Opinion: School choice is not the civil rights issue of our time'
Voucher systems historically linked to resistance to school integration, with recent negative impact on academic performance, especially among Black students. [ more ]
REPORT: North Carolina's Education System Stuck in Cycle of Racism
Racial disparities in North Carolina's school system disproportionately affect students of color, as highlighted in the 2022-23 Racial Equity Report Cards. [ more ]
Black Families Could Face More Hurdles to Homeownership Under New Fed Bank Proposal
Homeownership rates in New York state vary significantly by county, with lower rates in areas such as Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. [ more ]
Doctors less likely to respond to Black patients' emails, study suggests
Attending physicians at a health care provider responded less to patient portal messages from Black patients compared to white patients.
There were differences in response rates based on race, with white patients receiving a higher percentage of responses from attending physicians. [ more ]
Stark disparities': why black mothers are more at risk of perinatal mental illness in England
Perinatal mental illness affects new and expectant mothers, with black patients more likely to be admitted due to general higher mental illness risks. [ more ]
Black mothers twice as likely as white mothers to be hospitalised with perinatal mental illness
Black mothers have significantly higher rates of perinatal mental illness hospital admissions than white mothers, revealing racial disparities in healthcare. [ more ]
Widening Racial Disparities Underlie Rise in Child Deaths in the U.S.
Child death rates in the US are rising, with Black and Native American youths disproportionately affected by injuries like car accidents, homicides, and suicides. [ more ]
Lawsuit seeks to force long-stalled ban on menthol cigarettes
Anti-smoking groups are suing to push the U.S. government to implement a ban on menthol cigarettes, disproportionately used by Black smokers and youth.
The FDA's plan to ban menthol cigarettes aims to prevent hundreds of thousands of smoking-related deaths, mostly among Black Americans. [ more ]
1.23 million Americans were in state or federal prison in 2022, down from 1.57 million in 2012.
Mississippi, Montana, and Colorado saw the largest increase in incarcerated populations, while Virginia, Oregon, and California saw decreases. [ more ]
Black death row inmates suffer botched executions at twice rate of whites in US
Black prisoners face higher rates of botched executions in the U.S. criminal justice system, revealing shocking racial disparities and raising concerns about the inequities inside the death chamber. [ more ]
Here's how a Staten Island organization is boosting opportunities for those with criminal backgrounds
One in three Americans have a criminal record, making it difficult for them to find work and potentially leading to a life in poverty.
MindOpen Learning Strategies is working to change the way employers view individuals with criminal records and bridge the opportunity gap for them. [ more ]
A student sent a swastika to a Jewish California lawmaker's daughter. The response led to his new bill
Proposed bill allows suspension/expulsion for cyberbullying outside school; ACLU opposes for potential disproportionate impact on students of color. [ more ]
With chronic absenteeism soaring, educrats still tell students school isn't that important
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser cancelled class for no reason, leaving thousands of students without school.
The decision to close schools disproportionately affected black and Hispanic students, many of whom are considered 'at risk' according to government criteria. [ more ]
Austin Justice Coalition slams city in State of Black Austin Address - Austin Monitor
The Austin Justice Coalition highlights lack of progress in improving quality of life for Black residents since 2008 report.
AJC calls for city to elect more Black leaders and implement outstanding initiatives, starting with completion of the George Washington Carver Museum expansion. [ more ]
Grassroots Groups Are Doing Small-Scale Reparations in Absence of Federal Action
Tanya Roberts, a descendant of enslaved people, is working towards homeownership through the PDX Housing Solidarity Project, which aims to address racial disparities in homeownership.
Roberts initially had reservations about trusting white people to help her, but has developed more trust through her work with the Project. [ more ]
Disproportionate arrest levels for Black and Latino populations in suburban L.A. County
Black and Latino populations in three northeast cities in Los Angeles County were disproportionately arrested by suburban police departments.
