2021 Report
The 2021 Executive Summary of the State of Black America report, titled "The New Normal: Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive," is a significant document that continues the National Urban League's tradition of providing insightful analysis and commentary on racial equality in the United States. This report, a hallmark of the National Urban League since 1976, delves into various aspects of racial inequality, including economics, employment, education, health, housing, and criminal justice.
The 2021 report is particularly notable for its exploration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. It highlights how structural racism in America exacerbated the pandemic's effects on Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, leading to severe health impacts and highlighting deep-rooted inequities. The killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's death underlined these crises, sparking international protests and a renewed focus on racial justice.
This edition of the report calls for a reimagining of a new, diverse, equitable, and inclusive normal. It emphasizes the importance of partnerships, like those with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, to address health inequities and other critical issues like police reform, voter suppression, student loan debt, and prison reform. The report stresses the need to close the generational wealth gap and maintains a hopeful outlook towards a future where collective efforts can bring about significant change in upholding the nation's values.
Executive Summary
Since its first appearance in 1976 under the stewardship of the late Mr. Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., the organization’s fifth president, the State of Black America® remains one of the most highly anticipated benchmarks and sources for thought leadership around racial equality in America across economics, employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice and civic participation. Each edition contains penetrating commentary and insightful analysis from recognized authorities and leading figures in politics, the corporate and tech sectors, the nonprofit arena, academia and popular culture.
The 2021 State of Black America®, The New Normal: Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive, continues to build on our COVID-19 reporting and asks: “Where do we go from here?” ...
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When asked to describe the economic well-being of African Americans, there is a tendency to focus on income, employment, or poverty rates. While these factors are important, they are not the only measures of economic well-being. Wealth is another key measure. It is both a driver of other measures of economic well-being and a consequence of poor outcomes in those areas.
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African Americans face a dual pandemic: anti-Black racism and COVID-19. One is hundreds of years in the making — and the other began a year and a half ago.
Racism has always existed in the United States in one form or another. Of all the ethnic groups that have come to the United States, African Americans are the only ones to experience the degradation of chattel slavery and a perpetual status of subordination.
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Many runners speak of a runner’s high. It’s a temporary state of euphoria when you feel as though space and time disappear and you can push past pain and exhaustion. I would know. For years, I’ve hit the pavement, running 6 miles a day - rain or shine, a little less these days, but still running. But no amount of training, degrees or accolades can help me or you outrun the inequities we face.
Mentally, physically, emotionally, we’re tired. I’m tired.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disparate impact on Americans across racial and ethnic divides, not only creating a health crisis but also an economic crisis and worsening racial wealth and income gaps. Fintech companies — companies that use innovations in the finance and technology spaces to provide alternative financial services — can help mitigate the racial wealth and income gaps exacerbated by the pandemic.
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As a Federal Communications Commissioner, I believe deeply that broadband access is a civil right. That means — just like the right to vote — it impacts nearly all fundamental aspects of our lives, from health to housing, and must be guaranteed. The chasm between those who have broadband and those who do not is called the digital divide.
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On May 31st, our country marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. We remember this day as one of the most painful moments in our nation’s history. A day when a community was devasted by hate.
Learn moreAt least three members of the current U.S. Congress have promoted a conspiracy theory centered on a cabal of Satan-worshiping, cannibalistic, child abusers that includes Democratic politicians, Hollywood actors and business tycoons.
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