Urban League’s State of Black America release during convention in Cleveland

By Richard T. Andrews

The United States is in a state of national emergency, according to the National Urban League’s

annual report, The State of Black America.

The publication dives into the unprecedented extremist, anti-diversity movement to erase 60

years of freedoms gained under the Voting Rights Act and undermine Democracy.

The report, titled State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack,

talks about how the war on “woke” is an assault on civil rights and a way to fuel systemic

oppression. It describes how the US Department of Justice is being revised as an instrument of

right-wing oppression. And it argues that diversity, equity, and inclusion protect and advance

American ideals.

The report was issued Thursday, July 17, during the opening plenary session of the League’s

annual conference in Cleveland.

In a pre-release media briefing, NUL CEO and President Marc Morial said the report was

intended to be both a warning and a rallying cry. Saying “the rollback of civil rights protections

has become national policy,” Morial declared the Urban League has a duty to stand up for

democracy, diversity and economic fairness.

He decried how diversity programs at universities have effectively been criminalized, the

politicization of the US Department of Justice, and how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 continues

to be systematically undermined.

The Urban League report is largely devoid of statistics, which Morial said would be forthcoming.

He said the report’s focus was to inspire and motivate citizens. He pledged that the League

would continue to work alongside other organizations to “defend democracy, demand diversity,

and defeat poverty.”

State of Black America 2025 is available at 2025 Report | State of Black America.

The annual conference, which ended Sat. July 19, drew about 10,000 attendees.

Other highlights from the convention include WKYC TV Morning Show Anchor Danita Harris

being honored during the Women of Power Luncheon as well as Marsha Mockabee, CEO of

Urban League of Greater Cleveland, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award during the

Whitney M. Young Gala.

Former Congresswoman Marcia Fudge and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb also received honors

during the gala while Cleveland-based Entrepreneur Saidah Farrell, founder of Olivia Rose

Confections, took home the top prize during the Small Business Matters Entrepreneurship

Summit pitch competition.

See photos by Louie Moore here.

You can also see great highlights on the Urban League’s Instagram @naturbanleague

Portions of this story originally appeared in The Real Deal Press.