Flyer depicting Installment and Download logo of the report
Dear Supporter,
It is an energizing and exciting time at the National Urban League: earlier this month we launched our 43rd edition of The State of Black America® Report (SoBA) and presented it at our Legislative Policy Conference.
If you have not already, I encourage you to download and read the report now. This year’s theme, “Getting 2 Equal: United not Divided”, represents the great divide in our country between political parties, states, and racial groups. Our report showcases a crucial need for unity, protection of voting rights, and the power—and vulnerability—of the Black vote.
Make no mistake, the Black vote is under attack. This year’s SoBA explores the effect of voter suppression laws, foreign interference in our elections, and the evolving role the Black vote plays in our nation’s democratic institutions. The goals of the National Urban League—equal access to jobs, education, housing, health care and justice—simply are not achievable without full and unencumbered access to the ballot box.
Our community of Urban Leaguers and all of us at the National Urban League work hard every day, championing advocacy efforts to fight for communities of color and other disenfranchised groups.
Our need is urgent. As of March 2019, voting access was threatened in a dozen states. During the 2018 midterm elections, voters in 23 states—nearly half the country—faced tougher voting restrictions than in 2010. With your help, the civil rights community will continue to fight these dangerous restrictions. We are proud that between 2013-2018 about half of American states have made significant expansions to voting access. Seventeen states are involved in active litigation against voting restrictions. Together, we can finish the job.
Thank you again for being a dedicated Urban Leaguer.
Sincerely,
Marc H. Morial
President and Chief Executive Officer