The State of Black Lives in America

It’s been explained that all lives can’t matter until black lives matter.  True.  But also true is that black lives can’t matter until all black lives matter, not just those who have suffered at the hands of police brutality.  Blacks silently suffer institutional racism in far more than just the criminal justice system.  It goes unacknowledged because it isn’t caught on camera.

As it turns out, the majority of Americans (67%), including 63% of white Americans, already agree that black Americans are treated less fairly by the police and the criminal justice system according to the Race in America 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center this past February. It is with the other institutions that there is disagreement.

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In Black and White

In hiring, pay, and promotions, 44% of white Americans compared to 82% of black Americans say that blacks are treated less fairly.

According to the 2018 annual averages, the unemployment rate for blacks (6.5%) was almost twice the rate for whites (3.5%). This has consistently been the case since these annual averages have been tracked beginning in 1973. Household income for blacks is $41,361 compared to $70,642 for whites. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. See also: Income and Poverty in the U.S. and African Americans with College Degrees are Twice as Likely to Be Unemployed as Other Graduates.

When applying for a loan or mortgage, 38% of white Americans compared to 74% of black Americans say that blacks are treated less fairly.

Blacks are more likely to be denied a home loan than whites. Despite this pattern of denials of mortgages for people of color, banks continue to be ranked satisfactory or outstanding and only a few have been sued by the Justice Department. Source: Modern Day Redlining. See also: Banks still deny black borrowers just as they did 50 years ago.

In stores or restaurants, 37% of white Americans compared to 70% of black Americans say that blacks are treated less fairly.

Remember when two black men were arrested at Starbucks in 2018 for doing nothing more than waiting for a friend that they were meeting, something white people do every day without incident? Several other restaurants have been sued and settled racial discrimination claims, including Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, and IHOP. Source: Starbucks isn’t the only chain that’s faced claims of racial bias.

When voting in elections, 30% of white Americans compared to 58% of black Americans say that blacks are treated less fairly.

According to research conducted in 2017, African Americans had a 19% likelihood of experiencing racial discrimination while attempting to vote compared to a 4% likelihood for whites. Source: Center for American Progress.

When seeking medical treatment, 26% of white Americans compared to 59% of black Americans say that blacks are treated less fairly.

The maternal mortality rates are three times higher for black women than for white women, and infant mortality rates are two times higher for blacks infants than for white infants. Also, blacks are more likely to be denied access to health care coverage, and are less likely to have hospitals, primary care physicians, and mental health providers in their neighborhoods and therefore have less access to medical care. Source: Racism, Inequality, and Health Care for African Americans.

These statistics are alarming, and the question I have is how did we get to this level of inequality?

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The Racial Divide

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How to Solve Racial Inequality

The effects racial inequality has on the black community are devastating. I have learned from the articles cited above that studies have repeatedly proven a link between the effects of racism and the physical and mental health of blacks that lead to long-term illnesses not experienced by other races and to death at an earlier age than whites. Racism has also been proven to be linked to the wealth gap and poverty, lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, and the breakdown of black families and communities.

I have read many suggestions posted on social media and other places on the internet for how we overcome racial inequality in America. They include white Americans getting educated and informed; having a conversation; voting; teaching children to be kind; speaking out; and being anti-racist. I think the solution must start with an awareness, and a formal recognition that white privilege exists and that it exists as the result of systemic racism in American that extends far beyond and far deeper than police brutality and inequality in our criminal justice system.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus (Matthew 22:39)

Please feel free to comment below.

Much love,