Looking at the place the United States is in right now: foreclosure crisis, unsuccessful war on drugs, HIV and AIDS infecting children across the country, things look pretty bad. What’s worse is the fact that these issues have been plaguing the black community and other multicultural communities for over 20 years, said Benjamin Todd Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people.

Jealous spoke early today in the Harper Center to a small group of students and reporters before moving on to be the keynote speaker at the Freedom Fund Banquet, where the Rev. John Schlegel, S.J., was speaker last year.

“When we target an issue targeted specifically for blacks, we make this entire country greater,” Jealous said.

Jealous spoke about everything from health care to HIV and education, but he said one issue is tied up with the rest.

“We can’t fix health care, education or anything unless we deal with the population.”

Although the United States is 5 percent of the world’s population, it holds 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. On top of that, he said the racial disparities in prisons are still shameful.

“It is just one of a series of failings in our society,” he said.

After the speech he went to the Multicultural Affairs office with the half dozen attending members of the Creighton NAACP, listened to their accomplishments and gave advice on strategy to keep the organization growing.

Maurice Brewer, president of the CUNAACP said much of what Jealous spoke about could give the college group some direction.

“He told us to focus on an issue and work with other organizations to make it happen,” Brewer said.

One of Brewer’s main goals is to work on the law in Nebraska that allows life sentences without parole for minors.

Analise Harris, former CUNAACP president, met Jealous over the summer when she and other members attended the 100th anniversary of the NAACP in Washington D.C.

She said being a part of the NAACP isn’t just about joining a cultural organization, but it’s about jumping head-first into politics and getting involved.

“The issues that are facing the United States right now are the problems facing the inner city of Omaha,” she said. “Health care, drop out rates, HIV. All these things are spot on in this city alone.”