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A National Urban League Publication stateofblackamerica.org 2025 STATE OF EMERGENCY DEMOCRACY, CIVIL RIGHTS & PROGRESS UNDER ATTACKPUBLISHER Marc H. Morial MANAGING DIRECTOR Tara Thomas EXECUTIVE EDITOR Teresa Candori NAACP Legal Defense Fund EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michael Tomlin-Crutchfield CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rhonda Spears Bell DESIGN Untuck 03 About State of Black America ® 04 From the President’s Desk 06 Delete. Defund. Deny. The Erasure of Equity from the Inside Out 07 What We Stand to Lose 08 How the War on “Woke” is Fueling Systemic Oppression and the Assault on Civil Rights 10 The Radicalization of the Civil Rights Division 12 Muted: How Digital Censorship & Misinformation Undermine Democracy 14 A New Resistance 16 How the National Urban League is a Leader in the Resistance 18 How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Protects and Advances Democratic Ideals 20 Our Contributors 23 National Urban League Affiliates CONTENTS ABOUT THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE The National Urban League is a historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. Driven to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and justice for our nation’s marginalized populations, the National Urban League works toward economic empowerment and the elevation of the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League has improved the lives of more than three million people each year nationwide through direct service programs run by 92 affiliates serving 300 communities in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The National Urban League also conducts public policy research and advocacy work from its Washington, D.C., bureau. The National Urban League is a BBB-accredited organization and has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing it in the top 10% of all U.S. charities for adhering to good governance, fiscal responsibility, and other best practices.ABOUT STATE OF BLACK AMERICA ® Since its first appearance in 1976 under the stewardship of the late Mr. Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the organization’s fifth president, the State of Black America ® remains one of the most highly anticipated benchmarks and sources for thought leadership around racial equality in America. The report explores inequities across America’s economics, employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice, and civic participation systems through research and the words of our contributors. Each edition contains penetrating commentary and insightful analysis from recognized authorities and leading figures in politics, the corporate and tech sectors, the nonprofit arena, academia, and popular culture. In this 49th edition of the report, State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack, we warn our readers and Americans that our country is on the brink of a dangerous tilt towards authoritarianism. This report was initially focused on the Voting Rights Act of 1965—a bedrock of American Democracy—and the profound challenges it faces today. But 2025 has seen the most volatility in modern history, so we are unpacking the threats to our Democracy and the steps the civil rights community and the Urban League movement are taking to fight back. As we witness escalating efforts to dismantle voting rights protections, block access to fair elections, and erode the civil liberties that have been fought for over generations, the 2025 State of Black America sounds the alarm: Democracy, civil rights, and progress are under attack. Our contributors—elected officials, civil rights advocates, scholars, and thought leaders—offer critical insights on how we can fight back and fortify civil rights for the 21st century. This is not the time to be silent. We cannot stand by while those who oppose progress weaken the pillars of Democracy. This fight is for our future, our legacy, and the soul of this nation. We urge you to join us. Visit the State of Black America website to access author essays, data visualizations, expert analysis, and a downloadable version of this executive summary. SCAN TO READ THE FULL REPORT. stateofblackamerica.org 3 NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUEFROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK A democracy willing to destroy itself rather than deliver justice is a democracy in crisis. This is the chilling reality we confront in 2025—a year that has revealed, in stark terms, the lengths to which some will go to halt the progress of Black America. The notion that we are living through a “state of emergency” is not rhetorical flourish. It is an honest reckoning with a government increasingly determined to sacrifice its founding principles— equality, liberty, and justice—rather than accept the truth of a diversifying nation and deliver equitable opportunity to all. The story is as old as the Republic itself. Every inch of Black progress in America has been met with fierce resistance. The Reconstruction Amendments were followed by the rise of Jim Crow. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was born only after decades of filibusters, violence, and sabotage. And in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, as Americans of all races flooded the streets to demand justice, we now see the same pattern repeating—only this time, the backlash is deeper, more calculated, and more dangerous. The Voting Rights Act of 1965— the cornerstone of democratic participation—is once again under siege. Policies that once protected our access to the ballot box are being shredded, replaced with brazen new tactics of suppression. At the same time, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives—hard- fought measures designed to repair centuries of injustice—are being dismantled under the cynical guise of “fairness” and “colorblindness.” Entire federal departments once tasked with advancing civil rights have been hollowed out, their missions warped into tools of political retaliation. We are witnessing something more than policy shifts. We are watching an attempt to