"How Has Urban Black America Fared?" is the first in BlackAmericaWeb.com's five-part The Bush Report Card series examining the impact of George W. Bush's presidency on black America. Coming Friday: the war president.

When it comes to the perception many black Americans have of President George W. Bush, it’s no surprise that the Commander-in-Chief’s standing is on somewhat shaky ground.

Among their concerns: black unemployment numbers are nearly double those of whites, causing a significant gap in wealth between the two races. Test scores for children in urban schools have declined, despite Bush's much-touted No Child Left Behind. Inadequate to virtually no access to proper healthcare exists for many, even in America's largest cities. More than 3,200 people are officially still unaccounted for nearly five months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Tens of thousands of black Americans displaced by the hurricane still have no sense that their president is acting urgently -- if at all -- to address their needs.

But the views Bush’s critics, from your everyday citizens to high-ranking politicians, are so willing to share isn’t necessarily an attack on the man, says Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Melvin L. Watts (D-NC). It’s really about the policies on which Bush has given his stamp of approval, Watts told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

“There’s no personal animosity between African-Americans and George Bush. It’s just that the policies he’s pursuing are not favorable to African-Americans,” Watts said, pointing to the president’s aggressive stance on the war in Iraq and the increasing amount of lost jobs to outsourcing and immigrant labor.

“If he had policies that were supportive and appealing to African-Americans, he would certainly be able to deliver these programs,” Watts said, adding that overall, he’d give Bush a failing grade for not developing programs and policies to benefit working class Americans. “But on every front, there is a consequence that is adverse to African-Americans.”

Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, agrees, saying that when it comes to the education of our children, especially those in urban school systems, there is a lot to be desired.

“People will say that (No Child Left Behind) is a good program for minority children, but don’t be fooled,” Weaver told BlackAmericaWeb.com, adding that much of the progress touted is direct result of the tireless efforts of teachers and administrators, not Bush and his administration.

“It’s a cruel hoax to try and convince the minority community that you’re acting in the best interest of the children, [yet you're] not funding the legislation,” added Weaver, whose organization filed a lawsuit on behalf of several school districts in the country against the Bush administration last year. The lawsuit, which sought adequate funding, was a “last resort” after years of unanswered pleas to see how the NEA and Department of Education could collaborate on making NCLB work for all children, Weaver said.

When it comes to Bush’s policies on education, healthcare, taxes or the war, Watts is clear to say that blacks aren’t the only segment of the American population to be feeling the pain. It exceeds race, said Watts, who believes it’s a matter of class.

“It’s as much a class issue as anything else. The policies are falling adversely and heavily on middle income and poor people,” Watts said. “It’s really about the people who have and the people who have not. But because African-Americans are disproportionately in the ‘have not’ category, these things are adversely affecting us.”

In February 2005, in one of the tightest presidential budgets on record, the budget Bush sent to Congress substantially cut or eliminated 150 federal programs, including health programs for poor people and veterans, education and business development, while proposing major increases for military operations overseas.

In the Department of Education, according to the Associated Press, Bush’s budget increased aid to poor districts by 4.7 percent, to $13.3 billion, but also ended 48 programs and reduced spending on 16 others to free $4.7 billion for other priorities. A third of the federal programs Bush promised to cut in his budget were in the Education Department, AP reported.

Bush’s plan included cutting the budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development by about $3.7 billion. Bush’s budget also cut several programs that offered housing initiatives for low-income Americans, including the disabled. Bush also proposed cutting funding for housing assistance programs for Americans with AIDS.
 
During his much-hyped visit to the Indiana Black Expo last summer, Bush proudly spoke about how his policies were aiding black Americans to better lifestyles, helping to increase homeownership and black entrepreneurship, restructure Social Security, and bolster education.

Bush told an audience of more than 3,000 that July morning that his administration was “making big differences in the lives of African-Americans,” a claim that some blacks obviously believe to be true. In 2000, eight percent of blacks voted for Bush, while 14 percent pulled the lever for him in 2004 despite the fact that between 2000 and 2003, the median household income fell from $43,848 to $43,318 and the nation’s poverty rate rose from 11.3 percent to 12.5 percent.

Additionally, another 4.8 million Americans fell into poverty, an increase from 31.1 million to 35.9 million.

Added to the mix of Americans being dealt devastating economic hardships are the thousands who lost everything due to Hurricane Katrina.

Alphonso Jackson, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said he believes black Americans should view the president in a positive light, stating that Bush has made a commitment to all Americans, but blacks in particular. This commitment has now spread to rebuilding the Gulf, Jackson told BlackAmericaWeb.com, adding that he knows his sentiments are not shared by the masses.

“I’m not sure we can ever appease the critics. They can always look for something wrong because they don’t believe Republicans are compassionate,” Jackson told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

“All (the Bush Administration) can do is admit that we’re wrong when things don’t work, and we’ve done that. I’ve done that,” Jackson said of the harsh criticism delivered to Bush as the Gulf Coast rebuilds, deservedly so.

“To dwell on the mistakes doesn’t help the situation. What helps is that we provide monetary help,” Jackson said, adding that Bush has allocated $11.5 billion to rebuild parts of the areas hardest hit by Katrina, especially those who had no insurance to start their lives over. “We’re committed to making sure that these people get back on their feet.”

“We could always look for areas to criticize, but I think the president has done a pretty good job, given the course of history and the hand that has been dealt,” opined conservative radio personality Armstrong Williams, pointing out that in his six years, Bush has seen a number of problems that arrived with little to no warning, namely the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and last year's devastating Hurricane Katrina.

“The issues we’re discussing were not any better during the Clinton years,” Williams told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “We’re still seeing the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

“Unless you start building home ownership, business and wealth empowerment zones, things are not to change in any community,” Williams continued. “When you’re poor and below the poverty line, no matter what happens in the economy, you’re going to get hit.”

But despite his obvious support of Bush, Williams -- who lost his syndicated column after being vilified for accepting nearly a quarter of a million dollars by the Bush administration to push No Child Left Behind through his punditry -- claims he is not someone who buys everything the president says without first researching the pros and cons. He suggests that every black American take the time to investigate what is said by the president, as well as any politician. The information will help erase some of the doubts -- and might even surprise some people, Williams said.

“I don’t just take anything for face value when the president makes the speech. I go and do my homework,” Williams told BlackAmericaWeb.com, saying with the advent of the Internet, people have no excuse to say they can’t find out anything.

“But the president doesn’t have a monopoly on giving us propaganda. That’s what all politicians do,” Williams said.

With less than two years left before the ends of his term, Bush does have a chance to improve his image amongst black Americans as well as make the playing ground more even for all, Watts said. His advice would be the same that he would give to any teacher trying to see all of their students excel.

“You can’t just teach to the top five or 10 percent of the class and not worry about the other 90 or 95 percent,” Watts told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “He’s gotta reach to the others to bring them up and let them share in what this country is all about.

“You’ve got to implement policy that’s benefiting a much more broad scale,” Watts concluded. “If not, the country, in the long term is in going to be in trouble.”

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Associated Press contributed to this story.