Black Americans have arguably arrived at the height of their cultural prominence. In politics, entertainment, academia, and nearly every sphere of influence, “black issues” dominate the national discussion.
Yet many black Americans are suffering more than ever from the blight of poverty, physical and mental health struggles, lack of opportunity, and failing schools. How do these signs of success on the surface coexist with social stagnation on the ground in the black community?
A new volume, “The State of Black Progress: Confronting Government and Judicial Obstacles,” sponsored by the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, with an introduction by Star Parker, and featuring contributions from W.B. Allen (former Chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission), Judge Janice Rogers Brown (ret.), Ian Rowe, Sally Pipes, and others, addresses this question in light of American values and the history of constitutional jurisprudence.
In the 1860s, black America was promised emancipation but continued to experience subjugation. In the 1960s, black America was promised equality but was frequently exploited.
Racial discrimination played a role, but in the intervening decades misguided progressive policies and the normalization of victimhood rhetoric has proven even more disastrous. By failing to live up to American ideals, our nation denied many black Americans their chance at the American Dream.
The scholars and luminaries who contributed to this volume believe that what has been lost can be recovered. If our nation recognizes the history of our current predicament, embraces the founding principles that made America an economic powerhouse, and commits to an agenda of empowering fiscal, educational, and faith and family affirming policies, then black Americans can overcome the obstacles that most hamper progress in their communities.
Star Parker is President of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), which she founded in 1995. She serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights California Advisory Committee and previously served on the U.S. Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission. In 2017, Parker joined the White House Opportunity Initiative advisory team and has served on the board of directors of the National Religious Broadcasters and the Leadership Institute.
Parker is a nationally syndicated columnist and the author of several books, including “Uncle Sam’s Plantation: How Big Government Enslaves America’s Poor and What We Can Do About It,” “White Ghetto: How Middle-Class America Reflects Inner City Decay,” and “Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats: From Welfare Cheat to Conservative Messenger.“
According to promotional literature, “The Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) is a public policy institute devoted to developing and promulgating policy solutions focused on America’s distressed zip codes. CURE is located at 1317 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. CURE was founded in 1995 by Star Parker and is based in Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit curepolicy.org. Star Parker is a conservative influencer whose works have appeared often on the CityNewsOKC website, formerly known as The City Sentinel.
NOTE: Pat McGuigan adapted this story from a press release transmitted by Dean Drazin Communications, 108 W Broadway Avenue, Fairfield, Iowa, 52556, United States. McGuigan regularly features Parker’s essays in “aggregation” for numerous online portals.
