Blog Posts Related to the African American Community

  • In Charleston, President Obama Honors the Life of Pastor and State Senator Clementa Pinckney

    Posted by David Hudson on June 26, 2015 at 5:10 PM EDT

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    "We are here today to remember a man of God who lived by faith. A man who believed in things not seen. A man who believed there were better days ahead, off in the distance. A man of service who persevered, knowing full well he would not receive all those things he was promised, because he believed his efforts would deliver a better life for those who followed."

    -- President Obama, on the late Rev. Clementa Pinckney

    Today, President Obama traveled to Charleston, South Carolina to honor the life of pastor and state senator Clementa Pinckney -- one of the nine who lost their lives in last week's shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

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  • President Obama to Young Men of Color: "You Matter. You Count."

    Posted by David Hudson on June 19, 2015 at 7:33 PM EDT

    This Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, Discovery Channel and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will air RISE: The Promise of My Brother’s Keeper — a documentary that explores the lives of the boys and young men of color from four programs across the U.S. that are living the principles of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

    Watch the following excerpt, in which President Obama explains how every child matters, regardless of their circumstances:

     

    "You matter. You count. You have talent. You have capacity. We're going to help you." —President Obama to young boys and men of color: http://on.fb.me/1H38zm4 #MyBrothersKeeper

    Posted by The White House on Friday, June 19, 2015

     

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  • This Day in History: The Good News of the Emancipation Proclamation Finally Reaches Texas

    Posted by David Hudson on June 19, 2015 at 12:39 PM EDT

    On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and his regiment arrived in Galveston, Texas to share one message: The Civil War had ended, and all enslaved African Americans were now free because President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 

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  • Expanding Opportunity Works

    Posted by Broderick Johnson on May 4, 2015 at 11:28 AM EDT

    Ed. note: This is cross-posted on The Huffington Post.

    Today, I will join President Obama as he travels to Lehman College in the Bronx, NY to speak about the importance of expanding opportunity and to applaud a new private-sector entity -- the My Brother's Keeper Alliance.

    A group of private-sector leaders and other prominent private citizens, led by Joe Echevarria (the former CEO of Deloitte LLP) have come together to form this new, independent non-profit. Joined by a diverse range of philanthropic, community, and private-sector partners, leaders of the Alliance are pledging to work to expand opportunity for youth, strengthen the American workforce, and fortify the economic stability of communities across America.

    The Alliance will join other private-sector organizations all across America to focus on expanding opportunity and tearing down barriers facing our youth so that we can truly say the American Dream is available to all.

    Meanwhile, at the White House, the work of the President's My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Task Force, which it is my honor to chair, will continue to move forward on the work the President has charged us with. We will continue -- with great urgency -- to disseminate best practices, strengthen federal policy, and implement strategies to support communities in their efforts to expand opportunity for all youth.

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  • President Obama on Freddie Gray’s Death: "This is Not New, and We Shouldn’t Pretend that It’s New."

    Posted by Tanya Somanader on April 28, 2015 at 4:08 PM EDT

    On April 12, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old native of Baltimore, was arrested by the city’s police. He died a week later. 

    The Department of Justice is now investigating the events that led to his death and today, President Obama offered his thoughts to the family and friends of Freddie Gray who are appropriately looking for answers while at the same time making clear there is “no excuse” for violence.

    He noted that events in Baltimore called attention to the urgent need throughout the country to build trust between communities and their police. 

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  • 50 Years in the Making: The President and First Lady Reflect on Their Trip to Selma

    Posted by Valerie Jarrett on March 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM EDT

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    Last week, the First Family traveled to Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery. They honored the men, women, and children who marched that route in 1965, to help ensure the most fundamental right that we have as Americans isn’t obstructed or denied to anyone because of their race or where they live. The right to vote is at the core of our democracy, and this weekend in Selma served as a reminder to us all what was sacrificed to earn us this hallowed responsibility.  

    Amidst Saturday’s events, the President and First Lady took a moment to reflect on their experience in Selma -- walking the bridge, addressing that emotional crowd on such a historic day, visiting the National Voting Rights Museum, and most importantly, greeting some of the surviving foot soldiers who bravely risked everything on that Bloody Sunday 50 years ago, and who walked alongside the President of the United States and his family along that same route this past weekend.

    Take a moment to reflect with the President and First Lady. Watch their video above, share it with your family and friends, and think through the causes that will move you to #MarchOn for the betterment of your community and our country.

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