Progress 2050

Progress 2050 is a project of the Center for American Progress that develops new ideas for an increasingly diverse America. The United States will become a nation with no clear racial or ethnic majority by the year 2050. This expected transition provides the progressive movement with an exciting opportunity to help America live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all.
For more resources, click here »

Latest

Compact View

Not the Postracial Society We Thought It Would Be Podcast
 (The Thinking CAP podcast logo, a yellow neon cap against a black background with the word

Not the Postracial Society We Thought It Would Be

Michele and Igor speak with Kenneth B. Morris Jr., the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington, about lessons that today's resisters can learn from these historical figures.

Michele L. Jawando, Igor Volsky, Sally Tucker, 1 More Rachel Rosen

‘We Are Resilient’: The Power of the Black Community Video

‘We Are Resilient’: The Power of the Black Community

In the face of Donald Trump's rhetoric and policy choices that threaten people of color, the black community remains resilient.

Jasmine Hardy, Andrew Satter, Danyelle Solomon, 2 More Lea Hunter, Connor Maxwell

From Preschool to Prison: The Criminalization of Black Girls Article
A 6-year-old sits on a swing at a child development center in Las Vegas, September 13, 2017. (AP/John Locher)

From Preschool to Prison: The Criminalization of Black Girls

In order to combat mass incarceration, America needs to address the school-to-prison pipeline, a system that affects black girls at an alarming rate.

Mackenzie Chakara

The Power and Persistence of Black Legislators Article
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus   meet with President Donald Trump in the White House in Washington, March 22, 2017. (AP/Andrew Harnik)

The Power and Persistence of Black Legislators

Even amid violent threats and intimidation, black legislators have achieved historic gains toward equality and provided hope for all Americans.

Connor Maxwell, Danyelle Solomon

Event Highlights: The Power of Black Media During the Trump Administration Video

Event Highlights: The Power of Black Media During the Trump Administration

The Center for American Progress and Progress 2050 recently hosted a conversation on the importance of black media and uplifting the voices of black journalists during the Trump administration.

Progress 2050

Are Today’s Students Prepared to Enter the Tech Industry? Article
A Google software engineer and a member of the Google In Residence program meet with students at Howard University in Washington, April 14, 2015. (AP/Molly Riley)

Are Today’s Students Prepared to Enter the Tech Industry?

The lack of networking and mentoring available to black and Hispanic college students decreases opportunities for careers in technology.

Maya Beasley

Five Truths About Voter Suppression Article
An election official checks a voter's photo identification at an early voting polling site in Austin, Texas, February 2014. (AP/Eric Gay)

Five Truths About Voter Suppression

Trump’s investigation of American voters is another pretext for further voter suppression, which is already depriving Americans of their right to vote.

Connor Maxwell, Danielle Root

Trump’s Avoidance of Black Press Reveals Tense Relations Article
White House Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison Omarosa Manigault, right, walks past President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 2017. (AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Trump’s Avoidance of Black Press Reveals Tense Relations

In the black press’ dealings with the new administration, as throughout its history, it struggles for respect from public officials while pressing for responses to readers’ concerns.

Paul Delaney

Communities of Color Cannot Afford a Weakened CFPB Report
Shown is an ACE Cash Express outlet on San Mateo Boulevard in Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 2015. (AP/Vik Jolly)

Communities of Color Cannot Afford a Weakened CFPB

The Trump administration and Congress are threatening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s role in defending communities of color in banking.

Joe Valenti, Danyelle Solomon

Stop Playing Politics with People’s Lives Article
A University of Maryland Medical Center infection control specialist inspects the catheter on a shock trauma center patient on November 17, 2010, in Baltimore. (AP/Rob Carr)

Stop Playing Politics with People’s Lives

We need a health care system that delivers care with compassion and guards the right to affordable, effective health care.

Taison Bell

Reproductive Justice Beyond Biology Article
A woman walks on a street in Baltimore, February 6, 2012. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

Reproductive Justice Beyond Biology

Loretta J. Ross on the need for a more comprehensive understanding of how public policies affecting a woman’s autonomy over her body have implications beyond just issues of birth control, abortion, and sterilization.

Loretta J. Ross

A Black History Lesson for the Ages Article
President Donald Trump meets with leaders of historically black colleges and universities in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, February 27, 2017. ((AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais))

A Black History Lesson for the Ages

A group of HBCU presidents failed to share their history of struggle with the president but endured grossly out-of-touch remarks from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and an embarrassing photo op as Black History Month ends.

Sam Fulwood III

African American Students Deserve a High-Quality Education Article
A teacher talks to a student during a class for first-graders at a learning center in Chicago, September 1993. ((AP/Mark Elias))

African American Students Deserve a High-Quality Education

Although African American students have made significant progress since the ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, access to high-quality public education is still a challenge for many.

