Published Monday, Feb. 9, 1998

A youngster reaches out for a handshake from the Rev. Jesse Jackson as he moves through the crowd outside Farrell's Second Baptist Church. Members of the Mercer County branch of the NAACP have been successful in bringing many notable speakers, including representatives from the national office, to the region to speak to residents.(Herald file)

`Clippings, memories tell story of local NAACP's 80 years`

Black
History
Month

Fans reach out to touch the Rev. Jesse Jackson at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. As a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, he visited the area April 7, 1984, during what some NAACP members called the exciting times. (John Zavinski/Herald file)

By Jennifer Hall
Herald Staff Writer

Tattered pictures and clippings from newspapers, along with stacks of programs from the annual Freedom Banquet, mark 80 years of the Mercer County Branch of the NAACP.

The history is also fresh in the minds of those who lived through the days of rallies and riots in Farrell, housing issues and a visit by former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People began in 1909 partly in response to race riots in Springfield, Ill.

``Here in the home of Abraham Lincoln, a mob containing many of the town's best citizens raged for two days, killed and wounded scores of Negroes and drove thousands from the city,'' Sara Dillard Austin read from a history written by Mary White Ovington.

Ms. Ovington along with William English Walling and Dr. Henry Moskowitz founded the organization to revive the spirit of abolitionists.

The county's branch of the NAACP formed in 1918, seven years after the national organization formed.

Mrs. Austin's parents were charter members of the Mercer County group; her father served as its first treasurer. She has copies of the first membership rolls and actions taken by the group.

``All the way through school there wasn't another black child,'' she said about attending Sharon schools. ``They would just kind of overlook you. But as more blacks moved into the area, we had more problems with discrimination.''

And that statement started her memories flowing.

``Just sit back and listen,'' President Keith T. Smith whispered as Mrs. Austin, Donna Lee and Charlotte Pegues began to rehash at least the last 40 years of the group.

``By 1919, the group had a case against a Greek restaurant on Broadway Avenue,'' Mrs. Austin said. While she couldn't remember the name of the restaurant, she did know it refused to serve African Americans.

``The NAACP won the case,'' she said.

Mrs. Austin, who was 14 when the first youth council was formed, has been 29NAA2actively involved with the NAACP. She has been serving as state secretary for 22 years.

``The principles are the same as what the senior branch is based on,'' Mrs. Austin said as she closed her eyes somewhat as if replaying details in her head of women going door to door to ask parents if their children could be involved in the council.

Through the years, the chapter has been involved in helping to raise money to rehabilitate homes. Several members would give the equivalent of a day's wages to the cause.

Mrs. Lee pulled out a copy of a newspaper article from May 10, 1983. It recounts the NAACP butting heads with a variety of agencies to help Rosie McClain upgrade her house.

``We've worked with the city on many projects concerning housing,'' Mrs. Lee said.

The group also went head to head with the Mercer County Housing Authority in February 1971. It agreed with the code enforcement officer in Farrell calling some buildings in the Steel City housing projects substandard and in need of repair.

About 1,000 people walk from Farrell High School to Veteran's Square during a march organized by the Mercer County branch of the NAACP. The march and rally, which were held April 10, 1968, honored the death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For the local NAACP, 1998 commemorates the 80th year of the group's presence in the region. (Herald file)

Working to create equality in education is also a goal of the group, which marched from the city park in Farrell to Farrell High to promote the hiring of more black teachers.

``We also took a role in trying to calm people during times when there were problems,'' Mrs. Lee said. African Americans rioted in the spring and summer of 1969.

``We sought peaceful solutions to that and acted as a mediator between all of them,'' she said. ``When something comes up, that's our role.''

In 1968, the chapter aggressively worked to establish an Urban League in the Shenango Valley.

``They were so persistent that the name `instant Urban League' is what it is called because the NAACP was so insistent on having it here,'' Smith said.

``We've had some notable leaders here in our small community,'' Mrs. Pegues said citing a list of people who have spoken at the Freedom Fund Banquet.

Not the least of them was Jesse Jackson, who made a visit to the Shenango Valley during his run for president in 1984.

``That was the most exciting time,'' Mrs. Austin said.

Jackson has such an air and spirit that it was catchy, Mrs. Pegues said.

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Updated Feb. 9, 1998
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MERCER COUNTY

Clippings, memories tell story of local NAACP's 80 years

`Clippings, memories tell story of local NAACP's 80 years`