NABJ, the nation's largest organization of journalists of color, was founded by 44 men and women on Dec. 12, 1975, in Washington, D.C. For the 30th Anniversary in 2005, NABJ worked to collect, preserve and present our association's artifacts, treasures and memories. We hope that you enjoy what's been compiled and consider it an inspiring and valuable resource. It truly is a wonderful story.

Some were already distinguished, e.g., ABC News' Max Robinson and Vernon Jarrett, the respected Chicago columnist. Others were still just starting out in their careers, e.g., Sandra Dawson and Maureen Bunyan. But together, they, Vince Sanders (left) and dozens of other brave souls came together to set the course for NABJ. In 1997, Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president to attend a NABJ convention. A distinguished panel of NABJ judges voted that occasion as one the 30 most important moments of the past three decades. Read about these and dozens of other memorable moments. Did you know? Little-known -- and sometimes not-so-little-known -- facts about NABJ's first 30 years. View an six-part video story of NABJ's first 30 years. View a photographic memory of NABJ's first 30 years. Celebrate 30 years of NABJ with this special commemorative edition, featuring a pictorial essay by Jason Miccolo Johnson, longtime NABJ photographer, and an extensive timeline of important milestones by de facto historian Wayne Dawkins. (Members only section). "We knew we had to be the best," founding NABJ President Chuck Stone says in an essay about his tenure. "We couldn't even afford mediocrity because we were under a microscope." Learn much more about all of NABJ's past presidents and their legacies. Andre D. Williams, a sportswriter in Allentown, Pa., and a favorite of the annual "Spirit in the Word" competition, offers a heartfelt poem on the 30th anniversary of NABJ's founding. Read it here and enjoy.