Poverty

Poverty

Historical Discrimination: 

• Long-term effects of slavery, segregation, and discriminatory policies have limited economic opportunities and wealth accumulation for many African American families.

• The percentage of poverty in African American communities has historically been higher than the national average in the United States. 

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2022:

• Approximately 19.5% of African Americans were living in poverty.

• This is compared to a national poverty rate of around 11.6%.

• Wealth Gap: Historical and ongoing discrimination has resulted in a substantial wealth gap between African Americans and white Americans. For example, redlining and discriminatory lending practices prevented African Americans from purchasing homes in certain areas or accessing affordable mortgages, significantly limiting wealth accumulation.