945 and even as we go to press our journey continues. We shall overcome with continued hard work and dedicated service to the oldest and strongest Civil Rights organization in the United States and the world.

The Vancouver Branch is a charter organization, on of the more than 1800 Branches which is required cooperatively with the National Office, the Regional Office, and the State Conference of Branches.

We are 57 years old. Our story is similar to that of many of our sister branches. Before World War II Vancouver’s Black population stood at one. During the war many people found it necessary to leave their homes and in other areas of our country. Washington State became home for many of us. Vancouver became a City with many Blacks seeking upward mobility.

In 1945 not a single Black family resided in a Federal Public Housing Unit, a small percentage in individual demountables were housed in semi-segregated areas. In September of 1945 a special committee on housing for the Vancouver Civil Unity League, including officers of the NAACP met with the directors of the Vancouver Housing Authority regarding the partially segregated status of the Black tenants.

The discussion dealt with racial segregation, its actuality; its legality and its evils. Suggestions made at this meeting led to new housing policies which changed the pattern. Blacks were moved into permanent housing and demountables in every area of the community.

A post war census taken by the Vancouver Branch between April 15, 1946 and May 1, 1946 showed that 77% of Black family heads were unemployed despite the fact that 55% had some Union affiliation and the average male Black worker had 7.2 years of experience in some specific field of work. The NAACP Labor and Industry Committee, with the assistance of Noah Griffin, NAACP Regional Director and the Portland Urban League visited management and labor union leaders.

With the enactment of the Fair Employment Practices Commission in Washington and Oregon through the combined efforts of NAACP and other civic minded organizations and individuals, a greater number of jobs were opened to Black people. Many of us have jobs today because of the efforts put forth in their behalf.

Since its inception, the Branch has continued its efforts in education, employment and needs of the community. Wherever there is a need among our constituency we are there. This journey would not be complete unless we shared some of our dreams and goals. We here dreamed of a society free of the prejudices that most of us experienced during our childhood and adulthood; a world where the American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be the accepted rather then exceptional.

Our goals are:

· Elimination of racism wherever it exists.

· A society where our children and grandchildren and any succeeding generation will be able to live their lives more abundantly.

· To secure a free ballot for every qualified citizen

· To seek justice in the courts

· To secure equal job opportunities based upon merit.

· To end mob violence and police brutality.

I am what I am because...They were what were

Links

Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive (CRBEHA)

The CRBEHA brings together selected highlights of the ethnic collections from leading repositories in Idaho , Oregon , and Washington .

To search for Vancouver NAACP information at CRBEHA site type "Vancouver NAACP" in the Keyword box.

Clark County Historical Society and Museum

Send mail to webmaster@naacpvanc.org with questions or comments about this web site.