Today's Date: March 28, 2024
Fastenal Releases 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report   •   Re:wild and Colossal Biosciences team up to leverage revolutionary technology to save critically endangered species on the brink   •   More $10-a-day child care spaces   •   Equalpride Partners with TransLash Media for Trans Day of Visibility, Amplifying Voices of Black Trans Femmes in the Arts   •   Coachella Concerned That People Have Sex, Says AHF   •   Visit Visalia Recognizes Autism Awareness Month in April   •   Amerex Group Unveils Red Carter Swimwear's Revitalized Collection   •   Torrid Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2023 Results and Initiates Fiscal 2024 Guidance   •   Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Expands OTC Portfolio for Children with the Introduction of bébé Bottoms™   •   PMI Foods Gives Easter Donation of 15,000 Pounds of Prime Rib to New Life Church in Arkansas   •   John Legend to Perform at City Year Los Angeles’ 13th Annual Spring Break Event   •   VIRGIN HOTELS CHAMPIONS INCLUSIVE TRAVEL FOR NEURODIVERSE TRAVELERS   •   Empire State Realty Trust Receives WELL Health-Safety Leadership Award; Becomes Among the First Commercial Office and Multifamil   •   Make-A-Wish and celebrity wish granters announce goal to recruit 1 million people to become "WishMakers"   •   Carnegie Learning Named 2024 SIIA CODiE Award Finalist for Best Educational Game and Best AI Implementation in Ed Tech   •   Sypher Secures Strategic Partnership with FAIA to Fuel Growth   •   YMCA of the USA Partners With Old Spice To Increase High School Graduation Among Boys And Young Men Of Color Through Mentorship   •   Parkland Corporation Announces the Results of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders   •   Suffolk Kicks off 2024 “Build With Us @ Suffolk” Program in Boston for Trade Partners, Opening Doors for Minority-,   •   Jamieson Wellness Publishes Inaugural Sustainability Impact Report
Bookmark and Share

National Urban League’s The State of Black America 2009 Report Shows Black and White Equality Still Needs Work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      
Wednesday, March 25, 2009  

Contact:  Amber Jaynes
917-673-5650 cell / ajaynes@nul.org

Veronica Clemons
Hill and Knowlton 312-927-2179
vclemons@hillandknowlton.com


National Urban League’s The State of Black America® 2009 Report Shows Black and White Equality Still Needs Work
 It’s the ‘Best of Times and Worst of Times’ for Black America


(NEW YORK)  – As the entire country observed the historic election of President Barack Obama amid one of the worst economic crises this nation has ever seen, these are the ‘best of times and the worst of times’ for black America.  The National Urban League, today, released the State of Black America (SOBA) 2009 report which shows that while the entire country is hurting during these tough economic times, African-Americans are disproportionately hurting worse.

The annual State of Black America report is a barometer of conditions for African-Americans in the United States.  It includes the National Urban League’s Equality Index, a statistical measurement of the disparities between blacks and whites across five categories:  economics, education, health, civic engagement and social justice. 

This year’s report shows an overall slight decline in the status of blacks as compared to whites, moving from 71.5 percent in 2008 to 71.1 percent in 2009.  The only sub index that increased over the past year was in health at about 1.1 percentage points.  This was largely because the gap narrowed for those without health insurance.

The report this year takes a look back at the past five years of the Equality Index to view trends of progress and decline.  Between 2003 and 2007 the poverty rate and home ownership rate declined for blacks but increased for whites.  Even as both groups made progress in educational attainment, the progress was slower for blacks.  During the same period while white children saw increases in “preprimary” enrollment of about 3 percent, black children saw a decline of about 1 percent, causing the education gap to grow, not shrink.  The report this year shows the trend continues.  This year’s National Urban League report reminds the country that the election of President Obama does not mean the work of civil rights is done.

 “The election of the first black president does not mean we can all now close up shop and go home,” said the National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial.  “Instead, it’s more important than ever that the National Urban League and other organizations and individuals committed to positive change work even harder to lift up our communities and move this country forward.”

Martin Luther King, III, in the foreword to the report, says President Obama’s election does not mean his father’s dream has been realized.

“His election is not the fulfillment of the Dream,” King wrote.  “This is because President Obama is not the only character in this narrative, nor is he the story’s only writer.  The American narrative cannot realize its greatest promise unless the narratives of all its peoples are part of that promise.  In other words, realizing the American Dream must be a complete possibility for every American.”

