National Council of Negro Women by Nicole Caruso (PHS-12)

Unifying African American Women

24caruson1 — 2023-12-13 20:58:09 UTC

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) was founded in 1935, with the help of African American women who led close to 30 organizations. The founder and president at the time was Mary Bethune who wanted to unite African American women and form a unified organization. The main goal of the NCNW at the start was to get more opportunities for young African American women in terms of education.

Leaders of the NCNW

24caruson1 — 2023-12-13 20:59:01 UTC

Mary Bethune was the founder of the NCNW whose main focus was to challenge racial injustice and advocate for equal opportunities. After Bethune, Dorothy Ferebee became the next president. She shifted the focus of the organization towards using the legal system to help better get rights for African Americans while also promoting education and involvement in politics. The current president, Shavon Arline-Bradley has leadership experience in healthcare and other racial equality organizations. Under her leadership, the organization promotes education, specifically in the STEM field while also encouraging active involvement in society for African American women.

Success through Involvment

24caruson1 — 2023-12-13 20:59:18 UTC

The NCNW helped get African American women in jobs through training them in volunteer practices first. Through these volunteer experiences, African American women learned how to do basic tasks and brought these skills into their jobs. Considered an “organization of organizations” over 300 communities and organizations make up the NCNW giving it a large variety of different people with differing ideas. The NCNW built a memorial for Bethane in Washington, D.C. while also preserving the Council House (a place where many meetings for the organization were held) as a historic site.

Today

24caruson1 — 2023-12-13 21:00:23 UTC

The group still exists today with their focus on public service and active engagement in education so that African American women can become powerful leadership figures in society. The organization also encourages members to advocate for social justice and public policies.

24caruson1 — 2023-12-13 21:01:35 UTC