National Urban League Releases 2026 State of Black America Report
The release of the National Urban League’s 2026 State of Black America® report comes at a time when communities of color face rollbacks of hard-won rights gained legally during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s through the early 1970s and in policy and practice in the ensuing years. This 50th edition of the National Urban League’s flagship publication is entitled, “America at 250: Is the American Dream Dead?” With indisputable facts and in-depth analysis, the report examines the ongoing and, in some cases, new barriers to economic mobility and equal opportunity. And it explores how public policy and civic engagement can help create and sustain a more equitable future. The analysis draws a clear connection between policy choices and outcomes for Black communities. The findings show that investments in worker protections, economic opportunity, and equity-focused initiatives in the early 2020s contributed to historic gains, including record-low Black unemployment rates. The report also finds that recent rollbacks of diversity and equity measures have coincided with rising unemployment and financial losses for Black households nationwide. “The findings reinforce what we see every day in Atlanta and across Georgia: When communities have access to opportunity, they thrive. The path forward requires continued investment in education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and policies that expand economic mobility,” said Nancy Flake Johnson, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. “The Urban League of Greater Atlanta remains committed to ensuring that every family has the opportunity to achieve financial stability and build generational wealth,” she emphasized. In addition to analyzing economic and civil rights trends, the report features essays and perspectives from a diverse group of national leaders, elected officials, advocates, and policy experts. Contributors discuss the role of community advocacy, government leadership, and civic participation in advancing racial equity and strengthening democracy. “The Black American story is the American story. Our communities’ resilience in the face of structural and physical violence, led in part by the state, has laid the foundation for liberation movements around the world,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “250 years later, we know how to secure our rights, we know the playbook our opponents use to attack us, and we know how to chart a path forward.” A special section highlights the growing influence of Black consumers on the American economy. The report finds that Black purchasing power continues to expand and shape business decisions across industries. And that many Black shoppers expect companies to remain committed to equity and social responsibility, with younger consumers increasingly driving economic trends and marketplace expectations. For Urban League affiliates across the country, the report serves as both a reflection on progress and a call to action. It underscores the importance of sustained advocacy, economic empowerment, workforce development, education, and civic engagement in closing longstanding disparities and creating pathways to prosperity. The National Urban League encourages community leaders, policymakers, businesses, and residents to review the findings and engage in conversations about building a stronger, more inclusive economy. Read the full 2026 State of Black America® report at: https://stateofblackamerica.org
Statement from the Urban League of Greater Atlanta on the Ending of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians
We Stand with Haitian and Syrian Refugees On June 25, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision that allows the Trump administration to end the humanitarian Temporary Protected Status of approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians who now face expulsion at the whim of the government. These people were admitted here beginning in 2010 because of ongoing crises in their countries. National Urban League President Marc Morial issued a statement that includes the following assessment of this action: The Trump administration did not decide to deport protected Haitian and Syrian immigrants because it determined those nations are safe. It arbitrarily determined they were “safe” so that it could deport those immigrants. The Department of State maintains a strict “Level 4- Do Not Travel” advisory due to the risk of “crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and limited health care” in Haiti and “terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, hostage taking, crime, and armed conflict” in Syria. The administration has made no secret of its intent to base immigration policy on race. It has turned our refugee program into a “whites only” pathway to the United States – even planning a “welcome bag” containing racist literature. The President has invoked Nazi terminology to dehumanize immigrants from South America, Africa, and Asia. He’s expressed a preference for immigrants from “nice countries” like Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, whose populations are more than 90% white. The consequences of the Court’s decision are not abstract. They will be measured in families torn apart, in lives upended, and in the erosion of a principle as old as the Constitution itself: that justice must be blind to race, not blind to racism. When the highest Court in the land refuses to confront discrimination so clearly etched into the public record, it does more than misinterpret the law — it signals that some forms of prejudice can be ignored, excused, or even sanctioned. And that is a precedent far more dangerous than any single decision. ULGA concurs with NUL that we cannot turn a blind eye toward this blatant mistreatment of an entire group of immigrants, people who have lived lawfully in the USA since 2010, establishing homes and businesses and contributing positively to their communities around the country. According to a Center for Immigration Studies fact sheet, between 15,000 and 40,000 people of Haitian heritage live in the Atlanta metro area. Further, the estimates show approximately 7,000 Haitian TPS holders participating in the Georgia workforce, primarily in fields like property management, logistics, and nursing. (Syrians living in Georgia represent a very slim portion of the national figure of 6,000 Syrians losing TPS, and statistics on them are hard to pin down.) A 2024 American Community Survey estimated that the broader TPS Haitian population in Georgia contributed $151 million to the state’s economy and additional multi-millions in federal, state, and local tax revenues. If you would like to act in support of Haitian and Syrian immigrants during what may be a crisis for TPS holders, consider contacting the following organizations in our state: Haitians Haitian American Association of Georgia — Cultural support, community events, TPS information. Haitian Consulate in Atlanta — Passport and documentation assistance. Latin American Association — Immigration legal services and family support. New American Pathways — Legal help, refugee support, civic resources. Catholic Charities Atlanta — Low‑cost immigration legal services. International Rescue Committee Atlanta — Legal representation and emergency support. Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network (GAIN) — Pro bono legal defense. Refugee Women’s Network — Support for immigrant women, including Haitian families. Syrians Direct Legal & Deportation Defense Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta: Provides direct immigration legal services, including representation in deportation proceedings before the Immigration Court. You can explore their support options via Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta Legal Services. Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (GAIN): Offers free immigration legal services for qualifying individuals, often focusing on asylum and victims of persecution. Catholic Charities Atlanta: Provides low-cost, quality legal representation during deportation and removal proceedings. Find specific contact information through GeorgiaLegalAid.org – Deportation and Removal.
