In unveiling its 50th State of Black America report on Thursday, the National Urban League asks “Is the American Dream Dead?” The report outlines systemic patterns over 250 years of American history and during their conference in Nashville, leaders took aim at the whittling away of civil rights and liberties.

Chandelis Duster has covered national and international news, spanning politics, race and equality, entertainment, space, and science, with on-air and digital reporting at CNN, as well as bylines at NBC News and MSNBC. At CNN, she reported on race and equality, breaking major political stories, including investigations into discrimination against farmers of color, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and coverage of the Supreme Court. Her work also appears on NPR, where her stories reach millions...