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Derrick Johnson

WESTERN INTERNATIONAL CLASS OF 1989                                              

     Lawyer, Native Detroiter, former chairperson of the NAACP National Board of Directors and president of the NAACP Mississippi Conference, and currently the distinguished President of the NAACP.

Derrick Johnson was appointed the President and CEO of the NAACP.  Derrick Johnson was a longtime member and leader in the NAACP having been the vice chairperson of the National Board of Directors and Mississsippi State Conference president.  

Mr. Johnson was born in Detroit, graduating from Western International High School and electing to pursue his post-secondary education at Tougaloo College in Jackson Mississippi.  After an enlightening undergraduate at Tougaloo, Mr. Johnson obtained his Juris Doctorate from the South Texas College of Law, in Houston.  Derrick Johnson additionally received training through various fellowships with the Congressinoal Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Mr. Johnson has also served annually as guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, lending his expertise to Professor Guinier's courses on social movements and as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.

Derrick Johnson's path in life guided him to become one of the most profoundly outspoken activists, dedicating his career to defending the rights and improving the lives of Mississippians, and now, as the leader of the NAACP, Mr. Johnson strives to improve access to equity, education, legal, technical, and training support.

 

President and CEO Derrick Johnson speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO | NAACP

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NAACP Names Derrick Johnson as President Amid Time of 'Tremendous Challenge'