The theme for this year’s report is “Message to the President.”  There are essays from experts, and letters to the president from ordinary citizens about the condition of African-Americans with recommendations on how President Obama and his administration might address them focusing on key areas such as green jobs, housing and schools and education.

“For the first time we have a president whose political base is in a city so we feel that he can better understand the issues and concerns of urban America,” Morial said.  “We want to make sure that we work with the administration to ensure that urban America is included in the policies coming forth to help this country recover economically.  Only then can we begin to close the equality gap.”

For the fifth consecutive year, Pfizer has sponsored The State of Black America report.  “We applaud the National Urban League on its continued effort to spark important national dialogue around crucial issues, such as the health status gap endured by black America,” said Forest Harper, vice president of Capability Development at Pfizer.  “We have a lot to do before we can achieve the goals of eliminating health disparities, and ensuring that all Americans have affordable access to quality health care regardless of health status or income.  Pfizer is pleased to partner with the National Urban League and, together, continue to promote wellness and disease prevention programs, as well as patient assistance programs, like Pfizer Helpful Answers that has helped millions of patients get access to Pfizer medicines for free or at a savings.”  

This year’s report also looks at trends from another perspective – economic expansion periods.  What the numbers show is that trends between blacks and whites were more similar than different in key areas like median household income, poverty, unemployment and home ownership.

During the economic expansion period from 2001 – 2007 (known as the jobless recovery period) there was a decline in real median household income for blacks and whites and an increase in the rate of poverty.  Real median household income from 2001 – 2007 declined 1.7 percent for blacks and 3.9 percent for whites and poverty rates increased 7.9 percent for blacks and 5.1 percent for whites.

By contrast, during the 1990s while trends were still similar, African-Americans saw tremendous progress.  For the duration of the ‘90s expansion, real median household income grew by 23.6 percent for African- Americans and 13 percent for whites while poverty rates declined by 30.6 percent and 17 percent, respectively. 

The State of Black America 2009 report notes that it will take more than just relying on the Obama administration to make a difference in urban America.  While they should hold government officials accountable at all levels, individuals must participate in order for change to happen.

“President Obama has stressed that change comes from the bottom up, not the other way around,” Morial said.  “It is up to all of us – as citizens and advocates – to take a more active role in governance at all levels to make sure our voices are heard from City Hall to the State House to the halls of Congress to the White House.”


###


Established in 1910, the National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African-Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream.  Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates.  There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.  For more information, visit www.nul.org.

 

2009 State of Black America:  Message to the President
Recommendations

The State of Black America 2009 report offers President Obama recommendations to help improve the lives of African-Americans in key areas.  These recommendations are based on the four principles of the League’s Opportunity Compact:  The Opportunity to Thrive, Earn, Own and Prosper.  They include:

• Include everyone in the Green Jobs Revolution – Related to the “Opportunity to Earn,” the National Urban League is calling on President Obama to ensure that African Americans are active participants in the green jobs revolution.  Precisely, that means directing a percentage of all infrastructure monies to job training, job placement and job preparation for disadvantaged workers.  In addition urban communities should be included in green projects like improving the country’s energy grid, retrofitting homes and businesses with solar paneling and creating infrastructure for wind energy.  The president and his administration must ensure that the green revolution does not result in a green divide in this country.

• Pass the Homebuyers Bill of Rights – As part of the “Opportunity to Own” the Homebuyers Bill of Rights, offers tools to not only help buyers get into homes but stay in them.  The bill offer funding for home ownership education and counseling, financial literacy workshops, credit counseling, fair housing advocacy and foreclosure prevention efforts, especially in underserved minority communities.  Predatory lending practices are the biggest issue in housing for African-Americans and must be stopped.  We call on Washington to do more to stop this epidemic that is plaguing too many urban, African-American communities.

• Close the educational funding gap – Based on the “Opportunity to Thrive,” the Urban League is strongly suggesting that President Obama puts the weight of the presidency behind efforts that will balance educational funding so all children have the same opportunity to learn and excel.  Doing so will eliminate drop-out rates of over 50 percent in some urban cities and do more to identify and support highly qualified and effective teachers for all students.

###




Back to top
| Back to home page
Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News