History meets the present at Juneteenth celebration in the Georgia State House
Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and John Moye, the agency’s Senior Director of Legislative Policy, Social Justice & Civic Engagement, were recognized on the floor of the Georgia House of Representatives during a Juneteenth commemoration on June 20, 2026. Legislators cited the League’s contributions to families, small businesses and communities across the state of Georgia. They also highlighted the League’s seminal publication The State of Black Georgia Report: A Tale of Two States. The report serves as a vital resource for policymakers, government leaders, and community organizations as they work to address disparities in wealth, health, education, and social justice.
ULGA Joins the One Nation, Overcharged Movement
Nearly everyone agrees: healthcare costs too much. It’s time we do something about it. This summer, ULGA is proud to join One Nation, Overcharged. Together, we’re demanding a healthcare system that puts our health over corporate profits – and works for everyone. Whether you have thousands of dollars in medical debt, are fed up with high healthcare costs, or simply believe that we all deserve better – this is your campaign. Click here to join the fight to get healthcare right.
Civil rights and civic organizations react to Gov. Brian Kemp’s signing of HB 369, a voter inequality bill that targets five Metro Atlanta counties
A coalition of civic and civil rights organizations issued the following statement today in reaction to Gov. Brian Kemp’s choice to sign into law HB 369, a measure that alters elections in only five of the state’s 159 counties. We are deeply disappointed and outraged by Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to sign HB 369 into law. HB 369 takes away voters’ ability to see the party designation of candidates in key offices in five counties that are among the most populous and most diverse of Georgia’s 159 counties. (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett.) This action is alarming because it reflects a continuation of efforts in Georgia to parcel democracy out on a piecemeal basis – until Black and other communities of color are left with the smallest portion, if any. This is happening now, in a state that is one of the most diverse in the nation – 48–50% Non-Hispanic White, 30–33% Black or African American, 11-12% Hispanic or Latino, and around 4-5% Asian. In 2020, Georgia held one of our most successful elections in terms of voter participation, overall turnout, and safety. Numerous recounts confirmed a fair and accurate election process. But seeing democracy work at its best sparked pushback. Right away, Georgia legislature and forces that want to restrict voter access came up with measures that purged thousands of legitimate voters from the rolls, prohibited organizations from handing out water to voters waiting in long lines, changed polling locations, moved drop boxes inside buildings that closed at 5 p.m., and took other steps to make it harder for targeted communities to participate in the process. We know voter suppression when we see it. And we’re seeing it now with HB 369 and talk of special sessions that would drag Georgia into the spreading southern strategy to dilute the voting power of communities of color. The Supreme Court’s gutting of the 1965 Civil Rights Act is designed to give cover to lawmakers by calling these measures “political” instead of what we know them to be: racially motivated. We’ve seen all of this before. During the post-Civil War Reconstruction era in 1965, for example, the Republican party advanced voting rights for former slaves and people of color. The party embraced diversity and elected Black candidates who served in local and national positions. Simultaneously, southern white Democrats worked overtime to overturn freedom and justice, and the Black vote was suppressed for nearly a century. But leaders like Atlanta’s own Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Ambassador Andrew Young and Jean Young, Rev. Ralph Abernathy and Juanita Abernathy, Rev. C.T. Vivian and Octavia Vivia, Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, and so many other Americans of all races formed coalitions and sacrificed their lives to advocate for the equal rights and passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act. Things slowly changed, and Black and other voters of color gained a measure of political power – exemplified by the Black politicians that hold positions of leadership in the 5 counties targeted by HB 369. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Democratic party has represented diversity and expansion of civil rights. Throughout the south, voters of color have elected representatives of their choice to seats of power at the local, state, and national levels. To pretend that HB 369 and other voter suppression measures have nothing to do with race is disingenuous. If it has nothing to do with race, why does the bill only target five Metro Atlanta counties? These five counties, which are among the most populous and most racially diverse in the state, have elected diverse leadership at every level – including five Black county chairpersons and district attorneys among other elected officials. The elections that produced these leaders provided these counties’ voters with important partisan designations – Independent, Republican and Democratic – affiliations that give many voters vital background facts they need about candidate values and positions on the issues that matter to them. Why