NEW YORK – The National Urban League is urging President Barack Obama to specifically address disparities in black unemployment, foreclosures, education and health care, according to The Associated Press.

In its annual “State of Black America” report released on Wednesday, the Urban League states that despite the progress represented by the election of America’s first black president, black people are still twice as likely to be unemployed, three times as likely to live in poverty and more than six times as likely to be incarcerated, according to the AP.

Obama has said that the way for government to help minorities is by improving education, employment and health care for all Americans.

But Marc Morial, president and CEO of the 99-year-old Urban League, said, “We have to be more specific.’’

In an interview with the AP, Morial said, “The issue is not only (blacks) doing better, but in closing these persistent gaps in statistics in this country. Our index shows that the gap in African-American status is about 71 percent that of white Americans. We will not rest until that number is at 100, and there is no gap.”

The 288-page report includes policy discussions and essays from academics, elected officials and average citizens, the AP reported.

Pictured above is National Urban League President Marc Morial.