Progress 2050

President Trump Has Cheapened the Dignity of His Office Article
A woman holds up her cell phone before a rally with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Bedford, New Hampshire, September 29, 2016. ((AP/John Locher))

President Trump Has Cheapened the Dignity of His Office

The president’s recent comments and behavior serve to undermine the nation’s democratic ideals and foster a creeping sense of nihilism about the institutions that serve public interests.

Sam Fulwood III

The Real Effect of Trump’s Muslim Ban Article
Abdullah Alghazali, right, hugs his 13-year-old son Ali Abdullah Alghazali after the Yemeni boy arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Sunday, February 5, 2017. (AP/Alexander F. Yuan)

The Real Effect of Trump’s Muslim Ban

President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban keeps innocent people from traveling to the United States, but does little to make the United States safer.

Sam Fulwood III

Beyond ‘Law and Order’ Article
Attorney General-designate Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) takes his seat at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 10, 2017. (AP/Alex Brandon)

Beyond ‘Law and Order’

With Jeff Sessions as attorney general, dangerous and outdated “law and order” policies would stymie criminal justice reform.

Ed Chung, Danyelle Solomon

Bending Toward Justice Article
People walk past a mural of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Katlehong, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, May 2015. ((AP/Themba Hadebe))

Bending Toward Justice

The rise of Donald Trump possesses parallels to apartheid South Africa—but the best course of action in the face of dangerous political setbacks is to stand in unwavering opposition at every turn.

Sam Fulwood III

The Complex American Response to Castro’s Death Article
Cuban President Fidel Castro, right, and South African leader Nelson Mandela celebrate the Day of the Revolution in Matanzas, Cuba, on July 27, 1991. (AP)

The Complex American Response to Castro’s Death

Varying reactions to Castro’s death offer a somber reminder that oppression and opportunity, often coded by ethnicity and race, are not always clear-cut diametric opposites.

Sam Fulwood III

The Ambitious Activism of Debbie Allen Article
Debbie Allen speaks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games on July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP/Rich Fury)

The Ambitious Activism of Debbie Allen

At a recent CAP event, award-winning entertainer Debbie Allen discussed her latest project, “Freeze Frame,” and her hope that it will lead to action in the fight against gun violence.

Sam Fulwood III

Maximizing the Power of Women of Color Article
African American female business leaders attend the Essence Festival at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum on July 2, 2016, in New Orleans. (AP/Cheryl Gerber)

Maximizing the Power of Women of Color

The representation of women of color in corporate America and political office should reflect their growing economic and electoral power.

Danyelle Solomon

This Election Day, Americans Cannot Afford to Take a Seat Article
Voters fill out their ballots at the Hamilton County Board of Elections as early voting begins statewide, Wednesday, October 12, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (AP/John Minchillo)

This Election Day, Americans Cannot Afford to Take a Seat

Divisive rhetoric harms many diverse groups—including women, Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslim—and Americans must use their vote to speak up.

Anisha Singh

Where Are the Gifted and Talented Black Students? Article
High school students attend a statistics class at Westlake High School in Atlanta, on June 13, 2013. (AP/Jaime Henry-White)

Where Are the Gifted and Talented Black Students?

Social and institutional barriers are keeping African American students from the ranks of gifted and talented programs.

Naomi Kellogg

Hate and Discrimination in the Wake of September 11 Article
The Tribute in Light rises above the lower Manhattan skyline on September 10, 2016, in New York. (AP/Mark Lennihan)

Hate and Discrimination in the Wake of September 11

The association of Muslims with terrorists in the wake of the 9/11 attacks continues to affect the nation in myriad ways.

Anumita Kaur

Stepping Away from Racism Article
A congregation member prays at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, June 3, 2012. (AP/Gerald Herbert)

Stepping Away from Racism

Purging prejudice from the pews will move America closer toward a long overdue racial reconciliation.

Sam Fulwood III

The Intersection of Policing and Race Report
A man speaks with police in a park in Milwaukee, August 2016. (AP/ Jeffrey Phelps)

The Intersection of Policing and Race

Bridging the divide between communities of color and law enforcement begins by recognizing that discord is rooted in the origins of policing in America.

Danyelle Solomon

Police Gone Wild Article
Police advance toward protestors as a store burns following the funeral of Freddie Gray on April 27, 2015, in Baltimore. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

Police Gone Wild

The U.S. Department of Justice’s report on Baltimore chronicles yet another police department that routinely abused its power and violated the civil rights of African Americans.

Sam Fulwood III

A Voting Rights Story Report
North Carolina NAACP president Rev. William Barber, center at podium, speaks at a news conference in Richmond, Virginia, Tuesday, June 21, 2016. (AP/Steve Helber)

A Voting Rights Story

Over his nearly 50 years in the North Carolina state legislator, Rep. Mickey Michaux helped increase voting rights and participation. However, recent efforts in the state are putting these advances at risk.