should the most diverse counties ONLY not have access to this critical decision-making information? Georgia, we need to be clear that a strong and persistent message is being sent as to the direction our current Governor and legislators are rapidly moving our state. They are making clear their position to not uphold democracy for every citizen, and to instead run roughshod over democracy in power grabs. The question is: What are WE the People going to do about it? The answer must be: VOTE in record numbers like never before. Today, we call on every voter to lift your voice and demonstrate the power of the people by VOTING in the primaries now and this fall in the mid-term elections. Stand up for democracy. Say “Not in our state! Enough is enough.” No mid-decade redistricting to diminish the choices in diverse districts. No treating one county more fairly than its neighbors. No playing politics when the real-world outcome is voter suppression based on racial demographics. While the Governor chose to sign the bill, that is not the end. Our work against this measure (and others with the same intent) is not over. It will continue. We expect that HB 369 will be challenged in court. While the affected counties make their decisions, keep in mind that each one of us can do something: You can Vote NOW – we have the immediate opportunity to decide who will lead our state this fall. Vet these gubernatorial and other candidates carefully, find out their positions on voting rights, social justice, economic mobility, and health equity for Black and other people of color and all Georgians before you vote. Recommit to Leverage Your Economic Power and Build Wealth – support the businesses that support our communities. Advance in Education and Occupational Skills – local organizations are here to help you. Support Black and Minority Owned Businesses and Workers – how you spend your dollars reflects your commitment to equal opportunity and progress. Further, our anchor institutions must demonstrate their community commitments by utilizing diverse suppliers and diversity in hiring.
A Day at the Capitol Inspires the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
In partnership with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals and the Urban League of River Valley, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta hosted its Annual Day at the Capitol. The event brought more than 70 scholars from across the Atlanta Metro Area to the Georgia State Capitol for an immersive civic learning experience. The program combined participants in Project Ready, supported by the Young Professionals, with those in the At Promise At Work Program, supported by ULGA’s Youth and Young Adult Services Team. The young scholars explored the legislative process in-depth firsthand and gained insight into how decisions made at the Capitol directly affect their schools, neighborhoods, and futures. Distinguished leaders elevated the experience, including: Nancy Flake Johnson, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Atlanta. John H. Moye, Director of Legislative Policy, Social Justice & Civic Engagement. Tracey Mosley, President & CEO, Urban League of the River Valley. Christopher E. Bruce, Deputy Executive Director, ACLU of Georgia. A special acknowledgement goes to Khadijah Ameen of the Young Professionals. Her dedication and leadership ensured a seamless, engaging, and truly memorable experience for everyone involved. Through guided tours, interactive dialogue, and direct engagement with state leaders, scholars deepened their understanding of civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy. The day also strengthened connections between young adult professionals and youth in Urban League programs, cultivating the next generation of informed voters and community leaders. Highlights overview 70+ youth engaged in real-time civic education. Hands-on exposure to policy, advocacy, and legislative processes. Leadership pipeline connecting young professionals with high school scholars. Cross-regional collaboration between Urban League affiliates. ULGA’s Young Professionals Day at the Capitol demonstrates the transformative power of strategic investment in youth leadership. It builds the knowledge and confidence to inspire high school teens to play a direct role in shaping the future of their communities.
Remembering Civil Rights Legend Rev. Jesse Jackson
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta offers our deep condolences to the family of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson on his passing today, February 17, 2026. One of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s acolyte’s, Rev. Jackson’s belief in social justice shaped his lifetime of public service and contribution. He built a “rainbow” coalition of multiracial social activists and justice warriors. And with his 1980s runs for president, he blazed a trail that ultimately led to the election of Barack Obama to the nation’s highest political office. For more than half a century, Rev. Jackson and his family dedicated their time and treasure to the quest for civil rights and economic justice for everyone. He kept Dr. King’s call for voting rights, economic empowerment, and world peace at the heart of his transformative national and international crusade. Rev. Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH coalition will release details of the service and programs in the days ahead. Our hearts are with them as they mourn his loss and celebrate his accomplishments with people around the world whose lives Rev. Jackson touched.