The State of Black America annual report released by the National Urban League reveals bleak findings. According to this year’s Equality Index, Black Americans only receive 73.9% of the same opportunities as their white counterparts.
The report focuses on hate crimes, white supremacist ideology and the attack on Black history within education. It also focuses on other political legislation affecting African Americans.
Despite some advancement the gap between Black and white students has widened in education, social justice and civic participation.
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“The mainstreaming of extremist ideology is an existential threat to American democracy, the rule of law and decades of hard-won progress toward an equitable, inclusive, more perfect union,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said.
He said hate is no longer limited to passing out mimeographed leaflets on street corners. It’s no longer huddling in corners of the dark web. Conspiracy-mongers and white nationalists openly spew their bile across social media and cable television.
They weave it into the public policy that they impose on their constituents. It corrodes the trust between police and the military and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.
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Data from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League and UCLA Law reveals how extremist ideology seeped into American institutions.
This results in an ever-rising tide of deadly violence, oppressive laws and weaponized racial polarization.
“Unfortunately, the rise in hate crimes is occurring in the midst of a general atmosphere where Black Americans are regularly being portrayed in the media as the face of crime in America,” said Mark Russell with the Indianapolis Urban League.
Indianapolis Urban League agrees with report
He said the recent nearly fatal shooting of Kansas City teen Ralph Yarl is the perfect example. Yarl was shot twice for ringing the wrong doorbell and being told he did not belong there. He was shot while attempting to responsibly pick up his younger siblings.
The teen aspires to become a chemical engineer and to join a marching band. Russell said even our best and brightest students are not exempt from the programmed hatred and its vicious consequences for America.
After surviving two close range gunshots, including one shot to his face, Yarl tried knocking on other doors in the neighborhood seeking help. An ambulance was finally called by the third house he implored, but only after he was instructed to raise his hands in the air.
“Does anyone truly believe this would happen to a white teenager under the same circumstances?” said Russell.
Russell agrees with the report regarding national wide attempts to erase the contributions of African Americans through state legislation under the guise of parental rights.
“This approach was tried in the Indiana legislature last year in bills to oppose the so-called teaching of Critical Race Theory which was not taught in high school. Fortunately, the Indianapolis Urban League and its many allies were able to defeat the legislation,” said Russell.
Contact senior staff writer Jade Jackson at 317-607-5792. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON
