Because of You...
Brought to you by
Agents of change. Warriors. Innovators.
Because of you we are forever transformed.
You were met by mobs.
Apathy. Disgust. And in the midst of adversity you
became activists. When you encountered stagnancy
you were the catalyst. When you were forced
to segregate you united.
Because of you we are perpetually grateful.
Changed. Because of You.
In the beginning there were
riots that raged.
Thousands were wounded.
Thousands were killed.
And some of those that did
remain fled. Yet from the
destruction sprung
determination.
The inception of the NAACP
Ambitious.
Because of You.
stemmed from ordinary citizens
mobilizing to
complete extraordinary deeds.
In January of 1909 a tiny New
York apartment would keep
both their secrets and their
strategies.
The door had closed. Others had
shut it. It would not re-open. And
after they understood this they
constructed their own exit. Through
public protests they pushed against
segregation. Through legal battles
they addressed social injustices.
And through hatred and animosity
they would not be intimidated.
Determined. Because of You.
Courageous.
Because of You.
They rode for Freedom. They fought against isolation in schools,
train cars and buses. They put pressure on the Federal government
to ban discrimination. The 1940’s were marked by an audible pulse
that beat throughout the Supreme Court. Because of the NAACP,
policy, procedure and politics-as-usual were transformed through
Morgan vs. Virginia, Sipuel vs. Oklahoma State Regents and
McLaurin vs. Oklahoma State Regents. These cases inadvertently
became our cause for advancement.
Transformed. Because of You.
Momentum was building.
Everything that was wrong was
gradually beginning to be
righted. And those who would
institute a new language of
change took part in the movement. Both Charles Hamilton
Houston and Thurgood Marshall
joined the NAACP at this time.
And through the NAACP,
justice was not only finding its
way for African Americans
but for all Americans.
Insistent. Because of You.
When an African American woman refused to give up her seat on a
segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama nothing would remain the
same. So began the catalyst for the largest grassroots civil rights
movement. At the same time we witnessed one of the NAACP’s
Altered. Because of You.
greatest legal victories. Brown vs. the Board of Education would
resonate louder than the profanities that were hurled and the
bombs that were detonated.
The dogs lunged. The water hoses sprayed. The lunch counters fed
hate and disgust. This decade was the reason we learned how to
be unafraid and unapologetic. This decade was the moment we
observed nerve and tenacity triumph over ignorance and revulsion.
A decade that saw King pen “Letter from A Birmingham Jail” and
also a decade that also bore witness to King’s assassination. This
is a decade that is stained with their blood and perspiration but
also smeared with their triumphs. When their backs were against
the wall they still were able to lead a movement that made its way
Fearless. Because of You.
from sit-ins to non-violent protests, voter registration programs
and mass rallies.
Unafraid.
Because of You.
In the late 1960’s and 1970’s we are
closer to realizing our future
successes. “The Louisville Lip”
refused to be inducted into military
service and the Federal district court
ruled that New York had violated
Muhammed Ali’s
constitutional rights by stripping him
of his boxing license.
The Supreme Court groggily
awakens to begin to rule against
unlawful discrimination. And by the
end of the 1970’s the NAACP has
initiated the first bill ever signed by
Driven. Because of You.
a governor that allows voter
registration in high schools.
We were off. And we were running.
Our voice is found through our vote. Despite vehement opposition from
the White House and Congress the 1965 Voting Rights Act is renewed.
850,000 voters are registered. And Judge Robert Bork receives the
Affected. Because of You.
highest negative vote ever recorded for a silent march. As we have
made our way to the polls since this time we reflect on the protests
and policy that were enacted to hold us back and reverse our gains.
And we recollect on the force that perpetually came together to
sacrifice for our gain.
New faces join our quest but old friends will leave us.
Thurgood Marshall allowed the torch remain lit and make it’s way
to the wife of NAACP civil rights activist, Medgar Evers.
Myrlie Evers is elected Chairman of the NAACP’s Board of
Directors. The following year, Kweisi Mfume leaves Congress to
become the NAACP’s President and CEO. During this time we also
Innovative. Because of You.
win a record settlement of $105 million in an employment
discrimination case and the mission continues to defend
and uphold the rightful place of affirmative action.
We have entered a new millennium.
We hold the largest civil rights demonstration in the South.
We issue a “Call to Action” on racial disparities in education.
We mourn the passing of Rosa Parks.
We lead the march in Jena, Louisiana.
We have encountered obscene difficulties in the past 100 years.
But we have also been able to create a legacy that will endure.
Stronger. Because of You.
That will carry on. And that will sustain both the successful and
the struggling. We are stronger only because of you.
Passionate.
Because of You.
Diversity is a priority at Hyundai. We recognize that
diversity is more than a program, but also a reflection of
the evolving fabric of America. Hyundai is applying
that philosophy to our overall diversity efforts across
the entire company. From our workforce, to our
dealership network; to our suppliers; to our customers,
we know that having a variety of backgrounds, ages,
Unwavering. Because of You.
races, styles, experiences, values and beliefs makes us
a stronger, better company.
Hyundai applauds the NAACP and all those who have
demonstrated courage, determination, and strength to
lead the way for justice.