To begin the work of addressing economic inequality and dismantling systemic racism in our society, equity and justice must be at the core of our efforts to rebuild the economy.

The Challenge

There is a direct correlation between the increase in income inequality in the United States and the decrease in worker power as the share of workers in a union fell from 24% in 1979 to 10% now. It will take not only a deep understanding and acceptance of how we got here but also humility and a willingness and desire to change our present and future. This can start with policy changes at every level of government that seek to address the injustices that lead to a disproportionate lack of access to and acquisition of resources and opportunities for people of color. 
 
Historically and persistently, Black people in the United States fare worse in our existing economy, having lower wages, less savings to fall back on, and significantly higher poverty rates. Black workers have been the hardest hit by the outsourcing of U.S. manufacturing, enduring a 30% drop in manufacturing employment since the 1990s. Regardless of education level, Black workers are far more likely to be unemployed than white workers. In fact, unemployment rates are twice as high for Black workers historically. That disparity carries into the workplace as well, with Black workers paid on average 73 cents to the dollar compared to white workers. The wage gap persists regardless of education, and even with advanced degrees, Black workers make far less than white workers at the same level. The poverty rate for white Americans sits at about 8.1%, compared to 20.7% for Black households.  
 
Lower-income communities and communities of color are also hit the hardest and are less able to deal with the impacts of climate change and the increasing natural disasters we are witnessing, from wildfires and hurricanes to heatwaves, droughts, and sea-level rise. As wages have fallen, access to stable housing and economic mobility and power in the workplace has declined, and working people are disproportionately vulnerable to these impacts.