Sam Fulwood III

When Words Fail Us Article
Protesters link arms as they block an intersection in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta during a march against the recent police shootings of African Americans on Monday, July 11, 2016. (AP/David Goldman)

When Words Fail Us

Practical policy reforms—not just more conversation—are needed to address the recent violence between police and the African American community.

Sam Fulwood III

The Ongoing Battle to Protect the Precious Right to Vote Article
A voter walks toward an empty bank of voting stations at a polling place in Seattle on the day of Washington state's 2008 presidential primary. (AP/Elaine Thompson)

The Ongoing Battle to Protect the Precious Right to Vote

Americans are sick and tired of being sick and tired of waiting on Congress to act and ensure the right to vote for all.

Danyelle Solomon, Michele L. Jawando

When Home Disappears Article
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx speaks at the Center for American Progress on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. (CAP)

When Home Disappears

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx hopes to build a transportation system that works for everyone.

Sam Fulwood III

Why #OscarsSoWhite Matters Article
John Krasinski, left, and Cheryl Boone Isaacs announce the Academy Award nominations for best performance by an actor in a leading role on January 14, 2016. (AP/Chris Pizzello)

Why #OscarsSoWhite Matters

The film industry exercises a huge amount of influence on perceptions of success in America—or the lack thereof.

Sam Fulwood III

Saving the Best for Last Article
President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Januray 12, 2016. (AP/Evan Vucci)

Saving the Best for Last

President Obama’s final State of the Union address challenged voters to do the hard work of fulfilling the American promise.

Sam Fulwood III

People of Color: Their Contributions, Their Potential Fact Sheet
Third-grade students do school work during class at Hanby Elementary School in Mesquite, Texas, February 2011. (AP/LM Otero)

People of Color: Their Contributions, Their Potential

As demographics shift and the share of people of color in the U.S. population continues to increase, it is important to take notice of the contributions that people of color make to the United States and their potential contributions to the nation in the future.

Progress 2050

The High Cost of Truancy Report
School desks block a street in front of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in a demonstration against student dropout rates on April 8, 2014, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP/Richard Vogel)

The High Cost of Truancy

Chronic truancy has short-term consequences for students but can have long-lasting effects for individuals, families, and communities.

Farah Z. Ahmad, Tiffany D. Miller

Building a More Inclusive National Park System for All Americans Report
President Barack Obama announces the establishment of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument on October 8, 2012, in Keene, California (AP/Mark J. Terrill)

Building a More Inclusive National Park System for All Americans

Congress and the president should work to conserve places that better reflect America’s diverse population and help engage new generations to visit and explore their shared heritage and resources.

Nidhi Thakar, Claire Moser, Laura E. Durso

Who Are Asian Americans? Fact Sheet
Hmong American Partnership navigator Mai Lo Lee, right, enrolls a woman in Minnesota's health insurance exchange on February 13, 2015. (AP/Jim Mone)

Who Are Asian Americans?

These fact sheets provide a detailed look at 10 groups of Asian Americans by national origin.

Progress 2050

Fact Sheets: Economic Benefits of Reducing Racial and Ethnic Inequality Fact Sheet
Five-year-old kindergarden students Gael Alvarado, left, Perla Ortiz, center, and Yahir Perez do school work in a bilingual English-Spanish class at Hanby Elementary School in Mesquite, Texas, in 2011. (AP/LM Otero)

Fact Sheets: Economic Benefits of Reducing Racial and Ethnic Inequality

With the U.S. Census Bureau estimating that the majority of the U.S. population will be people of color by 2043, it is increasingly important that policymakers enact progressive policies that would improve the economic prospects and increase income for people of color.

Progress 2050

Why Does Racism Surprise Us? Article
University of Oklahoma students march to the now-closed Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house during a rally on March 10, 2015. (AP/Sue Ogrocki)

Why Does Racism Surprise Us?

The recently revealed racist video filmed at a University of Oklahoma fraternity event is simply a reflection of America’s larger societal problems.

Sam Fulwood III

Diversity Is Coming to a Town Near You Article
Children in a prekindergarten class recite the pledge of allegiance at the start of the school day in Tacoma, Washington. (AP/Ted Warren)

Diversity Is Coming to a Town Near You

A new Center for American Progress report considers America’s race and ethnic shift and the far-reaching policy implications of this demographic change.

Sam Fulwood III

Infographic: Government Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data Article

Infographic: Government Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data

The decennial census has undergone significant changes as the U.S. population has evolved. Rapidly changing demographics continue to present challenges to the U.S. government in its effort to collect demographic data.

