Did 'Beer Diplomacy' Ease Race Relations?

" I thought it was happy -- the White House present Obama with little beer diplomacy in the hope of easing rates relations. Henry gates junior sergeant James Crowley in last minute addition vice president Joe Biden. Downing a couple cold ones as they try to bring their assigned together pollen the disputed arrest of the Cambridge professor. Mark what reality is National Urban League president and C yelling he joins me this morning good morning mark good to see you morning election. So I'm Alexis you know at -- I'm curious how you feel about this people called me at the -- son and beer and gave they've called and everything in the book. Was this overblown. Or. Is there really an underlying tension in this country that became very well all of this week."

" There's an underlying tension in this country but there's been an incredible amount of attention paid. To this incident which I hope in the long run. Is good for the nation sometimes it's one friction takes place. That we can take the best the most positive steps I was in dialogue is good the fact that they got together the fact that they talk. That's a positive thing what comes out of it. Is really the long term question and it's no doubt that the issue of police community tension. Police community relations. Racial profiling a very important issues for this country. I sort of come down thinking that. The end racial profiling act which was introduced in congress almost ten years ago. Supported by. Former President Bush in his first year in office. Which never went anywhere because of 9/11 is something we ought to revive I think to get beyond this so we should as this nation has done time and time again. Takes a positive legislative steps. So so mark can I assume then that you believe this is a classic case of racial profiling. You know Alexis I don't know if it's a classic case I mean it has some of the features. Of a classic case but here's my point. Even if professor gates. Have been white professor one wonders whether it had occurred to suppose that had occurred that would still not be. A fair arrest the issue is. That the arrest is probably where the line was crossed in my own. Do you not. The 911 caller calling saying I see something I'm concerned about not sergeant Crowley responding to that call. And ascertained. Who effect may have lived in that house. But the arrest is where crossed the line we really don't know. But it on it it speaks to. Some of the challenges we have in this country and it's caused us to think about. About racial profiling since professor gates -- Sargent Carl he's really given their full impressions of but what it occurred we weren't there we don't absolutely know what is curious to gain is the fact that. The charges were dropped very quickly and the somehow the race. Race got on the police report. When the caller never really identified. -- the race of the quote two men. That she may have seen sorry I hope. We can get beyond -- we're here in Chicago today for the national urban league's annual comp."

" From Slovakia let's talk about here and we're. Let let let's let's play force projected as second markets and the vice president is coming to speak today. I'm aunt annie's gonna talk about America's workforce what are you hoping he'll do what he'll achieve today. As if you guys set out on a conference to start on Wednesday believe goes to Sunday."

" How we bring down the unemployment rate Alexis how we. Bring down the unemployment rate in urban communities how we reestablish economic growth and put people back to work and how we help people. -- cope with the changing global economy. How we train people for the new green economy the new technology economy new information economy. What we've got to do to prepare young people what we've got to do to prepare as adults even older workers who steal want to work. Those are really the issues we hope the vice president and they've been dominant. Throughout this conference the economy. Green jobs. And the issue of housing. That's what we want to hear from the rising and it's it's curious that those of the things that people here are talking about. They're not really talking as much about. Professor gates and sergeant Crowley they're concerned about those sorts of issues that we are focused on the economy. Housing. Business development and the vice president's presence here. Yesterday Ken Lewis the president of Bank of America was with us. We had. Any number of very important business writer and political leaders and civil rights leaders who with his son yesterday."

" You know on the president is you very will no spoken from the NAACP. Not to long ago and he he basically says the call to action. And he talked about education and and and things just -- rise up and take responsibility. Do you think that those things should be echoed across the country he said -- this is not day you know specifically about schools not African American problem it's an American problem. What what do meet what the National Urban League members say."

" You know it's interesting on Wednesday night in my opening presentation we talked about the very same thing and because we've been about. Economic self sufficiency and self determination. Self reliance for a long time as part of what we do we support we -- the idea that this this issue. Of our children and our schools affects all. Americans. On the condition that black communities and brown communities finding themselves in. Is that at a more significant disadvantage but when you have seven million. Young people I think that's the 2007 number. Who don't finish high school on time and half for white. And -- for nonwhite. We've got a problem that affects everyone and that's why. The Urban League is going to set a goal for this nation fascination join us in setting a goal. That in fifteen years we have a zero. High school dropout rate than every child graduates from high school on time and is ready for work we've got to set a goal because we're in an economic competition. With China with India with new emerging economies we can't fall further behind actually got to make this a priority. And that means a whole host of things teachers have to be held accountable -- administrators have to be held accountable. Politicians. Have to be held accountable to provide the creek resources and support. But parents we've got a hold ourselves those of -- parents accountable to do everything that we can. This has got to be a broad stroke. As opposed to an effort to point fingers find Blaine look for the easy out yet out we have got to do it in the 21 century."

" Wal-Mart -- it's always a pleasure seeing you National Urban League president the last summer summit conference it was it was great -- yet and."

" And you L dot org if you're interested in checking our conference will be webcast are terrific thanks so much mark."