UNM MPP Policy Project

There are vast inequalities between Black and white Americans in numerous facets of American society. Even today, more than 150 years after emancipation, we still feel the legacy of slavery in the culture and demographics of America. The institution of slavery is embedded in the very foundation of America, and gone unaddressed, this racist culture has informed many other discriminatory policies towards Black Americans. Such policies include redlining, which forbade Black families from purchasing homes in certain areas and obtaining loans lead to generational wealth inequities, and greatly impact one's life opportunities and outcomes [1] . For example, despite being 13% of the total US population, Black Americans hold only 3% of the total household wealth in America [2] . Black Americans and white Americans also own homes at incredibly unequal rates: only 42% of Black Americans are homeowners compared to 73% of white Americans.  Interestingly, homeownership and wealth inequalities c...