Showing posts with label National Urban League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Urban League. Show all posts

Sunday, March 03, 2024

The 2024 State of Black America report: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Sixty Years Later

The National Urban League's annual publication, now in its 48th edition, is the highly anticipated source for thought leaders focusing on racial equality in America. The 2024 State of Black America report examines the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, marking the first significant effort by the U.S. to address the racial caste system. Sixty years later, the publication highlights that the struggle for equality persists, emphasizing the ongoing challenges and progress made in the pursuit of a more just and equitable future.

Read a summary of the report in the embedded document below:

The 2024 State of Black Ame... by George L. Cook III

Tuesday, July 04, 2023

National Urban League : Supreme Court's Student Loan Decision Will Exacerbate Racial Inequality

National Urban League President Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision on student loan relief:

“In striking down President Biden’s student loan relief plan, the Supreme Court has delivered a second devastating blow in as many days to the movement for racial justice and set the stage for further destabilization of the nation’s economy.

“The Court’s decision in Biden v. Nebraska is, incredibly, even more nakedly political than their decisions to strike down affirmative action. President Biden’s plan not only is overwhelmingly favored by the American people, it would invigorate the national economy. That’s a political problem for the President’s adversaries, but not a constitutional one. Furthermore, one of the justices who voted with the majority accepted lavish gifts from the chairman of a group that asked the court to block the plan.

“Crushing student loan debt is a key driver of the racial wealth and opportunity gap. It has created a vicious cycle that forces the most vulnerable students to take on disproportionate financial risk to pursue a higher education, only to find themselves even further behind.

“History will remember this week as a low point for the nation’s highest court. The National Urban League will continue to seek justice for Americans who are trapped by our nation’s unjust system of financing higher education.”

Saturday, December 31, 2022

The State of Black America The 2022 Report

In the 46th edition of the State of Black America Under Siege: the Plot to Destroy Democracy, we are again raising the alarm on the outlook of Black and Brown people as political forces have launched an all-out assault on voting rights.

Never has the fragility of our Democracy been more exposed than it is today. Fueled by "The Big Lie," that there was mass voter fraud in the 2020 election, state legislatures are restricting voting access in districts with large populations of African Americans and other people of color. Some states are taken measures even further by actively targeting election officials and election oversight roles held by people of color.

State legislatures are redrawing voting districts, enacting strict voter ID laws, and ending all forms of early voting to disenfranchise voters and reduce the number of Congressional seats held by people of color.

Our research partners, the Brennan Center for Justice, paints a clear picture of states that have introduced bills and signed laws that provide partisan power to control the outcome of our elections through a series of maps. The visuals also track states that have introduced new Congressional maps that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities.

This year's report includes essays from people fighting to protect our right to vote in the halls of Congress, courts around the nation, and grassroots leaders in our backyards. Each piece provides insight on how to restore honor to the U.S., a path to progress beyond the filibuster, the imminent danger those face who stand up to hatred and violence in their political party, and healing and protecting our nation one year after the deadly insurrection on January 6th, 2021.

Leaders will guide us on the power of community when protecting the Black vote. The White House gives us insight into how they plan to ensure voting remains a civil right for every American, regardless of race, color, gender, or creed.

There may never be another opportunity to keep America a Democratic institution for the people by the people, to a society controlled by a few, or worse.

Click Here To Read the 2022 State Of Black America Report

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

National Urban League’s Marc Morial: Inflation will impact Black working families the hardest

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, joins CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the key takeaways from the organizaiton’s 46th annual State of Black America report.

Saturday, March 12, 2022

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: DRASTIC 2020 UNDERCOUNT OF BLACK AMERICANS DEMANDS URGENT REFORM TO CENSUS OPERATIONS

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial

 National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today called the 2020 Census undercount of Black, Latino, and American Indian residents “outrageous” and urged the Census Bureau to address the crisis with all due urgency.

