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Blog Posts Related to the African American Community

Learn more about the work of President Obama and the African American community.

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Champion of African American History: Carter G. Woodson

Carter Woodson spent his career promoting the importance of black history as part of the American story.
February 5, 2014 at 6:12 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Challenges and Progress: Black History Month & Affordable Health Care

As we join with President Obama in making 2014 a Year of Action, I want to take this opportunity to invite you join in a Google Hangout on Wednesday, February 5 at 3pm to discuss our progress and our challenges as they relate to health and human services in the African American community.
February 4, 2014 at 5:50 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

#AfAmEdChat to Discuss How the State of the Union Affects African-American Communities

On Thursday, February 6, 2014, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans will be hosting a special #AfAmEdChat on Twitter to discuss what the President’s address means for African-American communities.
February 4, 2014 at 2:45 PM ET by Khalilah Harris

National African American History Month 2014: Civil Rights in America

This National African American History Month, as we reflect on “Civil Rights in America,” we celebrate historic achievements and foot soldiers, well-known and unknown, who fought to secure rights long denied.
February 3, 2014 at 12:35 PM ET by Heather Foster

A Renewed Call to Action to End Rape and Sexual Assault

As part of an unprecedented national effort to address alarming rates of sexual assault on college campuses, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum today to establish the “White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault."
January 22, 2014 at 7:55 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Remembering Nelson Mandela

President Obama joins leaders from the United States and around the world at a national memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela.
December 10, 2013 at 6:30 PM ET by Megan Slack

President Obama Delivers a Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela

Today, from the White House Briefing Room, President Obama delivered a statement on the passing of Nelson Mandela.
December 5, 2013 at 6:10 PM ET by Lindsay Holst

President Obama Supports High School Redesign to Ensure Educational Excellence

At a time when the cost of attending college continues to rise, too many African-American students are afraid to pursue higher education because they think it is too expensive and will burden their families with debt. But schools like P-TECH allow students to get a head start on their postsecondary education by allowing them to take college-level math and science courses.
November 18, 2013 at 11:36 AM ET by David J. Johns

How The Affordable Care Act Will Benefit African Americans

The Affordable Care Act is benefiting millions of African Americans and beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act will provide 6.8 million uninsured African Americans an opportunity to get affordable health insurance coverage.
September 26, 2013 at 12:21 PM ET by Kevin Lewis

President Obama Names New Leadership to the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

It is an exciting day at the White House, and across the country, as President Obama names two dynamic new leaders to head the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Dr. George Cooper will begin this week as the Initiative’s Executive Director, and Dr. Ivory Toldson will serve as Deputy Director.
September 12, 2013 at 3:55 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

U.S. Mint-Produced Congressional Gold Medal Posthumously Awarded to the Victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing

September 11, 2013 at 3:29 PM ET by Rosie Rios

An Immigration Reform for a Nation of Immigrants

Immigration reform has something to offer to everyone; immigrants and native-born alike. When GDP grows by more than $1 trillion, when wages go up – that’s about all of us. Immigration reform is something we can’t afford to leave undone.
August 30, 2013 at 6:50 PM ET by Cecilia Muñoz

DHS Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

August 29, 2013 at 12:53 PM ET by Tamara Kessler

The President with Icons of African American History and the Civil Rights Movement

Since taking office, President Obama has welcomed many icons of the civil rights movement to the White House. Learn more.
August 28, 2013 at 12:30 PM ET by Adam Garber, Adam Garber

Our 'Fierce Urgency of Now'

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at the March on Washington, he described a “fierce urgency of now.” He reminded a divided nation that we need one another, and that we are stronger when we march forward, together. A half century later, Dr. King’s words have renewed meaning.
August 26, 2013 at 5:00 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Kathleen Sebelius

President Obama, President Clinton and President Carter to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington on Wednesday August 28th

To commemorate Dr. King’s soaring speech and the 1963 March on Washington, President Obama will be joined Wednesday, August 28th, by President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton, members of the King family and other civil rights leaders and luminaries at the Let Freedom Ring Commemoration and Call to Action event at the Lincoln Memorial.
August 26, 2013 at 11:10 AM ET by Valerie Jarrett

50 Years Later, Our March Goes On

Eric Holder commemorates the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington
August 24, 2013 at 12:14 PM ET by Eric Holder

African Leaders Meet to Discuss Immigration Reform

Today, the White House is meeting with a group of African leaders to discuss the benefits of commonsense immigration reform for African immigrant communities. The meeting coincides with this weekend’s festivities marking the anniversary of Dr. King’s historic March on Washington.
August 23, 2013 at 6:14 PM ET by Heather Foster

What the Affordable Care Act Means to Communities of Color

The Affordable Care Act is improving health and strengthening communities - especially communities of color that have long faced disparities in health and health care.
August 21, 2013 at 1:50 PM ET by Dr. J. Nadine Gracia

Creating a Technology Spark

Deena Pierott is being honored as a Champion of Change for her work to expand opportunities for young learners from communities historically underserved or underrepresented in tech fields.
August 12, 2013 at 10:43 AM ET by Deena Pierott

Changing the Face of Technology: Code Like A Girl

Cheryl Swanier is being honored as a Champion of Change for her work to expand opportunities for young learners from communities historically underserved or underrepresented in tech fields.
August 12, 2013 at 10:37 AM ET by Cheryl Swanier

digitalundivided: Creating Successful Urban Tech Entrepreneurs

Kathryn Finney is being honored as a Champion of Change for her work to expand opportunities for young learners from communities historically underserved or underrepresented in tech fields.
August 12, 2013 at 2:15 AM ET by Kathryn Finney

Strengthening the Middle Class for African Americans Through Housing

August 7, 2013 at 1:39 PM ET by Maurice Jones

Securing the Vote for All Americans

President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez meet with civil rights leaders, and state and local elected officials at the White House to discuss how to safeguard every eligible American’s right to vote in light of the recent Supreme Court decision on Shelby County vs. Holder.
July 30, 2013 at 2:00 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett, Valerie B. Jarrett

The Game of Change Comes to the White House

Today, President Obama met with members of the 1963 Loyola University Chicago Ramblers championship team, and celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Division I basketball title.
July 11, 2013 at 5:38 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett, Valerie B. Jarrett

Honoring Our Civil Rights Heroes

Fifty years ago, America was in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. Countless men and women demonstrated, protested, sacrificed, and bled for their right to be treated equally. In the last two weeks, we remembered a few of these heroes at the White House.
June 4, 2013 at 7:06 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett, Valerie B. Jarrett

White House Champions of Change: Seeking Immigrant Innovators and Entrepreneurs

The White House Office of Public Engagement will host a Champions of Change event focused on immigrant innovators and entrepreneurs – the best and brightest from around the world who are helping create American jobs, grow our economy, and make our nation more competitive.
May 6, 2013 at 7:01 PM ET by Doug Rand

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. With Our Lives

Valerie Jarrett marks the 45th anniversary of the death of one of America’s great heroes and a giant of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
April 4, 2013 at 4:30 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

President Obama Meets with Leaders of Sierra Leone, Senegal, Malawi, and Cape Verde

President Obama and the visiting leaders discussed how the United States can expand our partnership to support their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and promote economic opportunity, both in their countries and across sub-Saharan Africa.
March 28, 2013 at 4:56 PM ET by Grant T. Harris

Black Men: Here’s Your Wake-up Call

Black men are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease and 60 percent more likely to die from a stroke than white men, and suffer from higher rates of disease and chronic illness such as prostate cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Without action, these disparities will continue to affect generations to come.
March 22, 2013 at 1:39 PM ET by Anton J. Gunn