By Bernard E. Anderson, PhD
Whitney M. Young Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Chief Economic Advisor, National Urban League

Steady, sustained job creation has led to a narrowing of the unemployment gap between white and Black Americans, the October Jobs Report shows.

While the Black unemployment rate has steadily fallen over the last decade, it generally remained about twice the rate for whites.  However, in October , the Black unemployment rate declined  by 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.4 %, while the white unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2%.  This has resulted in a Black-white unemployment gap of 1.69, measurably lower than the 2:1 ratio that persisted for most of the last two decades in good times and bad.

 Take everyone you know to see the story of Harriet Tubman, a freedom fighter who changed the course of history.  Tickets and Trailer

The ride sharing app Lyft, says they will offer discounted rides to the polls on Election Day.

Lyft says, voters can take advantage of discounted rides using promo code VOTECHARLOTTE19. The code is valid for 50 percent off the ride (up to $10)*.

Lyft has also partnered with local nonprofit Urban League of Central Carolinas (Charlotte, NC) to provide rides free of cost for residents in underserved areas of the community where lack of transportation can create a barrier to voting.

Lyft’s program in Charlotte is part of its nationwide initiative to help voters more easily get to polling places.

A group of Cincinnati teens, sponsored by the Children's Law Center, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati, OH), are making recommendations to the city of Cincinnati to reduce the number of youth arrests and eliminate racial disparities.

Children's Law Center Executive Director Acena Beck says over the summer representatives from Cincinnati's youth councils examined Hamilton County Juvenile Court data, including arrest and detention records. The goal was to come up with policy recommendations. They also learned about the juvenile justice system and how to request information.

Their suggestions include:

Written by: Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League

“Black America’s collective response to emerging technology will determine whether it is an opportunity — or an existential threat.”

— George H. Lambert Jr. President and CEO, Greater Washington Urban League

A new report about the future of work in the United States casts a somber outlook about the effects of artificial intelligence on African-American employment — particularly for African-American men.

According to a recent headline: Artificial intelligence is slated to disrupt 4.5 million jobs for African Americans, who have a 10% greater likelihood of automation-based job loss than other workers.

The report, titled “The Future of Work in Black America,” was produced by the management consulting company McKinsey & Company.

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On a Thursday evening in September on the South Side, about 20 lawyers and legal professionals sat in twos at several tables in a large open room at the Urban League of Greater Madison (Maidson, WI, waiting to help people for free.

Over the course of about three hours, they looked through the court and arrest records of 26 people who came in with hopes of getting old minor crimes — that they’ve already served time for — expunged from their records.

Expungement is a process through which people can get misdemeanors or low-level, non-violent felonies cleared from their records. In Wisconsin, the process is only allowed for crimes committed when someone was under 25 years old, and the judge has to grant expungement as a later option at the time of sentencing.

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) marked the affiliate’s 37th annual Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast on Friday (Nov. 1). Community-wide civic leaders, government officials and community members gathered to celebrate inclusion, diversity and empowerment at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

“Advocating for social justice requires dedication and determination,” said Dorothy Grisham, board chair of Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.

“The Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast commends those who work tirelessly to promote inclusion and empower underserved individuals.”

Urban League recognized local, corporate and individual leaders who champion the organization’s mission. Ted and Kelly Alling, Chattanooga Preparatory School, Chancellor Steven Angle and students, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and James McKissic, Sankofa Fund were among the award recipients.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"The three of us -- Stokes, Chisholm and I -- came to Washington determined to seize the moment, to fight for justice, to raise issues too long ignored and too little debated. We were described by the media as militant, aggressive new leaders determined to make changes in the way black members of Congress had been viewed in the past." -- U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, Sr., Co-Founder of the Congressional Black Caucus