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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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Dr. Eric Goosby's Story: Fighting HIV/AIDS Around the Globe

Ambassador Eric Goosby, M.D., is the State Department's Global AIDS Coordinator. In this post, he talks about America's efforts to combat HIV and AIDS around the world.
February 20, 2011 at 2:09 PM ET by Ambassador Eric Goosby

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Coming Together to Fight HIV/AIDS

To commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett shares her heart-felt thoughts on the importance of combating HIV/AIDS in a video,
February 7, 2011 at 5:05 PM ET by Jeffrey S. Crowley

Charles Bolden's Story: "From the Segregated South to Low Earth Orbit"

NASA's first African American Administrator Charles Bolden tells his story as part of the Celebrating Black History Month series.
February 6, 2011 at 12:07 PM ET by Charles Bolden

Lisa Jackson's Story: Protecting the Health and the Environment of the American People

Continuing the Celebrating Black History Month series, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson discusses the Agency's contributions to the President's vision of winning the future through innovation and job creation.
February 3, 2011 at 6:19 PM ET by Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Lisa P. Jackson

Christopher Smith's Story: Clean Energy & Service

Christopher Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, shares his story and contributions to move America forward through a clean energy economy as part of a series celebrating Black History Month.
February 2, 2011 at 5:06 PM ET by Christopher Smith

Faith and Communities Help Spread the Word on the Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Alexia Kelley, director of our faith-based office at HHS, describes how faith-based and community organizations are helping get out the word that every person 6 months and older should get the seasonal flu vaccine.
December 7, 2010 at 12:59 PM ET by Alexia Kelley

Adrienne Explains How College Students Are Benefiting from the Affordable Care Act

Adrienne Lowe, like many college students, was wondering how she was going to get health care after she graduates from college. Because of the Affordable Care Act, she now has the option of remaining on her parents’ health insurance plan.
October 19, 2010 at 11:24 AM ET by Nikki Sutton

What Health Reform Means for African Americans

Health care is no longer an unmet promise for African-Americans and all Americans, it is now the law of the land. Michael Blake from the White House Office of Public Engagement discusses how the Affordable Care Act is improving the health care system and introduces a new video from Dr. Garth Graham.
October 13, 2010 at 10:57 AM ET by Michael Blake

Working to Broaden and Deepen Our Online Engagement

The White House hosts its first African American Online Summit which brought together twenty-two leaders in the African American online media world.
October 13, 2010 at 9:34 AM ET by Sarah Bernard

Focusing HIV Prevention Efforts on Gay and Bisexual Men

Brian Bond, Deputy Director of Public Liasion, discusses the importance of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
September 27, 2010 at 9:54 AM ET by Brian Bond

Five Years After Katrina: "New Orleans is Blossoming Again"

The President and First Lady travel to New Orleans, joined by members of the Cabinet who have been working on recovery from Hurricane Katrina since they came into office.
August 29, 2010 at 5:05 PM ET by Jesse Lee

Wall Street Reform & the African American Community

Ceci Rouse, who sits on the Council of Economic Advisors, will take questions from representatives Black Enterprise, theGrio, and Jack & Jill Politics – all of whom have been collecting questions from their readers – at 1:00 EDT this afternoon. [UPDATE: This event has now concluded, watch the video.]
August 4, 2010 at 10:33 AM ET by Jesse Lee

President Obama to Young African Leaders: "50 Years From Now, When You Look Back..."

The President holds a town hall with 115 young leaders from more than 40 countries across Africa.
August 3, 2010 at 6:41 PM ET by Jesse Lee

President Obama Signs the Fair Sentencing Act

The President signs the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduces the disparity in the amounts of powder cocaine and crack cocaine required for the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences.
August 3, 2010 at 4:58 PM ET by Jesse Lee

Prevention is a Priority -- Now It's a Reality

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius details how the Affordable Care Act helps give Americans access to preventative care like regular checkups, immunizations and prenatal care.
July 14, 2010 at 10:01 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

Breakfast in Harlem

Ken Bedell from the Department of Education’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships highlights the great work of a local organization in Harlem.
June 10, 2010 at 2:03 PM ET by Ken Bedell

White House Meeting on Black Men and HIV

The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) holds a meeting at the White House on Black Men and HIV.
June 4, 2010 at 3:50 PM ET by Gregorio Millett

A Future of Greater Security and Hope for the People of Central Africa

The President signed into law the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) across several countries for two decades.
June 1, 2010 at 5:40 PM ET by Karen Richardson

"Our Next Chapter"

First Lady Michelle Obama takes the White House youth leadership and mentoring efforts on the road to Detroit, Michigan.
May 27, 2010 at 5:45 PM ET by Kori Schulman

"The Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement"

The President joined the rest of the nation in mourning Dorothy Height.
April 20, 2010 at 4:31 PM ET by Jesse Lee

What Americans Deserve

Valerie Jarrett offers her perspective on the health care crisis in the African American community and communities across America following BET’s first ever “Leading Women Summit” in Washington, DC.
March 10, 2010 at 7:51 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Recognizing What Historically Black Colleges and Universities Mean to America

William Jawando of the Office of Public Engagement relays some of the sights, sounds, and substance of the President's event on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
February 28, 2010 at 10:53 AM ET by William Jawando