GITNUXREPORT 2026

Racial Injustice Statistics

Racial injustice creates vastly unequal outcomes across American systems every day.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of whites, with 1 in 17 Black men incarcerated compared to 1 in 106 white men as of 2021.

Statistic 2

In 2022, Black drivers were stopped by police at rates 20% higher than white drivers, yet searches of Black drivers yielded contraband 25% less often than whites.

Statistic 3

From 2013 to 2022, Black people were killed by police at 2.9 times the rate of white people, with 1,136 Black deaths recorded.

Statistic 4

Black youth are five times more likely than white youth to be incarcerated in juvenile facilities, per 2020 data.

Statistic 5

In federal prisons, Black inmates receive sentences 19.1% longer than white inmates for similar crimes in 2021.

Statistic 6

33% of Black Americans have a family member incarcerated, compared to 6% of white Americans in 2022 surveys.

Statistic 7

Black women are imprisoned at twice the rate of white women, with rates of 64 per 100,000 vs. 30 per 100,000 in 2021.

Statistic 8

Police use force against Black individuals 3.5 times more often than against whites, per 2019-2021 data.

Statistic 9

52% of Black homicide victims are killed by police or in police encounters, higher than any other group in 2020.

Statistic 10

Black defendants are 3.73 times more likely to receive mandatory minimum sentences than whites in drug cases, 2021.

Statistic 11

In 2022, Black people made up 27% of arrests despite being 13.6% of the population.

Statistic 12

Pretrial detention rates for Black individuals are 3 times higher than for whites, leading to higher conviction rates.

Statistic 13

Black juveniles are tried as adults at rates 7 times higher than white juveniles for similar offenses in 2020.

Statistic 14

40% of Black men have a felony conviction by age 23, vs. 17% of white men, per longitudinal studies.

Statistic 15

Black Americans face cash bail amounts 35% higher than whites for identical charges in 2021 analyses.

Statistic 16

Wrongful conviction rates for Black people are 7 times higher than whites, with 53% of DNA exonerations being Black.

Statistic 17

Black drivers are 23% more likely to be pulled over at night when race is less visible, indicating bias.

Statistic 18

In 2021, Black people comprised 42% of death row inmates despite 13% population share.

Statistic 19

Police kill unarmed Black men at 3 times the rate of unarmed white men, 2015-2022 data.

Statistic 20

Black probationers are revoked at twice the rate of whites for technical violations in 2020.

Statistic 21

Black unemployment rate averaged 6.1% vs. 3.2% for whites in 2023.

Statistic 22

Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn, median wages 2022.

Statistic 23

Black labor force participation is 62.7% vs. 61.1% whites, but job quality lower, 2023.

Statistic 24

30% of Black families live in poverty vs. 10% white families, 2022 Census.

Statistic 25

Black entrepreneurs receive 1% of venture capital funding, despite 9% startups, 2022.

Statistic 26

Median Black household wealth is $24,100 vs. $188,200 for whites, 2019.

Statistic 27

Black workers are 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed long-term, over 27 weeks.

Statistic 28

Wage gap persists: Black college grads earn 20% less than white grads, 2022.

Statistic 29

50% of Black workers in low-wage jobs vs. 30% whites, 2021 data.

Statistic 30

Black men face 12.6% unemployment vs. 4.2% white men, 2023 average.

Statistic 31

Homeownership rate: 45% Black vs. 75% white households, 2022.

Statistic 32

Black women earn 64 cents per white male dollar, largest gender-race gap.

Statistic 33

During recessions, Black unemployment rises 2x faster than whites, historical data.

Statistic 34

65% of Black workers lack employer health coverage vs. 50% whites.

Statistic 35

Black gig workers earn 28% less per hour than white counterparts, 2022.

Statistic 36

Retirement savings: Black households have 1/10th the median of whites, 2019.

Statistic 37

Black small business loan denial rate 42% higher than whites, 2021.

Statistic 38

Income inequality: Top 10% Black households earn 12x bottom 10%, wider gap than whites.

Statistic 39

Black median income $48,297 vs. $77,999 white, 2022 Census.

Statistic 40

Black families have 10% home equity share vs. 30% whites, despite ownership.

