Key Takeaways
- Black Americans, who comprise 13.6% of the U.S. population, accounted for 33% of the prison population in 2020.
- In 2019, the homicide victimization rate for Black Americans was 20.9 per 100,000, compared to 3.3 for White Americans.
- Black drivers are 20% more likely to be stopped by police than white drivers, according to a 2020 Stanford study analyzing 100 million traffic stops.
- The median wealth for Black households in 2019 was $24,100, compared to $188,200 for white households.
- Black unemployment rate in 2023 averaged 5.5%, more than double the 3.1% for whites.
- Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn in 2022 median wages.
- In 2022, only 26% of Black students had access to advanced math courses vs. 35% whites.
- Black students suspended at 3.8 times the rate of white students in 2017-18.
- High school graduation: 79% Black vs. 89% white in 2020.
- Black maternal mortality 55.3 per 100k births vs. 19.1 white in 2021.
- COVID death rate: Black Americans 1.7x higher than whites.
- Life expectancy: 70.8 years Black vs. 76.4 white in 2021.
- Black applicants 21% more likely denied mortgages than whites in 2022.
- Black homebuyers pay 3-5% higher interest rates.
- Redlining legacy: 74% Black neighborhoods graded D or worse historically.
Persistent systemic racism creates vast disparities across American society.
Criminal Justice
- Black Americans, who comprise 13.6% of the U.S. population, accounted for 33% of the prison population in 2020.
- In 2019, the homicide victimization rate for Black Americans was 20.9 per 100,000, compared to 3.3 for White Americans.
- Black drivers are 20% more likely to be stopped by police than white drivers, according to a 2020 Stanford study analyzing 100 million traffic stops.
- In 2021, Black Americans were arrested for marijuana possession at nearly 4 times the rate of whites, despite similar usage rates.
- From 2000-2019, Black youth were detained at 4.2 times the rate of white youth in juvenile justice systems.
- In 2018, 52% of Black Americans reported being treated as if they were suspicious by police, vs. 22% of whites.
- Federal death sentences from 1990-2020 show Black defendants were 3.5 times more likely to receive them than whites.
- In 2022, Black people comprised 53% of homicide offenders in cases where race was known, despite being 13% of population.
- Stop-and-frisk in NYC 2003-2013: 85% of stops were of Black or Latino people, who were 50% of population.
- Black Americans receive sentences 19.1% longer than whites for similar crimes, per 2017 USSC report.
- In 2020, police killed Black people at 2.5 times the rate of whites (28 vs 11 per million).
- 2021 data shows Black suspects were 2.8 times more likely to be unarmed when shot by police than white suspects.
- Juvenile incarceration: Black youth are 5 times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth.
- In drug trafficking cases, Black defendants get 10% longer sentences than whites.
- 2019: Black Americans 24% of arrests but 13% population; whites 69% arrests, 60% population.
- Pretrial detention: Black defendants 25% more likely to be detained pretrial than whites.
- In 2022, Black people were 3.7 times more likely to be killed by police than whites.
- Probation revocation rates: Black individuals 1.5 times more likely than whites.
- Use of force: Black suspects 3 times more likely to experience force during arrests.
- In 2016, Black drivers searched 5.4% of stops vs. 3.6% whites, finding contraband less often.
- Black women incarcerated at twice the rate of white women in 2020.
- Hate crimes: Anti-Black incidents 31.1% of race-based hate crimes in 2021.
- School resource officers: Black students 3 times more likely arrested at school.
- Cash bail: Black defendants pay 35% more bail on average.
- Plea bargains: Black defendants 25% less likely to get favorable pleas.
- Wrongful convictions: Black people 7 times more likely exonerated for sexual assault.
- Gang databases: 80% Black/Latino in some cities despite demographics.
- Tasering: Black individuals 2.5 times more likely to be tased.
- Parole denial: Black parolees denied at 1.6 times rate of whites.
- In 2023, Black youth 4 times more likely in solitary confinement in juvenile facilities.
Criminal Justice Interpretation
Economic Disparities
- The median wealth for Black households in 2019 was $24,100, compared to $188,200 for white households.
- Black unemployment rate in 2023 averaged 5.5%, more than double the 3.1% for whites.
- Black workers earn 73 cents for every dollar white workers earn in 2022 median wages.
- In 2021, 19% of Black-owned businesses received PPP loans vs. 14% denial rate higher than whites.
- Black entrepreneurs receive 1% of venture capital funding despite being 13% population.
- Homeownership: 44% Black vs. 74% white in 2022.
- Black families have 1/8th the wealth of white families on average in 2019.
- CEO pay: Black CEOs earn 20% less than white counterparts in similar firms.
- In 2020, Black workers were 2.5 times more likely to lose jobs due to COVID.
- Small business loans: Black applicants denied at 2x rate of whites.
- Poverty rate: 18.8% Black vs. 7.3% non-Hispanic white in 2022.
- Wage gap persists: Black men earn 71% of white men's wages in 2023.
- Black college grads unemployment 2x whites in 2022.
- Inheritance: Black families receive 35% less inheritance wealth.
- Gig economy: Black workers earn 20% less on platforms like Uber.
- Retirement savings: Black workers have 65% less saved than whites.
- Credit scores: 40% Black adults subprime vs. 18% whites.
- Black women poverty rate 23.4% vs. 10.5% white women in 2021.
- Business closures: Black businesses closed at 41% rate vs. 32% whites in pandemic.
