The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has advocated for civil rights and social justice for generations. Its mission is to ensure that minorities obtain equality and that racial prejudices are eliminated. Since 1909, the organization has used litigation to significantly impact individuals and society as a whole.

It also serves as a guide for minorities to stay informed about recent incidents of racism and discrimination. When the NAACP gets involved in a situation, it is taken seriously. The recent concern of the grassroots activism organization impacts Black travelers especially. The organization has threatened to reinstate a travel advisory on a major airline.

What Airline Is Under Fire?

Learn more about the situation on an American Airlines plane that may make the NAACP reinstate a travel advisory.
pictured: a protest poster — Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona / Unsplash

American Airlines has gained negative publicity for recent incidents of discrimination. This is not the first time the airline has had a run-in with the NAACP. In fact, a relatively recent situation led the NAACP to issue a travel advisory on American Airlines. In 2017, the NAACP issued a travel advisory after several allegations of hostility toward Black travelers. There were at least four different times when passengers complained about discriminatory situations. The similarity and nature of these incidents indicated that they were likely not isolated, showing a corporate-level issue at American Airlines.

There are already enough barriers for Black travelers who want to explore the world. All travelers should be able to travel without fear of discrimination. This is where the NAACP comes in. In the current and 2017 situations, the organization has taken it upon itself to encourage American Airlines to acknowledge and correct the incidents. In 2017, this correction came after the travel advisory was issued and leaders from the airline met with the NAACP. Once a discussion was had, American Airlines created the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) panel. After this council was put into place, the NAACP eventually lifted its travel advisory. In 2023, the council was disbanded.

Why Is The NAACP Considering A Travel Advisory?

Recently, more concerning situations occurred with the airline, but they occurred on the same flight this time. Eight Black men were removed from a flight in January for no apparent reason. After some investigation, the men discovered that another passenger had complained about body odor. All of the men were singled out and asked to leave the plane to be rebooked for another flight. This action confused the passengers since they had all been seated separately and did not know each other. About an hour later, the men were allowed to reboard the plane due to a lack of alternative flights.

The actions of the American Airlines staff were inappropriate and showed a lack of racial sensitivity. Now, the airline has to face the repercussions of repeated discrimination. Three of the men who were involved in the incident filed lawsuits against American Airlines. Additionally, the NAACP has released a statement detailing the suggested next steps for the airline. One of the NAACP’s requests is for American Airlines’ DEI advisory panel to be reinstated and for the airline to reconvene with the civil rights organization.

With the whole world watching, the airline must make its intentions known through action. The NAACP’s potential travel advisory will impact Black travelers worldwide since it serves as a warning for people of color. Traveling while Black should never feel like a crime, and the NAACP wants to make that truth known by holding American Airlines accountable.