Statistic 41

Black median net worth $44,900 vs. $285,000 whites, 2022 Fed data.

Statistic 42

Black students are suspended at three times the rate of white students nationally in 2021.

Statistic 43

Only 26% of Black eighth graders are proficient in reading vs. 42% of white students, NAEP 2022.

Statistic 44

Black students attend schools with 36% fewer resources per pupil than white students' schools in 2020.

Statistic 45

High school graduation rate for Black students is 79% vs. 89% for whites in 2021.

Statistic 46

Black students are 3.8 times more likely to be expelled than white peers, per 2019 data.

Statistic 47

Only 14% of Black K-12 teachers are Black, despite 15% Black student population, leading to mismatch.

Statistic 48

Segregated schools for Black students have funding 23% lower on average, $2,200 less per student.

Statistic 49

Black college enrollment dropped 12% more than whites post-COVID, 2022 data.

Statistic 50

AP exam pass rates for Black students are 50% lower than whites in STEM subjects, 2021.

Statistic 51

Black students face 4 times higher rates of school resource officer referrals to law enforcement.

Statistic 52

Lifetime earnings gap starts with Black students receiving $23B less in Pell Grants proportionally.

Statistic 53

55% of Black public school students attend high-poverty schools vs. 18% of whites, 2020.

Statistic 54

Black girls are removed from class 5.5 times more often than white girls for discipline.

Statistic 55

College completion rate for Black students is 46% vs. 65% for whites within 6 years, 2021.

Statistic 56

Black students in majority-white schools report higher bullying rates, 28% vs. 20%.

Statistic 57

Funding disparities mean Black districts get $1,500 less per student annually, cumulative $23B gap.

Statistic 58

Black male students have 40% higher dropout rates in urban areas, 2022 data.

Statistic 59

Only 9% of Black students take advanced math courses vs. 24% whites, 2021.

Statistic 60

Black infants have a mortality rate 2.3 times higher than white infants, 11.4 vs. 4.9 per 1,000 births in 2021.

Statistic 61

Black Americans are 1.9 times more likely to be uninsured than whites, 10.6% vs. 5.6% in 2022.

Statistic 62

Maternal mortality for Black women is 55.3 per 100,000 vs. 18.9 for whites, 2021 data.

Statistic 63

Black patients receive 30% fewer pain management prescriptions than whites for same conditions.

Statistic 64

Diabetes prevalence is 60% higher in Black adults, 13.4% vs. 8.3% in whites, 2021.

Statistic 65

Black cancer patients have 12% lower survival rates for breast cancer than whites, stage-adjusted.

Statistic 66

Life expectancy for Black Americans is 71.8 years vs. 77.6 for whites, 2021.

Statistic 67

Black adults are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than whites, age-adjusted rates.

Statistic 68

COVID-19 death rate for Black people was 1.7 times higher than whites, 2020-2022.

Statistic 69

Black children have asthma hospitalization rates 4 times higher than white children.

Statistic 70

20% of Black adults report discrimination in healthcare, delaying treatment, 2022 survey.

Statistic 71

Kidney failure rates are 3.4 times higher in Black Americans, 2021 USRDS data.

Statistic 72

Black stroke death rates are 50% higher than whites, 2020.

Statistic 73

Black women undergo C-sections at 36% rate vs. 32% for whites, with higher complications.

Statistic 74

Mental health treatment access for Blacks is 50% lower, only 31% receive care vs. 45% whites.

Statistic 75

HIV diagnosis rates for Black Americans are 8 times higher than whites, 2021.

Statistic 76

Black veterans have 20% higher suicide rates than white veterans, 2020 VA data.

Statistic 77

Sickle cell disease affects 1 in 365 Black births vs. rare in others, with poor treatment access.

Statistic 78

Black homeowners are charged 0.13% higher mortgage rates than whites, 2022.

Statistic 79

Black families hold 15% of total U.S. wealth despite 13% population, 2019.

Statistic 80

Redlining legacy: 75% of formerly redlined areas are low-income, majority minority.

Statistic 81

Black eviction rates 50% higher than whites in major cities, 2022.

Statistic 82

Median Black rent burden 31% of income vs. 28% whites, 2021.

