June 21, 2011 | 12:26 PM | By

Five ‘Surprising’ Facts About Race

 

Community Foundation

Experts spoke about the state of race at the Community Foundation's annual Putting Race on the Table meeting.

 

Last week, during the Community Foundation‘s annual meeting on race — Putting Race on the Table — moderator Michele Norris of NPR asked members of the expert panel to provide a surprising anecdote, statistic or fact that illustrated the state of race in the U.S. Here are some of their responses:

  1. African Americans and government jobs: Tynesia Boyea Robinson, founder of D.C.-nonprofit Year Up, said cutting government jobs disproportionately impacts African Americans. According to a study by Labor Center at the University of California, 21 percent of working black adults work for the government, compared to 17 percent of white workers and 15 percent of Hispanic workers) . Robinson said “the few gains you had from an economic standpoint for people have color may not survive.”
  2. Racial health disparities in D.C: Margaret K. O’Bryon, head of D.C.-based Consumer Health Foundation, said “if you live in Congress Heights in Ward 8, you get sicker and you die sooner than if you lived in Friendship Heights in Ward 3.” O’Byron’s characterization of health disparities can be backed up by D.C. Department of Health statistics (which can be seen here and here) that show vast disparities between predominately black Ward 8 and predominately white Ward 3.
  3. Explicit racism versus racial anxiety: John a. powell is executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and he studies racial attitudes in media and the country.  He has measured a decrease in explicitly racist attitudes, “but a substantial uptick in racial anxiety,” particularly among white Americans. Powell cites the birthers movement and the demand for Barrack Obama to show his birth certificate as examples of such racial anxiety.
  4. Poor and Latino in Montgomery County: Gustavo Torres, executive director of immigrant advocacy nonprofit CASA de Maryland, highlighted a local issue: “the feminization of poverty” and how poverty affects the Latino community. In Montgomery County, Md., women represent 59 percent of the poor [PDF], and according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, nearly 13 percent of Hispanics live below the poverty line — that’s higher than any other racial group in the Maryland suburb [PDF].
  5. The “Bradley Effect:” Sociologist and author Dalton Conley said that the “Bradley Effect” appears to be diminishing. The phenomenon, coined after the defeat of Tom Bradley, who was a black candidate running for California governor in the 1980s, is when opinion polls and election results differ because voters tell pollsters they are going to vote for a black candidate but actually vote for a white candidate. The Pew Center found that there was no systematic evidence showing the Bradley Effect playing a role the election of Barrack Obama as president.
FILED UNDER: The People, Community Foundation, Race
June 21, 2011 | 7:00 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes — Whites on the Hill and Whites Awarded Desegregation Scholarships

Good morning, DCentric readers. Here are your morning links:

Some of Va.’s ‘Brown v. Board’ college grants go to whites A scholarship intended to serve students affected by Virginia’s massive resistance to desegregation has been going to whites as well as blacks. And not only that –  Virginia is recruiting even more whites to apply. (The Washington Post)

Hill People: Who Are They and Where Did They Come From? About 93 percent of Hill staffers are white, compared to 91 percent back in 2007. And only 1 percent are currently Hispanic, which is a dismal figure for the nation’s largest minority group. (National Journal)

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s Popularity Plunges Not only is Mayor Vincent Gray’s rating low, but D.C. residents say in a new poll that city government is a more pressing problem than crime. Eek. WAMU)

Courtland Milloy Will Join Twitter Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy, who often writes about the black experience in D.C., will soon be joining the Twitterverse. Yes, the man who coined the phrase “myopic little twits” will be tweeting himself. He likes @gigabyteme as a Twitter handle, but Post editors aren’t too keen on it. (Washington City Paper)

[Opinion] Defend Muslims, Defend America An argument against Sharia law bans, such as the one in Oklahoma, frames the debate as a national security issue. Aziz Huq writes that if such bans pass, Muslim-Americans could be more hesitant to pass along tips and aid law enforcement because they worry “whether the police would then look at them with suspicion as well.” (The New York Times)

June 20, 2011 | 3:52 PM | By

In D.C., is Green the Color that Transcends All Others?

Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Which matters more: race or class?

A new Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows that D.C. residents see class, not race, as the District’s biggest divider. But read past the headline and you’ll find complex intersections between race and class.

