National Urban League

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Sep 8 2011

A common theme runs through proposals

As the nation continues to struggle economically, the latest jobs report (August) did not offer much good news. Unemployment remained stuck at 9.1 percent nationwide; at 16.7 percent for African Americans and zoomed up to 46.5 percent for Black youth, ages 16-19, up from 39.2 percent in July.

This sustained economic malaise for the nation has pumped up the urgency to create jobs, and that mantra has now (belatedly as far as some in the Black community are concerned) become the drum beat to which much of Washington is responding.

Jun 9 2011

Panel speakers at Urban Issues Forum

In 1961 the Freedom Riders were young, unafraid and bold enough to believe they could make a difference and combat Jim Crow segregation and bigotry in the Deep South.

The four courageous California college students—Edward Johnson, Robert Farrell, and Helen and Robert Singleton—participated in the rides, seeking to improve the lives of their southern brothers and sisters while clearly endangering their own.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
May 12 2011

Some think they need to retool

The belief that President Obama’s election heralded immediate change was so strong that shortly after his win, the blog Debate Link featured a Nov. 7, 2008, column entitled. “Do We Still Need Civil Rights After Obama?”

It is a penetrating question.

Apr 21 2011

Urban League declares war on unemployment

Economists say the recession is over. Recent national job reports illustrate an upward climb to the recovery. Yet these accomplishments have not effectively reached the urban communities of color—neither Black nor Hispanic.

This is according to the National Urban League’s 2011 “State of Black America” (SOBA) released recently. To combat this painful State of Black America in 2011, the NUL has declared a war on unemployment.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 23 2010

Commitment ensures more minority participation

The NAACP, National Urban League and National Action Network recently signed an agreement with Comcast and NBC Universal to expand current initiatives intended to increase diversity in a wide range of areas, including programming and employment.
 
The memorandum of understanding filed with the Federal Communications Commission outlines commitments by the merged companies to improve diversity in corporate governance, employment/workforce recruitment and retention, procurement, programming, philanthropy and community investments. 
 

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”