National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People

The NAACP sued subsidiaries of two major banks Friday for allegedly steering African American borrowers unfairly into costly subprime mortgages. The suits -- against Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Inc., owned by Wells Fargo & Co., and against HSBC Mortgage Corp. (USA) and HSBC Bank USA, owned by HSBC Holdings -- arrive at a time when the housing crisis and soaring unemployment already are causing disproportionate harm in black neighborhoods, leaders of the rights group said.

John McCain ventured into solid Barack Obama territory Wednesday when he addressed the 99th annual convention of the country's venerable civil rights organization, the NAACP. He did not draw the crowd that greeted his Democratic opponent here Monday, where, as one organization official put it, "even the overflow room had an overflow room," but McCain received a respectful reception for his speech on education reform.

On the heels of issuing a critical report about Hollywood's minority hiring, the president of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People threatened the entertainment industry Thursday with unspecified political actions if it did not increase diversity. "At a time when the country is excited about the election of the first African American president in U.S.

The 64-person board of directors of the NAACP failed to finalize details on moving its main offices from Baltimore to Washington. The group did not say when the issue might be taken up again. The move is being considered to put NAACP officials nearer government officials, lobbyists and media outlets. The 98-year-old nonprofit has been based in Baltimore since 1986, when it moved from New York.

Laurence Fishburne and Erica Tazel were among the performers honored at the 17th annual Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Awards, which pay tribute to local productions featuring African American themes and performers. Fishburne was named best actor in an Equity production for his performance in "Without Walls" at the Mark Taper Forum in downtown L.A.

Bruce S. Gordon, a longtime business executive who took the helm of the NAACP less than two years ago, surprised followers of the civil rights organization Sunday night by announcing his resignation as president and chief executive. Reached by telephone at his Manhattan home Sunday night, Gordon, 61, said he stepped down because he was at odds with the organization's board about his role as chief executive.

Board Chairman Julian Bond said Sunday that the NAACP was needed now more than ever because the Bush administration had done little to support blacks. On such issues as the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq and immigration, Bush has seen his presidency questioned, Bond said in his address at the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People's convention in Detroit.

The NAACP sued a dozen mortgage lenders Wednesday, claiming that the companies discriminated against blacks by steering them into higher-interest, sub-prime loans while giving more favorable loan terms to white borrowers. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. It demands a court order that would bar the lenders from discriminating against blacks and compel them to comply with fair housing and credit laws.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Thursday decried the lack of outrage over gun violence in urban America and criticized President Bush's decision to commute the prison sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis Scooter" Libby while black men serve time for lesser crimes. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.

The Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP's 16th annual NAACP Theatre Awards, announced Monday, gave a big nod to the Laguna Playhouse. It took producing honors for "Constant Star," which garnered four other awards, including best ensemble cast. Layon Gray ("The Girls of Summer") was the winning producer for smaller theaters. Writing awards went to Thomas Gibbons for "Permanent Collection" and the late August Wilson for "Radio Golf."