National Urban League urges Obama to address racial health disparities in annual report

The National Urban League on Wednesday released its annual of "State of Black America" report, in which it urges President Obama to address health care and other disparities blacks face, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

According to the 288-page report, blacks are twice as likely to be unemployed, three times as likely to live in poverty and more than six times as likely as others to be incarcerated. Obama has said that the government could address such disparities by improving education, employment and health care among all U.S. residents.

The report includes policy discussions and essays from educators, elected officials and individuals, as well as 31 specific recommendations for improvement, including implementing a universal health care program and a "comprehensive" system that would provide blacks with health education, prevention and interventions, according to the AP/Newsday.

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, acknowledged that blacks also have to make improvements in their personal lives but noted that public policy is crucial to addressing the disparities (Washington, AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/25).