The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the 

nation’s oldest, largest and most widely-recognized grassroots based civil rights 

organization. Formed in 1909 by a multiracial group of progressive thinkers, the 

NAACP is a nonprofit organization established with the objective of ensuring the 

political, educational, social, and economic equality of people of color. For over 

102 years, the NAACP has challenged this nation to uphold its promise of equal 

opportunity toward the goal of eliminating racial prejudice and removing all 

barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes.

In a process established by the NAACP Constitution, this resolution was adopted 

by the delegates to the 101st Annual Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, during 

the legislative session in July, 2010. It was subsequently ratified by the NAACP 

National Board of Directors at its meeting on October 15, 2010. This resolution is 

now the policy of the Association, and is “binding on the Board of Directors, the 

Executive Committee, the Officers, and all units.” 

In Support of More Diversity and Advancement at United Airlines and Other Air Carriers

WHEREAS, millions of African-Americans and other minorities utilize the services of 

United Airlines and all other domestic air carriers every year; and

 

WHEREAS, over 200 African-American pilots and other airline professionals were hired 

by United Airlines as a result of class action litigation and a consent decree in the 

1980s; and

 

WHEREAS, an identifiable pattern of racial discrimination and incidents of harassment 

of African-American pilots by United Airlines management have served to limit or thwart

the well deserved advancement of qualified African- Americans and other minority 

professionals; and

 

WHEREAS, the pattern of discrimination has had a disparate impact on the qualified 

African-American or minority pilots and airline professionals who were passed over for 

numerous promotions or forced out or locked out of management positions by 

discriminatory practices; and

 

WHEREAS, complaints about the pattern of a lack of promotions for African- Americans 

and other minorities have been ignored by United Airlines senior management; and

 

WHEREAS, current United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton was a senior level manager with 

over 20 years at the Texaco Corporation when that company was sued in 1994 by six 

African-American employees for patterns of racial discrimination and thereafter reached 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

4805 MT. HOPE DRIVE • BALTIMORE, MD 21215-3297 • (410) 580-5777

BENJAMIN TODD JEALOUS

President & Chief Executive Officer

ROSLYN M. BROCK

Chairman, Board of Directors

LEON W RUSSELL

Chairman, Resolutions Committee

National Board of Directors
a major multimillion dollar settlement in 1996 assisted by pressure from the NAACP and 

key civil rights activists; and

 

WHEREAS, a pattern of racial discrimination in promotions of African-Americans and 

other minority employees similar to that found evident at the Texaco Corporation in the 

1990s became noticeable in the years after Mr. Tilton became CEO of United Airlines in 

2002; and

 

WHEREAS, a merger between United and Continental Airlines was announced on May 

3, 2010, and this pending merger is expected to be approved by Department of Justice 

(DOJ) by the end of the year; and

WHEREAS, the merging of United and Continental will likely cause the elimination of 

many management positions with a disparate impact on African-Americans and other 

minorities; and

 

WHEREAS, it is urgent that a new consent decree be negotiated BEFORE the final 

approval of the planned merger of United and Continental and that decree must 

establish a strong diversity and inclusion policy supporting the promotion of AfricanAmericans and other minorities into all levels of management to include the position of 

director, vice president, president or CEO.

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of 

Colored People, (NAACP), actively support, through all available means, an end to all

discriminatory procedures and practices or harassment at United Airlines or any airline 

that has caused a harmful or disparate impact on African-American and other minority 

employees; and

 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP support all available legal options to 

encourage United Airlines and all domestic air carriers to fully compensate all AfricanAmerican and minority pilots and professionals for lost promotional opportunities or 

harassment; and immediately adopt effective remedies including policies and 

procedures that affirmatively consider African-Americans and other minorities for all 

management and senior management positions up to and including CEO and director.

Roslyn M. Brock Leon Russell Benjamin Todd Jealous

Chairman Chairman President & CEO

National Board of Directors Committee on Resolutions