By Elena Temple Webb
August 2, 2010

As the National Urban League (NUL) celebrated its 100th Year Anniversary, the nation’s mayors marked the historical moment with the participation of Conference of Mayors Second Vice-President Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Conference of Mayors Transportation and Communications Committee Chair Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Representing the Conference of Mayors, Nutter delivered remarks during the Urban League’s Opening Plenary Session: The State of Black America. Nutter said that while The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act may have saved this country from another Depression, the double-digit unemployment rate in many cities and urban centers points to the urgent need for job creation. “The State of Black America is that we are experiencing a jobs emergency. We need jobs to take care of our families, pay our mortgages and send our children to school,” Nutter said. His comments clearly resonated with the audience that erupted in applause and cheers. Nutter also explained that he represented the nation’s mayors the previous day on Capitol Hill to press for The Local Jobs for American Act – a bill that would help mayors to save and create hundreds of thousands of jobs through direct funding to cities. “Job creation is our primary focus. It is very basic. Without jobs, we can’t sustain other sectors of our economy,” Nutter concluded.

Reed addressed the Urban League during its session titled, “What will Black America Look Like in 2025?” In responding to the question, Reed reminded the audience that future conversations about race would be broadened to include people from all over the world. Reed also focused on the importance of education and posed a challenge to the audience, “Let’s change the conversation and re-frame the argument to ask ourselves, ‘What are we doing today to ensure a better future for our young people?’ The future is no mystery. The question is how hard are we willing to work at it. America can’t be all it can be if we can’t give our children all they need to thrive.”

President Obama addressed the NUL on the issue of education and his Race To The Top initiative. The entire speech is available at www.whitehouse.gov; below are excerpts from the speech:

“I believe [whether we are offering our children the very best education possible] will largely determine not only African American success, but the success of our nation in the 21st century.

When it comes to black students, African American students trail not only almost every other developed nation abroad, but they badly trail their white classmates here at home – an achievement gap that is widening the income gap between black and white, between rich and poor.

That’s why we’re challenging states to turn around our 5,000 lowest performing schools. And I don’t think it’s any secret that most of those are serving African American or Hispanic kids.

Race to the Top isn’t simply the name of an initiative. It sums up what’s happening in our schools. It’s the single most ambitious, meaningful education reform effort we’ve attempted in this country in generations.

To paraphrase Dr. King, education isn’t an either/or proposition. It’s a both/and proposition. It will take both more focus from our parents, and better schooling. It will take both more money, and more reform. It will take both a collective commitment, and a personal commitment.

So, yes, our federal government has responsibilities that it has to meet, and I will keep on making sure the federal government meets those responsibilities. Our governors, our superintendents, our states, our school districts have responsibilities to meet. And parents have responsibilities that they have to meet. And our children have responsibilities that they have to meet.”

President Obama also acknowledged the leadership of NUL CEO and President Marc Morial and the work of the Urban League. “I want to thank the entire National Urban League on your centennial. From your founding, amid the great migration, to the struggles of the civil rights movement, to the battles of today, the Urban League has been on the ground, in our communities, working quietly -– day in, day out -– without fanfare; opening up opportunity, rolling back inequality, making our union just a little more perfect. America is a better place because of the Urban League. And I’m grateful to all of you for the outstanding contributions that you’ve made.”

Reflecting on the significance of the Urban League’s 100-year history during his State of the Urban League address, Morial said, “In our first century, we beat back the Klan. We stopped the lynchings. We turned a climate of fear into a climate of hope. We helped a rural people transition to the industrial jobs of the north. In our first century, we began to tear down many of the ugly walls of segregation, injustice and inequality. ... As our second century begins, some ask whether the National Urban League is still relevant. I say to them, as long as there are people out of work, as long as there are people in need of better schools, as long as there’s a need for safe, decent and wholesome afterschool programs, as long as there are people who long to become homeowners and are looking for somewhere to turn, this National Urban League and Urban League Movement is not only relevant, but we are here to stay. ... We are one Urban League, and we are empowered. We are empowered to embrace our second century. By the power vested in me, let the second century of the Urban League begin.”