On basic quality of life issues — livability of neighborhoods and paying for food and housing — the wealth gap mattered more than the race gap.  But that makes sense; if you’re earning more than $100,000, whether you’re black or white, you can afford to live and eat quite comfortably.

There are instances in which race cut across class lines. In describing how wealthy blacks and whites differed greatly in their outlooks of the economy, the Post reports:

African Americans who participated in the poll said later in interviews that they feel economic insecurity, even if they are doing well now. They also said they had friends and family members who were unemployed or in the economic doldrums…

In many cases, blacks said they felt as if their financial footing was on precarious ground, largely because they did not have a deep well of savings or because they did not have family members to fall back on.

Those with professional degrees aren’t always guaranteed a good job, but if you’re black, your chances are even worse. And then there’s racial discrimination. Such experiences can affect blacks equally regardless of income level.

Overall, the 1,342 respondents overwhelmingly said that the District is divided (76 percent), and that income (56 percent) rather than race (11 percent), separates people. But despite such sentiments, the city’s whitest ward — Ward 3 — is also its wealthiest. And the ward with the highest concentration of black residents — Ward 7 –  also has the highest unemployment rate. It’s difficult to isolate race and class when faced with such stark realities.

FILED UNDER: The People, Race and Class
June 20, 2011 | 7:00 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes — D.C.’s Class Division, Deportation Changes, Dismal Diversity Rankings

Good morning, DCentric readers. Are you ready for the week? Well, there is a lot of news to catch up on before it officially starts. Check out what we’re reading below:

Class, not race, seems to be D.C.’s great divider In case you didn’t know, class matters — surprise! According to a new Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation poll, Washingtonians seem to be more divided along class lines rather than racial ones. Wealthy whites and wealthy blacks have more similar outlooks when it comes to neighborhoods and the future of the city than wealthy blacks do with poor blacks. One of the major exceptions is with the economy; wealthy blacks feel much more insecure about their economic stability than wealthy whites do. (The Washington Post)

Government alters Secure Communities deportations Secure Communities was intended to deport convicted felons, but there are holes — numerous cases have been documented in which illegal immigrants who were victims of domestic abuse, witnesses of crimes or who had committed minor infractions were also deported. Now, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released new regulations. Immigrations officers are now not supposed to deport criminal witnesses or victims, and “particular care will be taken to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are not being deported after reporting abuse to police.” Critics still say the program hurts community policing because it makes the immigrant community distrustful of police. (Los Angeles Times)

Continue reading →

June 17, 2011 | 1:13 PM | By

Logan Circle to Get More Gentrified?

Logan Circle is one of those almost completely gentrified neighborhoods. It’s also one of those hot areas where rents may increase by 10 percent. And residents of 54 townhouses in the neighborhood, who “give the neighborhood a modicum of income diversity” could be leaving, reports Housing Complex.


View Larger Map
Two big developers, one of which is Monument Reality, are interested in buying up the properties. In the 1980s residents began buying the townhouses, once city-owned rental units, for $100,000 to $150,000. Now, developers are willing to pay upwards of $800,000 per townhouse, clear the land and put as much housing or commercial density on it as possible. But before that can take place, the condominium associations have to dissolve. More from Housing Complex, who wrote about a meeting of residents that took place Thursday night:

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Around the City, Gentrification, Housing, Logan Circle
June 17, 2011 | 12:07 PM | By

Black Women Bike Happy Hour

Another good candidate for our regular DCentric Pick feature is tonight’s Black Women Bike Happy Hour. The description posted by Martin Moulton, vice president of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association board, reads:

Because in some circles the false perception persists that only young white hipsters appreciate the District’s multi-modal transportation options and the joys of cycling, a few women pedalers of color in the city are getting together tonight for a little reality check, gear & girl talk, to discuss crucial safety issues and style concerns…

Flickr: Bruce Turner

The Black Women Bike group proclaims that bikes aren't just for "young white hipsters."

The perils of bike-riding can present a unique challenge for some of D.C.’s women of color who serve as primary caretakers of children or senior citizens, as Moulton pointed out in a previous comment on our blog. That reminded co-blogger Anna John:

… that being able to try new things is a form of privilege. Biking in the city is already daunting for some people; single parents who work at jobs that don’t include health insurance or sick days may– with good reason– think twice about taking risks they cannot afford.

