For Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, coming to the Island from his home in Jackson, Miss., for a weeklong vacation this month was an easy choice.

“It’s the Vineyard,” he said. “Everyone’s here.”

He visited for the first time last summer to speak on a panel and decided then that he would be back. He has since been promoted to lead the nation’s largest social justice organization, and spending time on the Vineyard now lends itself to more than vacation. It’s an opportunity to reunite and share ideas with some of the most prominent figures in the country’s social justice and political communities.

“It’s an extremely productive opportunity for my work,” Mr. Johnson said. “The thing that’s impressive is the intersectionality of individuals that are here: in the civil rights and social justice community, the business community, the religious community. It is a great place to talk with individuals across the spectrum who have similar interests.”

Right now, he said many of those conversations have focused on mobilizing African American voters as midterm elections approach. He said people are more motivated now than before the presidential election in 2016.

“The African American voter is no different than any other voter. When their vote is taken for granted, you find less participation,” he said. But, he said, the tone of the president’s remarks about people of color has done away with complacency.

“The number one issue for African Americans based on our poll we did across the country is a feeling of being disrespected. That feeling of disrespect is a strong motivator to turn out,” he said.

Mr. Johnson said his organization strives to emphasize solidarity and unity over division. He said race has been used — and continues to be used — as a means for those with power to retain their power.

“What if we get away from that political construct of race,” he asked. “And really talk about how do we get the best out of all our citizens to be sure that this nation can continue to lead the way as opposed to falling into the traps of the past of racial division and tribalism?”

Acting on their philosophy of solidarity, the NAACP recently filed a lawsuit against President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the department of Homeland Security, among others, for rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program without sufficient explanation.

“The majority of our members are not affected by DACA, but we recognize that this country entered into a contract, a promise with a set of individuals that if they comply with requirements they will have an easier path forward, and we reneged on that promise,” Mr. Johnson said. “Any of us are subject to being denied true protection under this legal framework.”

Earlier this month, the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. ruled that the government indeed offered insufficient explanation for rescinding the program, marking a victory for the NAACP and its co-plaintiffs.

Mr. Johnson said he has enjoyed the week of early morning walks with his wife, Letitia, visits to the beach, and most of all, burgers at Fat Ronnie’s in Oak Bluffs.

“It’s a beautiful Island,” he said.

On Sunday he was back on a plane to mobilize the vote around the country.