Statistic 83

Black neighborhoods have 20% less park space per capita than white areas.

Statistic 84

Wealth gap widened: Black families lost 53% wealth in Great Recession vs. 16% whites.

Statistic 85

64% of Black children live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty vs. 8% whites.

Statistic 86

Black home appraisals undervalued by 23% in Black-majority areas, 2022 study.

Statistic 87

Inheritance wealth: Whites receive 10x more than Blacks, $150k vs. $15k average.

Statistic 88

Black households overrepresented in subprime mortgages 3x whites pre-2008.

Statistic 89

Housing segregation index: 60 for Blacks vs. 40 national average, 2020.

Statistic 90

Black families pay 8% more in property taxes for similar homes in similar areas.

Statistic 91

25% of Black renters face severe housing cost burden >50% income, vs. 12% whites.

Statistic 92

Gentrification displaces 20% more Black residents than others in urban areas.

Statistic 93

Black wealth growth 1983-2019: 60% vs. 140% for whites.

Statistic 94

Public housing waitlists: Blacks 49% of applicants, but 70% of those denied upgrades.

Statistic 95

Environmental hazards: Black neighborhoods 75% more likely near toxic sites.

Statistic 96

Student debt: Black graduates owe 88% more than whites after 12 years.

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From cradle to grave, the data paints a devastating picture of systemic racial injustice in America, where Black individuals face staggering disparities in incarceration, education, health, wealth, and nearly every measure of life outcomes compared to their white counterparts.

Key Takeaways

  • Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of whites, with 1 in 17 Black men incarcerated compared to 1 in 106 white men as of 2021.
  • In 2022, Black drivers were stopped by police at rates 20% higher than white drivers, yet searches of Black drivers yielded contraband 25% less often than whites.
  • From 2013 to 2022, Black people were killed by police at 2.9 times the rate of white people, with 1,136 Black deaths recorded.
  • Black students are suspended at three times the rate of white students nationally in 2021.
  • Only 26% of Black eighth graders are proficient in reading vs. 42% of white students, NAEP 2022.
  • Black students attend schools with 36% fewer resources per pupil than white students' schools in 2020.
  • Black infants have a mortality rate 2.3 times higher than white infants, 11.4 vs. 4.9 per 1,000 births in 2021.
  • Black Americans are 1.9 times more likely to be uninsured than whites, 10.6% vs. 5.6% in 2022.
  • Maternal mortality for Black women is 55.3 per 100,000 vs. 18.9 for whites, 2021 data.
  • Black unemployment rate averaged 6.1% vs. 3.2% for whites in 2023.
  • Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn, median wages 2022.
  • Black labor force participation is 62.7% vs. 61.1% whites, but job quality lower, 2023.
  • Black homeowners are charged 0.13% higher mortgage rates than whites, 2022.
  • Black families hold 15% of total U.S. wealth despite 13% population, 2019.
  • Redlining legacy: 75% of formerly redlined areas are low-income, majority minority.

Racial injustice creates vastly unequal outcomes across American systems every day.

Criminal Justice Disparities

  • Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of whites, with 1 in 17 Black men incarcerated compared to 1 in 106 white men as of 2021.
  • In 2022, Black drivers were stopped by police at rates 20% higher than white drivers, yet searches of Black drivers yielded contraband 25% less often than whites.
  • From 2013 to 2022, Black people were killed by police at 2.9 times the rate of white people, with 1,136 Black deaths recorded.
  • Black youth are five times more likely than white youth to be incarcerated in juvenile facilities, per 2020 data.
  • In federal prisons, Black inmates receive sentences 19.1% longer than white inmates for similar crimes in 2021.
  • 33% of Black Americans have a family member incarcerated, compared to 6% of white Americans in 2022 surveys.
  • Black women are imprisoned at twice the rate of white women, with rates of 64 per 100,000 vs. 30 per 100,000 in 2021.
  • Police use force against Black individuals 3.5 times more often than against whites, per 2019-2021 data.
  • 52% of Black homicide victims are killed by police or in police encounters, higher than any other group in 2020.
  • Black defendants are 3.73 times more likely to receive mandatory minimum sentences than whites in drug cases, 2021.
  • In 2022, Black people made up 27% of arrests despite being 13.6% of the population.
  • Pretrial detention rates for Black individuals are 3 times higher than for whites, leading to higher conviction rates.
  • Black juveniles are tried as adults at rates 7 times higher than white juveniles for similar offenses in 2020.
  • 40% of Black men have a felony conviction by age 23, vs. 17% of white men, per longitudinal studies.
  • Black Americans face cash bail amounts 35% higher than whites for identical charges in 2021 analyses.
  • Wrongful conviction rates for Black people are 7 times higher than whites, with 53% of DNA exonerations being Black.
  • Black drivers are 23% more likely to be pulled over at night when race is less visible, indicating bias.
  • In 2021, Black people comprised 42% of death row inmates despite 13% population share.
  • Police kill unarmed Black men at 3 times the rate of unarmed white men, 2015-2022 data.
  • Black probationers are revoked at twice the rate of whites for technical violations in 2020.

