The coming year for many may involve moving in search of new beginnings and better opportunities. When moving, you should research and consider social factors such as poverty and unemployment rates, mortality statistics and incarceration disparities, especially as they relate to black residents. There is an overall social and economic inequality of black Americans as compared to whites. According to 24/7 Wall St, “Black Americans make about 62 cents for every dollar earned by white Americans. Black Americans are also twice as likely to be unemployed and considerably more likely to live in poverty.” Certain states have an even wider gap than the national averages, and are less than ideal places to live for black residents. MSN.com summarized 24/7 Wall St’s findings of worst states for black Americans and identified the top five. Follow the next pages to see which states you may want to avoid.
5. Pennsylvania
- Percentage of black residents: 11.0%
- Black homeownership rate: 43.1% (14th highest)
- Black incarceration rate: 3,269 per 100,000 people (10th highest)
- Black unemployment rate: 14.4% (15th highest)
- Unemployment rate, all people: 7.5% (20th highest)
Twenty-eight percent of the black
population was without health insurance last year, compared to only 8.5% of the white population. African-American children also faced larger obstacles to opportunities than their white peers. The gaps in educational outcome may potentially be attributed to geographical segregation, as several cities—including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg—were identified among the nation’s 20 most racially-segregated cities. Black residents were almost nine times as likely than white residents to go to prison, a larger incarceration rate gap than most states.4. Illinois
- Percentage of black residents: 14.2%
- Black homeownership rate: 38.5% (25th highest)
- Black incarceration rate: 2,128 per 100,000 people (17th lowest)
- Black unemployment rate: 17.0% (3rd highest)
- Unemployment rate, all people: 9.1% (3rd highest)
There are disproportionate social and health outcomes between black and white residents. In 2013, 17% of black workers faced unemployment, versus 9.1% of the state’s workforce. The incarceration rate for black Americans is 2,128 per 100,000 people—more than eight times that of white residents. Illinois also had one of the largest gaps in death rates between white and black Americans. The death rate for white residents in 2012 was 711.8 per 100,000 people,
versus 925.6 deaths per 100,000 black residents. Despite significant improvements in the past 20 years, the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research determined Chicago was among the most segregated cities in the U.S. as of 2010.3. Rhode Island
- Percentage of black residents: 6.4%
- Black homeownership rate: 29.4% (10th lowest)
- Black incarceration rate: 1,884 per 100,000 people (11th lowest)
- Black unemployment rate: 16.0% (6th highest)
- Unemployment rate, all people: 9.2% (2nd highest)
Throughout the nation, black households earned 62.3% of the white median household income, but black homes in Rhode Island earned just 52.5% of white households in the state. Last year, there were 234 more deaths per 100,000 black people in Rhode Island compared to the white population; this is nearly the largest gap nationwide. Over 23% of black residents lived in poverty last year, while less than 11% of white residents lived in poverty. Sixty-seven percent of white households in the state were homeowners, compared to only 29.4% of black households. The 38 percentage points was wider than the nationwide gap of nearly 30 percentage points.
2. Minnesota
- Percentage of black residents: 5.4%
- Black homeownership rate: 25.7% (5th lowest)
- Black incarceration rate: 2,321 per 100,000 people (22nd lowest)
- Black unemployment rate: 15.0% (tied-11th lowest)
- Unemployment rate, all people: 4.9% (9th lowest)
Black households in Minnesota earned less than half the median income of white households in 2013, ranking even lower than the 62.3% nationwide. The high unemployment rate is likely the blame for the low incomes among the black population. Fifteen percent of the 5% of unemployed workers in 2013 were black, creating a gap nearly twice that of the the national gap. Only 6.9% of white residents did not have health insurance in 2013, compared to nearly 33% of blacks. Black Minnesotan households were three times less likely than white households to own their homes, about twice as high as the rest of the nation. Across the country, black Americans were also more likely to be disenfranchised due to the criminal justice system. More than 7% of Minnesota’s black population was denied the right to vote because of felony convictions or imprisonment.
1. Wisconsin
- Percentage of black residents: 6.2%
- Black homeownership rate: 28.1% (7th lowest)
- Black incarceration rate: 4,042 per 100,000 people (3rd highest)
- Black unemployment rate: 15.0% (tied-11th highest)
- Unemployment rate, all people: 6.7% (21st lowest)
Based on MSN’s index, Wisconsin is the worst state for black Americans. Most black households made roughly half the white median household income, a wider income gap than in the majority of states. Wisconsin’s black residents were also less likely than white residents to have health insurance with a gap of more than 30 percentage points. There were 980 deaths per 100,000 black people – one of the highest rates in the nation. This figure represents 288 more deaths than the comparable rate for white residents, nearly the largest gap reviewed. Black Wisconsin residents are also almost 10 times more likely than whites to go to prison, nearly the largest gap. Black children in Wisconsin had worse educational outcomes than their white classmates and their black peers in other states. Milwaukee topped the nation’s most racially-segregated U.S. cities, which is also where the vast majority of the state’s black population lives.