Our History

On October 24, 1981 the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NC100BW) was  founded with representatives from 14 states and the District of Columbia. Today, the  coalition has grown to include more than 7,000 members representing 62 chapters  established in 28 states and the District of Columbia. 

NC100BW is an outgrowth of a dedicated group of African American women, led by the  visionary Edna Beach, who persistently worked to address the problems that affected their  families and their communities. They boldly began to reach out to other Black women in  common cause, and eventually, mobilized their emerging stature as a visible force of  influence promoting gender and racial equity. In 1971, our organization developed from this  effort that was called the Coalition of 100 Black Women. The National Coalition of 100 Black  Women became incorporated in 1981 under the leadership of Jewel Jackson McCabe.