Issues

ISSUES FACING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY NOW

In 2006, The African American Lectionary Project sent questionnaires to 10,000 African American clergy of all denominations as well as a small percentage of non-denominational churches. The survey indicated that clergy believed that the following issues were important concerns of the African American community: (1) Strengthening Men and Boys and Women and Girls; (2) Strengthening Families; (3) Unemployment/Poverty/Economic Empowerment; (4) Violence in Our Communities; (5) Racism; (6) AIDS and Health Issues; (7) Finding Ways to Welcome All to the Church; (8) Drug Recovery; (9) Incarceration; (10) Strengthening Education (Secular and Christian Education); (11) Addressing the Problem of Greed; and (12) The Environment.

Issues of Importance as of 2012

In reviewing the Urban League's 2011 State of Black America Report and other national reports of relevance to African Americans, in national order of importance, but not necessarily in order of importance in your community, the issues now are:

1. Unemployment/Poverty
   
   
2. Strengthening Education
   
   
3. Strengthening Families
   
   
4. Health Issues (Particularly Obesity and Diabetes)
   
   
5. Violence In Our Communities
   
   
6. Economic Empowerment (Saving and Operating Businesses)
   
   
7. Incarceration
   
   
8. Drug Recovery
   
   
9. Racism
   
   
10. The Environment
    
    
11. Finding Ways to Welcome All to the Church
    
    
12. Broadband and the Participation of African Americans in the Technology Revolution