Boston Branch 1911 Niagara Movement Centennial The Niagara Movement 1905-1909, established the modern civil rights movement and led to the founding of the NAACP. The third of its five meetings and the largest was held in Boston in Faneuil Hal in 1907. The movement s membership, led by W.E.B. Du Bois, was made up of some the most accomplished African American businessmen, teachers and clergy of the day. It was intended to counteract the inequity and the social and political ills impacting African Americans at the time. The late 1800s saw the demise of the Reconstruction Period. In 1896 the Supreme Court Decision of Plessy vs. Ferguson created government approved segregation.
Dear Friends, October 16, 2007 It is with great pleasure that the Boston Branch of the NAACP, the first Branch in the nation, celebrates the centennial anniversary of the 1907 Boston meeting of the Niagara Movement. The Niagara Movement led directly to the founding in 1909 of the NAACP. Boston has a rich tradition in the struggle for civil and human rights. This week we look back and commemorate the sacrifice and work of the Niagara Movement members, led by W.E.B. DuBois and other prominent individuals of the day. The 1907 Boston Meeting of the Niagara Movement was the largest of the five meetings held and is significant because it was the first meeting in which women were elected as voting delegates. More than 800 men and women came to Boston in August 1907 to attend the three-day meeting at Faneuil Hall. They showed inconceivable courage and determination to dare to fight against the accommodation establishment policies, the Jim Crow world of lynching and segregation, in postreconstruction America. Where are we today in our struggle for justice? What will be our hundred-year legacy? I hope you will join us by becoming a member of the Boston Branch as we confront the issues of our day : Employment, Education, Housing, Home ownership, Public safety, Health, for young adults, our children and ourselves. Please take advantage this week and in the weeks to come to join the Boston Branch at this important and historic time while we commemorate those who came before us. We have designed a special keepsake Niagara Movement Membership Certificate. The design is based on an actual Niagara Movement Membership Certificate that includes the Shaw Memorial Logo used for the 1907 Boston meeting. I began my term as president of the Boston Branch in January 2007 and I look forward to working with you to renew and expand our membership, strengthen ourselves by making a strong and lasting commitment to raise our voices and efforts together for Civil Rights and the rights and futures of children and young adults to live in safety and dignity. Sincerely, Karen L. Payne President Boston Branch NAACP Boston Branch 1911 Page 2 of 10
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 10:30-1:00pm Special Collections & University Archives of W.E.B. DuBois Archives at University of Massachusetts Guests will be guided through this traveling exhibit Greetings and Introductions Karen L. Payne, Boston Branch President NAACP Ribbon Cutting Remarks: Governor Deval L. Patrick (invited) Legislative Black Caucus Specials Guests - Robert Cox, Head of Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. DuBois Library, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Lilla G. Fredericks Middle School Students William Monroe Trotter School Students Elected Officials Light Refreshments ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, October 16, 2007 6:00-8:00pm University of Massachusetts-Boston Ballroom 6:00-6:45pm Special Guest Reception for Niagara Centennial Sponsors 6:45-7:15pm Meet and Greet with guests and hors d'oeuvre served Congressman James Clyburn 7:15-7:45pm Speaking Program: Welcome - Karen L. Payne - Boston Branch President NAACP Introduction Remarks Representative Willie Mae Allen U.S. Congressman James Clyburn Page 3 of 10
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:00pm - 2:00p Symposium, University of Massachusetts - Boston, 11th Floor, Healey Library First Congress Of Negro Women, Atlanta, Georgia Dec. 1895 Fighting for Notice: A Hundred Years Later is focused on the contributions of black women to the cause of justice. Speakers Susan Bragg University of Utah, Deborah Newman, Morgan State University, Kerri Greenidge and Jacqueline PayneThompson, will highlight the activism of Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and others. WE SALUTE THE NAACP AND OUR DEAR LENNY AND CAROLE ALKINS FOR LIFETIMES OF PURSUIT AND ACHIEVEMENT IN FAIRNESS FOR ALL John Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and the Red Sox Foundation Page 4 of 10
Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:00am 1pm Faneuil Hall Boston, Massachusetts Student Expressions Creative expression of the Niagara Movement by students from the William Monroe Trotter School, Lila Fredericks School, and Freedom House Program Participants. The Old State House in Boston, MA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 of 10
Friday, October 19, 2007 7:00pm - 9:00pm League of Women For Community Service 558 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts Salon Hostess: Sarah Ann Shaw, Former League President Spiritual Mimi Jones Poetry Reading Kalimah Redd-Knight, League Member Song Caroline Shaw-Moss Prose Reading Leah Randolph, League President League History Sarah Ann Shaw Song Caroline Shaw-Moss League of Women for Community Service Dramatic Presentation on the Life of Ida B. Wells Verdaya Mitchell Brown (Sister Verdaya) President, Vision Makers Educational Services Closing Spiritual Mimi Jones Refreshments Page 6 of 10
Saturday, October 20, 2007 11:00am 1pm Faneuil Hall Boston, Massachusetts The Niagara Movement Roundtable Moderated by Sarah Ann Shaw Original Niagara Members Prof. Robert Hall, Northeastern University Geoff Ward, Northeastern University Prof. William Strickland, University Massachusetts Amherst Kerri Greenige, Northeastern University L Me r che Frazier, o Director of Education Museum of African American History Page 7 of 10
Acknowledgement Page Special Thanks to MaryMall.com James Broadnax Dr. Gene Mason Mary Sheriff Hughia Magnus University of Massachusetts at Amherst DuBois Library Archives Robert Cox Tonia Sutherland Danielle Kovacs Head, Special Collections and Archives Research Library Resident Curator of Manuscripts and University Archives Niagara Centennial Celebration Committee Karen L. Payne Chairperson Mary Adams Ron Amistead Arthur Banks Cheryl Crawford Debora Blood Sarah Flint Rita Kantarowski Sarah Ann Shaw Ad Hoc Committee Members: Lenny Alkins Michael Curry Stephen Howard Roscoe Morris Niagara Centennial Honorary Committee Members: Chairs: The Honorable Thomas M. Menino, Mrs. Angela Menino U.S. Senator John F. Kerry U. S. Representative Michael E. Capuano Page 8 of 10
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