User:WomenIntheNAACP

Following in my Grandfather's footsteps:Civil Rights, Ministry and Politics
Just seventeen years ago, from 1934 to 1990, Rev. Dr. Ulas Hayes led thousands of people to the polls on Election Day as well as marchers in many Louisiana marches. One of the greatest Louisiana historic moments of the Civil Rights Movement was the Baton Rouge Bus boycott held in 1953.

Rev. Dr. Hayes, Dr. Rev. T.J. Jemison, Rev. Dr. Gus Young, Rev. Dr. Louis Jetson, Columbus Dunn and many other clergy and civil rights leaders and members led and conducted the Bus boycott that eventually led Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to obtain an insight of the progress being made in Baton Rouge. This led to Rev. King and many others of the Montgomery Improvement Association and Rev. E. D. Nixon, the President of the Alabama NAACP and its members making history with the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

My Grandfather, Rev. Dr. Ulas Hayes, had been in the front line of many marchers as he served the people of Baton Rouge as a vigorous Minister and Civil Rights Leaders. I, along with my four sisters, were invited to many meetings and planning’s to continue to eliminate any injustice that was being made. T Baton rouge bus boycott, the Freedom Riders, the Southern University Sit-Ins, and the Louisiana marches. The First Ward Voters league was filled with discussions of the role of humanity, justice for all, the power of God and keeping the faith and theology combating racism.

A year after before I was born, the first Black American was elected in the City of Baton Rouge, Thomas H. Delpit to the City Council. I was told that to get a Black in those days was a struggle and even though there are many African American Politicians in Louisiana today. The struggle still goes on for equality. As I was told, I remember vividly when some of the Hayes family moved from Clinton, Louisiana to Zachary, Louisiana.

Rev. Dr. Hayes a theologian who had long been active with Rev. Dr. Gus Young, lecturing and writing on behalf of the Civil Rights movement. My grandfather used to tell me often when I was a child about his own childhood during the struggle as well as his encounters with the Ku Klux Klan. Rev. Dr. Ulas Hayes came from a family of religious leaders as he often spoke of his grandfather, Rev. Jesse Hayes of Clinton, Louisiana and his teachings. His family was what was called a well to do family as they owned Hayes Grocery Store, A Beauty Salon and a Social Club in the 60’s.

We lived near Zachary in baton Rouge we were often told by our Grandfather, Rev. Dr. Ulas Hayes that poverty, suffering and injustice was not alone a sin but inhumane for all mankind. Often rev. Dr. Hayes would preach “Love thy Brother” by stating that one cannot worship God while looking at any human being that is created by God in God's own image, as if they were animals.

My mother would frequently tell us that when my grandfather would live during the hard struggle of the civil rights days, they were all nervous never knowing if he would return. On this date, I can say that I had truly had a praying Grandmother.

Before my journey of civil rights after the death of my grandfather, I often felt remembered my grandfather that marching was not only natural but it was also spiritual as he spoke of “The Walls of Jericho”.

This brought me to the many days and nights of Coordinating the March for Jena 6 which was held on September 20, 2007. As Dr. Earnest Johnson, myself, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Edward “Chips” Taylor, Mrs. Gayle Johnson, Bishop Joseph George, Michael Baisden, Pamela Exum, Louisiana Women In the NAACP, Baton Rouge Branch and many more sat through many conference calls as well as organizing thousands of thousands individuals ready to head back south for one of the most largest Civil Rights movement in history. There were at least 70,000 people in attendance for the Jena 6 March.

Women In the NAACP The Women in the NAACP (WIN) is an official committee of the NAACP. The purposes of WIN are to enhance the leadership role of women; to serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children; to advocate for the positive development of children; to support the on-going work of the NAACP and its units, especially civil and cultural activities to enhance membership Each Region has a coordinator designated as Regional Vice Coordinator. WIN's national theme is "Outstretched Hands and Open Hearts to Women and Children."

Former Officers of the Louisiana Women in the NAACP, Baton Rouge Branch were as follows:
Joyce Hayes-Carey, Chaplain; Rhonda Terry,Secretary; Karondalyn Walker,1st Vice President; Latrice Hayes – Williams,2nd Vice President; Angelia Daniels, Sergeant At Arms; Chiquita Tate, Attorney at Law/Legal Redress; Karen Boatner,Activity Coordinator
 * TaWanda Boatner Green, President