The Covenant with Black America

The Covenant with Black America is a collection of 10 essays addressing the social ills that many African Americans are grappling with. Each essay or "covenant" is architected by a professional in his or her field, defining the piviotal issues at hand. Together, they make a compelling argument for why individuals, communities and governments must take action to resolve a host political, economic and social disparities facing those most disenfranchised in our nation. Each chapter of "covenant" also provides a suggested plan of action and a list of resources that the reader can implement to make a difference in their respective communities. Whether you agree with the proposed solutions or methods is not the point with this book. The true value and essence of "Covenant" is to increase awareness and debate for all Americans on how to best help those who currently have little hope of ever joining the American weathly.

Six years' worth of symposiums come together in this rich collection of essays that plot a course for African Americans, explaining how individuals and households can make changes that will immediately improve their circumstances in areas ranging from health and education to crime reduction and financial well-being. Addressing these pressing concerns are contributors Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. surgeon general; Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of the research think tank PolicyLink; and Cornel West, professor of Religion at Princeton University. Each chapter outlines one key issue and provides a list of resources, suggestions for action, and a checklist for what concerned citizens can do to keep their communities progressing socially, politically, and economically. Though the African American community faces devastating social disparities—in which more than 8 million people live in poverty—this celebration of possibility, hope, and strength will help leaders and citizens keep Black America moving forward.