The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States. It was founded on February 12, 1909, in New York City by a group of black and white activists, including W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, and Mary White Ovington.

The NAACP was formed in response to widespread racial violence, segregation, and disenfranchisement against African Americans in the early 20th century. Its mission was to secure equal rights and eliminate racial discrimination and segregation through legal action, advocacy, lobbying, and public education.

One of the NAACP's earliest and most significant victories was the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The organization has also been instrumental in advancing voting rights, desegregation, and anti-discrimination laws in various sectors, including housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Throughout its history, the NAACP has played a critical role in the struggle for civil rights and social justice, mobilizing grassroots activism, organizing protests and marches, and challenging discriminatory laws and practices in court. The organization continues to be a leading voice in the fight against racial inequality and systemic racism in the United States.