This was the first time, I attended the Annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet, but that didn't matter; I was still treated like family constantly being offered food and a seat at one of the beautifully decorated tables in the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium.

The Manatee County Branch of the NAACP is a significant and powerful force in our community that has been fighting for equality for more than 100 years.

This year, its theme for the banquet was "Your Power, Your Decision -- Vote." President Susie Copeland said, "We hope to ignite within a spark of hope, to serve as a catalyst for action in exercising one of our basic rights -- the right to vote."

With the support of our community, NAACP ensures that political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons is met and racial hatred and discrimination is eliminated.