NAACP stands for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Quick Scoop: What does NAACP stand for?

  • Full name: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
  • Type of organization: Civil rights and social justice organization based in the United States.
  • Founded: 1909, by an interracial group including W.E.B. Du Bois and other activists.

In everyday conversation, when people say “the NAACP,” they are referring to this longstanding civil rights group that works to fight racial discrimination and protect equal rights.

The core idea behind the name is a collective effort (“Association”) to push forward (“Advancement”) the rights and opportunities of Black Americans and other people of color.