Why is it important to look at the economic and social state of African Americans in such a diverse society?

In a nation that is becoming increasingly diverse, where by the year of 2050 we'll have no single clear racial and ethnic majority, it is incredibly important to evaluate the economic and social health of African Americans and all people of color. First to be able to assess the true impact of the recession on all Americans, and second to be able to evaluate the impact of the polices that we are advancing and putting in place to benefit all American families and make a strong middle class—you have to look at African Americans to be able to really evaluate whether or not our values apply to all Americans.

What is the current state of black America?

The National Urban League released its annual State of Black America report, which develops an equality index evaluating the overall economic and social state of African Americans looking at things like health, education, employment. This year the equality index of African Americans is at 71.5 percent. What does that mean? Well, African Americans are surviving, but relative to other demographic groups, particularly Caucasians and other white Americans, not doing as well as we should be in a true equitable society.

What can we do to ensure that African Americans thrive along with the rest of the nation?

In order to ensure that African Americans and really all people of color and all Americans as a whole really truly thrive, we have to do two things. The first is to continue to play defense. Protect the policies that we know disproportionally impact people of color, like our unions, like access to affordable quality health care, like access to affordable quality health care specifically for women. There are so many polices that we as progressives are in the position of having to defend and protect and that is absolutely important. But the second and more exciting part is that we now have an opportunity to propose ideas that move the ball forward, that actually play offense. Investing in green jobs, and green empowerment zones. Investing in job corps programs, investing in programs that would help young people have more access to eduction. The time is absolutely right to be able to advance policy ideas that will not only bring African Americans back up to prerecession levels, but absolutely make sure that they thrive in the way that they should as Americans.