Published since 1976, the State of Black America is the annual National Urban League report that analyzes the social and economic conditions affecting African Americans, while providing solutions to these challenges. 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. The State of Black America is released each year during the Legislative Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.

At the commencement of Barack Obama’s historic presidency, the 2009 State of Black America examines the critical challenges that face his new administration. The National Urban League provides its specific recommendations for resolving these issues and presents voices that range from leading scholars and analysts to ordinary citizens, who directly ask the government to respond to their concerns. The State of Black America 2009: Message to the President is an invaluable guide, for the new President and his administration and anyone seeking solutions to enable every American to thrive, earn, own and prosper.

We welcome the new vision the Obama administration brings to Washington and to America. But this vision can only become a reality if we make it so. The State of Black America 2009: Message to the President, is an essential part of the National Urban League’s effort to bring about this vision by working with the new Administration to tackle the nation’s deepening domestic challenges. I hope that it encourages and inspires each of you to join us in working to help President Obama fulfill the promise he made to us last summer “to build a nation worthy of our children’s future.”

-Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President & CEO

• Executive Summary
• Abstracts
• Table of Contents and Credits

ORDER NOW