Blog Posts Related to the African American Community

  • Deadline Saturday: Submit Your Questions for President Obama

    Posted by Katelyn Sabochik on January 27, 2012 at 1:23 PM EDT

    On Tuesday, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address and laid out his Blueprint for an America that is built to last, a nation where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for their actions. All week, Vice President Biden and over 30 White House officials have been taking your questions on Twitter. 

    And, on Monday January 30 at 5:30 p.m. ET, President Obama will answer questions that have been submitted by Americans from across the country in the first completely-virtual interview from the White House. 

    The deadline to submit your questions is midnight on Saturday January 28, so head over to the White House YouTube Channel now to submit a question or vote for your favorite question.

    Then don’t forget to tune in at Monday at 5:30 p.m. when the President will join a special Google+ Hangout from the West Wing. He'll be answering several of the most popular questions that have been submitted through YouTube, and some of the people who submitted questions will even be invited to join the President in the Hangout and take part in the live conversation.

    Learn more about Economy, Education, Energy and Environment, Foreign Policy, Technology

  • State of the Union Deep Dive

    Posted by Colleen Curtis on January 25, 2012 at 10:46 AM EDT

    Americans who watched an online broadcast of President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address saw something a little different: a side by side display of charts, graphs and other visual representations of why the President's policies are so important for our country and our economy. You can see the slides here, or download them at slideshare

    State of the Union - Enhanced Graphics
    View more documents from White House

     

    read the rest
    Learn more about Economy, Education, Energy and Environment, Foreign Policy, Technology, Veterans

  • Your State of the Union Interview with President Obama

    Posted by Kori Schulman on January 23, 2012 at 4:00 AM EDT

    Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address. He will lay out his vision for a nation where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for their actions. Starting immediately after the speech, the White House will be using social media and other online resources to answer questions from the American public and respond to your ideas about rebuilding America.

    The President is committed to creating a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. That’s why President Obama and more than twenty-five members of his administration will be responding to your questions about the speech all week and talking about the issues that matter most to you (check out the full schedule here).

    And, in the first completely-virtual interview from the White House, President Obama will answer questions that have been submitted by Americans from across the country via YouTube. The virtual event with the President will happen through Google+ Hangouts, a live multi-person video chat.

    On Monday, January 30, the President will join a special Google+ Hangout from the West Wing. He'll be answering several of the most popular questions that have been submitted through YouTube, and some of the people who submitted questions will even be invited to join the President in the Hangout and take part in the live conversation.

    Do you have a question for President Obama? Here’s how you can participate:

    The Google+ Hangout with President Obama culminates a full week of online engagement with the White House. It also marks the first in a series of White House Hangouts that will cover a range of topics and issues. Follow the White House on Google+ for the latest on White House Hangouts.

    Learn more about Civil Rights, Defense, Economy, Fiscal Responsibility, Foreign Policy, Taxes, Veterans, Women, Additional Issues

  • A Day of Service: America Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Posted by Christopher R. Upperman on January 18, 2012 at 2:31 PM EDT

    President Obama and the First Family tour the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial

    President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, and Marian Robinson tour the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial before the dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

    On Monday, January 16, we commemorated the day in honor of one of our Nation’s most prolific historical leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we reflect upon the life and brilliance of Dr. King and his legacy, we must continue to uphold the principles and values he courageously fought for. In the Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation, President Obama said, “At a time when our Nation was sharply divided, Dr. King called on a generation of Americans to be ‘voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion.’"  The embodiment of Dr. King’s mission has encouraged generations of men and women to prevail over decades of injustice.  His vision has stirred civil rights advancements and inspired millions.

    With so many Americans still experiencing extraordinarily difficult circumstances, we are reminded that during times of hardship, we must pull together, lend a hand and help lift up those in our community that need help the most. Dr. King’s long-lasting impact taught each of us that we can overcome our toughest adversities when we stand together.

    His words and actions exemplify an unselfish mission to fight for progress and fairness for all races. This progress is movingly illustrated through Dr. King’s monument that stands today on the National Mall, close to the place where the historic March on Washington challenged our nation to become a more perfect union – the memorial is a symbol of the progress of our nation. The unveiling of this historic memorial, since Dr. King’s last birthday celebration, reminds us that his, “remarkable dream is unending, with persistence, progress is within our reach…a dream of justice and equality in our society...a dream of service,…that you could lead by giving back to our communities.”

    Dr. Kings’ legacy of progress unified many Americans to engage in acts of service by using the day to participate in community service events across the country. His dream and legacy of service is an integral part of the road to securing our future. That is why President Obama called on the Nation to participate in service events. Through the efforts of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), we also created the MLK Drum Majors for Service Program to recognize outstanding volunteers nationwide who perform everyday acts of service with reliability and commitment, but who seldom receive recognition.

    You can find more information about Monday’s activities on Serve.gov or read stories about MLK Drum Majors of Service featured on The Root.

    Learn more about Civil Rights

  • Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through Service

    Posted by Cecilia Muñoz on January 16, 2012 at 4:40 PM EDT

    Monuments are built to those who change the course of history. It is right and fitting that a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. now stands in the heart of our nation’s Capital.  Even as we renew our understanding of Dr. King’s legacy by visiting this beautiful monument; we can honor the legacy of Dr. King by following his example, by serving and volunteering in our communities.

    Dr. King called service the “new definition of greatness.” He believed that the work we undertake on behalf of others is the most important work of all. He devoted his life to this notion – advancing equality, social justice and economic opportunity for all Americans.  Dr. King challenged all of us to do our part to build a more perfect union.

    That is why, for nearly two decades, the nation has marked the life of Dr. King with a national Day of Service. Today, Americans from every state will deliver meals, refurbish schools and community centers, collect food and clothing, sign up mentors, support veterans and military families, and more. Thousands of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members will lend a hand to community-based projects. Individuals and groups, of all ages and backgrounds, will come together – as Dr. King would have wanted – in service.

    read the rest
    Learn more about Civil Rights, Service,

  • President Obama at the Insourcing American Jobs Forum

    Posted by Matt Compton on January 11, 2012 at 6:02 PM EDT

    President Obama speaks at the Insourcing American Jobs forum (20120111)

    President Barack Obama, joined by 19 business leaders, delivers remarks to leaders from the private sector and the government at the “Insourcing American Jobs” forum in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 11, 2012. President Obama said the insourcing by these leaders was "exciting" and one reason "why I'm incredibly optimistic about our prospects." (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

    At today's "Insourcing American Jobs" forum, President Obama talked about his hope for the future:

    I don’t want America to be a nation that’s primarily known for financial speculation and racking up debt buying stuff from other nations. I want us to be known for making and selling products all over the world stamped with three proud words:  “Made in America.”  And we can make that happen.

    I don’t want the next generation of manufacturing jobs taking root in countries like China or Germany. I want them taking root in places like Michigan and Ohio and Virginia and North Carolina. And that’s a race that America can win. 

    There are signs that the country might be moving closer to that vision, and the President is hard at work to help deliver it.

    "[My] message to business leaders today is simple: ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to the country that made our success possible," the President said.  "And I'm going to do everything in my power to help you do it. We're going to have to seize this moment."

    Learn more:

    • Read a new White House report on building an economy that lasts in America.
    • Check out a fact sheet that outlines steps the President has already taken to support insourcing.

    Learn more about Economy