National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming one of the most influential forces in our daily lives. From healthcare to hiring, AI tools are making decisions that affect who receive care, who gets a job interview, who is approved for a loan, and even who is targeted by police surveillance. These tools are often promoted as fair and objective. But in reality, they are frequently built on biased data that reflects a long history of discrimination. That bias does not disappear in the algorithm, it actually multiplies. And now, a new federal policy is threatening to make things even worse. President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order titled ‘Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government’ prohibits federal agencies from using AI systems that incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. This move attempts to erase the very safeguards designed to make technology more fair and inclusive. By barring the federal government from using DEI-informed systems, the Executive Order threatens to lock in existing inequities and deny critical protections to those who need them most. When Technology Cannot See You: Bias in Healthcare AI-powered hand hygiene systems have also revealed troubling design flaws, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones. Whether in hospitals or public restrooms, soap dispensers and faucets that rely on infrared sensors or computer vision often fail to activate when dark-skinned hands are placed beneath them. These systems were largely trained and tested using lighter skin tones, leaving many people invisible to the sensors. In environments where handwashing is essential for disease prevention and basic hygiene, this creates not just an inconvenience but a serious health risk. Failing to ensure these technologies work for everyone undermines public trust and perpetuates exclusion in one of the most basic daily functions. Racial bias in artificial intelligence is particularly dangerous in the field of healthcare, where it has already contributed to misdiagnoses and unequal treatment. Prostate cancer screening tools have failed to accurately detect risk factors in Black men, who already face higher mortality rates from the disease. Similarly, breast cancer detection tools often underperform for Black women due to higher breast tissue density. These tools are often trained on datasets that underrepresent people of color, making them less effective at identifying disease in non-white patients. Even algorithms used to determine who should receive follow-up care have mistakenly ranked Black patients as having fewer needs simply because less money was spent on their care in the past. These oversights are not just errors in code. They are systemic issues with real consequences for health outcomes. Injustice by Design: AI in Law Enforcement AI systems are increasingly being used by law enforcement to identify suspects, analyze risk, and monitor communities. But these tools are far from neutral. Facial recognition technology, for example, is notoriously less accurate when analyzing Black faces. In one widely reported case, Robert Williams, a Black man in Detroit, was wrongfully arrested after an AI system misidentified him. He spent time in jail for a crime he did not commit because the technology could not distinguish between two Black men. Such errors are not isolated incidents. They are embedded in systems built without diverse data or oversight. Locked Out of Opportunity: AI in Hiring Bias in AI extends to hiring and employment, where algorithms are often used to screen resumes and assess interview performance. In one case, Amazon scrapped its internal hiring tool because it was penalizing resumes that included words like ‘women’s chess club’ or listed historically Black colleges. The system had been trained on resumes from past hires, most of whom were white men. As a result, it learned to prefer applicants who looked just like them. Even video interview tools have problems. These systems sometimes rate applicants poorly if they have darker skin or speak with regional or cultural accents. They might misinterpret facial expressions, tone, or speech patterns as signs of dishonesty or lack of confidence, when in fact they are simply signs of cultural diversity. Qualified candidates can be filtered out before a human even sees their application. The result is not just individual rejection; it is systemic exclusion from the workforce. Digital Redlining: AI in Banking and Credit AI is also used to determine who qualifies for loans, mortgages, and credit. These systems analyze historical data to assess risk, but if that data reflects decades of discrimination, the algorithm will too. Studies have shown that Black applicants are more likely to be denied loans than white applicants with identical credit profiles. This is not due to individual risk, it is due to the fact that biased data is being treated as neutral truth. When Black families are denied access to credit, they lose out on homeownership, education, and financial stability. An Executive Order with Deadly Consequences The Executive Order banning DEI from federal AI systems does not prevent bias. It prevents efforts to detect and reduce bias. Diversity in AI is not a political stunt. It is a life-saving necessity. By blocking inclusive AI tools, the federal government is setting a precedent that will ripple across industries. Developers may feel pressured to strip equity considerations from their products in order to win federal contracts. Agencies may be unable to choose tools that serve all Americans. And most dangerously, the communities who already suffer from inequality will be pushed even further to the margins. When AI systems do not see you, understand you, or account for your needs, they fail you. And when the government refuses to require fairness in these systems, it puts lives at risk. The Executive Order is not just misguided. It is a public health threat, an economic barrier, and a civil rights violation rolled into one. Building a Better Future with Inclusive AI Across the country, researchers, engineers, and advocates are actively working to correct bias in artificial intelligence systems. From developing diverse training datasets to conducting fairness audits and engaging impacted communities, these initiatives are essential to ensuring AI reflects and serves the full spectrum of American society. Ethical AI is not a radical idea, it is a responsible one. The federal government must play a leading role in establishing standards that center fairness, transparency, and equity. Artificial intelligence has the potential to drive transformative change, but only if its development is grounded in justice. Inclusive design and rigorous oversight must become the norm, not the exception. The path forward depends on our collective commitment to ensuring that the tools shaping the future do not repeat the injustices of the past. #          #          #  

