Still lifting and climbing: the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc. celebrates 100th anniversary

Ebony, Oct, 1996 by Richette L. Heywood

IT was a question of character. A matter of honor. When, a century ago, a prominent White journalist declared that most Black women were "wholly devoid of morality," he didn't realize that his mind-boggling blanket declaration would serve to galvanize Black women rather than to demoralize them.

Among the Black women galvanized by this attack was Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, the president of the Women's Era Club of Boston and editor of the Women's Era newspaper -- the first newspaper published by Black women. Outraged by this malicious libel, she issued a call to arms to Black women.

"Too long," she said, "we have been silent under unjust and unholy charges; we cannot expect to have them removed until we disprove unjust charges"

Instead of remaining silent, she called for "an army of organized women" to usher in a new era by consolidating their forces under one national umbrella and increasing their clout.

In 1896 Ruffin's vision became a reality with the founding of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACWC), which merged the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the Women's Era Club of Boston and the Colored Women's League of Washington, D.C. Since that historic merger, Black women have moved to a new level of assertiveness and inclusiveness. Doors previously closed to Black women are now open, and Black women are among the major leaders of the women's movement and major male and female movements.

To celebrate these gains and to rededicate themselves to the vision of the founders and the challenges of the future, Black clubwomen gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 100th anniversary of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, the nation's oldest Black women's organization. Still "Lifting as it Climbs," the organization and its leaders, including immediate past President Savannah C. Jones of Birmingham, Ala., and newly installed President Patricia Fletcher of Steubenville, Ohio, noted with pride that its more than 20,000 members in 698 chapters in 32 states are still dedicated to its primary purpose of "raising to the highest plane the home life, moral standards and civic life of our race."

Immediate past President Jones, who has been an active member for five decades, said the organization has succeeded because it has remained true to the vision of founder Ruffin and former Presidents Mary Church Terrell and Mary McLeod Bethune. Today, as in the past, it welcomes all Sisters who hold the same objectives. "Any woman that is a good woman and wants to come in and serve, can serve," she says.

Dr. Jones and Dr. Fletcher say service is the hallmark of the organization -- service to its members, its community and the country.

Service was the major reason the organization paid the mortgage on the Frederick Douglass Home in 1916, restored it to its former beauty and turned it over to the National Parks Service in the 1960s after spearheading a successful campaign to have it declared a national shrine.

Service was the motivating force that led to the organization of the National Association of Colored Girls and the National Association of Boys Clubs, which now make up the National Association of Youth Clubs.

And service inspired the Gertrude Johnson Williams Oratorical Contest for NACWC Youth, which was established by EBONY Publisher John H. Johnson in memory of his mother who was the publicity chairman and a life member of the organization.

The $10,000 oratorical scholarship, which is awarded at each biennial conference, continues the organization's program of supporting education. The educational program began in 1924 when the association established the Hallie Q. Brown Scholarship in honor of its seventh national president.

By organizing and supporting these and other service projects, both nationally and through its affiliated clubs, the organization has made its motto of "Lifting As We Climb" a reality. Despite these and other successes, the association has no intention of resting on its laurels. Using the rich past as a guide to the future, convention delegates rededicated themselves to the centennial theme, "100 Years: A Continuous Legacy of Service to Mankind."

In this spirit, the organization has expanded its reach to include a new African program in cooperation with Africare. Working together, the two non-profit organizations are building a clinic in Senegal that places special emphasis on mothers and infants. The organizations are also working together on a reforestation project in Africa. Another association program closer to home is the Renaissance Project, which calls for raising $1.5 million to restore its former Washington, D.C., headquarters building.

Presiding over the Washington, D.C., centennial celebration, outgoing President Jones appealed to the youth club members to continue the legacy. "We always lose you when you graduate from high school, but now, we want some of you to get on some of these college campuses and help us set up some chapters. That is my challenge to you, " she told them adding, "We're growing old and we want the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs to enter the 21st century well established. We want to know that it's in good hands and that you really care about the organization."