It is with incredible honor that I write these words as the 45th lieutenant governor of the state of Wisconsin. The gravity of being the first African American elected to this office, and the second ever elected to statewide office, is not lost on me—nor is the fact that Wisconsin is home to some of the most extreme racial inequities in the nation.
Authors/Essays
Each edition of the State of Black America contains thoughtful commentary and insightful analysis from leading figures and thought leaders in politics, the corporate arena, NGOs, academia and popular culture. Learn more about the dynamic authors who contributed essays spanning from education and entrepreneurship to media and social justice.
Creating an Equitable Democracy Through Leadership and Solidarity
Our founder, Will Keith Kellogg, believed in the democratic process driven by ordinary people collaborating to solve the problems that faced children and their families. He called it cooperative planning, intelligent study and group action – cooperative leadership on behalf of the whole. His belief in it was so strong that he bequeathed his entire fortune to pursuing it in order “to promote the health, happiness and well-being of children” – all children, regardless of race, sex, creed or nationality.
Franchise and the Growing Influence of the Ashley Stewart Woman
In 2018, Ashley Stewart, the iconic fashion and lifestyle brand, partnered with the National Urban League to encourage our respective networks of customers, employees, vendors, partners and friends to exercise their collective right to register and vote in their local, state and federal elections.
Enough Is Enough. We Must Vote!
In 2018, the National Urban League launched its get-out-the-vote campaign, “Enough Is Enough.
The 2016 Bounce Back: Increasing Local Election Engagement for Nationwide Change
Historically, protest and protest movements have played an important role in translating anger into action and in forcing the powerful to pay attention and in righting wrongs. From strikes to boycotts and marches, these people-powered movements have functioned as critical change agents. However, protest devoid of organization is merely disruption. Protests movements must shift into social movements that employ a variety of strategies in service of large-scale, sustainable, and systemic change.
A Public Company for the Public Good
Our aspiration at Lyft is to be a public company for the public good. We are a business, but we also see ourselves as a critical part of the future of the ecosystem of city transportation—including transit, shared bicycles and e-scooters, and even land use. Our core business contributes to the life of cities and its people, and we aim to do more.
Losing the Millennial Vote in Three Inconvenient Truths
The Black Count Matters: Why We Must Be Counted in the 2020 Census
The peculiar institution, coined by South Carolinian John C. Calhoun, seventh vice president of the United States (1825-1832), was a euphemism used by white southerners to describe slavery in the South, a time in our history when Blacks were counted as “fractional” persons in the U.S. census.
Election Protection: Safeguarding the Vote to Defend All Rights
On January 3, 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus swore in its largest ever class of 55 members. The class includes five members who chair powerful congressional committees, setting policy in key areas such as financial services, homeland security, science and technology, education and government oversight.