The racial wealth gap, 60 years since the Civil Rights Act

A new report from the National Urban League highlights progress, but also underscores how elusive economic equality is.
"We've seen some closures in the education gap. But there's still a gap — the health care gap, the economic gap. In social justice, which covers the criminal justice system, we've actually seen a loss of ground in a significant way," says Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League.
Courtesy National Urban League

There's more evidence that subsidized jobs boost racial equity, report finds

Aug 17, 2023
"There are just a lot of positive ripple effects for communities," says Kali Grant of Georgetown, who co-wrote the updated report.
At the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. called for a massive federal jobs program for all Americans.
AFP via Getty Images

Wall Street widened the racial wealth gap. Can big banks help bridge it?

Oct 25, 2022
In her new book, journalist Emily Flitter looks at how Wall Street giants have kept Black Americans out of the financial industry.
The JPMorgan Chase headquarters building in New York. Many major Wall Street firms pledged to support economic equality for Black Americans after the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Black, Hispanic and poorer families pay the price for being "unbanked"

Aug 22, 2022
Low-income, Black, and Hispanic Americans are much more likely to lack a bank account or use alternative financial institutions like payday lenders.
A new report from the Joint Economic Committee in Congress finds that Black, Hispanic, and poorer Americans are much more likely to be considered "unbanked" or "underbanked".
Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Controversy follows changes to federal debt relief program for farmers of color

Aug 22, 2022
A federal program to aid farmers of color has been changed to omit references to race.
A federal program to provide aid to farmers of color was broadened by the recently-passed climate bill and now omits references to race.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

With Roe v. Wade overturned, economic disparities are poised to get worse

For millions of Americans, the loss of abortion rights may affect educational attainment and lifetime earnings for generations.
Abortion-rights activists demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday after the court's ruling was announced.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Who should get reparations? California's task force wrestles with that question.

Mar 30, 2022
A California task force weighs which Black residents could be eligible.
Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates shakes hands with House Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Johnson (R-LA) following a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on slavery reparations on June 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. The subcommittee debated the H.R. 40 bill, which proposes a commission be formed to study and develop reparation proposals for African-Americans.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Black, Hispanic and Indigenous patients are less likely to get specialized health care, study says

Aug 31, 2021
The reasons range from disparities created by Medicaid to racism in health care, according to experts.
Adam Berry/Getty Images

“America’s colleges and universities have a dirty open secret”

Aug 10, 2021
In his new book, journalist Adam Harris digs into the history of unequal higher education in America.
"America’s colleges and universities have a dirty open secret," writes longtime education reporter Adam Harris. “They have never given Black people an equal chance to succeed.”
Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images

Lifeguard shortage will mean fewer days at the pool

Jun 1, 2021
Public and private pools are facing closures and limited hours because of a lack of qualified staff for the season.
A lot of lifeguard training was put on hold during the pandemic.
Brett Hemmings/Getty Images