National Council of Negro Women
The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is a prominent organization that emerged from a rich history of African American women's activism aimed at combating racism and promoting social justice. Founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune in Washington, D.C., the NCNW was created to unite various organizations and enhance the leadership of black women, building on earlier groups like the National Federation of Afro-American Women and the National Association for Colored Women. Throughout the 1930s, the NCNW focused on advocating for the rights and needs of black women and children, particularly in the context of the New Deal programs during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency.
Under Bethune's leadership, the council played a pivotal role in lobbying for greater government support for African Americans, particularly through a national conference in 1938 that brought together influential black women leaders and members of the Roosevelt administration. The organization continued to thrive after Bethune's retirement in 1949, notably under Dorothy Height's presidency from 1957 to 1998, expanding its influence and recognition. Today, the NCNW remains dedicated to promoting civil rights, education, and the historical contributions of African American women, with active initiatives in both the United States and select African nations.
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National Council of Negro Women
Identification Organization promoting African American women’s rights, interests, and success as leaders
Date Established on December 5, 1935
The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) brought together leaders of major black women’s groups to work on issues affecting them during the Depression and afterward. Cooperating with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League, which had mostly male leadership, the NCNW addressed the combined problems of sexism and racism that distinctly affected black women.
During the 1930’s, African American women built upon a strong legacy of activism against racism and segregation. To expand their influence during the 1890’s, black women had formed the National Federation of Afro-American Women and the National League of Colored Women. These groups combined in 1896 as the National Association for Colored Women (NACW), which had more than 100,000 members by the mid-1920’s. The Depression weakened the NACW financially, reducing the organization’s effectiveness. To build more powerful leadership for black women, Mary McLeod Bethune, who was the NACW president from 1924 to 1928, began in 1930 to consult with directors of more than two dozen organizations for black women (including the NACW) and promote a forum for their work. The result was the establishment of the National Council for Negro Women with Bethune as its first president and Washington, D.C., as its home.
The pursuit of direct power for black women in American society was a hallmark of NCNW activism throughout the 1930’s. Bethune strongly supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration and guided the NCNW toward a prominent role in the federal government. The organization hosted a national conference in April of 1938 to focus on improving the government’s attention to black women and children. More than sixty black women leaders met with members of the Roosevelt administration, lobbying for increased involvement for black women regarding New Deal programs that affected African Americans.
Impact
The NCNW grew steadily under Bethune, who retired as president in 1949. Subsequent leaders, especially Dorothy Height, who was president from 1957 to 1998, guided the organization to prominence as a well-funded, widely honored network, uniting approximately forty groups with more than 240 active sections. It has actively promoted the civil rights, education, employment, and historical memorialization of African American women since its inception and continues such work in the twenty-first century in selected African nations and in the United States.
Bibliography
Giddings, Paula. Where and When I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America. New York: Morrow, 1984.
Height, Dorothy. Open Wide the Freedom Gates: A Memoir. New York: PublicAffairs, 2005.