STATE OF BLACK AMERICA REPORT DEMANDS, ‘PROTECT OUR PROGRESS’

Dr. Silas Lee, who is the Executive Editor of the 2017 State of Black America, said the overview of the data report showed that 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement, data shows that African Americans have made progress, but progress has been interrupted. Photo Credit: National Urban League
Dr. Silas Lee, who is the Executive Editor of the 2017 State of Black America, said the overview of the data report showed that 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement, data shows that African Americans have made progress, but progress has been interrupted. Photo Credit: National Urban League

STATE OF BLACK AMERICA REPORT DEMANDS,

‘PROTECT OUR PROGRESS’

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial discussed the 2017 State of Black America report, ‘Protect Our Progress,’ during a teleconference call April 25, 2017. Dr. Silas Lee, Executive Editor of the 2017 State of Black America and Economist Valerie Rawlston Wilson provided analysis for the Equality Index, the National Urban League’s mathematical calculation of African Americans’ and Hispanic Americans’ relative status in relation to white America.

National Urban League President Marc H. Morial, said the organization is always excited this time of the year, adding this is the 41st year of the State of Black America report and the 14th year that the Equality Index will be released with the report. Both were released on May 2, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

“The State of Black America report and the Equality Index is the very best snapshot of the conditions of both African Americans and Latinos in the United States,” Morial said.

“This is a seminal report that we have done on an annual basis for 41 years.”

According to the 2017 State of Black America report, “The State of Black America has become one of the most highly-anticipated benchmarks and sources for thoughtful

leadership around racial equality in American across economics, employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice and civic participation.”

The report also stated that “each edition of the State of Black America contains thoughtful commentary and

insightful analysis from leading figures and thoughtful leaders in politics.”

Dr. Silas Lee, who is the Executive Editor of the 2017 State of Black America, explained that his team looked at the relational analysis and how the relationship between social and economic structures influence social outcomes

and economic mobility.

“The data reflects that the founder of institutionalized discrimination continues to impact the social and economic status and the mobility of African Americans in society,” Lee said. “So, what we see in the report is that yes, we’ve made progress. But at the same time, it

gets interrupted.”

Lee continued to say that, “Progress is not linear. When you look at the data, as it reflects right now, African Americans are about 73 percent equity in reference to whites, which means that we are missing more than 20 percent of the pie.”

Economist Valerie Rawlston Wilson, who also provided analysis for the Equality Index, said Black people are still a long way from full equality but said some of the finer points can get missed because advances in some areas are offset by losses in other areas.

“In the area of education, we did see a higher percentage of African Americans between the ages of 18-24 who have earned an associates degree,” Wilson said. “We also, saw notable declines in high school dropout

rates for all students. In the area of health, we saw fewer African Americans and whites who are without health insurance so we know the Affordable Health Care Act is working.”

Lee remained in his stance that progress has been made but there is more to be done.

“African Americans have made progress but it is still a very fragile commodity,” Lee said.

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