“These numbers are devastating.” Morial said of the 3.3% undercount of the Black population. “Compounded by yet another overcount of the white population, this will have devastating consequences for communities of color.”

Not only was the 2020 Black undercount alarmingly worse than the 2010 undercount of 2%, Morial said, the percent of the Black population omitted in 2020 -- that is, completely missed -- grew from 9.3% in 2010 (4 million) to 10.2% of the Black population omitted or missed.  

“The Census Bureau must rethink and explore more accurate measures of the undercount and develop new data collection methodologies and operations for diverse populations,” Morial said.  “Racial inequities are baked into the history of the Census process and the institution of the Census Bureau as an agency.  To uphold the Constitutional promise and protection of equal representation for all,  the Census Bureau must immediately take steps to rethink and detoxify its operations relative to racial inequities, and Congress must fund research into new operations and sources of data starting next year.  

The National Urban League shared its concerns about Census operations earlier this month with Census Bureau Director Robert Santos, the Congressional Black Caucus and President Biden. Morial said he would reiterate the warnings considering the data released today.

“More granular data reflecting 2020 Census undercount measurement and coverage are needed beyond today’s report and upcoming state level data planned for release this summer,” Morial said. “Local and state leaders need more detailed information to understand where the gaps are and how to re-allocate federal funding to where the needs exist.”  

  • Among the National Urban League’s recommendations are:
    Broadened opportunities for cities, counties, tribes to challenge their census counts using additional data sets at the local level, such as school enrollment numbers, along with technical assistance to help localities through the challenge process.
  • An end to the use of overcounted non-Hispanic Whites to determine the undercount for Black and other populations of color, which obscures the actual number of historically undercounted populations omitted in the Census. 
  • More "equity-based" research and design of census surveys that address the essential causes of the differential undercount, while using applications and scientific techniques that are sensitive to the methodological needs of an increasingly diverse society.
  • Congressional Hearings on the 2020 Census to identify the magnitude of operational and methodological shortcomings regarding populations of color.

Morial added, “The Census Bureau must prioritize President Biden's executive order on racial inclusion to correct the enduring legacy of employment discrimination and underrepesentation in the federal workforce--not only in senior level positions for African Americans, but in mission critical positions responsible for census research and design.”


 

Thursday, February 03, 2022

Civil Rights Leaders Request Meeting With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell To Discuss Hiring Practices

The Rev. Al Sharpton and other prominent civil rights leaders promised “direct action” at this month’s Super Bowl if the NFL does not immediately address allegations of racism and a lack of diversity highlighted in a blockbuster lawsuit.

In a letter on Thursday to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell, the civic leaders said they want to huddle with team and league executives to discuss what the league plans to do to increase the number of Black coaches and general managers.

“Despite continued efforts and commitments, we are still sitting here today with 32 teams, not one Black owner and only one Black coach,” the letter said. “This is an outrage at best, and requires your immediate attention.”

The meeting request comes days after former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores shook up the sports world with a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit against the powerhouse sports league.

The letter to Goodell was signed by Sharpton, National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Black Women’s Roundtable President Melanie Campbell and Barbara Skinner, co-convener of the National African American Clergy Network.

“In light of the recent lawsuit filed by Brian Flores, it has brought this attention back to the forefront of our community, and it is important that you have an immediate open dialogue with Civil Rights leadership,” the letter says.

“We are being asked to do everything within our power, including direct action at next week’s Super Bowl, as well as appealing to local municipalities that underwrite and give special considerations to stadiums to pressure the NFL and its owners to get more serious about enforcing the ruling law.”

