Report: Addressing The Racial Wealth Gap / Abordar la Brecha de Riqueza Racial
[Español abajo]
[Update 3/14/23]: A section has been added to the report called Data Note: On the Use of “Indigenous” and “American Indian/Alaska Native. This data note was written in response to feedback we received about using the term Indigenous throughout the report.
Four hundred years of institutional and systemic racism in the United States has led to persistent racial disparities in economic stability and wealth. Black, Indigenous, and Latine communities, as well as Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander* communities have been categorically exploited, criminalized, and excluded from opportunities to build wealth throughout U.S. history. Due to the accumulation of advantages and disadvantages based on race through centuries of policies, laws, and practices, how a person is racialized is the most important factor in understanding differential access to wealth in this country.
This report focuses on the racial wealth gap experienced by Black, Indigenous, and Latine communities in Oregon using national and regional research, data, and approaches, paired with surveys and interviews with people working towards closing the gap. This research intends to center the realities, strategies, and hopes of Black, Indigenous, and Latine Oregonians. It provides resources, perspectives, and recommendations for dominant institutions (such as governments, universities, foundations, and the for-profit sector) committed to closing the racial wealth gap.
The report has four main sections:
Understanding the racial wealth gap
Identifying approaches for closing the gap
Institutional betrayal and the maintenance of the racial wealth gap
Recommendations for investing in wealth building
This research was made possible by funding and support from Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) and Meyer Memorial Trust (Meyer).
*While Black, Indigenous, and Latine communities are the focus of this report, we acknowledge many other communities of color have similar economic experiences, including communities lumped together as Asian/Asian American. We call for the need for better disaggregated data that reflects the diverse experiences and histories of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities.
The Coalition of Communities of Color’s Research Justice Institute hosted a community forum on April 12th, 2022 called The Racial Wealth Gap & Economic Justice in Oregon, discussing the findings and recommendations in Addressing the Racial Wealth Gap.
Speakers included:
Akasha Lawrence Spence, Oregon State Senator
Stephen Green, Entrepreneur & Business Leader
Reyna Lopez Osuna, Executive Director at PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste)
Maribel DeLeon, Director of Microenterprise Programs, Adelante Mujeres
Amber Faist (Coquille), Technical Assistance Program Manager at the Oregon Native American Chamber
Sky Waters (Osage), Community Prosperity Manager at the Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA)
Watch a recording of the community forum on our YouTube channel or at the embedded video below:
Cuatrocientos años de racismo institucional y sistémico en los Estados Unidos han llevado a disparidades raciales persistentes en la estabilidad económica y la riqueza. Las comunidades afroamericanas, indígenas y latinas, así como las comunidades asiáticas, asiáticas americanas y de las islas del Pacífico* han sido categóricamente explotadas, criminalizadas y excluidas de oportunidades para generar riqueza a lo largo de la historia de los EE. UU. Debido a la acumulación de ventajas y desventajas basadas en la raza a lo largo de siglos de políticas, leyes y prácticas, cómo se racializa a una persona es el factor más importante para comprender el acceso diferencial a la riqueza en este país.
*Si bien las comunidades afro, indígenas y latinas son el enfoque de este informe, reconocemos que muchas otras comunidades de color tienen experiencias económicas similares, incluidas las comunidades agrupadas como asiáticas/asiáticas americanas. Hacemos un llamado a la necesidad de mejores datos desagregados que reflejen las diversas experiencias e historias de las comunidades asiáticas, asiáticas americanas y de las islas del Pacífico.
Una traducción completa al español de este informe estará disponible en esta página web pronto.