Criminal Justice Disparities Interpretation

This collection of statistics isn't merely a set of disparate data points, but a single, damning ledger proving that from the first police stop to the final sentencing, the American justice system operates with a heavy and institutionalized bias against Black Americans.

Economic and Employment Inequality

  • Black unemployment rate averaged 6.1% vs. 3.2% for whites in 2023.
  • Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn, median wages 2022.
  • Black labor force participation is 62.7% vs. 61.1% whites, but job quality lower, 2023.
  • 30% of Black families live in poverty vs. 10% white families, 2022 Census.
  • Black entrepreneurs receive 1% of venture capital funding, despite 9% startups, 2022.
  • Median Black household wealth is $24,100 vs. $188,200 for whites, 2019.
  • Black workers are 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed long-term, over 27 weeks.
  • Wage gap persists: Black college grads earn 20% less than white grads, 2022.
  • 50% of Black workers in low-wage jobs vs. 30% whites, 2021 data.
  • Black men face 12.6% unemployment vs. 4.2% white men, 2023 average.
  • Homeownership rate: 45% Black vs. 75% white households, 2022.
  • Black women earn 64 cents per white male dollar, largest gender-race gap.
  • During recessions, Black unemployment rises 2x faster than whites, historical data.
  • 65% of Black workers lack employer health coverage vs. 50% whites.
  • Black gig workers earn 28% less per hour than white counterparts, 2022.
  • Retirement savings: Black households have 1/10th the median of whites, 2019.
  • Black small business loan denial rate 42% higher than whites, 2021.
  • Income inequality: Top 10% Black households earn 12x bottom 10%, wider gap than whites.
  • Black median income $48,297 vs. $77,999 white, 2022 Census.
  • Black families have 10% home equity share vs. 30% whites, despite ownership.
  • Black median net worth $44,900 vs. $285,000 whites, 2022 Fed data.

Economic and Employment Inequality Interpretation

The statistics paint a bleak, consistent picture: being Black in America means you are statistically penalized at every major economic checkpoint, from the first job offer to the final retirement account, in a system that has meticulously calculated your disadvantage but remains mysteriously unable to correct it.

Educational Inequities

  • Black students are suspended at three times the rate of white students nationally in 2021.
  • Only 26% of Black eighth graders are proficient in reading vs. 42% of white students, NAEP 2022.
  • Black students attend schools with 36% fewer resources per pupil than white students' schools in 2020.
  • High school graduation rate for Black students is 79% vs. 89% for whites in 2021.
  • Black students are 3.8 times more likely to be expelled than white peers, per 2019 data.
  • Only 14% of Black K-12 teachers are Black, despite 15% Black student population, leading to mismatch.
  • Segregated schools for Black students have funding 23% lower on average, $2,200 less per student.
  • Black college enrollment dropped 12% more than whites post-COVID, 2022 data.
  • AP exam pass rates for Black students are 50% lower than whites in STEM subjects, 2021.
  • Black students face 4 times higher rates of school resource officer referrals to law enforcement.
  • Lifetime earnings gap starts with Black students receiving $23B less in Pell Grants proportionally.
  • 55% of Black public school students attend high-poverty schools vs. 18% of whites, 2020.
  • Black girls are removed from class 5.5 times more often than white girls for discipline.
  • College completion rate for Black students is 46% vs. 65% for whites within 6 years, 2021.
  • Black students in majority-white schools report higher bullying rates, 28% vs. 20%.
  • Funding disparities mean Black districts get $1,500 less per student annually, cumulative $23B gap.
  • Black male students have 40% higher dropout rates in urban areas, 2022 data.
  • Only 9% of Black students take advanced math courses vs. 24% whites, 2021.