NCNW Advocacy & Policy Brief Overview:The House passed the budget bill (also known as “The Big Beautiful Bill” to some and “One Big Ugly Bill” to others) last night in a 215-214 vote along party lines in the dark of the night while many were sleeping. This bill includes a variety of cuts to various services and programs that support those dependent on the services for our communities. However, the result of the cuts gives a massive tax break to the wealthy which equals $3.8 trillion while the poorest would receive about $1 trillion in cuts. Households with the lowest incomes will make off worse while the richest get richer.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the federal agency (non-partisan) that provides budget and economic information to Congress, estimates that 15 million people would lose health coverage and millions will lose food assistance or have their food assistance cut, including 2 million or more children. Photo Credit Commonwealth Fund   The specifics of the bill are as follows: $500 billion cut to Medicare $700 billion cut to Medicaid The health care cuts take away Medicaid and affordable marketplace coverage from people who are eligible – many would have healthcare coverage dropped while driving up health cost for many. Work requirements for Medicaid specifically require childless adults without disabilities to work 80 hours a month. This would begin at the end of 2026. For SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) states will be required to increase the amount they contribute to the program. Work requirements will be applied for able bodied applicants who do not have children. Additionally, states who already are faced with federal funding cuts could decide to end their SNAP programs entirely. Education will be less attainable for many. While the cost for student loans will increase, it would reduce the level of Pell Grants for college students. The bill allows for education funds – $5 billion a year- to incentivize private schools over public schools. The debt ceiling will be raised by $4 trillion leaving the average American holding the bag for future debt while giving the wealthy a tax cut. No taxes on tips on or overtime earned between 2026 and 2028. On paper, it is good but will make businesses think that there will be no need to raise wages to a livable rate. Also, there is an allowance for a deduction of interest on car loans for US made cars only, while not everyone buys and owns a U.S. made car. This will be an increase in the Child Tax Credit $2,500 until 2028, but only for people with social security numbers. Essentially, the Child Tax Credit will be taken away from millions of U.S. Citizen children in immigrant families.  After that it would drop to $2,000 and grow with inflation. It would also allow for a $4,000 deduction for people over the age of 65 but phase out individuals with higher incomes.  

            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 5, 2025) – Emmy award-winning anchor, Linsey Davis, and Legendary DJ, D-Nice, will serve as host and emcee at the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) 19th Biennial Uncommon Height Honors Gala, on Dec. 6, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.  In its new format, the organization’s signature fundraising event, with proceeds raised being used to fund programs of critical concern known as the core four – health, education, economic justice, and social justice, will also mark 90 years since its founding by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune on Dec. 5, 1935.  Photo Credit NCNW (Linsey Davis, Anchor ABC News Liv Prime This year’s event host, Linsey Davis, is currently an anchor for ABC News Live Prime, which is ABC News Live’s first-ever streaming evening newscast, and weekend “World News Tonight” on Sundays. She is also a correspondent filing reports for “World News Tonight,” “Good Morning America,” “20/20” and “Nightline.”      Since launching her career in 2001 as a reporter at WJRT-TV, the ABC-owned station in Flint, Michigan, Linsey has received several honors for her reporting, including two Emmy® Awards and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.  Known for her tough, yet fair interviewing skills, Linsey has talked to such notables as Shelley Lynn Thornton also known as Baby Roe, the daughter of Jane Roe, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Anita Hill, Bill Gates, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Dionne Warwick to name a few. Her coverage ranges from the 2016 presidential election to social injustice and various natural disasters, including the earthquake in Haiti and multiple hurricanes. She was one of the moderators of the 2024 presidential debate between then former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. She led the first roundtable discussion with Black female mayors of Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Baton Rouge, La. and Tacoma, Wash. In addition, Linsey has covered news stories around the globe, including several of President Barack Obama’s trips overseas. A recognized author, Linsey has written six children’s books, all of which are bestsellers.  She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts degree in communications from New York University. Photo Credit NCNW (DJ, Derrick "D-Nice" Jones.) The emcee for the evening is American record producer, rapper, photographer, philanthropist, and legendary DJ, Derrick “D-Nice” Jones. He began his career in the 1980’s with the hip-hop group, Boogie Down Productions. Soon after, he released his solo debut album, Call Me D-Nice, which peaked at No. 75 on Billboard’s Top 200 Pop chart and No. 12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He most notably developed the online Instagram Live series Club Quarantine during the 2020 pandemic, where he DJ’d a virtual dance party at his home. The first series ran for nine hours and garnered more than 160,000 views, including participation from the likes of Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Bernie Sanders, Lenny Kravitz, Drake, Will Smith, Dwyane Wade, Janet Jackson, Mark Zuckerberg, and Joe Biden, among others. D-Nice won the 2020 Webby Artist of the Year award, was named Entertainer of The Year by the NAACP Image Awards and was the honorary recipient of the BET “SHINE A LIGHT” award. He has performed at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City, the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, The American Music Awards, as well as countless events and galas. He also performed for President Barack Obama at his inaugural ball and has made history as the first DJ/hip-hop artist to headline the Kennedy Center Opera House.  