United we stand. Together we act.

Until the land of the free is free of racism.

Until the home of the brave is brave enough to change.

Until “by the people” and “for the people” means doing right by all the people.

Until justice just is.

Systemic racism leads to widespread disparities for Black Americans.

Compared with white Americans, Black Americans are 2x–3x as likely to die during childbirth and 2x as likely to die from COVID-19.

Sources: CDC here and here

It harms black health.

It denies Black children an equal education.

The average non-white school district receives $2,226 less per student, and the persisting achievement gap means Black students are less likely to attend college, thus reducing their lifetime earnings by 65%.

Sources: NPR and Manhattan Institute

Black Americans are more likely to be turned down for mortgages and are dramatically less likely to own homes, which is partly why Black American families have 90% less wealth than white families.

Source: Brookings Institution

It undermines Black wealth building.

It hurts black-owned businesses.

Black-owned businesses are 2x as likely to be denied loans as those owned by white people. And up to 95% of Black-owned businesses may have been shut out of the federal government’s recent Paycheck Protection Program.

Source: Center for Responsible Lending

Black families are more likely to live near concentrated poverty because of long-term segregation and racist housing and mortgage policies. A Black family earning $157K per year is less likely to qualify for a loan than a white family earning $40K.

Source: The Century Foundation

It traps Black Americans where they live.

And it takes the “justice” out of “criminal justice.”

Besides being 2x as likely to be killed by police, Black Americans are more likely to be stopped by the police, detained pretrial, charged with more serious crimes, and sentenced more harshly than white people.

Source: Vera Institute of Justice

It harms
black
health.

Compared to white Americans, Black Americans are 2-3x as likely to die during childbirth and 2x as likely to die from Covid-19.

Sources: CDC here and here

It denies
Black
children an equal
education.

The average non-white school district receives $2,226 less per student, and the persisting achievement gap means Black students are less likely to attend college, thus reducing their lifetime earnings by 65%.

Sources: NPR, and Manhattan Institute

It
undermines
Black
wealth-
building.

Black Americans are more likely to be turned down for mortgages and are dramatically less likely to own homes, which is part of why Black American families have 90% less wealth than white families.

Source: Brookings Institution

It hurts
black-owned
businesses.

Black-owned businesses are 2x as likely to be denied loans as those owned by white people. And up to 95% of Black-owned businesses may have been shut out of the federal government’s recent Paycheck Protection Program.

Source: Center for Responsible Lending

It traps
Black
Americans
where they
live.

Black families are more likely to live near concentrated poverty because of past segregation and racist housing and mortgage policies. A Black family making $157K per year is less likely to qualify for a loan than a white family earning $40K.

Source: The Century Foundation

And it takes
the “justice”
out of
criminal
justice.

Besides being 2x as likely to be killed by police, Black Americans are more likely to be stopped by the police, detained pretrial, charged with more serious crimes, and sentenced more harshly than white people.

Source: Vera Institute of Justice

Together, we can end racism once and for all.

For nearly a century, the YWCA’s direct services and public policy advocacy efforts have promoted racial justice and personal empowerment and delivered measurable results. Our work has never been more critical—and neither has your support.