Chicagoist: Urban League: Black Middle Class Could Shrink

Kevin Robinson

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:55:08 -0600

I got this email from Roderick K. Hawkins, Director of Communications for the Chicago Urban League: I wouldn’t want your readers to think that the study costs $6.2 million. The BP Foundation provided financial support for the study as part of its overall partnership with the Chicago Urban League. The $6.2 million support from BP is a commitment, over three years, for a variety of programs and services the League does to grow Chicago’s African American workforce and business community. We focus on entrepreneurship, workforce development and diversity and education and advocacy. The support from BP and others works across all those areas. I hope this provides some clarity.

Spook

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:13:13 -0600

Hey Sears Tower, go comment on sports or something. Any way, Kevin every year the Urban League does yet another multi million dollar study on the continued deteriorating social, civic and economic plight of Black folk. They launch said report with great fanfare including lots of media coverage. The report then promptly goes on a tall long dusty shelf next to last years report. These reports by the way say nothing that has not been said already even in mainstream publications like the NY Times and in the halls of academia. Actually the Urban League’s reports are always watered down as not to ruffle any feathers including Daley’s. All these reports are nothing more than an annual source of revenue to keep its high yellow Negro staff in fancy cars and nice suits. And perhaps some one should ask Urban League Dir. Ms. Jackson,(formerly Gov. Blago’s PR Chief) about her multi million dollar salary and what experience does she bring to the table? I wish a Ralph Ellison had not sold his soul and then died after writing the brilliant novel Invisible Man! Because Ohhhhh what fun he could have had with The Urban League.

Spook

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:12:37 -0600

Sears Tower

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:47:08 -0600

An interesting sub-story to a potential Obama presidency is whether it makes groups like the Urban League/NAACP less relevant. It is really interesting how they are calling for Florida/Michigan delegates to be counted, in theory because each has large minority communties but it is probably not coincidental Clinton won both states. A section of these groups think Obama isn't "black enough" to be president, and given he is drawing 80% of the African American vote there is some real fear by these groups they will lose their source of power.