Black Americans

Black History Is Everyone’s History

COMMENTARY | How does an incomplete, inaccurate education omitting Black contributions serve society?

  • By Dr. R. Nicole Johnson-Ahorlu, Ajua Kouadio and Dr. Tralonda Triplett

Pain of Police Killings Traumatizes Black People and Communities Across US

COMMENTARY | Evidence shows that many Black Americans experience police killings of other Black people as traumatic events, and that this trauma diminishes the ability of Black communities to thrive.

  • By Denise A. Herd, The Conversation

US is Becoming a ‘Developing Country’ on Global Rankings that Measure Democracy, Inequality

COMMENTARY | The United States came in 41st worldwide on the UN’s 2022 sustainable development index, down nine spots from last year.

  • By Kathleen Frydl, The Conversation

Tree Canopies Cool Neighborhoods. The Inflation Reduction Act Commits $1.5B to Plant Many More

The massive federal measure offers a five-fold increase in funding tree planting nationwide, especially in low-income communities that are typically hotter in summers.

  • By Kery Murakami

3 Reasons Why Expanding Access to Homeownership Alone Won’t Close the Racial Wealth Gap

COMMENTARY | This strategy has not lead to real progress in the last few decades. More structural changes are needed in many policy areas to increase wealth for Black and Brown Americans.

  • By Samantha Fu

Black Homeownership Declines as Overall Rate Rises

Homeownership rates for White, Asian and Hispanic Americans reached all-time highs in 2020, but fell to 43% for Black families, according to one report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Black Advocates Take Ownership of Ancestors’ History; Legislation Could Help

At least three states are considering bills to help protect African American cemeteries.

  • By Aallyah Wright, Stateline

Pandemic Led to More Black-owned Businesses but Exacerbated Their Challenges

A new report says that state and local governments must commit to creating more opportunities for Black-run firms, including through the infrastructure act.

  • By Andre Claudio

Even in Black History Month, Interpreting the Past Can Be a Challenge for Local Governments

Inclusiveness and the need to balance priorities are among the issues officials nationwide face. 

  • By Tom Shoop

Life Expectancy Declined in Black Neighborhoods Due to the Pandemic

A new report shows that residents of Black-majority communities live about four years less than the national average, and that Covid expanded the number.

  • By Andre Claudio

Why a Majority of White Americans Oppose Reparations For Black Citizens

A new report shows that white people believe that it would be difficult to determine financial payments, among other reasons.

  • By Andre Claudio

Entrepreneurship Provides Economic and Social Stability for Communities

The National League of Cities Monday said small firms generate two-thirds of all new jobs and outlined the challenges Black and Brown people face starting and growing a business.

  • By Andre Claudio
Featured eBooks
The State of Trust in Government
Cybersecurity in State and Local Government
Building Data Literacy in the State and Local Workforce

How Local Governments are Attacking Crime in Their Communities

City and county leaders recently gathered to share their concerns about violent and other crimes and the successful solutions to these issues they are employing.

  • By Andre Claudio

Black People Killed by Police at More Than Twice the Rate of Whites

An analysis of police violence also shows that the National Vital Statistics System misclassified and underreported about 55% of the estimated deaths by law enforcement for nearly 30 years.

  • By Andre Claudio

Taking Race Out of Criminal Charges

Prosecutors in Yolo County, California, are attempting “race-blind charging” by using software to redact identifying information, including race and other descriptors, from police reports.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

2020 Census May Have Missed More Than 1.6M Residents

New research from the Urban Institute found that minorities were likely underrepresented in the population count, leaving some states with a windfall of federal funding while others came up short.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

A Breakdown of the Black-White Homeownership Inequality Gap

Homeownership is less achievable for Black Americans and they live in neighborhoods with houses valued at $48,000 less than white families’ homes, a new report reveals.

  • By Andre Claudio

How Public Health Officials Overcame Vaccine Barriers in Minority Communities

A series of reports issued by the Communivax Coalition explores resistance to Covid-19 vaccinations in four states and strategies to improve immunization rates.

  • By Andrea Noble

He Left a War-Torn Country as a Refugee and Went on to Become a US Mayor

Helena, Montana Mayor Wilmot Collins came to the United States in 1994 from Liberia. His life journey is a true immigrant success story.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Poll Highlights Deep Divides Over Increased Attention on Racism, History of Slavery

About 50% of U.S. adults say increased attention to these topics is a "good thing for society," but that belief is not held evenly across political parties and racial and ethnic groups, according to the Pew Research Center.

  • By Jean Dimeo

Evictions To Impact More Black, Latino Households

Renters tend to be minorities and have lower incomes, meaning these groups will most likely be disportionately affected by evictions when the national moratorium is lifted, the Pew Research Center says.

  • By Jean Dimeo