D-Nice has also taken his Club Quarantine series on the road to sold-out venues around the country, including the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Carnegie Hall in New York City. From this signature fundraiser, NCNW is hoping to raise $2 million, beating the goal last year, to bolster programs coming out of the new era that make a difference and touch lives, not only here in the US, but also abroad. This is the second gala, under the leadership of NCNW Chair, Dr. A. Lois Keith, and Rev. Arline-Bradley, with Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Carla Harris serving as co-chairs of this year’s event. Toyota Motor Company of North America is returning as presenting sponsors. The gala is named in honor of NCNW Chair and President Emerita, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, who led the organization for 40 years and achieved notoriety due to her immense contributions to economic justice, civil rights, and education. To further honor her, the Crystal Stair Award is awarded to an individual who demonstrates a lifetime devoted to the protection of freedom and pursuit of excellence in career and personal dedication to humanity as did Dr. Height.  In addition to this award, five honoree categories – Uncommon Journalist, Uncommon Changemaker, Uncommon Athlete, Alexis M. Herman Achievement in Public and Community Service Award, and Charles L. Franklin Associate Award – were added. The NCNW executive committee chooses honorees based on their positive and bold contributions, as well as their commitment to unity and self-reliance for Black women, their families and communities. The honorees will be announced at a later date. NCNW is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of nearly 400 campus and community-based sections and 37 national women’s organizations that enlighten, inspire, and connect more than 2,000,000 women and men. Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families and communities. To attend and for more information, visit https://uncommonheight.com or  https://ncnw.org/. CONTACTS Tonita Perry, APR, [email protected], 704-965-6956 #            #            #  

Release Washington, D.C., Aug. 25, 2025 – National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), along with a major coalition of civil rights, clergy, and labor leaders, will join Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network at the March on Wall Street in New York tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 28. The purpose of this march is to bring attention to the attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by the current Administration and to remind the Financial District of the power of Black Americans and their dollars. “The NCNW mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families and communities.  Because of this, we will never waver on our fight for support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI),” said NCNW President and CEO Shavon Arline-Bradley.  “It is most important to everyone, specifically Wall Street, to understand that we are strong when we are diverse and inclusive, which we are strong in these areas.  It is equity where we fall short.  NCNW is here to help with that.” NCNW shares the same values as some corporations, making it a logical choice for forming strategic partnerships.  For NCNW, the strategic partnerships fulfilled what corporations were doing to promote real opportunities that are truly economically inclusive.  The 89-year-old civil rights organization takes a three Cs approach – Corporate Strategy, Consumer Strategy, and Constituents Strategy to ensure this. Mrs. Arline-Bradley explains, “To combat this, NCNW has what we call the three Cs strategy.  The first C is the Corporate Strategy.  At NCNW, we support those corporations that demonstrate their commitment to DEI .  We ensure that our loyalty in dollars remains with those corporations that prioritize DEI.  That is why we have long-time dedicated corporate partners.  Secondly, we have a Consumer Strategy. Black women have significant spending power, and we want them to be able to harness this power by building wealth.  Learning how to save, invest, and prepare for retirement is crucial, while being smart with spending and supporting those who support us.  The last is the Constituent Strategy.  This is where we recognize that each citizen must be an informed voter, someone who exercises their right to vote.  Understanding that Black women are the most active electoral group, we need to exercise the power of the pen and vote for candidates who speak to our collective interests.” The March on Wall Street will kick off at 10 A.M. ET in Foley Square, at Duane Street between Federal Plaza and Center Street, just across the street from the African Burial Ground — the largest known resting place of enslaved and freed Africans. From there, the march will proceed down Broadway, past the Charging Bull structure that has over the last 40 years become synonymous with Wall Street. It will culminate at Whitehall Street (between Bridge and Pearl Streets) with a speaking program. Mrs. Arline-Bradley will be among the speakers for the program along with organizer Rev. Sharpton and the three leading candidates for New York City Mayor — incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to name a few. Other March on Wall Street partners and speakers include:Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, Drum Major InstituteThe Honorable Al GreenThe Honorable LaMonica McIverHuman Rights Campaign (HRC)Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under LawNAACP New York State ConferenceNational Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP)National Urban League (NUL)UnidosUS1199 SEIU32BJ SEIUAFGEAFSCMEAFSCME District Council 37AFSCME New JerseyAFTAPRICivil Service Employees Association (CSEA), AFSCMEHotel & Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIONEASEIUOmega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. NCNW is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of over 350 campus and community-based sections and 37 national women’s organizations that enlighten, inspire, and connect more than 2,000,000 women and men. Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities. It was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and activist. For more info, visit https://www.marchonwallstreets.com/, or to register to attend, click https://bit.ly/NCNW-MOW. ContactTonita Perry, APR, 704-965-6956, [email protected] Dr. Erica Southerland, APR, 771-216-6794, [email protected]  

National Council of Negro Women Headquarters, Inc.