Black Lawmakers Press Obama on Jobs in Urban Areas

By ERICA WERNER

WASHINGTON – Black members of Congress pressed President Barack Obama Thursday for a greater focus on creating jobs in urban areas where unemployment is often highest. Obama said that he was trying to fix the economy as a whole, said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (pictured at left).

The exchange happened at the first meeting between Obama and the full Black Caucus since Obama became president. It follows longstanding complaints from some in the African-American community that the nation's first black president hasn't done more to help minority communities on jobs and other issues.