(NAME-MCE) Is the Equality Gap for Blacks, Latinos Closing?

[Julie Mushing]

The year 2010 was indeed historical-and not only because it marked the end of the most significant economic downturn since the Great Depression. According to the National Urban League's, http://nul.org/, recently released State of Black America 2010 Equality Index, http://nul.org/content/state-black-america-executive-summary, this year represents the first one-year increase for Blacks in the past four years.

Comparing the status of Blacks and whites according to economics, health, education, social justice and civic engagement-with 100 percent indicating racial/ethnic equality-the 2010 Equality Index for Blacks stands at 71.8 percent, compared with 71.2 percent for 2009.  An equality index of less than 100 percent suggests that blacks are doing worse relative to whites, while an index greater than 100 percent suggests that blacks are doing better.

The National Urban League, which celebrates 100 years this year of fighting for civil rights and economic empowerment, added a Hispanic Equality Index this year, which stands at 75.5 percent. This addition "expand[s] the discussion of inequality in America to reflect the shifting demographics in the country," states the report.

Although minimal changes were found in four of the five areas for Blacks, the most progress was made in the civic engagement index, jumping from 97.6 percent in 2009 to 102.2 percent this year.

"Most of the change in this year's [overall] index is being driven by the 4.6 percentage point increase in the civic engagement index," according to the report. "The score improved primarily because of the large increase in Black voter turnout during the 2008 election season."

But how did Blacks fare in the other categories?

 *   Social justice dropped from 57.2 percent in 2009 to 57.1 percent this year
 *   Economics was unchanged at 57.4 percent
 *   Health went from 76.8 percent in 2009 to 77 percent in 2010
 *   Education inched up from 77 percent in 2009 to 77.6 percent this year

How did Latinos index?

 *   Economics stands at 61 percent
 *   Social justice was 62.4 percent
 *   Civic engagement indexed at 71.9 percent
 *   Education was 76.5 percent
 *   Health stands at 103.4 percent

For both groups, economics and social justice stood out as the areas of greatest inequality. However, Blacks are most equal to whites in civic engagement (102.2 percent for Blacks versus 71.9 percent for Latinos), while Latinos are most equal to whites in the area of health (103. 4 percent versus 72.9 percent for Blacks).

Although "much, much more must be done," writes National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial in the report, there is reason for hope. "Recently, other civil-rights leaders and I met with President Obama to discuss specific action that must happen on the federal level in order to address the employment crisis. We asked for a jobs initiative targeted to urban America and communities where unemployment is highest."

The reason: America's urban areas are still the economic engines of our nation's economy.

To read the Executive summary report, click here:  http://www.nul.org/sites/default/files/EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY%20SOBA.pdf

Julie Mushing
Diversity Coordinator
Kent ISD - http://www.kentisd.org<http://www.kentisd.org/>
juliemushing at kentisd.org<mailto:juliemushing at kentisd.org>
616-301-8847

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~ Dr. Carol Ann Malizia-Caporrino