Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: All of the above
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organisations in the United States. It emerged in the early twentieth century to combat racial discrimination and violence. Several activists, intellectuals and reformers were involved in its founding.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Historically, the NAACP was founded by a multiracial group of activists, including Mary White Ovington, a white journalist and suffrage advocate; W. E. B. Du Bois, a prominent African American scholar; and Moorfield Storey, a white lawyer and civil rights supporter. Since all three names appear in the founding list, the option that states all of the above accurately reflects history.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the NAACP arose after the Niagara Movement and a series of race related incidents in the United States.Step 2: Identify Mary White Ovington as one of the key organizers who helped bring the founders together.Step 3: Connect W. E. B. Du Bois with the early leadership and intellectual direction of the organisation.Step 4: Recognise Moorfield Storey as the first president of the NAACP and also a founding figure, and therefore select All of the above.
Verification / Alternative check:
A learner can verify by remembering that the NAACP was not formed by a single person but by a coalition of activists across racial lines. Many history texts list these three names together, along with others, when describing the founding conference and early years. This supports the combined answer instead of any individual.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Choosing only one of the three founders would ignore the contributions of the others and misrepresent the collaborative nature of the organisation. The option None of the above is clearly wrong because all three individuals are documented as involved in its formation. The question is structured to test whether the learner understands that the NAACP had multiple key founders.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes think that civil rights organisations must have a single charismatic founder, and may therefore choose Du Bois alone. Others may know one name but not the others and guess incorrectly. Reading the options carefully and remembering that many reform movements arise from group efforts helps avoid this mistake.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is All of the above.
Discussion & Comments