In 1916, a small group of Montclair townspeople came together to protest blatant acts of discrimination against people of color in public establishments, in education, in housing, and in the workplace. As a result of their courage and fortitude, the Montclair Branch NAACP was born. Although much has changed over the years, the struggle for civil rights is still very much alive.
The Montclair Branch has formed coalitions with local community groups whose efforts are in concert with the mission of the NAACP. In recent years, the Branch has worked closely with the National Council of Negro Women, Inc (NCNW), The League of Women Voters, The Montclair Senior Housing Corporation, The Montclair African American Heritage Foundation, and our faith-based communities. Members of the Branch represent the NAACP on various community boards and committees.
One of the major goals of the Montclair NAACP is to advocate for our youth. The branch has expanded its youth outreach to include a Junior Youth Council to compliment the Youth Council at Montclair High School and the Youth & College Division at Montclair State University. The Youth Council has worked to mentor, nurture and train other young people to become effective leaders, giving them a voice; and emphasizing the skills necessary to be productive in the community.