National Association for the Advancement of White People

LEADER: David Duke

USUAL AREA OF OPERATION: United States

OVERVIEW

The National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP) was founded in 1980 by David Duke. According to its web site, it is a "not for profit, non-violent, civil rights educational organization." Its focus lies in providing a source of pride and unification for the white population as well as ensuring that minority populations do not receive special rights or treatment. The organization is concerned about the future of the United States and does not want it to become a third-world nation due to the massive incorporation of diversity. Although the organization does not consider itself a hate group or racist, many other sources view it as so, and it has gained publicity through not only its views, but also through its founder and his extremist actions.

HISTORY

The NAAWP was created in 1980 by David Duke, after he left the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Duke claims that he created the NAAWP with basically the same beliefs as the Knights of the KKK. He was supposedly involved in a money scandal involving his attempt at selling the Knights of the KKK, so this is perhaps why he went on to found an organization with a similar ideology. Duke eventually left the NAAWP. Currently the organization's National President is Reno Wolfe. The organization's ideology does not seem to have significantly shifted over time through the exit of Duke and the continuation of the group.

PHILOSOPHY AND TACTICS

The NAAWP hopes to achieve all that is laid out in their Mission and Vision Statements. In a section on their web site titled "Why should I join?" it is explained that the group's goal is not to hate others but rather to build "a new, better society. A homogeneous community where everyone contributes, everyone benefits, and all share a common set of values and moral beliefs, without the continual attacks on culture." The web site also shares the views that the quality of America has declined from the time of the founding of the nation, and the NAAWP would like to ensure that no further decay follows.

The group is also dedicated to a project called Operation Appalachian, launched in 2000, claimed to be a grassroots effort that focuses on helping the population of poor European Americans that live in Appalachia. The web site requests donations of either money or supplies to this cause.

The group's web site implies that the NAAWP's strategy is to create a respectable group that will hold influence in the actions of the government, so that they can truly focus on ensuring that whites will not be subject to unequal rights. However, reports from other sources seem to focus on the group's methodology of providing school supplies to Appalachia. One particular article from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report explains that the NAAWP brought school supplies to a church in West Virginia but also brought their own propaganda along. The church had not been previously aware of the group's background and appreciated the supplies, but they were not converted into NAAWP members. The article even indicated that the NAAWP would not be invited back to the church. In this case, their tactic was to present these free items while also promoting their own beliefs. There was another report of similar activity from The Charleston Gazette, in which the group provided supplies to a church in Charleston, and although it was acknowledged that the supplies were a nice gesture by the group, the church was not aware of the NAAWP's philosophy and also did not request a return visit. This tactic of the group seems to be effective in being able to donate but not in establishing a relationship with any of these churches because of the goals and beliefs of the group.

OTHER PERSPECTIVES

The Charleston Gazette speaks out against the organization in at least two articles, one focused on the inaccuracy of the group's take on the white population being oppressed and the other expressing amazement that the group is still allowed to operate, with its bigotry and racism. The newspaper is not afraid to speak out openly against the group and refers to its philosophy as "crackpot gibberish." The newspaper's attitude seems to be triggered by the group's donation of school supplies to a church in the local community. The newspaper obviously suspects the group's motives.

The web site, Stormfront.org, with a logo stating "White Pride World Wide," is in support of the NAAWP. On the web site, it has a posting for an NAAWP Heritage Rally, with a discussion by members of the group about the rally and possible attendees. Stormfront.org claims itself to be a white nationalist community, so its views seem to incorporate well with those of the NAAWP. The site also features a web radio show with David Duke, no doubt strengthening the association between this web site and the organization.

LEADERSHIP

DAVID DUKE

David Duke, born in 1950, has had a long history of association with white supremacy/extremist groups. He joined the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as a teenager. When he attended Louisiana State University in the 1970s, he led the White Youth Alliance, which was a white supremacist organization on campus. In 1974, he became the leader of the Knights of the KKK in Louisiana. During his time with this group, he focused on making the group more presentable to the public, through changing some of the group's terminology and rituals so that they did not seem as extremist or extraordinary in comparison to other organizations. In 1980, Duke left the Knights of the KKK, supposedly when he tried to secretly sell the group to the head of a different KKK group in a meeting that he did not know was being taped. Although Duke denies that this occurred, in any case, he left the organization and founded the NAAWP. He eventually left the NAAWP after setting down the groundwork, although he is still involved and is known to give speeches at their events. Since then, he has delved into politics, winning a spot in the Louisiana State Legislature in 1989. Otherwise, he has not been very successful, as in his running for President of the United States in both 1988 and 1992. He has also formed a new group, The National Organization for European American Rights, in order to focus on promoting the rights of European Americans. On their web site, the Anti-Defamation League refers to Duke as possibly America's best-known racist.

SUMMARY

The NAAWP remains an active organization, as of 2005. Its web site provides abundant information about the group, although it does not provide any statistics about membership. The group still aims toward creating a group that whites can be proud of, as well as improving society so that no particular minority group receives special attention. It continues to depend on the freedom of speech to allow its views to be projected to the nation.

KEY EVENTS

1980:

David Duke founds NAAWP.

1989:

Duke wins a spot in the Louisiana State Legislature.

SOURCES

Periodicals

Bridges, T. "Duke Brewed Hatred in a Potion of Lies." Times-Picayune. March 16, 2003: 7.

Radmacher, D. "Most Whites in U.S. Not Exactly Oppressed, Earn More than Minorities." The Charleston Gazette. August 25, 2000: 4A.

Staff writer. "Bigotry Racism Lingers." The Charleston Gazette. August 26, 2000: p. 4A

Web sites

Anti-Defamation League. "NAAWP." 〈http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/groups_naawp.asp〉 (accessed October 18, 2005).

Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report. "Mainstreaming Hate: Racists Offer Poor Whites School Supplies and Hate." 〈http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=220〉 (accessed October 18, 2005).

SEE ALSO

Ku Klux Klan

Stormfront.org