[SOURCE: NY DAILY NEWS]

Thursday, September 16, 2021

National Black Voter Day is National Urban League's Answer to Voter Suppression

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
 

“Too many people struggled, suffered and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote. And we have come too far together to ever turn back. So we must not be silent. We must stand up, speak up and speak out. We must march to the polls like never before. We must come together and exercise our sacred right.” – Congressman John Lewis

In April of 2019, the Associated Press released an analysis of census data and exit polling that reached a remarkable conclusion: the Black voter turnout rate in the 2012 presidential election exceeded the white rate for the first time in history.  A census report in May confirmed the AP’s findings.

Some researchers disputed the findings, contending that the milestone actually had occurred in 2008.

The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby v Holder slammed the brakes on nearly five decades of progress on narrowing the gap between white and Black voter participation rates. By eliminating a requirement that the federal government approve election law changes in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination, Shelby unleashed a deluge of restricting voting laws throughout the United States. 

National Black Voter Day is our answer to voter suppression. It’s our answer to misinformation campaigns. It’s our answer to efforts to stoke racial division and diminish the voices of Black and brown Americans.

The National Urban League, in partnership with BET and other advocacy groups, designated September 18 National Black Voter day as part of our voter engagement and education campaign, #ReclaimYourVote.

We chose September 18 was because it is the first day for early in-person voting in the country. Although “Election Day” is more than six weeks away, voting has already begun. Thousands of North Carolinians have already returned their absentee ballots.

We’re asking Black Americans to make a plan. Will you vote in person, or by mail? If your state allows early in-person voting, what day will you vote? Where is your polling place? If you plan to vote by mail, what are the rules in your state? Do you need a witness when you sign your ballot, like the voters in North Carolina, opportunity to get voters registered, demystify the voting process, provide guidance on voting rights restoration for eligible voters, and help voters create their voting plan to plot a clear path to the ballot box.

We’ve broken the process down into five steps:

  • Step 1: Register to Vote
  • By federal law, no state can set its voter registration deadline any earlier than 30 days before Election Day. That means the earliest deadlines this year are October 5 – which is right around the corner.
  • Step 2: Check Your Voting Options
  • From in-person early voting to no-excuse voting by mail, voters in most states have more options in 2020 than in years past. 
  • Step 3: Find Your Polling Location
  • The coronavirus pandemic has led many jurisdictions to consolidate polling locations. Voters shouldn’t assume they’ll be able to vote where they’ve voted in the past.  
  • Step 4: Know The Candidates and Issues
  • Our vote is a powerful tool for effecting change, but only if we use it in an informed way. 
  • Step 5: VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Between the time of the Shelby v. Holder decision and the 2016 presidential election, 9 out of the 15 jurisdictions previously covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act had new restrictions in place.  Texas announced within 24 hours of the decision that it would implement a strict photo ID law, and  Mississippi and Alabama, began to enforce photo ID laws that had previously been barred because of federal preclearance.

Black voter turnout fell from more than 67% in 2012 – more than 5 points above the white rate --  to just over 51% in 2016 – almost 4 points below the white rate.

We will not be defeated. The National Urban League continues to advocate for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act, and is committed to safeguarding the right of every American to fully participate in our democracy and civic processes.

Commenting on efforts to suppress the Black vote, the late Congressman John Lewis said, “I've seen this before. I've lived this before.”  Prior to the Voting Rights Act, he said,  “People stood in unmovable lines. They had to pass a so-called literacy test, pay a poll tax. On one occasion, a man was asked to count the number of bubbles in a bar of soap. On another occasion, one was asked to count the jelly beans in a jar—all to keep them from casting their ballots.

“Brothers and sisters, do you want to go back? Or do you want to keep America moving forward?”


Sunday, August 16, 2020

National Urban League 2020 State of Black America Report



The State of Black America® is the signature annual reporting of the National Urban League. Now in its 44th edition, the State of Black America® is one of the most highly-anticipated benchmarks and sources for thought leadership around racial equality in America across economics, employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice and civic participation.

Each edition contains penetrating commentary and insightful analysis from recognized authorities and leading figures in politics, the corporate and tech sectors, the nonprofit arena, academia and popular culture.