Educational Inequities Interpretation

These statistics paint the undeniable and infuriating portrait of an education system that methodically prepares Black students for the school-to-prison pipeline while pretending to offer them a school-to-college one.

Healthcare Disparities

  • Black infants have a mortality rate 2.3 times higher than white infants, 11.4 vs. 4.9 per 1,000 births in 2021.
  • Black Americans are 1.9 times more likely to be uninsured than whites, 10.6% vs. 5.6% in 2022.
  • Maternal mortality for Black women is 55.3 per 100,000 vs. 18.9 for whites, 2021 data.
  • Black patients receive 30% fewer pain management prescriptions than whites for same conditions.
  • Diabetes prevalence is 60% higher in Black adults, 13.4% vs. 8.3% in whites, 2021.
  • Black cancer patients have 12% lower survival rates for breast cancer than whites, stage-adjusted.
  • Life expectancy for Black Americans is 71.8 years vs. 77.6 for whites, 2021.
  • Black adults are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than whites, age-adjusted rates.
  • COVID-19 death rate for Black people was 1.7 times higher than whites, 2020-2022.
  • Black children have asthma hospitalization rates 4 times higher than white children.
  • 20% of Black adults report discrimination in healthcare, delaying treatment, 2022 survey.
  • Kidney failure rates are 3.4 times higher in Black Americans, 2021 USRDS data.
  • Black stroke death rates are 50% higher than whites, 2020.
  • Black women undergo C-sections at 36% rate vs. 32% for whites, with higher complications.
  • Mental health treatment access for Blacks is 50% lower, only 31% receive care vs. 45% whites.
  • HIV diagnosis rates for Black Americans are 8 times higher than whites, 2021.
  • Black veterans have 20% higher suicide rates than white veterans, 2020 VA data.
  • Sickle cell disease affects 1 in 365 Black births vs. rare in others, with poor treatment access.

Healthcare Disparities Interpretation

The statistics paint a grim and systemic portrait: from cradle to grave, being Black in America means navigating a healthcare landscape where your life is statistically more precarious at every single stage.

Housing and Wealth Gaps

  • Black homeowners are charged 0.13% higher mortgage rates than whites, 2022.
  • Black families hold 15% of total U.S. wealth despite 13% population, 2019.
  • Redlining legacy: 75% of formerly redlined areas are low-income, majority minority.
  • Black eviction rates 50% higher than whites in major cities, 2022.
  • Median Black rent burden 31% of income vs. 28% whites, 2021.
  • Black neighborhoods have 20% less park space per capita than white areas.
  • Wealth gap widened: Black families lost 53% wealth in Great Recession vs. 16% whites.
  • 64% of Black children live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty vs. 8% whites.
  • Black home appraisals undervalued by 23% in Black-majority areas, 2022 study.
  • Inheritance wealth: Whites receive 10x more than Blacks, $150k vs. $15k average.
  • Black households overrepresented in subprime mortgages 3x whites pre-2008.
  • Housing segregation index: 60 for Blacks vs. 40 national average, 2020.
  • Black families pay 8% more in property taxes for similar homes in similar areas.
  • 25% of Black renters face severe housing cost burden >50% income, vs. 12% whites.
  • Gentrification displaces 20% more Black residents than others in urban areas.
  • Black wealth growth 1983-2019: 60% vs. 140% for whites.
  • Public housing waitlists: Blacks 49% of applicants, but 70% of those denied upgrades.
  • Environmental hazards: Black neighborhoods 75% more likely near toxic sites.
  • Student debt: Black graduates owe 88% more than whites after 12 years.

Housing and Wealth Gaps Interpretation

This cascade of data reveals not an anomaly but an architecture, where the bricks of historic bias have been mortared into a contemporary edifice that systematically extracts wealth, security, and dignity from Black families at every possible point.

Sources & References