Formed in New York City, during the Great Depression and the height of the Harlem Renaissance, the NAG sought to give financial aid to Black performers.

[1] The NAG also stressed in its formal articles within the Certificate of Incorporation the need for more realistic roles for people of color, helped foster the skills of African American actors, and worked to generate more acting opportunities for the black community in the industry.

[6] Though her light skin and green eyes helped her "pass" as a white woman, she reveled in her heritage and chose to go against the barriers of stereotypical roles in film for African Americans.

Washington, whom was resentful of the limitations of African Americans in the film industry, brought together a talented, diverse group of artists from stage and screen.

[7] It provided health care, arranged transportation and hotel accommodations, and financed funeral services for the black thespian community.

[1] Among their more famous members were Hattie McDaniel, Ethel Waters, Bert Williams, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr. and arts critic Lester Walton.