Twenty years ago, the largest historic civil rights organization in the nation embraced a new leader, Marc H. Morial. Today, we commemorate the transformative journey of leadership and vision Morial brought to the National Urban League and, by extension, to the Memphis Urban League.

Stepping into his role, Morial articulated a comprehensive 5-point Empowerment Agenda in his inaugural “State of the Urban League” address. Today, this agenda stands as the National Urban League’s five pillars: Jobs and Economic Empowerment, Education and Youth Development, Health and Quality of Life, Housing and Community Development, and Justice and Civic Engagement.

As the first elected official to helm the National Urban League, Morial has infused the entire 21st Century Civil Rights Movement with his unique political acumen and profound understanding of government systems.

From his first speech in Pittsburgh two decades ago, Morial’s dedication to racial justice has been unwavering. He has battled the evolving manifestations of racial discrimination, from the brute force of “Jim Crow,” through the sophisticated segregation of “James Crow, Esquire,” to today’s resurgence of racism epitomized by “Jimmy Crow.”

This year’s National Urban League Conference in Houston, from July 26 to 29, will recognize Morial’s 20th anniversary and his significant contributions to the movement. The conference will reflect on how the nation and racial justice movements have evolved during his tenure.

Key milestones under Morial’s leadership include:

• Becoming the first elected official to hold the office of President and CEO of the National Urban League in 2003.
• Unveiling the 5-point Empowerment Agenda at the National Urban League Conference in Pittsburgh, 2003.
• The release of the first State of Black America report featuring the Equality Index in 2004.
• His testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, which was instrumental in the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2005.
• Launching Project Ready, a comprehensive program preparing high school students for college, work, and life in 2006.
• Declaring a homeowner’s state of emergency and issuing the Homeowners’ Bill of Rights in 2008.
• Launching the “I Am Empowered” centennial campaign celebrating 100 years of advocacy and empowerment in 2010.
• Leading a unified response by legacy civil rights organizations to a surge of racial hostility and discriminatory public policies following the 2016 presidential election.
• The announcement of the National Urban League’s future relocation to Harlem and the construction of the Urban League Empowerment Center in 2019.
• An intense advocacy and direct relief campaign in response to the racially disparate impact of the burgeoning coronavirus crisis in 2020.
• Publication of “The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lessons That Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve” in 2020.
• The establishment of “21 Pillars for Redefining Public Safety and Restoring Public Trust” in 2021.

Morial’s leadership continues to empower and inspire the National Urban League and our Memphis Urban League. As we celebrate these past two decades, we look forward to continued progress in our shared mission of economic empowerment and the promotion of civil rights.