State of Black America 2009: Message to the President

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At the dawn of Barack Obama’s historic presidency, the National Urban League’s The State of Black America 2009 examines the critical issues and challenges his new administration must address. With a Foreword by Martin Luther King III, this volume - the 33rd edition – features the 2009 The Equality Index and essays and commentaries by leading scholars, analysts and practitioners, as well as ordinary citizens and offers more than 30 specific recommendations to the new administration.
 
As the Obama Administration ushers in a new era of hope, change, and to some extent, unity for this nation, many are asking whether racial barriers have now been erased in America. Are discrimination, division and inequality antiquated relics of the past? For a quick answer to that question, one has but to review some of the sobering statistics presented in the 2009 Equality Index, a statistical measurement of the status of blacks compared with whites. Ironically, even as an African-American man holds the highest office the country, African Americans remain twice as likely as whites to be unemployed, three times more likely to live in poverty and more than six times as likely to be incarcerated. 
 
The 2009 Equality Index stands at 71.1% compared to a revised 2008 index of 71.5%. Relative to 2008, the change in this year’s overall index was marginal, indicating a general continuation of the status quo. Economics remains the area with the greatest degree of inequality, followed by social justice, health, education and civic engagement
 
The Equality Index is placed into context with essays and reports on the State of Black America, covering such topics as the education equity, economic stimulus and job creation, healthcare disparities, housing counseling, the subprime meltdown, wealth building, and infrastructure improvements. Among the contributing authors are Dr. John Jackson (Schott Foundation), Stephanie J. Jones (National Urban League), Dr. Hal Smith (National Urban League), Sen. Christopher Dodd, Dr. William Spriggs (Howard University), Gwendolyn Grant (Kansas City Urban League), Rep. Chaka Fattah and Earl Graves, Jr. (Black Enterprise Magazine).
 
Each Essay section begins with a Letter to the President from a person who has benefited from Urban League programs in their communities asking the President to address a particular area of concern.
           
The essays are followed by commentaries offering diverse perspectives on the meaning and impact of an Obama presidency by Rep. Barbara Lee, Michelle Bernard, David Johns, Cassye Cook and Judge Nathaniel R. Jones.