MATT LAUER: You've brought some folks here with you. They're all waving the flag. And, and if you look at the buttons here Marc, it says "I am empowered" and this is an initiative that you're creating as a part of this celebration. What exactly do you want people to do?
MARC MORIAL: We want people to go to IamEmpowered.com. We'd like them to consider to sign, to sign a pledge. That pledge surrounds four important goals. One about our kids, one about jobs, one about housing and one about health care. Matt, we're trying to change the conversation in this nation to focus people on goals we need to have for the future.
The following is a complete transcript of the March 2 Today segment that was accompanied by the on screen headline "Urban Legend" which was probably meant as a compliment. But given that phrase conjures up myths -- about alligators in the sewers -- humorously gives the story an entirely different, but probably more accurate meaning.
MATT LAUER: This is a very big year for the National Urban League. The organization is celebrating its centennial, 100 years at the forefront of the civil rights movement. Marc Morial is the president and CEO of the National Urban League. Marc, congratulations.
[On screen headline: "Urban Legend, Civil Rights Group Celebrates 100 Years"]
MARC MORIAL: Thanks, Matt.
LAUER: Happy Birthday.
MORIAL: Hey, it's a great birthday.
LAUER: Let me start with this and I'm not going to offend anybody, least of all you, but I think if you did an informal poll here, and you said to people what is the Urban League? They'd all know the name, they may not be familiar with what you people do on a daily basis? So what is it?
MORIAL: We help people find jobs. We train them for jobs. We work with young people in after-school programs and early childhood programs. Matt, we serve two million people a year in 100 communities from coast to coast, and we help them uplift themselves and become economically self-sufficient.
LAUER: When you look at the first 100 years of this organization, what stands out as a highlight to you? What do you think one of the major accomplishments has been?
MORIAL: Obviously, the passage of the civil rights voting rights and fair housing acts, but our continuing effort over those 100 years to help people find employment and to train them for better employment and to open doors to, whether it's corporate America or government, as the nation changed in the 20th century.
LAUER: You've brought some folks here with you. They're all waving the flag. And, and if you look at the buttons here Marc, it says "I am empowered" and this is an initiative that you're creating as a part of this celebration. What exactly do you want people to do?
MORIAL: We want people to go to IamEmpowered.com. We'd like them to consider to sign, to sign a pledge. That pledge surrounds four important goals. One about our kids, one about jobs, one about housing and one about health care. Matt, we're trying to change the conversation in this nation to focus people on goals we need to have for the future.
LAUER: You know, I want your take on something. You often hear people say that once this nation elected Barack Obama as our first African-American president, then we started living in a post-racial society. Is that accurate?
MORIAL: My take is that we're moving to a multiracial society. And our goal should be not necessarily post-racial, but perhaps post-racist and multiracial. The nation is changing, and I think we have to embrace the contributions of all ethnic groups and all races. And Barack Obama's election, while significant, has never been the goal. The election of a single person isn't the goal. The improvement of the quality of life for all people, that's the objective. Parity is the goal.
LAUER: So, what you're saying is there's still a lot of work to be done.
MORIAL: Tons of work.
LAUER: Yeah, well, 100 years at the forefront of the civil rights movement. Our congratulations to all the fine people at the National Urban League. Marc, thank you so much.
MORIAL: Thanks, Matt. Appreciate you. Thank you.
LAUER: Thanks for bringing that message to us.
