By Toma Lynn Smith

Dre Dawson had just returned from a gospel festival held at New Birth Church, as part of the 100th Anniversary week of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at University of Louisville.
Dawson, U of L NAACP president and junior Pan-African Studies major and his group have several events planned for the week.  Including the community is part of the plan which includes reading to children at St. George’s Community Center from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wed., Feb. 11.
“They get only one month out of the year, they need more than that, before they get to college,” said Christiana Thompson, junior communication major and vice-chair of this week’s events. “(I hope) people get the message that we are trying to put across, they’re not just coming out because there are free events.”   
The First Annual NAACP Freedom Ball will be held this Friday in the SAC Multi-purpose room, where the inductions of 2009-2010 NAACP president elect Alexis Leavell and vice-president elect Thompson will take place.
They are, “young but promising,” said Dawson.  Adding he wanted to induct the pair early, so they will be ready when his term ends, at the end of this school year.
“NAACP is advancement. NAACP is a vigorous advocate of social justice and civil rights. Not just for African-Americans but for all minorities including whites, some whites are minorities. NAACP fights for these rights,” said Dawson.  “With the election of a black president, it doesn’t mean racism is dead. Because women can vote, it doesn’t mean there are equal rights,” he added.
Dawson, Leavell, and Thompson are part of recent reorganization of the NAACP at U of L. The U of L NAACP reformed in 2007. There is a need to have a college chapter said Dawson. “Social justice takes place on every level.” 
“It started on a national level, because we had national problems,” Dawson said.
At the “I am Legend” day held Mon., Feb. 09, Thompson and members honored people such as Malcolm X and Shirley Chisholm. “(Chisholm is) a legend who has paved the way to where we are today.” 
“It’s going to be our first black history month with a black president,” said Dawson.