Revisiting scenes of national trauma.

Joint Center Senior Research Associate Dr. Wilhelmina Leigh and Research Intern Lauren Ross look at the subprime mortgage market collapse, its implications for African Americans and the corrective proposals of the two major candidates for President.

Dr. Algernon Austin of the Economic Policy Institute examines white-black differences in employment rates and the reasons why black males have a more difficult time in the job market. Dr. Austin defines a "new racism" and calls for consequent recognition and change.

Melanie Campbell, CEO and Executive Director of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), reflects on NCBCP's accomplishments and looks forward to the organization's efforts to increase black turnout in the 2008 elections.

Dr. Andre Brimmer looks back at how this economic crisis began and how it will challenge the Obama administration.

Dr. Fredrick Harris of Columbia University analyzes how the election of Barack Obama has affected the social identities of African Americans and what this means for the next four years.

On the day following such a historic election, FOCUS Magazine interviewed Rep. James E. Clyburn for his reactions and perceptions of the challenges that lie ahead.

As it celebrates is 40th anniversary, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has set an ambitious agenda for the new Congress. With a former member of the CBC serving as the President of the United States and other members serving esteemed roles in Congress, the CBC is in a position to have extraordinary influence on key legislation during hte next two years.

In an interview with FOCUS magazine, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater, Esq. emphasized the importance of a national vision for the future of transportation in the context of the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  He also explained the impact of the infrastructure provisions of the stimulus package on the African American community and the role of black elected officials in this process.  The highlights of the interview follow....

In the United States and around the world, the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States was a landmark achievement.  Obama's success can be traced in part to his own exceptional qualities as a candidate, as well a tide of anti-Republican sentiment in the waning days of the Bush administration burdened with the War in Iraq and failing economy.