President Obama hasn’t done much for the black community some would argue. A good reason, many retort, is the black community hasn’t made any demands of the President. Well, all of that has changed as of this week.

It only took 6 years to happen, but it has happened. Leaders in the black community have come together, developed a plan of attack, an agenda for the black community, and presented it to President Obama. Going into his sixth year in office, President Obama has a black agenda on his desk.

I know. I can hear you thinking. Who are these so called black leaders and who gave them the authority to write up a black agenda? I didn’t vote them into this position.

These black leaders are part of the African American Leaders Convening (AALC) initiative. They stepped up and stepped in to put something on the table and in front of the President. The AALC meetings took place over a two year period. Involved were over 60+ members full of civil rights activist, lawyers, professors, business leaders, and politicians. 

The names you know are Marc H. Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League; Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and President of the National Action Network; Benjamin Jealous, President & CEO of the NAACP; and Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation…and many more.

The point is they are people that stepped up to the plate to get something done and in front of the President. You have the same options and opportunities, but are probably just talking and complaining. They organized and took action, which makes them black leaders.

According to the National Urban League:

These meetings of African American Leaders Convening (AALC) were historic and unprecedented and were the first steps in developing a public policy agenda targeting the primary challenges facing African Americans, urban communities and all low-income and working-class Americans.

The ensuing discussions and debates resulted in the identification of five urgent domestic goals for the nation:

1. Achieve Economic Parity for African-Americans
2. Promote Equity in Educational Opportunity
3. Protect and Defend Voting Rights
4. Promote a Healthier Nation by Eliminating Healthcare Disparities
5. Achieve Comprehensive Criminal Justice System Reform

The AALC has since worked to further expand these goals to include guiding core principles and corresponding legislative policy priorities and other recommendations.

As such, the policy recommendations contained herein will serve as a working document, or action plan – to be revised, amended and updated accordingly – aimed at achieving these five goals and moving our communities toward economic empowerment, equality and prosperity.

Source: http://www.nul.org/21st-century-agenda-for-jobs-and-freedom

Public policy agenda targeting the primary challenges facing African Americans

Here is where things get heavy and things get done. You have to have policy in place to get this country to do anything for a group of people. These black leaders made a power move to make this happen. Hopefully, Obama will act on this and policy is created that will help the black community.

The Details?

I’m also curious to see the details of this plan. How are they going to go about striving for economic parity for African Americans, stronger educational opportunities, and the rest.

I just want to see more, but must admit I am a bit surprised to see anything. now let’s see some things get done.