BPI: Case for Support

Blacks in Rhode Island, constituting just over six percent of the population, face disproportionate challenges in many indicators of quality of life and prosperity, including economic well-being, health and educational outcomes, and political representation.

BPI commissioned a scan of the Black community to determine the most critical areas of need. Researchers from Brown University collected relevant data from various sources including the most recent census information available, studying income, poverty, housing, health, transportation, and other indicators of a community's economic profile. Consider these facts:*

• The 1999 income of the median Black family was $28,181, under half the median White family income of $56,304. 
• 30% of Black Rhode Islanders live in poverty, compared to 11% of White Rhode Islanders. 13% of Black children live in poverty, compared to 5% of White children. 
• 6.3% of Blacks in Rhode Island were unemployed in 2007, compared to a statewide unemployment rate of 4.9% (from Preliminary 2007 Data on Employment
  Status by State and Demographic Group, U.S. Department of Labor).
• According to sociologist and professor, Thomas Shapiro, “homeownership is by far the single most important way families accumulate wealth.” In Rhode Island 58% of Whites own their homes compared to 28% of Blacks. The value of homes owned by Whites is 23% greater than Black-owned homes.  
• Blacks in 2005 represented 28% of the prison population but only 5% of the overall state population. This trend has shown little or no change in the last three decades.
• Lotteries located primarily in neighborhoods that have higher Black populations, particularly in south and central Providence, central Pawtucket, and Central Falls.

*Source, unless otherwise noted: Black Community in Rhode Island, prepared by the research team at Brown University led by Professors Kenneth Wong and Marion Orr, September 2008.