The 2020 State of Black America®, Unmasked, matches the national mood for serious introspection, exposing the human toll and economic devastation of a global pandemic on Black America while laying bare the deep rooted inequities that predated the pandemic and accelerated the virus’s deadly spread. Watch the State of Black America Virtual Series: 2020 Unmasked and read the full report on stateofblackamerica.org.

The 2020 Report

America caught the coronavirus and Black America caught hell. As states began to collect race-based data, a bleak picture emerged: Black, Latino and Indigenous people were getting sick and dying in higher numbers. African Americans are reportedly three times as likely to contract the coronavirus and nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as white people.

The latest findings tell a chilling tale of a nation divided along racial fault lines that first erupted at the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619, and whose institutions and laws were built on the pillars of racist ideology that continues to oppress, terrorize and disenfranchise the descendants of the enslaved today.

Against the grim backdrop of an exploding public health crisis, the nation watched as a Black man was denied his God-given right to breathe, losing his life under a police officer’s knee pressed into the back of his neck for almost nine minutes. George Floyd’s last words: “I can’t breathe,” ignited a firestorm of protests. Americans spilled out into the streets, insisting, once more, that Black lives matter.

Our reporting reveals the common denominator in the alarming and disproportionate ratio of Black people left gasping for air in emergency rooms and at the hands of law enforcement: centuries of systemic racism.

Through our partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, we examine the racial underpinnings of the pandemic, honing in on the indisputable link between our legacy of systemic racism and higher rates of Black death. Our authors tackle the insatiable reach of the outbreak into how we live, work and vote, delving into the erasure of Black wealth and job gains in the wake of the historic recession and recording setting unemployment; our interconnectedness, reminding us that prisoner health is indeed public health; the fate of HBCUs come fall; and the increased risk to our November 2020 election, undoubtedly disrupted by the pandemic, to disinformation and suppression.

The pandemic has forced Americans to grapple—yet again—with the enduring consequences of slavery and the prevalence of systemic racism in our society. Our public health systems, economic, education and housing policies, and political and criminal justice systems have all been infected by this insidious disease—and must be remedied.

The National Urban League stands united with all people committed to the monumental task of reckoning with our nation’s racist past—and present. We stand resolute and ready to leverage our influence and resources to break the pattern of empty reforms that tinker at the edges of injustice, because without justice, there can be no peace. To cure our nation, we must fearlessly acknowledge and address the straight and unbroken through-line that connects 1619 to COVID-19.

To access all State of Black America® content—including complete author essays, datasets, and a ready-for-download version of the executive summary—visit the State of Black America® website.

Monday, June 01, 2020

NAACP will not be going to any listening meeting with Donald Trump

After April Ryan posted on Twitter that the White House wanted to hold a listening meeting with Black leaders the NAACP replied that it would not be going to any meeting with Donald Trump.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Civil rights and religious leaders urge African Americans to defy governors' efforts to reopen businesses

A coalition of prominent civil rights and black religious leaders is urging African American residents who live in states that are moving swiftly to reopen their economies to stay home in defiance of governors until there's evidence the coronavirus outbreak has eased.

The group, convened by the Conference of National Black Churches and Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, said some governors are demonstrating "reckless disregard for the health and life of black residents" and called for black churches and businesses to remain closed in those states until there's evidence that it's safe to resume more normal activity.

"We do not take it lightly to encourage members of our communities to defy the orders of state governors," the officials said in a statement. "Our sacred duty is to support and advance the life and health of Black people, families and communities in our country."

Top officials with the NAACP, the National Urban League and the National Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law are among the groups joining the stay-at-home message.

Covid-19 has cut a particularly deadly path through African American communities. Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show black patients have made up nearly 20% US coronavirus deaths, although African Americans make up about 13% of the nation's population.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Bill To End Hair Discrimination In The Workplace And Schools Passes Senate Vote In California


Sen. Holly J. Mitchell
The CROWN Coalition, a national alliance comprised of the National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Color Of Change, and Dove, is proud to announce the bill they are sponsoring, Senate Bill 188 (The CROWN Act), passed the Senate floor today in California.