Farah Z. Ahmad, Jamal Hagler

Will the New Tech Economy Solve the Old Economy’s Racial Problems? Article
North Dakota State University graduate student Ramya Raghunathan works in one of the school chemistry laboratories on October 26, 2014. (AP/Dave Kolpack)

Will the New Tech Economy Solve the Old Economy’s Racial Problems?

The new tech economy has not conquered racial bias. The racial and ethnic unemployment disparities in computer science are nearly the same as those in other fields.

Algernon Austin

5 Key Facts About the Affordable Care Act for Latinos Article
Grocery shoppers stop at a Blue Cross Blue Shield kiosk promoting the Affordable Care Act at Compare Foods in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (AP/Gerry Broome)

5 Key Facts About the Affordable Care Act for Latinos

A look at five facts that highlight the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for the Latino community.

Fernanda Denys Reyes

The Facts on Immigration Today Report
Immigration reform supporters block a street on Capitol Hill on Thursday, August 1, 2013, in protest against immigration policies and the House’s inability to pass a bill that contains a pathway to citizenship. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The Facts on Immigration Today

Everything you need to know about our foreign-born population, their impact on the economy, current immigration policy, and the voting power of new Americans.

Retaining Teachers of Color in Our Public Schools Report
Chevonne Dixon, a fourth grade teacher, leads a class at Tunica Elementary School in Tunica, Mississippi. (AP/Rogelio V. Solis)

Retaining Teachers of Color in Our Public Schools

Through targeted reform efforts, states, districts, and school leaders—as well as policymakers and communities of color—can improve the retention rates and effectiveness of teachers of color.

Glenda L. Partee

Rethinking Affirmative Action Article
People walk on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Rethinking Affirmative Action

In her new book, law professor Sheryll Cashin considers the implications of location for education and race in 21st-century America.

Sam Fulwood III

The Conundrum of White-Male Privilege Article
Peggy McIntosh coined the phrase “invisible knapsack” as a metaphor for the benefits white Americans disproportionately carry compared with black and other Americans of color. (Flickr/spyker3292)

The Conundrum of White-Male Privilege

Those who possess life advantages rarely acknowledge that they have favored status, which makes them all the more unwilling to surrender their privilege without a fight.

Sam Fulwood III

State of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Series Report

State of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Series

Read the full report, released on September 11, 2014.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are quickly reaching the critical mass needed to be politically relevant, but data about this group have often been unavailable. This series features the most comprehensive research and analysis for the fastest-growing demographic in the United States.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, Farah Z. Ahmad

Reading Between the Data Report
 (San Francisco woman and mural)

Reading Between the Data

When considering how best to address economic inequality, policymakers need to understand the complexity and diversity within the Asian American community.

Farah Z. Ahmad, Christian E. Weller

When Wall Street Buys Main Street Report

When Wall Street Buys Main Street

Single-family rental securitization needs to be managed responsibly in order to protect consumer interests.

Sarah Edelman, Julia Gordon, David Sanchez

Better Reflecting Our Country’s Growing Diversity Report

Better Reflecting Our Country’s Growing Diversity

We need to make our national park system more inclusive and reflective of the totality of the diverse American experience.

Jessica Goad, Matt Lee-Ashley, Farah Z. Ahmad

Infographic: Latino Voter Turnout in Virginia Article

Infographic: Latino Voter Turnout in Virginia

As the Virginia gubernatorial race draws to a close, it is important to note the growing impact of the rising Latino electorate in the commonwealth.

Progress 2050

Infographic: African American Voter Turnout in Virginia Article

Infographic: African American Voter Turnout in Virginia

The outcome of next month's neck-and-neck Virginia gubernatorial race could very well hinge on the turnout rates of black voters.

Progress 2050

The Role of the Second Generation in Tomorrow’s Workforce Article
In this Thursday, May 23, 2013 photo, first grader Mariah Nevarez, center, says the pledge of allegiance with classmates before the start of school at Jay W. Jeffers Elementary School in Las Vegas. (AP/Julie Jacobson)

The Role of the Second Generation in Tomorrow’s Workforce

Immigrants, and particularly their children—the second generation—will play a critical role in the economy, filling the workforce gaps created by the massive Baby Boomer retirements over the next two decades.

Angeline Vuong, Zach Murray, Abhay Aneja

All-In Nation: An America that Works for All Report
Jissela Centeno and her son Matthew Pineda of Arlington, Va., whose family is from Honduras, participates in a rally for immigration reform at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

All-In Nation: An America that Works for All

All-In Nation describes how strong communities of color are critical to America’s economic future and lays out a comprehensive policy agenda to build an equitable economy where everyone, including fast-growing communities of color, can participate and thrive.

Vanessa Cárdenas, Sarah Treuhaft

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Default Opt Ins

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Variable Opt Ins

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.