Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery. It’s been 157 years since June 19, 1865, but Black people still aren’t free. Black people are still demanding equal rights, equal treatment, and full access to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Whether it's coronavirus, the racial wealth gap, or the killing of Black people at the hands of law enforcement, the call to action on this Juneteenth must be focused on structural reform. This pandemic has not only highlighted structural problems in our health care and economic systems, it has exacerbated racial and ethnic disparities that have long been pushed aside. The recent killings of Black people has done the same—further showcasing the need to focus on the criminal justice system as a whole instead of focusing on bad apples. To effectively remove systematic racism, we must be unafraid to change our country’s economic, social, and civic intuitions. The following products highlight some of our work focused on these issues and on structural reform.
The Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety Is a Foundation to Build Upon
Two years after the murder of George Floyd, the Biden administration released a police reform executive order containing policies that states and cities should build upon.
Black Men and the U.S. Economy: How the Economic Recovery Is Perpetuating Systemic Racism
While the U.S. economy is recovering for many Americans, Black men continue to experience persistent unemployment gaps and reduced economic opportunity.
The United States Must Support HBCUs and Opportunity for Black College Students
The recent rash of bomb threats against historically Black colleges and universities is just one of the numerous signs that America is at risk of winding the clock backward when it comes to opportunities for Black students in higher education.
Summary of Proposals and Policy Actions To Reduce the Black-White Wealth Gap
The Biden administration has started to implement policies to make it easier for Black households to build wealth at the same rate as white households; additional steps are both possible and necessary.
Black LGBTQ Individuals Experience Heightened Levels of Discrimination
The compounding effects of discrimination for Black LGBTQ Americans are evident in the workplace, health care systems, and police interactions, leading to gaps in economic advancement and mental and physical health outcomes.
Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice
We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.
We apply a racial equity lens in developing and advancing policies that aim to root out entrenched systemic racism to ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