Introduced by Senator Holly J. Mitchell, SB 188 aims to "Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair" (the CROWN Act) by clarifying that traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and hairstyle, be protected from discrimination in the work place and in our K-12 public and charter schools.

"Many Black employees, including your staff, members, will tell you if given the chance that the struggle to maintain what society has deemed a 'professional image' while protecting the health and integrity of their hair remains a defining and paradoxical struggle in their work experience, not usually shared by their non-Black peers," said Senator Mitchell shortly before the Senate vote. "Members, it is 2019. Any law that sanctions a job description that immediately excludes me from a position, not because of my capabilities or experience but because of my hair, is long overdue for reform."

The C.R.O.W.N. (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural hair) Act will ensure protection against discrimination in the workplace and schools based on hairstyles by prohibiting employers and schools from enforcing purportedly "race neutral" grooming policies that disproportionately impact persons of color. Additionally, while anti-discrimination laws presently protect the choice to wear an Afro, Afros are not the only natural presentation of Black hair. SB 188 will ensure protection against discrimination based on hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles in the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the California Education Code.

"Dove has been committed to championing real beauty for women and girls for decades, and believes the individuality of all of our hair should be celebrated," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of North America Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever. "As a proud member of the CROWN Coalition, we're overjoyed to see that the California Senate passed SB 188, and look forward to continuing to drive equity and fairness for all women and men, particularly around hair inclusivity."

The CROWN Act corrects an inconsistency in existing anti-discrimination laws by amending the California Government and Education Codes to protect against discrimination based on traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. The Coalition, in support of The CROWN Act, aims to put an end to the significant injustices of hair discrimination that has spanned decades across the United States.

The CROWN Coalition

The CROWN Coalition is a national alliance comprised of the National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Color Of Change, and Dove as sponsors of Senate Bill 188 'The Crown Act'. The CROWN Coalition members believe diversity and inclusion are key drivers of success across all industries and sectors.

For more information on SB 188 'The CROWN Act' click here to see the legislation.

CONTACT:
Motunrayo Tosin-Oni
Motunrayo.tosin-oni@sen.ca.gov
Office of Senator Holly J. Mitchell
Marcy Polanco, JOY Collective


