(ESSENCE.com) -- While the country celebrates the first black president, African-Americans are facing critical challenges from high unemployment, home foreclosures and a record number of black men in prison. Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League. Despite these disparities and the fact that African-Americans have been hit hardest by the current economic meltdown, a recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that 59 percent of African-Americans believe the country has made real progress in race relations, a 30 percent jump from last year. The National Urban League, in its report "The State of Black America 2009," acknowledges the feeling of hope the Obama administration brings, but demands the president examine the sobering issues facing African-Americans.
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African-Americans still face critical challenges such as high unemployment
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Majority of blacks believe U.S. has made progress in race relations
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National Urban League CEO talks about "The State of Black America 2009"
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CEO: Obama "has created hope, optimism and a better way of thinking"
He also got a higher black turnout than at any other time in @placeholder history.