Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Despite the awaking to the social and economic experience of communities of color—Black and Latino communities in particular—we saw happened throughout across the country over the past several years, the recent result of the president election has deviated that to the economic plight of the White working-class. While it’s important to focus on the economic problems of these forgotten men and women, it should not come at the cost of overlooking the reality that communities of color have long called for relief from some of the very same economic and social conditions that today are viewed through nostalgic eyes when speaking about white households.

Whether it was the events of the past decade—ranging from the massive loss wealth during Great Recession to the public elevation of racial injustices within the criminal justice system—or before that—including Katrina, the LA riots, the civil rights movement, or even slavery—the cries for relief and justice from these communities have continually fallen on deaf ears. While some may believe we can continue to afford overlooking the social and economic problems within communities of color, the changing demographics of the country will soon ensure that those calls do not go unheard for too long.

Building on last year’s Ever-Growing Gap report, CFED’s upcoming paper examines the growing racial wealth divide for Black and Latinos households at the median from 1983 to 2013. In looking at these trends, this report provides new projections for what the future of racial wealth divide might become, if unaddressed, during the first four years of the Trump administration as well as the next four years of a succeeding administration. Moreover, in considering the impact public policy has had and will have contributing to the racial wealth divide, the report also provides new information on the state of racial wealth gap in the years after the country has shifted towards a majority-nation.