Thursday, July 27, 2017

National Urban League Convenes 2017 Conference



Symbolically gathered at a thriving community center built upon the ruins of a burned-out symbol of urban unrest, the National Urban League today convened its 2017 Conference. 
"Transforming frustration and despair into opportunity and hope is the overarching theme of our Conference and our mission,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H.  Morial said. "We’re so proud to showcase the Community Empowerment Center of Ferguson as a successful example of the work of the Urban League Movement and our committed partners.
“Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs + Justice,” the theme of the 2017 National Urban League Conference campaign is an examination of the challenges facing urban communities, particularly as the shift of power in Washington, D.C., brings sweeping changes to the nation. Continuing through Saturday at America’s Center, the nation’s largest civil rights and social justice conference attracts thousands of the nation’s most influential community leaders, together with top policy-makers, academicians, business leaders and artists.
“As longtime supporters of the Urban League Movement, Centene is pleased to welcome the conference to our hometown of St. Louis,” said Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of title sponsor Centene and President of the National Urban League Board of Trustees. “I can think of no better city than St. Louis to host our conference this year. St. Louis is a city that is stepping up to the challenge of working to create positive social change. Since the ensuing unrest of 2014, our experiences – particularly in Ferguson – can serve as an example of this progress that can be made when businesses, community organizations and elected officials work together for the transformation and betterment of a community at large.”
Also on hand for the ceremonies was Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown the unarmed teenager whose death at the hands of Ferguson police sparked days of unrest there in 2014.
Two major plenary sessions focus on the State of Black America, the National Urban League’s seminal annual analysis of the social and economic status of African Americans, and the Main Street Marshall Plan, a comprehensive outline for combating poverty and eliminating disparities
“World Wide Technology is honored to be a title sponsor of the conference,” Vice President of Human Resources Ann Marr said. “We are proud of our cultural diversity that exists within our global organization.  Corporate and social responsibility is important to WWT and we are passionate about supporting our community.  We are committed to many organizations like the Urban League and we will continue to advance these programs.   We than all the dignitaries and thought leaders joining us at the conference; it will be an incredible event.”
The four-day event at America’s Center features empowering sessions and workshops presented by political, business, and entertainment leaders and influencers on topics including education, business, the economy, health, and justice.  The N.U.L. Experience Hall, free and open to the public, includes exhibits, entertainment, a Volunteer Zone, Health Zone and chances to win exciting prizes.  Participants in Saturday’s Small Business Matters entrepreneurship summit will have a chance to audition for ABC TV’s Shark Tank, or win cash prizes at the Pitch Contest.
Also partnering to present the conference are longtime Urban League supporters Toyota, Nationwide, UPS and Target.
Backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to thousands of community members at the Back-To-School Community Empowerment Festival Community Day on Saturday, which features health screenings and other informative and entertaining exhibits and sessions. 
Notable speakers, panelists and honorees include: 
  • The Rev. Dr. William Barber, former President of the North Carolina NAACP
  • Allan C. Golston, President of the United States Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Angela Rye, Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies; CNN Political Commentator and NPR Political Analyst             
  • Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Sociology Professor, Georgetown University, Author, Tears We Cannot Stop
  • Tamika D. Mallory, President, Mallory Consulting, National Activist, Champion of the New Civil Rights Movement                
  • Melanie Campbell, President & CEO/Convener, Black Women's Roundtable, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
  • CCH Pounder, Award Winning Actress
  • Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network, Television Talk Show Host on MSNBC, “PoliticsNation”
  • Richard G. Hatcher, First African-American Mayor to serve as mayor of a major city
  • Robbie Montgomery, Musical Artist, Reality TV Star and Founder of St. Louis Restaurant Sweetie Pie's

Friday, December 16, 2016

This New Fund Was Created To Help Black Entrepreneurs

A small business lending program has been launched to help African American and minority businesses create jobs and build community wealth. With a focus on bringing capital to underserved groups, the National Urban League’s Urban Empowerment Fund, Morgan Stanley, National Development Council, and Cuyahoga County have come together to offer the Capital Access Fund of Greater Cleveland (CAF).

CAF is a three-year program that provides minority business owners access to capital, offering 50 loans totaling $8 million, as well as pre- and post-loan counseling, to ensure the success of those small business borrowers. With a goal of creating or maintaining a minimum of 300 jobs within those three years, CAF already has completed eight loans, totaling $1.4 million and helping to create or maintain 70 local jobs.

“The level of interest we already have confirms what we already knew—there is a gap in the access to capital for minority businesses, and we should not gloss over that,” said Marc H. M.

Read more: This New Fund Was Created To Help Black Entrepreneurs

Friday, September 16, 2016

UNCF, National Urban League, and Education Post Release Joint Report on Black Education Efforts


