The National Association for The Advancement of Colored People and a number of other organizations played and important role in the recognition of the rights of Afro-Americans, but because of the hard work of many individuals, the NAACP would be considered the most successful to many. James Weldon Johnson was one of those individuals who helped in the success of the organization. Years after the NAACP was founded, James Weldon Johnson was noted as being responsible for the national recognition of the organization.
In 1908, Springfield, Illinois was the site of a series of riots. William Walling, a white socialist and laborer activist was appalled by the event and felt the rights of blacks needed to be protected and everyone should fight for equality. He made a calling in the "Independent" for all to help. Mary White Ovington read the article and decided to answer. She then invited Dr. Henry Moskowitz, a laborer and social worker that wanted to participate. The three of them were the original founders of The National Association for The Advancement of Colored People, NAACP (Salzman 132-33). Later, more invited members: Charles Edward Russell, Oswald Garrison Villard, black clergymen Bishop Alexander Walters of the African A.M.E. Zion Church, and Reverend William Henry Brooks, minister of Marks Methodist Episcopal Church would soon join the .
original three creating an interracial association to fight for civil rights and to demand the fair and equal treatment given to all citizens in the Constitution (Salzman 1933). The .
seven members decided to hold a meeting on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12th, 1909, in New York. From this meeting the National Negro Committee NAACP was set up and would serve to help all, particularly Blacks. Years after the NAACP would play an important role in Afro-Americans lives. The NAACP took on legal battles concerning civil matters varying from unjust arrests and convictions, Pink Franklin case, to the desegregation of public schools, Brown vs.