2020 Report
The 2020 reports on the Executive Summary, Black-White Equality Index, and Hispanic-White Equality Index provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of racial equality in America, focusing on economic empowerment as a central theme. The National Urban League's mission to document progress towards economic empowerment for Black and Hispanic Americans relative to whites is encapsulated in these reports. The 2020 Equality Index for Hispanic America stood at 78.8%, indicating that Hispanics were missing about 21% of the "equality pie" compared to whites. Similarly, the Black Index was 73.8%, showing a 26% gap for African Americans.
These reports analyze various aspects of equality, including economics, health, education, social justice, and civic engagement. Nationally representative statistics are utilized to calculate a sub-index for each category, capturing the relative well-being of African Americans and Hispanics compared to whites. Each category is weighted based on its assigned importance, and the weighted average of all five categories contributes to the total Equality Index. This methodology provides a detailed and nuanced understanding of the disparities and progress in racial equality in America.
Executive Summary
First issued in 1976, the State of Black America® is 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. This year, the State of Black America® also includes the Equality Index™, a quantitative tool that tracks the progress of racial equality in America.
The 2020 State of Black America®, Unmasked, matches the national mood for serious introspection, exposing the human toll and economic devastation of a global pandemic on Black America while laying bare the deep-rooted inequities that predated the pandemic and accelerated the virus’s deadly spread...
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Equality Index
The Black-White Equality Index 2020, a crucial publication of the National Urban League, serves as a barometer for measuring progress in racial equality in the United States, particularly in economic empowerment. This index, which stands at 73.8% for Black America, indicates a significant gap – approximately 26% – in achieving full equality with whites.
The index is not just a statistical measure but a reflection of the disparities in economics, health, education, social justice, and civic engagement between African Americans and whites. By using nationally representative statistics and weighting each category based on its importance, the Equality Index provides a comprehensive overview of the state of racial equality and highlights the areas where progress is most needed.
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Equality Index
The "Hispanic White Equality Index 2000" is a landmark report that provides a detailed examination of the disparities between Hispanic and White populations in the United States as of the year 2000. Commissioned by the National Urban League, this comprehensive document explores various critical areas such as economic well-being, health, education, social justice, and civic participation.
It aims to quantify the extent of inequality and shed light on the specific challenges facing the Hispanic community. As an important historical record, the report serves as a vital benchmark for tracking progress and identifying priority areas for intervention to bridge the gaps in equality.
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The most dangerous place to be during a pandemic is inside a prison. Today, even a minor arrest could cost more than your liberty; it could cost you your life.
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During the fervor of 2020’s massive uprisings against systemic racism in America and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has proven to be far deadlier and devastating to Black and Brown communities, activists and health leaders unleashed a powerful rallying cry: “Racism is a public health crisis!” This has always been true; and, today, society is beginning to reckon with the reality that Black women and Black LGBTQ people sit at the intersection of these dual public health crises.
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Months into the new decade, a devastating global pandemic exposed and exacerbated striking economic inequality along racial lines.
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On behalf of the National Urban League’s Board of Trustees, I am proud to present this year’s edition of the State of Black America®: Unmasked. The report takes a look behind the headlines and examines the alarming spread and tragic consequences of the coronavirus on Black American life.
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Great social movements are marked by clear turning points, when major shifts in attitude and understanding spur people to act with new urgency.
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The memes circulated around Facebook and Twitter, promising voters a more streamlined option to participate in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
“Avoid the line – vote from home. Text ‘Hillary’ to 59925,” read one post, seemingly aimed at Black and Latino voters. It bore all the hallmarks of an official Clinton campaign ad.
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In 2019, women across the country watched with immense pride as, for the first time in history, six women stepped into the ring and made their case for why they should be the next president of the United States.
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