Civil rights advocates meet as US retreats on inclusion

NAACP

President Joe Biden departs after speaking at the NAACP Convention, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The civil rights organization, which will hold its 2025 convention July 12-16 in Charlotte, declined to invite President Donald Trump, a first in NAACP history.

The 116th NAACP National Convention will convene during an onslaught of civil rights and political upheaval.

The convention, which takes place July 12-16 in Charlotte, is themed “The Fierce Urgency of Now” and will gather its members from across the country as well as elected officials, activists, organizers, faith leaders and influencers to discuss issues facing Black communities. 

“As you would think, things are a little hectic,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg chapter president the Rev. Corine Mack said, “but we are all really comfortable and excited about the national convention being here. It's been almost 30 years since it was last here. This is an exciting time.”

Mack, who led the local organizing effort, anticipates as many as 16,000 people will be in Charlotte for the convention compared to 12,000 at last year’s gathering in Las Vegas. At least 8,000 are committed to attend.

Delegates of the nation’s oldest civil right organization will gather under a cloud of threats to people of color as the federal government rolls back generations of progress on racial and economic inclusion. 

“The convention really is about NAACP business,” Mack said. “We will have a resolutions day where we go over resolutions to determine what our policies will be and what our focuses will be. But of course, it's an entire week, so there will be a lot of conversations around all the issues – heavy intersectional harm: health care, housing, education, economics, civic engagement, all the things that we have to deal with in life will be discussed at this convention.”

The public is also invited for conversations and workshops.

Among the local participants and speakers are Mayor Vi Lyles, Kenya Joseph, founder of Hearts and Hands Food Pantry and president of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Council and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, who represents Charlotte in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Additional events include The Hub, a public immersive celebration of Black culture and social impact where NAACP programs, membership, and campaign activations are on center stage, free health screenings, the annual Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics, or ACT-SO, competition, as well as “Be In The Biz,” a program designed to make the entertainment industry more accessible to underrepresented communities, and the inaugural Evening of Excellence Awards Dinner on July 16.

“We have a phenomenal lineup,” Mack said. “I’m just excited about the fact that people will have an opportunity to come together and love at a time where there’s so much hate and division to figure out what it is we will be doing to elevate the lives of the people of not only Charlotte-Mecklenburg, but the state of North Carolina and the surrounding states.”

Here's a partial list of event highlights. For more, go to naacp.org/convention.

July 12

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Health summit. Conversation on prioritizing mental health in a high-stress world, especially in marginalized communities. 

Experts will share tools to manage stress, build resilience, and set healthy boundaries, while also addressing stigma and cultural barriers. Pre-registration is required.
12-8 p.m. 

Career Summit and College Fair

July 13

Clarence Mitchell Jr. CLE Seminar (preregistration required)

9–10:30 a.m.

• Environmental Injustice: Litigation relating to Air & Soil Quality in Marginalized Neighborhoods. A panel discussion on the history of polluters locating facilities in communities of color.
10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

• The Legal Implication of Harmful Practices in the Beauty Industry. A panel discussion on carcinogens and other toxins found in beauty products specifically marketed to women of color. Includes an update on the state of litigation related to hair relaxers.

3– 4:30 p.m. 

• Legal Challenges to Attacks on Diversity & Inclusion: A discussion on recent federal and state policies designed to end opportunities and equity for people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, children with special needs, and the disabled. Among the panelists is North Carolina Central University School of Law professor Irving Joyner.

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Public mass meeting (preregistration required)

July 14

9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. 

• Crisis Point: Defending Democracy and Civil Rights in a Volatile Political Climate. Discussion on the future of voting rights, civil liberties, disinformation and extremist ideologies contributing to eroding public trust in institutions. 
Lyles is among the scheduled panelists.

• Decoding AI: Making Artificial Intelligence Real, Understandable, and Useful. A session designed to bring AI closer to home.

• Rewriting the Future: AI for Progress, Justice, and Jobs. A discussion exploring how AI can be a tool for transformation.

 
3:45-5:45 p.m.

• Labor Town Hall. Labor leaders, advocates, and workers highlight challenges faced by workers and explore strategies to advance labor rights, equity, and justice.

July 16

9 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Advocacy Then, Advocacy Now. A discussion on moving civil rights advocacy forward from different perspectives, strategies, innovations and talents. 

• Our Culture, Our Stories: Writing Our Own Narrative. A session exploring the power of storytelling as a vehicle for community-building and cultural liberation. Panelists will discuss how content can shift narratives, fuel social movements, and inspire change. 

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