A history lesson and a chance for a scholarship occurs at NIC

Coeur d’Alene- Vice-President of the local NAACP chapter did a presentation on the oldest civil rights organization on Wednesday.

NIC Alumnus and Kootenai County chapter of the NAACP Vice-President, James McDay, presented a slideshow on the organization’s history and the three Idaho chapters, including one here in Kootenai County.

McDay said when talking to people in Kootenai County and the surrounding area, most are not familiar with the NAACP or what the organization is about.

“I want students to take away the understanding there are scholarship opportunities, as well as African American history and American history that students won’t get from any other resource,” said McDay.

TOC Diversity resource, founded by McDay, would help lay the groundwork for the Kootenai County chapter.

Accordingly, the three main chapters in Idaho and their founding are:

1. Coeur d’Alene, May 16, 2020.

2. Pocatello, Sept. 13, 1943.

3. Treasure Valley, in 1919 and reformed in 1965.

Comparatively, the NAACP was founded in New York City on February 12, 1909, by W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, among others.

Generally, the NAACP, known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, continues the tradition to combat injustice and teach African-American history as American history.

The main goal of the organization was originally to combat racism, segregation, and Jim Crow laws that were prominent in the south.

The chapter in Kootenai County is promoting a scholarship fund for students who can write a 500-word essay on why they are the best candidate.

Albeit TOC Diversity will match it, raising the scholarship fund up to $1,000.