NBJC in the News

President Obama met Thursday with leaders of the NAACP, the National Black Justice Coalition, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and other prominent social justice groups largely focused on the needs of African-Americans.

In a guest post for the Human Rights Campaign, NBJC Programs and Outreach Associate Je-Shawna Wholley commemorates Black History Month. She writes:  "If I had to articulate what makes this year’s Black History Month special to me, I would say that this year I have the opportunity to fight for equality for black people for a living. It was through my work with NBJC where I witnessed the efforts to debunk the myth that African Americans are more homophobic than any other race. I was a part of the efforts to showcase that black LGBT youth are philanthropic as we watch more and more black LGBT emerging leaders make an investment in NBJC. In my work, I get to see black LGBT people come together and make history every day; and that is truly an honor."

The National Black Justice Coalition wants people to be mindful that it is a black president that has been the most LGBT-supportive president ever and that it is time to undo the “black versus gay narrative” that has played out for years. “Gay people, you need to understand black people and listen to them and reach out to them,” Lettman-Hicks said, adding that black LGBT people have a 36 percent unemployment rate compared to the national 8 percent. Meaningful justice recognizes cultural differences, she added.

The National Black Justice Coalition representative said the DC group has brought Shaw's case to the attention of the U.S. Justice Department, and the Executive Director of Equality Maryland said that this incident shows that the LGBT community's woes don't end with the passage of Gay Marriage. “We have plenty of work to do on the ground level, and we are committed to eliminating this level of hateful violence in every dark corner and alley of this city, state and country,” said Ms. Evans. “You are not a victim brother Kenny, you were victimized; yet, you stand here in triumph today conquering your attackers and bringing a voice to the voiceless of this city!” [said] Michael Brewer, NBJC.