In celebrating Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the United States, it’s also worth acknowledging that progress has not yielded parity. The McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility recently examined which environments—cities, suburbs, exurbs, and rural counties—currently offer Black residents the best quality of life and which have gotten closer to the goal of creating more equitable outcomes. Soberingly, the study found that there is nowhere in the United States where outcomes for Black residents equal those of their White neighbors.
How long would it take for Black Americans across the nation to achieve racial parity with their White neighbors? Based on the rate of change between 2012 and 2021, say McKinsey senior partner Shelly Stewart and coauthors, it could take more than three centuries.
Explore these insights on ways to accelerate progress and create a more inclusive economy.
The state of Black residents: The relevance of place to racial equity and outcomes
The economic state of Black America: What is and what could be
The economic impact of closing the racial wealth gap
Mapping the road to prosperity and parity for Black and Latino residents across America
A guide to impact investing in Black economic mobility
Black consumers: Where to invest for equity (a preview)
It’s time for a new approach to racial equity
Building supportive ecosystems for Black-owned US businesses
Nourishing equity: Meeting Black consumers’ needs in food
Inequality: A persisting challenge and its implications