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Mary White Ovington and William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Dubois

Mary White Ovington and William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) DuBois were the two principal founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Ovington was one of the people that issued “the call” to civil rights activists of the time to form the organization. DuBois was among the most influential black leaders of the 20th century. He helped form the “Niagara Movement” as a way to work for an end to segregation, discrimination and the denial of voting and civil rights. He was among those who responded to Ovington’s “call” and merged his group into the NAACP. Read more on Mary White Ovington & W.E.B. DuBois.
Freddie Mac, proud sponsor of The Extra Mile medallion honoring W.E.B. DuBois and Mary White Ovington

Social issues Mary White Orvington & W.E.B. DuBois addressed:
•    Civil rights
•    Poverty
•    Voting rights
•    Discrimination

Social issues that need to be addressed today:
•    Civil Rights - The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, the workplace and by facilities that serve the general public. Even though we have made progress, prejudice and racism are still with us. The need to protect the equal rights of all is as important as ever.
•    Discrimination – 51 percent of hate crime victims are victimized because of the offender’s bias against a race.*
•    Tolerance and Respect - Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society. Approximately 3.7 million youths engage in, and more than 3.2 million are victims of, moderate or serious bullying each year.**

* Hate Crime Statistics, 2008 U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation November 2009
** 2003, National Association of School Psychologists http://www. nasponline.org/resources/factsheets/bullying_fs.aspx