NAACP national convention comes to Boston this weekend. Here's what to expect
The 114th annual NAACP National Convention: “Thriving Together” comes to Boston Wednesday, bringing in leading activists, advocates and entertainers to the city to explore the most pressing issues facing Black Americans. The convention continues through Aug. 1.
The organization, with 2,200 branches throughout the United States, Germany and Japan, has deep roots in Boston: Its first president was Boston attorney Morfield Storey, elected in 1909 with the founding of the organization’s first official chapter.
The 2020 national convention was to be held in the city, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A free celebration of Black culture and social impact
Not all will be serious and scholarly: The Hub, an immersive experience of Black culture and its social impact that is free and open to the public, has a packed schedule of things to do, including a block party from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff; a career summit from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Saturday; and gospel choir performance at noon Sunday.
The Hub will take place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center at 415 Summer St. from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
A full schedule of events can be seen at naacp.org/thehub/schedule.
Plenary events, open to all registered convention attendees, begin Saturday, also at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. For information on registering, visit naacp.org/convention. Here is the schedule:
Saturday, July 29: Vice President Kamala Harris hosts armchair conversation
The event runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature the following:
NAACP Board Chairman Leon W. Russell
Congressman Jim Clyburn, D-South Carolina
Miguel Cardona, secretary of education
Tanisha Sullivan, NAACP Boston branch president
Michael Curry, National Board of Directors
Sunday, July 30: Hate Has No Home Here
A panel discussion on racism, antisemitism and building bridges to fight hate starts at 3 p.m. with opening remarks by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. Panelists include:
Joy Taylor, Fox Sports host, moderator
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson
Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates
Meek Mill, a criminal justice reform advocate
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, chairman of the Kraft Group and founder of the Foundation to Combat Anti Semitism
Monday, July 31: Official business
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., NAACP delegates will vote on and ratify official resolutions on topics including civil rights, criminal justice, economic development, education, health and housing, among many others.
Tuesday, Aug. 1: Final day of activities
Two discussions are planned for the morning, from 9 a.m. to noon:
Fractured: The People v. The States: regressive policies erode the hard-fought rights of Black Americans: Panelists include professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, co-host of "The Talk" Sheryl Underwood and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie.
Closing the Black Wealth Gap: Systemic inequity has excluded Black people from traditional pathways to wealth, exploring ways to building Black wealth. Panelists include NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, CEO and founder of Management Leadership of Tomorrow John Rice, Co-Managing Partner of Bain Capital Jonathan Lavine, and Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Yvonne Hao.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Kamala Harris among headliners at NAACP convention in Boston
