In our nation, every individual possesses an equal right and shared responsibility to actively engage in our democracy and civic processes. At the core of this belief lies the fundamental principle that all people, irrespective of their background, deserve justice and fairness. However, far too often, communities across the country, particularly Black communities, have endured the grave realities of discriminatory and violent policing, where lives, safety, and freedom are unjustly threatened.
It is our collective commitment to ensure that every individual feels secure within their own homes, vehicles, and streets, free from the specter of police violence. By championing social justice and civil rights, we strive to create an inclusive society where the protection of basic human rights and the eradication of systemic inequalities stand as paramount objectives. Together, we can dismantle the barriers that obstruct progress and work towards fostering a safer, more just, and equitable future for all.
Increase in gun deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic [1]
New Yorkers unable to vote in 2016 election due to 25-day deadline [2]
Black adults are more likely to be stopped by police due to race [3]
Our center is dedicated to bridging the gap between communities and law enforcement. Recent events have eroded the trust in our police forces, making transparency, open communication, and active community involvement more vital than ever in rebuilding this critical relationship
Learn More
In response to a relentless campaign aimed at suppressing the voting rights of underserved communities, the Urban League initiated Reclaim Your Vote. This powerful initiative is committed to educating community members about their rights and ensuring they're equipped to exercise their right to vote.
Learn More
State legislatures are leading attacks on voting rights, and extremists are manipulating the legal system to limit access to higher education and the workforce. None of this is by accident, but the National Urban League has a plan to work alongside the Urban League movement, our civil rights partners, and elected officials to create a future where every American is safe, has fundamental human rights, and can achieve their own version of the American Dream.
Learn MoreThe State of Black America® is the signature annual reporting of the National Urban League. Since its first appearance in 1976 under the stewardship of the late Mr. Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the organization’s fifth president, the State of Black America® remains one of the most highly-anticipated benchmarks and sources for thought leadership around racial equality in America across economics, employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice and civic participation.
In the 49th edition of the State of Black America, we issue a clear and urgent warning: Our democracy, civil rights, and hard-won progress are under attack.
This year, we reflect not only on a pivotal law, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but on the broader threats to justice, equity, and freedom unfolding before our eyes.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, passed just one year after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, was a generational breakthrough. It ended poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation tactics designed to keep Black Americans from the ballot box. It created the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice as a watchdog to protect the foundational rights of American democracy, including voting rights, equal employment, and fair housing.
Sixty years later, those rights are under siege.
We face a Supreme Court that has dismantled affirmative action, threatening access to higher education and the economic mobility it enables. State governments across the country are erecting new barriers to the ballot box, restricting early voting, purging voter rolls, and enforcing ID laws that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
In Washington, extremist lawmakers continue to use critical spending bills as leverage to gut programs that serve as lifelines for working families, from education to healthcare to food assistance. Executive orders have stripped equity requirements from federal agencies, silencing efforts to close racial gaps in opportunity.
This report does not simply document these threats. It highlights the growing resistance. Across courtrooms, classrooms, boardrooms, and statehouses, a new generation of leaders is rising to defend our rights and reimagine an inclusive future.
Our contributors—elected officials, scholars, civil rights leaders, and cultural influencers—reflect on the legacy of the Voting Rights Act and share powerful strategies to safeguard democracy for the 21st century. They examine how civil rights laws have shaped today’s America, how they’re being undermined, and what it will take to protect and expand them moving forward.
This is not the time to be silent. We cannot stand by as the rights our ancestors fought for are eroded by those who fear progress. The fight ahead is about our future, our legacy, and the soul of this nation.
Join us in it today.
Download to access the full 2025 report, including contributor essays, exclusive data, expert analysis, and a downloadable version of this executive summary.
In the 48th edition of the report, we’ve decided to reflect on a landmark piece of legislation that transformed everyday life in America and gave us a reason to create this report: the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
For Black America, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the first time that the United States government addressed the racial caste system that had been protected for centuries by unjust laws and systemic brutality of nonwhite people in this country. The law, in many ways, answered the calls for jobs and freedom in the March on Washington by banning discrimination in the workplace, in our housing system, and programs funded by the government, and marked the death of the Jim Crow South.
Sixty years later, the fight for equality is far from over.
We have a Supreme Court that has dismantled Affirmative Action, threatening not only equitable access to higher education and the economic opportunities born from a college degree but also endangering diversity and equity initiatives that make our workplaces safer and more accessible for people from all backgrounds. We have states not only dictating who gets to vote in elections but also enforcing ID laws and requirements that make it harder for marginalized people to participate in the Democratic process.
In Congress, extremist elected officials continue to hold our economy and our physical safety hostage by proposing the dismantling of federally funded safety net programs in exchange for the passage of critical spending bills that keep our government open and support our armed service members.
Our contributing authors use their experiences as elected officials, civil rights advocates, and esteemed academics to paint a picture of American life before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as they analyze how each title created the country we know today. They also unpack the threats to the freedoms protected by the law and share their perspective on strengthening civil rights protections for the 21st century. It is not the time to be silent. We cannot stand by while this law is stripped of its power by those who oppose progress. This fight is one for our future, our legacy, and the soul of this country. We urge you to join us in it today.
[1] Kegler, Scott R., et al. “Vital Signs: Changes in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates — United States, 2019–2020.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 71, no. 19, 10 May 2022, https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7119e1.
[2] “Analysis: Young Voters Hurt Most by Voter Registration Deadline.” New York Civil Liberties Union, 7 Apr. 2022, www.nyclu.org/en/news/analysis-young-voters-hurt-most-voter-registration-deadline.
[3] DeSilver, Drew, et al. “10 Things We Know about Race and Policing in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, 3 June 2020, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/06/03/10-things-we-know-about-race-and-policing-in-the-u-s/.
.png)
