Racial Divide Analysis.pdf

Racial disparities persist in every facet of society, with people of color and whites living in "two different societies, governed by two different sets of rules."
Despite policies aimed at closing the gap, there has been little progress over the past 50 years, requiring new approaches to achieve racial equity and economic opportunity.
Wealth disparities:
+ Median net worth of white families in the US: $189,100 (2019)
+ Median net worth of Black families in the US: $24,100 (2019)
+ Black family heads with a bachelor's degree or higher have 30% lower median net worth than white family heads without a degree
Income and employment:
+ Median annual income for Blacks and Hispanics in the US: $40,300 and $40,700, respectively (2019)
+ Median income for whites in Boston: $91,000 (2015)
+ Black unemployment rates spike during recessions and recover only as labor markets tighten
Societal institutions contributing to disparities:
+ Education: Black and Hispanic students' average scholastic performance remains below proficient, while white students have been above proficient for over a decade
+ Dropout rates: 12.6% for Hispanic students, 7.2% for Black students, and 3.2% for white students in Massachusetts
+ Healthcare: racial disparities in health outcomes and access to care persist
Boston's reputation:
+ Ranked as the least welcoming city to people of color in a 2017 nationwide survey
+ Tarnished by extensive national media coverage of racially tainted policies in busing, stop and frisk policing, and sports.