FILED UNDER: Public Transportation, biking, WABA
June 17, 2011 | 10:40 AM | By

DCentric Picks — Race: Are We So Different?

This week, we recommend attending the Saturday opening of “Race: Are We So Different?” at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum.

We got a sneak peak of the exhibition this week and took some photos, which you can see below. A long room in the museum is devoted to exploring the scientific, historical and and societal assumptions and theories around race. The exhibition aims to educate and challenge assumptions around race, but also solicits attendees to contribute their thoughts on their own experiences. If you’re looking for a good way to start an in-depth discussion about race, you can find it here.

The nationally touring exhibition, part of an American Anthropological Association project, is free to view and will be on display until Jan. 2, 2012. A number of talks and other events are scheduled throughout its time at the museum, so check the calendar for more information.

FILED UNDER: Culture, Museums, DCentric Picks, Natural History Museum, Race
June 17, 2011 | 6:30 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes — Slurs at Safeway, Food Truck Fights, More Congressional Islam Hearings

Happy Friday, DCentric readers! The city’s budget has been passed and the District may soon have a permanent chancellor to run the school system. Also below: the fight over food trucks, anti-gay slurs at Safeway and the link between Japanese internment camps and Muslim radicalization hearings.

Meet D.C.’s left-leaning budget squad A profile of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, which lobbies for funding social services, raising taxes and other issues. And the thing is, they’re pretty much the only game in town. “Lacking a critical mass of fiscal conservatives who actually care about local government, the District hasn’t yet birthed a DCFPI of the right. It’s a side that could use more intelligent defense.” (Washington City Paper)

Henderson on track to head D.C. schools It seems that Kaya Henderson, who worked with much-criticized/applauded Michelle Rhee, is on her way to become the official chancellor of D.C. Public Schools. While there are a few who remain skeptical of Henderson, given her ties to the previous administration, the D.C. Council is expected to her next week. (Washington Times)

Safeway Clerk Fired After Alleged Slur The clerk who allegedly used an anti-gay slur against a gay couple over the weekend has now been fired from the Southwest grocery store after media coverage and outrage by local elected leaders. The couple, which had filed a complaint with the city about the incident, feels the disciplinary action should have been more immediate. (NBC Washington)

Continue reading →

June 16, 2011 | 1:42 PM | By

In D.C., Life Expectancy Gap Shrinking Between Blacks and Whites

People in D.C. are expected to live longer these days than a decade ago, and the gap between whites and blacks is shrinking.

This is according to a new study released yesterday by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which examined average life expectancies across 3,148 counties and jurisdictions.

D.C. Life Expectancy (2007)
Men, 1997 Men, 2007 Women, 1997 Women, 2007
White 70.3 years 75.1 years 79.3 years 81.3 years
Black 61.7 years 68.9 years 73.6 years 76.8 years
National Rank 1,984th 1,806th

In 1997, the averages for both whites and blacks were shorter, and the disparity between the races was larger. The gap between black and white men has decreased by 2.4 years; between black and white women, it’s decreased by 1.2 years.

The study didn’t look into the causes for the changes in life expectancy, but a few things stand out to us:

  • The life expectancy for D.C.’s black men jumped from 61.7 years in 1997 to 68.9 in 2007. But there still remains a gap despite such a dramatic gain.
  • Nationally, the gap between whites and blacks is expanding. But the demographics of D.C. are changing, with more white residents moving in and more black residents leaving. The life expectancy for blacks in Prince George’s County, Md., one of the suburbs to where many black D.C. residents have relocated, saw only slim increases in life expectancies for black men and women.
  • As the Washington Post points out, “Life expectancy is an abstract concept that summarizes the health and threats to longevity that exist at a particular moment in history. It is not an actual measure of how long people are living.” So D.C.’s black residents may be expected to live longer now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their lives are better.
  • People are expected to live longer in some area suburbs than in the District itself. Fairfax County, Va. has the highest life expectancy for men in the country, and Montgomery County, Md. has the third highest nationally. Those rankings stand in stark contrast to the District’s 1,984th ranking for men and 1,806th ranking for women.
FILED UNDER: The People