UNCF, the National Urban League, and Education Post today released “Building Better Narratives in Black Education,”a joint report published by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, providing tangible approaches to shift the narrative concerning Black educational reform. The findings of the report aim to better engage communities around K-12 education and drive substantive policy changes for Black students. The three organizations will gather national and local education advocates, policy-makers, and community leaders today for a public launch event and reception at UNCF’s headquarters, featuring special guests Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO, and Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. The launch event also includes a panel of education leaders who will discuss accountability, improving educational outcomes, and improving college completion for African American students.
“Building a better narrative means privileging African American voices and perspectives as central drivers of successful urban school reform, as these conversations have largely excluded communities of color,” said Dr. Lomax. “We’re excited about engaging with our partners in this important work, which we believe will encourage substantive dialogue and drive meaningful changes to the way Black education reform is viewed, promoting an ‘urgency of now’ in ed reform.”
“At a time when only seven percent of Black 12th graders are performing at ‘proficient’ or above on national math assessments, compared with 32 percent of white students, we know we’ve got lots of work to do,” said Morial. “As education is the pathway to economic prosperity, we’re glad to work together with UNCF and Education Post to engage local communities in taking critical steps to address education achievement gaps.”
WHAT: “Building Better Narratives in Black Education” report release, panel discussion, and reception 
WHEN: 4:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EST Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 
WHERE: UNCF, 1805 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, located at Shaw-Howard Metro station 
WHO: 
  •     Jonathan Atkins, Community Engagement Manager, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF
  •     Dr. Meredith B. L. Anderson, Senior Research Associate (Patterson and K-12 Advocacy), UNCF
  •     Sekou Biddle, Vice President, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF
  •     Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF
  •     Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
  •     Eugene Pinkard, Deputy Chief of School Turnaround and Performance, DC Public Schools
  •     Susie Saavedra, Senior Director for Policy and Legislative Affairs, National Urban League Washington Bureau
  •     Naomi Shelton, Director, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF
  •     Hal Smith, Vice President, Education, Youth Development and Health, National Urban League
  •     Christopher Stewart, Director of Outreach and External Affairs, Education Post
  •     Shantelle Wright, Founder and CEO, Achievement Prep
WATCH: Live Stream begins at 5 p.m. EST on UNCF’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/uncf
Follow the discussion on Twitter: @uncf @Edu_Post @NatUrbanLeague #BBNBlackEd
About UNCF 
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community, and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF annually awards $100 million in scholarships and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.®” Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.
About Education Post 
Education Post is a non-partisan communications organization dedicated to building support for student-focused improvements in public education from preschool to high school graduation. The organization advocates world-class schools that support children to love learning, to be challenged and supported in the classroom, to have access to a range of enrichment activities, to be socially and emotionally strong and healthy, and to graduate from high school with everything they need to pursue the future they see for themselves. Learn more at educationpost.org.
About The National Urban League 
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights and advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in African American and other underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League impacts and improves the lives of more than 2 million young people and adults annually through direct service programs, which are implemented locally by 94 Urban League affiliates, serving 300 communities in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at nul.iamempowered.com.

Thursday, August 04, 2016

Donald Trump declines invitation too speak at National Urban League Conference

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com

For a guy that claims that the "blacks love him" and who constantly says he will get upwards of 25% of the black vote Donald trump sure doesn't seem to want to actually talk to black voters.

In what is not much of a surprise since he also skipped out on a chance to speak to the NAACP Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump has declined an invite to speak at the 2016 National Urban League conference being held in Baltimore from August 3-6.

The Trump campaign has given no reason for declining the invite to the conference.

In contrast while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton could not make the event she did send her vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine to speak in her absence.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake criticized Trump's decision in the Baltimore sun newspaper:

"If you plan to be president, you should plan to be president of the entire United States, and when you have a national organization of this stature and refuse to participate at this national conference, it speaks to what your priorities are moving forward," Rawlings-Blake said. "African-Americans in this country have a strong tradition, a strong history and an extremely powerful future.

"You cannot think you're going to have an inclusive country, a country that is good for all of America, without including African-Americans."

[QUOTE SOURCE]

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Read the 2015 State of Black America Report.

