Reflecting on the success of last Saturday’s Sampson County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, it remains my fervent belief that the occasion of the Freedom Fund Banquet still presents a portrait of one of the county’s big annual events. It continues to bring many people from diverse backgrounds together in a show of unity in our ongoing struggle for equality and justice for all in Sampson County.
Much of the success of the recent banquet can again be attributed to the hard work of the Freedom Fund Committee, which is chaired by Lee Byam, who also is a co-chair of the Community Coordination Committee. Other members of the Freedom Fund Committee include Maie Parker, branch assistant treasurer; JoAnn Howard, coordinator of the banquet booklet; Luther Moore, who chairs the Scholarship Committee; and Bernice Cooper, a member of the Executive Committee. In addition to the Freedom Fund Committee, I would like to express my appreciation to the entire Sampson County NAACP membership and our wonderful community supporters for contributing to the great success of our 2025 Freedom Fund Banquet.
Interestingly, over the past several years, the participation and support from the various sectors of our community have continually reflected a portrait of our society, attesting to the notion that our fight for equality and justice for all in Sampson County is everybody’s fight.
Established 70 years ago on Sept. 9, 1955, the Sampson County NAACP is part of the oldest and largest civil rights organization committed to advancing democracy through it struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States. At 116 years old, the National NAACP remains the strongest national voice for freedom. In communicating with the more than 2,000 branches around the country, Derrick Johnson, the NAACP president and CEO, stated, “The work of making our country just and equal for every American is an ongoing project that requires those of us who can fight to do so in our time.”
Now, as we begin to close this chapter on our 2025 NAACP Sampson County Branch Freedom Fund Banquet, I hope you will consider joining us as we seek to engage the next generation of voices and leaders in the work of civil and human rights. To be sure, the ongoing project to make America a more just and equal society begins with each individual member having the dedication and commitment to making a difference in our community.
Here, in our local community, we will strive to achieve the mission of the NAACP in all we do by influencing policy that promote equality and justice, by engaging in voter registration and education, helping support parents in the education of their children, promoting health care initiatives and making our youth more aware of growing threats to our environment, impacting the quality of life in Sampson County.
Again, we thank you for your continued support toward our efforts to address societal injustices through advocacy, engagement and education.