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
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
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
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
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
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