Spingarn, Joel Elias, SPIHN gahrn, JOH ehl ih LY uhs (1875-1939), an American literary critic, was one of the first white leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1914, as chairman of the board of the NAACP, Spingarn established an award to be given annually to an outstanding African American. The award is called the Spingarn Medal.