Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
  

“The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land but has the lowest ethical standards, which means pay-to-play billionaires, right-wing dark money groups and carbon-emitting special interests have freedom to purchase the best justice money can buy. Congress can’t stand idly by as this emboldened and imperious Court pursues a lawless right-wing agenda and strips our citizens of their Constitutional rights.” – U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin

Several paragraphs into a media account of the many undisclosed and unethical gifts Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted – including a yacht trip to Russia and a helicopter flight to Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg – is a simple, but chilling phrase:

“It’s unclear whether Thomas met with Putin.”

NEW YORK (July 2, 2024) ​-- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today issued the following statement in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

"As the National Urban League's 2024 State of Black America report made clear in alarming detail, the current racial justice backlash imperils the very heart of the most transformative legislation of the 20th century.

This summer, the Columbia Urban League (Columbia, SC) is giving students ages 14 through 19 the chance to develop and expand their career skills.

The organization's Science Technology and Enrichment Program (STEP) pairs students with local organizations that match their career interests, helping them gain valuable employment experience.

"I would publish newspapers and help out and review them to make sure when they publish them it would make sense," said 15-year-old program participant Taeshon Robinson. Robinson enjoyed the experience so much that he wants to do it again next summer.

"I worked at Panorama Newspaper Place. I worked 1-5, and those two weeks were kind of fun. I thought it would be boring, but it was a fun job," Robinson added.

The Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI) offers Expungement Clinics for Dane County residents looking to eliminate convictions from their record.

The Clinic for this month is already booked as of this writing, but there will be other events later this year in September, October, and November.

Legal Action of Wisconsin, Foley & Lardner, LIFT Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers partner with the Urban League for the clinics.

At the clinic, participants will receive:

Cameron Bernard, 24, was trying to plan for his future with few high-paying opportunities for work when he heard about the cybersecurity apprenticeship program run by the Urban League of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA).

Through the Urban League's Career Pathways Program, within a year, Bernard, of Jefferson Parish, will have the training and certifications he needs to qualify for full-time work in that field. He'll earn at least $45,000 annually. 

"We're on the first certification," Bernard said. "I'm doing this because I was looking for opportunities to have a career in cybersecurity and have a full-time job."

The National Urban League on Saturday (July 6) honored and recognized the accomplishments of four Black women who have made significant marks in the community. 

Held amid the backdrop of the 30th Anniversary of the Essence Festival of Culture, the Women in Harmony Awards Luncheon paid tribute to Faith Jenkins, an attorney, legal commentator and media personality who presided over the TV show “Divorce Court”; Tracey Edmonds, a TV producer and President and CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group; Bevy Smith, a radio and TV personality, author and actress; and Lisa Price, the founder and creator of hair products empire Carol’s Daughter.

Never underestimate Black women. See how Essence Fest has become the nation’s premiere celebration of the creativity and power of Black women. | Give your immune system a boost. Set your appointment today to get your FREE COVID-19 vaccine via the Bridge Access Program. Learn more. | Live from Essence Fest. The iconic annual gathering is underway! See how then-New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial brought the event to life 30 years ago. | Calling all biz owners + future entrepreneurs! Sign up now for our FREE one-day Entrepreneurship Summit on July 27 during #NULConf24. | Ready to land your new job? Register now to attend our Career & Networking Fair in New Orleans on July 24 to connect with recruiters + more. | What do the numbers tell us? Check out an in-depth look at the state of the economy from Dr. Bernard E. Anderson, our Chief Economics Adviser.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
  

If there is a moral to the story of the Essence Festival, it is this: underestimate Black women at your own peril.

In 1995, many in New Orleans did underestimate. They had a narrow, reductive view of Black women. Essence magazine and its sophisticated and cultivated readership simply were not within their scope of perception.

Thirty years later, the Essence Festival is as much a New Orleans institution as Mardi Gras, gumbo, and jazz, and a primary driver of the local economy. It is the nation’s premiere celebration of the creativity and power of Black women.

The U.S. added 206,000 jobs in June, reflecting steady modest growth in the economy boosted by consumer spending.

The modest growth rate, coupled with slowing wage growth is consistent with slowly declining inflation. The data suggests that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to reduce interest rates before September’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

It’s steady as we go in the midst of a heated presidential campaign.

Concerningly, Black employment declined by 73,000 while white employment grew by 173,000. At the same time, Black unemployment rose by 29,000 while white unemployment dipped only slightly by 7,000. The racial disparity in the labor market raised the Black/white unemployment gap to 1.80, drifting back to the previously persistent 2:1 ratio.

The overall unemployment rate edged up slightly to 4.1% percent.