CLICK HERE TOREAD THE 2022 STATE OF BLACK AMERICA REPORT

March 19, 2015 (New York, NY) Today, the National Urban League releases its 39th edition of the State of Black America® – “Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs + Justice,” which underscores the urgency of each of these areas in America’s quest for full equality. The world watched throughout 2014 as justice was challenged on every front – from the accountability of law enforcement for misconduct and the continual assault on voting rights, to widening economic gaps and partisan education debates more rooted in political agendas than in putting our children first. Simply put, the state of Black America is in crisis, and the State of Black America® report findings provide a sobering, but necessary, look at critical issues that need to be addressed – now.

As the National Urban League continues to press the case for closing growing divides in economic and education opportunity, this year’s State of Black America® presents the 2015 Equality Index™, one of the most critical and respected quantitative tools for tracking racial equality in America – now in its 11th edition for the Black-White Index and its sixth year for the Hispanic-White Index. For the first time, the Equality Index™ includes a special feature on state-level K-12 education, documenting the extent of Black-White and Hispanic-White achievement gaps in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The State Education Equality Index™ also includes supporting data on factors that contribute to narrowing or widening these gaps, including teacher quality, pre-school and course enrollment, and student status and risk factors such as poverty. For the second year, the Equality Index™ also features rankings of U.S. cities from most-to-least equal via the Black-White Index (70 cities) and Hispanic-White Index (72 cities) – again providing a revealing look at local dynamics beneath national trends.

“The 2015 State of Black America® – ‘Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs + Justice’ – and its corresponding Equality Index™ findings are a clarion call that a more comprehensive, inclusive and on-the-ground recovery is necessary to ensure a healthy future for our nation and that we cannot expect to successfully move forward when we are leaving so many behind,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “Few times in a nation’s history is its collective conscience shocked and awakened across racial, economic, generational and even ideological lines as ours has been over the past year. We are in that moment, and as long as justice is challenged on any front, we will keep pushing on every front.”

Through thought-provoking articles from Morial and a stellar line-up of contributors, the 2015 State of Black America® offers insightful solutions across critical areas including job creation, transportation, education, city revitalization, criminal justice, entrepreneurship and media images. Contributing authors include: Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser; Film/Television Producer Debra Martin Chase; Attorney Benjamin Crump; U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx; Gary, IN Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson; NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a; Radio One, Inc. President and CEO/TV One Chairman and CEO Alfred Liggins; Sacramento, CA Mayor/U.S. Conference of Mayors President Mayor Kevin Johnson; W.K. Kellogg Foundation President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron; and “The Three Doctors” (Dr. Sampson Davis, Dr. Rameck Hunt and Dr. George Jenkins).

For the first time in its history, the State of Black America® is being presented in an all-digital edition that will offer a multimedia and social experience providing more interaction with readers, enhanced searchability, and year-round updates. The full suite of 2015 State of Black America® offerings includes an e-book, featuring full data sets and analysis for each Equality Index™, full ranking lists, and complete articles; a seven-part Web Series, sponsored by AT&T, that gathers some of the nation’s leading influencers for discussions around the State of Black America® theme, topics and report content; and a new website – www.stateofblackamerica.org – which will serve as the digital hub for visitors to access select data and report findings, the Web Series, press materials, infographics and charts, e-book purchase information, and year-round updates featuring new contributors.

READ THE 2015 STATE OF BLACK AMERICA REPORT-PDF.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Obama meets with civil rights leaders

Civil rights leaders say they left a meeting with President Barack Obama convinced that he'll fight for jobs, worker training, a higher minimum wage and voting rights.

Rev. Al Sharpton says Tuesday's 90-minute White House meeting covered a range of concerns. One topic not discussed, however, was a new finding by congressional auditors that a higher minimum wage will boost pay for millions of people but cost about 500,000 jobs.

Obama and Democrats want Congress to raise the minimum wage. Republicans strongly oppose, saying jobs will be lost as a result.

National Urban League President Marc Morial told reporters afterward that his organization's research shows that a higher minimum wage won't cost jobs.

Obama recently signed an executive order raising the hourly minimum to $10.10 for federal contractors.