March 23, 2011
^ìortlanò (Dbseruer
Page 7
State of Black America is a Jobs Issue
The case for targeted
action to tackle a crisis
rate is 16.2 percent for black men and 11.6 percent
for Hispanics. Clearly, the jobs crisis persists in
urban America and an immediate national response is
long overdue.
In the past, our nation has declared war on
poverty... war on drugs... even war on obesity. To­
day, I call on W ashington to declare war on unem ­
ployment and the first line of defense must be urban
to reduce our ballooning deficit, we must make tough
choices.
But if, as the President has said, we are going to
“win the future,” this is no time to cut investments in
our people. That means, among other things, we
must invest in summer jobs for teens, broadband and
green jobs for their parents, and direct job creation
for cities and states.
M arc H. M orial
Later this month, the National
Urban League brings its fight for
urban jobs to Capitol Hill with its
annual Legislative Policy Confer­
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ence. This year’s summit will make
the case for targeted action to tackle
the persistent unemployment crisis in black America.
Dozens of Urban League affiliate delegations com­
prised of chief executive officers, board chairs and
the presidents o f affiliate Guild and Young Profes­
sional auxiliaries will join us for meetings on Capitol
Hill with U. S. Senators and Representatives.
The conference also serves as the backdrop to the
release o f the National Urban League's landmark
annual publication, The State o f Black America,
America.
Our report will also unveil the National Urban
being held this year at historic Howard University,
The truth is that any recovery that fails to bring jobs
League’s 2011 Equality Index, our annual compari­
with a Town Hall event featuring Howard students,
and prosperity back to urban and communities of son o f the social, political and economic status of
faculty and others, moderated by Jeff Johnson and
color is a recovery in name only. America can only
African Americans and Latinos to that of whites.
Roland Martin.
succeed if its cities and the people who live and work
The report highlights some successful job-creating
The highlight of this year’s legislative summit and
in them have access to jobs and are fully prepared to
initiatives by the Urban League and others. And we
State o f Black America report is jobs, jobs, jobs.
excel and innovate in those jobs. That is the key
make it clear that every aspect o f life in America is
The great recession is officially over. But, with overall
message o f this year’s State of Black America.
connected to jobs.
unemployment now at 8.9 percent and 13.7 million
Our report takes an honest look at the reality and
Education is a jobs issue. Healthcare is a jobs
people still out o f work, the recovery has been
underlying causes of double-digit joblessness in black
issue. International trade is a jobs issue. Housing and
painfully slow and has yet to make a significant visit to
America. B ut we don ’ t j ust point out the problem, we
transportation are jobs issues.
communities of color.
offer a solution with a 12-point blueprint for quality
In 2011, the State of Black America is a jobs issue.
The Labor D epartm ent’s February jobs report job creation.
Marc H. Morial is president and chief executive
shows black unem ploym ent at 15.3 percent. The
Our plan recognizes that as the nation takes steps
officer o f the National Urban League.
by
The truth is that any recovery that fails to bring jobs and
prosperity back to urban and communities of color is a
recovery in name only. America can only succeed if its cities
and the people who live and work in them have access to jobs
and are fully prepared to excel and innovate in those jobs.
à
Head Start is a Foundation for Achievement
Our children’s
success depends on it
by J udge
G reg M athis
After being urged by President
Obama to invest in our nation’s
students, you would think our fed­
eral lawmakers would do anything
they could to preserve a program
that sets the foundation for a life­
time of achievement, right? Wrong.
Once again, Republicans are moving to cut a
program that helps average Americans and, in this
case, specifically the poor.
The Head Start Program is yet another social
program the right wing has targeted for major cuts.
Head Start provides educational and health services
to low-income children and their families. Head Start
has been one of the m ost studied early education
programs since it began more fhan 40 years ago.
The program has proven itself to be one o f the
United State’s most successful social experiments
future success, America’s middle class will continue
and an efficient use o f taxpayer dollars. Research
to shrink and the number of families living below the
shows students who com plete Head Start do better poverty line will increase.
both socially and academically and are less likely to
If the Republicans were serious about balancing
drop out o f high school.
the budget they’d take a look at programs with
Y et, Republicans want to cut the program by more
inflated and misappropriated budgets, starting with
than 22-percent. They say Head Start isn’t as effec­ the military. Sure, if s critical that the U.S. has a strong
tive as supporters claim.
military in place but studies have shown that program
To be fair, some studies show that achievem ent
is rife with wasteful spending.
levels o f som e H ead Start attendees start to drop
It’s not the only area w here m oney is eith er
o ff after first grade. However, this could speak to
being w asted or being m isused. A good, honest
the quality o f the school they enroll in after the
budget scrub will show the R epublicans - and
program . A dditionally, the program ’s opponents
D em ocrats - ju st w hich program s can handle
say too much money is spent m aintaining the pro­
significant cuts.
gram and not enough on enrolling new students.
If you believe in the power o f Head Start and can
It’s not clear if the Republican Party is against poor
testi fy to how it helped a chi Id - past or present - in
people, working mothers, low-income children or all
your life, call your elected officials.
three. All of the cuts it’s leaders have moved to make
Let them know that they absolutely cannot cut
have been to programs the support and empower the
Head Start. Our children’s - and our nation’s -
poor.
success depends on it.
If they are successful in taking away the building
Greg Mathis is a former Michigan District Court
blocks that many have used to create a foundation for judge and current syndicated television show judge.