Washington, D.C. — The NAACP has a new leader. Over the weekend the Civil rights group announced that lawyer and activist Cornell William Brooks would become its new national president and CEO.
The selection of Brooks came as the United States marked the 60th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which outlawed segregation in public schools. The lawsuit was argued by the organization’s legal arm.
Brooks, 53, of Annandale, New Jersey, will become the organization’s 18th national president, replacing interim leader Lorraine Miller who has served since Benjamin Jealous ended his five-year tenure last year.
The NAACP, which was founded in 1909, says it’s the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the U.S
In an interview with The Associated Press, Brooks said he was looking forward to the work.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be entrusted with the opportunity to lead this powerful historic organization,” Brooks said. “In our fight to ensure voting rights, economic equality, health equity, and ending racial discrimination for all people, there is indeed much work to be done.”
Brooks said he was particularly humbled that his selection came around the Brown v. Board anniversary.
