Book excerpt: The State of Black America is the National Urban League's annual barometer of the conditions, experiences, and opinions of African-Americans. Published annually since 1976, The State of Black America report analyzes and addresses the issues central to Black America in the current year. Through the groundbreaking Equality Index and incisive, in-depth essays, the report measures black progress in education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, health and other areas, forecasts social and political trends, and proposes concrete solutions to the community's and America's most pressing challenges.