On the recordMay 5, 2010
I stand today to recognize the National Urban League for its century of civil rights leadership and for its dedication to ensuring that all Americans enjoy the benefits of equal justice and economic empowerment. Since 1910, the National Urban League has worked to elevate the living standards of American families in historically underserved urban areas. The Urban League was founded to advocate on behalf of the tens of thousands of African Americans who began migrating to northern American cities in the early 20th century. Committed to social justice and equality, the Urban League worked to empower these men and women, many of whom had fled the Jim Crow south for the north to escape economic, social and political oppression only to find few employment opportunities, limited access to education and substandard housing. For a century, the Urban League has fought tirelessly to see that all Americans, regardless of race, have equal access to a good education, a good living wage, and safe and affordable housing. With appreciation for a century of service to the American people, I wish the National Urban League continued success for the years to come.