Lack of public information on police conduct and arrests in small cities and suburban areas contributes to less scrutiny on these departments. [ more ]
'This so-called war': In Florida's deepening teen gun violence crisis, the kids who are forgotten are those who need help most
Gun violence among teens continues to rise during the pandemic.
Addressing the gun violence crisis requires more than just gun control, but also addressing the trauma and providing support within communities. [ more ]
DoJ moves to address disparities in state crime victim funds
The Justice Department proposed changes to state-run programs that provide financial assistance to violent crime victims to address racial disparities and curb subjective denials.
The changes would bar states from considering a victim's criminal history and eliminate subjective reasons for denials. [ more ]
Statistics show the U.S. health care system is failing Black babies and their families. A new Oakland clinic wants to change that.
Black families face unique challenges in the healthcare system, which can lead to anxiety and stress.
The BLOOM: Black Baby Equity Clinic, staffed by healthcare workers who share the racial identities of the families they serve, aims to address the racial disparities in infant mortality. [ more ]
New York City police have to track the race of people they stop. Will others follow suit?
New York City has mandated that police officers track the race of people they stop for questioning, in an effort to curtail racial disparities in policing.
The City Council passed the How Many Stops Act, requiring officers to report details of low-level investigative encounters, in an effort to provide a clearer picture of police work and address underreported racial profiling.
The new law could inspire other local governments to implement similar changes and data collection measures to diminish racial disparities in policing. [ more ]
Gillibrand, Nadler call on AG Garland, DEA to scrap federal laws targeting weed
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for the federal prohibition on marijuana to be eased.
Gillibrand plans to send a letter to the Department of Justice and the DEA urging them to legalize marijuana and expunge nonviolent marijuana convictions. [ more ]
Walters: Would state spend extra billions to improve children's wellbeing?
California is lagging behind other states in terms of child wellbeing indicators despite its high tax burden and progressive leanings.
Children Now's report highlights the racial and economic disparities in the state's treatment of children, with C-minus or lower grades in nearly half the evaluated categories. [ more ]
'Dying to stay here': The plight of Black people in Silicon Valley - San Jose Spotlight
A local economist in Santa Clara County is launching a video and podcast project to bring attention to the disparities faced by African Americans in the region.
The project highlights employment disparities, including the trend of African Americans being the last to reach full employment and the first to be laid off during recessions. [ more ]
Black Americans expect to face racism in the doctor's office, survey finds
People of color who have a doctor who looks like them report more satisfaction with their health care.
Black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian and Alaska native adults were more likely to report negative interactions during health care visits. [ more ]
More work needed to tackle 'shocking' racial pregnancy outcomes - report
More research is needed to address the higher death rates during labor among black and Asian women due to racial disparities in pre-pregnancy health.
Black and Asian women in the study reported feeling unheard and dismissed by medical professionals, highlighting the need for improved care and communication.
Personalized maternity care is part of the government's plans to address these issues. [ more ]
Elderly South Asian people more likely to live in poor health, poverty and housing'
Older people from Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds in the UK are more than twice as likely to be living in poverty compared to their white counterparts.
Ethnic inequalities in aging are a result of disadvantages in education, work, and housing across their lives.
The number of older people from minority ethnic backgrounds facing poverty and poor health is expected to increase in the coming years. [ more ]
Rates of cancer deaths among children and teens have decreased significantly over the past decade, mainly due to advancements in childhood leukemia treatments.
While overall cancer survival rates have improved, there are concerning racial and ethnic disparities, with stagnating survival rates among Black and Hispanic children compared to falling rates among white children. [ more ]
Black Women Hired Onto Whiter Teams Are More Likely To Get Flagged As 'Low Performers'
Black women who are hired onto predominantly white teams are more likely to experience negative job outcomes such as being labeled as "low performers," lower promotion rates, and higher turnover.
Black women are the only demographic group that faces significantly worse promotion and retention outcomes when placed on whiter teams compared to Asian, Latinx, and white individuals.
The number of white co-workers on a team directly impacts the experiences and opportunities of Black women in the workplace. [ more ]