turn back the clock to an era when the full humanity of all Americans was not recognized—when the idea of true equality was treated as a threat to the social order. What we face today is a deliberate, coordinated effort to deny the future of a more just and inclusive America. And the architects of this effort have made their intentions plain: they would rather see our democracy crumble than cede power to a multiracial, equitable society. Yet if history teaches us anything, it is that Black America has never accepted injustice as destiny. Time and again, we have organized, resisted, and overcome. The National Urban League was born for moments like this—when the stakes are high, and the path forward demands clarity, courage, and conviction. In this 49th edition of the State of Black America, we do more than document the threats we face. We illuminate the power of resistance. Across courtrooms and classrooms, from statehouses to boardrooms, a new generation of leaders is rising to defend the gains we’ve made and push for the progress still to come. The work is difficult. The road is long. But we know from experience that the arc of history does not bend toward justice on its own—it must be bent by those with the strength and will to see it through. This is our charge. This is our moment. And together, we will not yield. Marc H. Morial PRESIDENT & CEO, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE 4 2025 STATE OF BLACK AMERICA® State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under AttackThe work is difficult. The road is long. But we know from experience that the arc of history does not bend toward justice on its own—it must be bent by those with the strength and will to see it through. 5 NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUEDELETE. DEFUND. DENY. THE ERASURE OF EQUITY FROM THE INSIDE OUT I. What We Stand to Lose II. How the War on “Woke” is Fueling Systemic Oppression and the Assault on Civil Rights III. The Radicalization of the Civil Rights Division IV. Muted: How Digital Censorship & Misinformation Undermine Democracy V. A New Resistance VI. How the National Urban League is a Leader in the Resistance VII. How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Protects and Advances Democratic Ideals Credits: Poll tax receipt: National Museum of African American History and Culture Louisiana Voter Literacy Test, circa 1964 via Civil Right Movement Veterans Ben Shapiro: Tomas Cuesta via Getty Images Tucker Carlson: Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images Edward Blum: Bloomberg via Getty Images President Johnson & MLK, Jr.: Bettmann via Getty Images Demonstrators: Drew Angerer via Getty Images Pro-Palestinian rally: Babak Bordbar via Getty Images Andrew Tate: Daniel Mihailescu via Getty Images Marjorie Taylor Greene: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Kanye West: Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images Mark Zuckerberg: Alex Wong via Getty Images Elon Musk: Brendan Smialowski via Getty Images A. Philip Randolph: John Bottega, NYWTS via Libary of Congress 6 2025 STATE OF BLACK AMERICA® State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under AttackI 1https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-rights-act-persists-so-do-its-adversaries 2https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-rights-act-persists-so-do-its-adversaries 3https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5326118/segregation-federal-contracts-far- regulation-trump WHAT WE STAND TO LOSE In many ways, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was the true birth of American democracy. The landmark legislation broke generations of state sanctioned redlining, racism, and segregation that prevented America from living up to its moniker, the land of the free. Today, those freedoms face their gravest threat since the Reconstruction era, as the hard-won gains of the civil rights movement are systematically unraveled. Almost daily, since January 20, 2025, the federal government, at the direction the White House, has set fire to policies and entire departments dedicated to protecting civil and human rights, providing access to an equal education, fair housing, safe and effective healthcare, and ensuring that our democratic process is adhered to across the nation. The first seismic crack in the law’s foundation came with the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, which gutted Section 5—the preclearance provision that had been the Voting Rights Act’s firewall against discrimination. The erosion of these protections doesn’t just risk disenfranchisement—it imperils the very legitimacy of American democracy. 1 Despite this, a Supreme Court ruling to uphold section 2 of the law in 2022, which allowed Americans to sue when they were denied equal political opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, new challenges have emerged. After the high court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, which declared race-conscious admissions processes at universities unconstitutional, 2 opponents of section 2 are now arguing that using race in arguments of diluting community voting power also violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and in turn, the constitution. This threatens a key provision of the law that allows people to sue—either on their own behalf or with the assistance of the Justice Department—to undo existing laws and procedures that would deny equal political opportunity to voters to elect their candidates of choice opening the door for more discrimination. As the federal government embraces extremist assaults on the Voting Rights Act, marginalized communities could see devastating losses of representation through gerrymandering efforts driven by culture wars and attacks on equity. Immigrant communities where English is often a second language may see attacks on requirements to provide voting materials in different languages, leading to lower registrations and participation. Bans on mail-in ballots and early voting increase barriers for aging and disabled populations to participate in elections. And lastly, moves to dismantle and privatize government