State of the Dream
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State of the Dream 2012: The Emerging Majority
In 2042, thirty years from now, people of color will collectively represent the majority of the U.S. population. If we continue along the governing path of the last thirty years, the economic divide between races will remain and, in many regards, will be considerably worse.
The Emerging Majority measures the impacts of the past thirty years of public policy on the racial divide, examining a host of social and economic indicators, including income, wealth, poverty, health care, homeownership, education and incarceration.
The report then offers thirty-year projections based on data trends since the Reagan presidency. Its findings should prompt people of all races to unite in action for a more just and racially equitable future.
Read the report (PDF) | Read the report summary | See media coverage
State of the Dream 2011: Austerity for Whom?
State of the Dream 2011: Austerity for Whom? surveys the impacts of a tax-cutting, government-shrinking economic agenda – as prescribed by Republican leadership with Tea Party allies – on communities of color. We find that if such an agenda advances, Dr. King's dream of a racially equal society will be pushed even further out of reach.
Austerity for Whom? includes data by race on public sector employment, income, wealth and reliance on social programs. The report also shows that public investments would do more to strengthen the economy than tax cuts for the wealthy.
State of the Dream 2010: Drained
State of the Dream 2010: Drained – Jobless and Foreclosed in Communities of Color explores the current racial economic divide in the U.S. in terms of unemployment, income, poverty, net worth, and rate of foreclosures.
Drained highlights the shortcomings of colorblind, broad-spectrum policies, and the urgent need for targeted policies geared toward lifting up the communities in most need.
We highlight this policy approach as key to narrowing the gaping racial income and wealth divides, and to rebuilding the economy as a whole.
Key Facts & Policy Recommendations
Read the report in English (PDF) | Read the report in Spanish (PDF)
State of the Dream 2009: The Silent Depression
In our 2009 report for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we found that people of color are experiencing a silent economic depression. It’s silent because it’s going unnoticed, unacknowledged and unaddressed – and yet the evidence is striking.
While the general population has been in recession for one year, people of color have been in recession for five years. By definition, a long-term recession is a depression.
We explore additional evidence racial economic inequity, including poverty rates, wealth and assets, and economic mobility. While racial barriers did not prevent an African-American from becoming President, they continue to prevent the average person of color from achieving the same economic success as the average white American.
State of the Dream 2009 charts
Read the report in English (PDF) | Read the report in Spanish (PDF)
Watch a video of co-author, Dedrick Muhammad, as he discusses The Silent Depression on Democracy Now!
State of the Dream 2008: Foreclosed
This 2008 report examines the racial bias of the subprime mortgage lending crisis, and the devastating wealth loss to people of color that has resulted.
We estimate the total loss of wealth for people of color to be between $164 billion and $213 billion for subprime loans taken during the past eight years.
Just as many policies in the past and today have supported asset development for the wealthy. Today, we need policies to support those injured by the subprime crisis, and must recognize that broad racial and economic inequalities need to be addressed for the success of any policy solutionsto the subprime crisis.
State of the Dream 2008 charts
Read the report in English (PDF) | Read the report in Spanish (PDF)
Watch a video of co-author, Amaad Rivera, as he discusses Foreclosed on C-SPAN's Washington Journal.
Read reports from earlier years:
State of the Dream 2007: Voting Blue...Staying in the Red (PDF 744KB)
State of the Dream 2006: Stalling the Dream: Cars, Race & Hurricane Evacuation (PDF 1.9MB)
State of the Dream 2005: Disowned in the Ownership Society (PDF 158KB)
State of the Dream 2004: Enduring Disparities in Black and White (PDF 111KB)
