Today, the mainstay of our American democracy – the sacred right to be heard at the ballot box – is under continued threat: a threat which the National Urban League has always recognized has an impact on the state of Black America.
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.
Home Is Where the Vote Is: Prison Gerrymandering Denies Urban Communities Fair Representation
An accurate population count is critical to upholding individual rights and the efficient function of the United States government. It is an essential tool that determines the equitable distribution of services and ensures true democratic representation.
Protecting Civil Rights on Facebook During Elections
I joined Facebook because I believe deeply in the good that happens when people connect. We can stay in touch with friends, create communities, and talk about important issues. Facebook gives people a way to use their voice — and this is especially important for people who want to build social movements or whose voices have not always been heard.
Win or Lose: The Importance of Voting from a First Time Voter
I voted for the very first time Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in the midterm elections. I turned 18 the year before but became aware of and interested in the midterms when I applied for my temporary driver’s permit in May of the same year. The clerk asked if I was currently registered to vote. I told her I wasn’t, and she gave me a voter registration application.
He Votado: The Story of a First-Time Latina Voter
Voting can be a bit intimidating if one does not have the appropriate guidance, especially for first-time voters. My name is Monica B. Villa; I am a current intern at The Urban League of Philadelphia and a first-time voter.
Growing up, my father was always an active voter, but my mother was not. I asked her why she would not vote.
“Why should I? I can’t make a difference,” she responded. At the time, I thought to myself, ‘Well, she is right.’ So, I also did not have any interest in political activism or voting.
Voting for Those Who Can’t: A New Citizen’s First Vote
During the summer of my junior year of high school, I had the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen but was unaware of the rights, responsibilities and privileges of American citizenship. I was uninformed about voting. I was uneducated about the changes that needed to be made in my community. Worse still, I unaware that these changes were all connected to the ballot box. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I educated myself on the voting process and on the daily problems my community faced.
The Connected Diabetes Ecosystem
Enrique A. Conterno
Senior Vice President and President, Lilly Diabetes and Lilly USA
Twitter: @LillyPad
Since the breakthrough discovery of insulin in the early 20th Century, diabetes has transformed from a deadly disease to a chronic but manageable condition. Innovations in science – leading to more effective insulins – and technological advances allowing for better monitoring have enabled people living with diabetes to more closely monitor their health.
At Lilly, we are dedicated to developing medicines for unmet needs, particularly for people facing barriers to accessing care and managing their conditions under the traditional in-office care model.
Confronting the Rising Tide in Racially Motivated Hate Online
Kristen Clarke
President & Executive Director
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Twitter: @KristenClarkeJD
As the country remains focused on the ways in which Russia interfered with the integrity of the recent 2016 election, we must not forget to focus equal attention to the ongoing threat of voter suppression. Voter suppression and ongoing voting discrimination stand as grave threats to American democracy. Across the country, we are witnessing state and local officials take action to make it harder for African Americans and other minority communities to vote. From restrictive voter ID requirements to purges of the registration rolls, and from racial gerrymandering to the disenfranchisement of people with criminal histories, officials in some states are working hard to restrict access to the franchise for African Americans and other minority communities. Through community vigilance and impact litigation, we can push back against voter suppression.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Rhonda Crichlow
Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer
Charter Communications
The internet is at the core of every aspect of modern society, yet there are a disproportionate number of communities of color who find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide.
The internet is the bridge to academic achievement, applying for and excelling in many types of jobs, managing finances and participating fully in the civic life of our nation. For the millions of Americans—especially those living in marginalized communities—who work to provide a brighter future for themselves and their families, lack of access to high-speed internet shouldn’t put success out of reach. But the truth is it does—and we have to change that.
The Answer Lies Within STEM
David L. Steward
Chairman & Founder
World Wide Technology, Inc.
We all know the problems all too well for this nation—and especially for Black America.
We are all subject to the globalization that has advanced at a very rapid pace over the past two decades. This has occurred primarily due to technological advancement, which has driven immense global economic growth. In an equal world, this would not be a problem; it would actually be fantastic news. In fact, it is fantastic news for those individuals and nations who are well-positioned to take advantage of that economic prosperity.
To take full advantage of this economic boom, both nations and individuals must be equipped with the knowledge, education, skills, experience and creativity to leverage the opportunities that exist today and in the future. Therein lies the problem for many U.S. citizens—especially Black Americans.