agencies without regulatory oversight, opens the door for outright discrimination in housing, healthcare, education, and the workforce.3 Simply put, we are in a state of emergency that requires work from all communities to increase protections from the federal level down to states and municipalities. Before the Voting Rights Act, poll taxes unequally charged voters to cast their ballots in elections. This was a tactic to enforce discrimination and suppress the Black vote. The Voting Rights Act banned these poll taxes. Administered at the discretion of voter registration officials, literacy tests were designed for the applicant to fail. In some cases exceeding 60 questions in length, the tests were given under tight time constraints, and passing did not guarantee the right to vote. Because of the Voting Rights Act, literacy tests are banned. NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE 7 II 4https://www.scotusblog.com/2023/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-affirmative-action-programs-in-college-admissions/#:~:text=In%20a%20historic%20decision%2C%20the%20Supreme%20Court,which%20 bars%20racial%20discrimination%20by%20government%20entities 5https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/us/edward-blum-affirmative-action-race.html HOW THE WAR ON “WOKE” IS FUELING SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND THE ASSAULT ON CIVIL RIGHTS Following the murder of George Floyd, far-right extremists seized an opportunity to stop the calls for racial equity by reframing the policies as “woke” and anti-American. The narrative took off on right- wing forums and was echoed by conservative television and podcast hosts around the clock, fueling fear and anger among vulnerable Americans who were isolated and frightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. As it gained traction, conservative organizers began drafting a strategy to challenge the legality of diversity programs, erase the contributions of people of color from American history, and dismantle the federal government to be remade in their image. This movement led to a flurry of lawsuits that have resulted in two cases: Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, which led to the erosion of affirmative action. 4 But they didn’t stop there. The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) continued 5 its assault on organizations with “unfair,” “race- based” diversity and equity programs. The AAER successfully sued the philanthropic arm of an Atlanta-based venture fund, the Fearless Fund, and forced it to shutter its Fearless Strivers Grant contest, which awarded $20,000 to small businesses led by at least one woman of color. The suit claimed anti-white bias. And today, organizations dedicated to leveling American institutions with deep histories of unequitable lending practices such as home appraisals, and that have historically had significantly lower levels of enrollment for people of color, are under attack. Not only are these efforts growing, but they are also becoming more aggressive as the new administration has made it federal doctrine— attacking colleges, universities and corporate—for simply having the words diversity and inclusion as part of their mission. The administration successfully forced the University of Michigan and Columbia University to drop their programs. These efforts mark a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism— threatening to impose a uniform education system and a homogenous workforce that sidelines anyone who doesn’t fit a narrow, exclusionary mold. If left unchecked, they risk reversing decades of progress that have made America more dynamic, competitive, and just. 8 2025 STATE OF BLACK AMERICA® State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under AttackFar-Right Media Amplification Narratives migrate into mainstream conservative media. Judicial Endorsement These legal challenges reach the highest courts. Policy Rollbacks Following these court decisions, federal and state governments begin dismantling diversity policies. Systemic Erosion of Rights What began as anonymous online rhetoric is now codified into law and policy. The Backlash Pipeline: From Fringe Narrative to National Policy On platforms like 4chan and Telegram, far-right users linked diversity efforts to a so-called “Great Replacement” plot, turning equity initiatives into a threat narrative. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC, finding that race-conscious college admissions violated the Equal Protection Clause—redefining decades of precedent on educational equity. The new administration issued directives prompting universities and agencies to retract their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) commitments. Civil rights initiatives are being reversed, racial equity programs dismantled, and the inclusion of diverse voices increasingly labeled as partisan or illegal—all under the banner of “neutrality,” which masks a return to exclusion. Between 2020 and 2021, Fox News aired nearly 2,000 segments attacking Critical Race Theory. Figures like Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson on The Daily Wire echoed these white nationalist narratives, fueling backlash against schools, corporations, and civil rights protections. In one high-profile case, AAER sued the Fearless Fund, forcing it to suspend its $20,000 grant program for women of color entrepreneurs, claiming “anti-white” bias. If left unchecked, this movement risks reshaping American institutions to reflect the interests of the few rather than the equity of all. Alt-Right Echo Chambers Extremist forums and anonymous message boards circulate conspiracy theories that reframe racial justice as “anti-white discrimination.” 1 2 Legal Weaponization Once this fear is normalized, conservative legal organizations mobilize. Led by strategist Edward Blum, the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) began suing companies and nonprofits with targeted race-conscious programs. Columbia University and the University of Michigan dropped or restructured programs to avoid legal liability. 3 5 6 4 9 NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUENext >