Juanita Craft and Her Peristence

Juanita Jewel Craft was an important state and local strategist who worked for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP was responsible for advocacy for racial impartiality in the state of Texas. Craft was active in the NAACP politics and constantly antagonized Texas segregationist policies from 1930 till her death. Craft was born in Round Rock, Texas, on February 9, 1902, to David and Eliza Shanks. Her parents were educators so quite naturally she would be influenced by their teachings and influence to be impactful in her local community.

At age 16, Craft’s fire was lit when her mother Eliza was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and turned away from a hospital that specialized in the treatment of TB based on the color of her skin. Her mother shortly succumbed afterwards due to the ailment. This experience was one of many significant drivers prompting Craft to join the civic life and fight for equity and equality in Texas and elsewhere.

In the 1940’s Craft helped form NAACP chapters throughout the state of Texas. Subsequently, she was active in pickets and sit-ins in the 50’s & 60’s. In a 1984 interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, she referred to herself as a “young hothead” when she started her civil rights crusade. Craft’s resilience and drive was pertinent as she helped organized over 180 NAACP branches in a 11year…