- Occupational segregation: 30% Black workers in low-wage service jobs vs. 15% whites.
- Student debt: Black grads owe 86% more debt 10 years post-grad.
- Mortgage denial: Black applicants 80% more likely denied.
- Black households food insecurity 22% vs. 9% whites in 2021.
- Executive roles: 3.2% Black in Fortune 500 vs. 13% population.
- Auto loan rates: Black borrowers pay 0.7% higher interest.
- Black unemployment duration: 7.8 months vs. 5.2 for whites in 2023.
- Black high school dropouts 6.4% vs. 4.1% whites.
Economic Disparities Interpretation
Educational Inequities
- In 2022, only 26% of Black students had access to advanced math courses vs. 35% whites.
- Black students suspended at 3.8 times the rate of white students in 2017-18.
- High school graduation: 79% Black vs. 89% white in 2020.
- SAT scores: Black students average 926 vs. 1111 for whites in 2022.
- Black students 15% of enrollment but 40% of school arrests.
- Funding gap: Predominantly Black schools receive $1,500 less per student.
- College enrollment: Black rate 33% vs. 42% whites post-high school.
- Teacher bias: Black students graded 0.18 points lower on identical essays.
- AP course access: 50% fewer Black students enrolled proportionally.
- Expulsion rates: Black preschoolers 3.6x more likely expelled.
- Gifted programs: Black students 16% of students but 5% gifted.
- Reading proficiency: 17% Black 8th graders proficient vs. 39% whites.
- Math proficiency: 12% Black vs. 39% white 8th graders.
- Counselors: Black students have 1:500 ratio vs. 1:250 whites.
- Bullying: 25% Black students report race-based bullying vs. 10% whites.
- STEM degrees: Black students 9% of bachelor's vs. 13% population.
- HBCU funding: $1B less than predominantly white institutions.
- Dropout rates: 5.2% Black vs. 3.9% whites 2021.
- Teacher diversity: 7% Black teachers vs. 15% Black students.
- Special ed: Black students overrepresented by 15%.
- Ivy League: Black enrollment 7-10% despite affirmative action.
- NAEP scores gap: 30 points in reading for 4th graders Black-white.
- School segregation: 40% Black students in majority-minority schools.
Educational Inequities Interpretation
Health Disparities
- Black maternal mortality 55.3 per 100k births vs. 19.1 white in 2021.
- COVID death rate: Black Americans 1.7x higher than whites.
- Life expectancy: 70.8 years Black vs. 76.4 white in 2021.
- Infant mortality: 10.8 per 1k Black births vs. 4.4 white.
- Diabetes prevalence: 12.1% Black adults vs. 7.4% whites.
- Hypertension: 56% Black adults vs. 48% whites.
- Cancer mortality: Black rate 189 per 100k vs. 150 white.
- Obesity: 49.9% Black adults vs. 41.4% whites.
- Mental health: Black adults 10.3% serious psych distress vs. 8.2% whites.
- Vaccine hesitancy: Initial COVID vax rate 10% lower for Blacks.
- Heart disease death: 211 per 100k Black vs. 178 white.
- Kidney disease: Black ESRD rate 3x whites.
- Stroke mortality: 44.6 per 100k Black vs. 33.7 white.
- Uninsured rate: 10.6% Black vs. 6.3% whites 2022.
- Doctor visits: Black patients 20% less likely to have regular doctor.
- Pain treatment: Black patients 40% less likely prescribed opioids for pain.
- HIV diagnosis: Black rate 42.3 per 100k vs. 11.7 white.
- Suicide: Black youth rate rising 182% 2007-2020 vs. whites.
- Air pollution exposure: Black Americans 56% higher PM2.5 exposure.
- Lead poisoning: Black kids 2x risk in childhood.
- Mammogram screening: 10% lower for Black women.
- Colorectal cancer screening: Black adults 5% less screened.
- Asthma hospitalization: Black children 4x whites.
- Sickle cell: Affects 1 in 365 Black Americans.
Health Disparities Interpretation
Housing Discrimination
- Black applicants 21% more likely denied mortgages than whites in 2022.
- Black homebuyers pay 3-5% higher interest rates.
- Redlining legacy: 74% Black neighborhoods graded D or worse historically.
- Rent burden: 53% Black renters spend >30% income vs. 42% whites.
- Eviction rates: Black women 1.5x more likely evicted.
- Public housing: 48% Black occupancy vs. 13% population.
- Appraisal bias: Black homes undervalued by $48k on average.
- Segregation index: 59% Black-white dissimilarity in 2020.
- FHA loans: Black areas 10% less likely approved.
- Homelessness: Black people 37% homeless population vs. 13% general.
- Rental discrimination: Black renters face 50% callback disparity.
- Subprime mortgages: Black borrowers 2.5x more likely subprime pre-2008.
- Housing vouchers: Black recipients face landlord rejection 20% higher.
- Lead paint: 70% more Black children exposed.
- Gentrification: 52% Black residents displaced in gentrifying areas.
- Section 8: Black families 25% less likely housed.
- Foreclosure: Black homeowners 76% higher rate 2007-2010.
- Neighborhood poverty: Black children 4x whites in high-pov areas.
- HOPE VI: 50% Black residents not returned post-redev.
- Discrimination audits: Black testers denied 21% units vs. whites.
- Property tax: Black homes assessed 13% higher value.
- Mobile homes: 25% Black occupancy vs. 5% pop.
Housing Discrimination Interpretation
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