The State of Black Residents: The Role of Place in Achieving Racial Equity in the US and Canada
Introduction
In both the United States and Canada, achieving racial equity remains a pressing challenge for Black communities. Systemic barriers, often tied to geographic location, have led to significant disparities in education, employment, healthcare, and housing outcomes. The geographic location of Black residents—whether in urban centers, suburbs, or rural areas—directly affects their opportunities for economic mobility and access to essential resources. Understanding how place influences these outcomes is critical to addressing racial inequities and promoting social justice (Brookings Institution, 2022).
The Legacy of Segregation and Its Lingering Impact
In the United States, past policies such as redlining and exclusionary zoning led to the segregation of Black communities, concentrating poverty in under-resourced neighborhoods. While these policies have been abolished, their effects remain. Predominantly Black neighborhoods still receive less public investment, contributing to the persistence of the racial wealth gap (Brookings Institution, 2022). In Canada, although formal segregation was not as widespread, similar patterns of geographic concentration have emerged, particularly in urban areas. A recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives highlights how Black Canadians face wage disparities due to geographic and systemic barriers (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2021).
Economic Mobility and the Geography of Opportunity
Geography plays a critical role in determining access to economic opportunities. Research from Harvard’s Opportunity Insights has shown that Black children in low-income neighborhoods have significantly lower chances of upward mobility than their white peers (Harvard Opportunity Insights, 2020). This is largely due to the physical and economic isolation of many Black communities from job hubs and economic centers. In Canada, a University of Toronto study found that Black residents in certain neighborhoods were twice as likely to experience unemployment compared to those living in more affluent areas, reinforcing how place limits access to economic mobility (University of Toronto, 2022).
Education: Geographic Disparities in Learning
Educational outcomes are similarly affected by geography. In the United States, schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods are underfunded compared to schools in predominantly white areas, leading to larger class sizes, fewer resources, and lower graduation rates (U.S. Department of Education, 2020). This disparity in school funding directly impacts the future opportunities for Black students. In Canada, similar challenges exist. The Toronto District School Board has reported that Black students in certain neighborhoods face lower graduation rates, not because of academic ability but due to the lack of access to quality education and support services (Toronto District School Board, 2021).
Health Outcomes: The Role of Place in Healthcare Access
Health outcomes for Black communities are also closely linked to place. In many predominantly Black neighborhoods in the United States, residents have limited access to healthcare facilities and healthy food options, often living in “food deserts.” This lack of access has led to higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease (American Public Health Association, 2021). In Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the health inequities faced by Black Canadians, particularly in urban centers like Toronto, where infection rates were disproportionately high due to overcrowded housing and limited healthcare access (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2020).
Housing and Wealth: Addressing Place-Based Inequities
Housing inequality remains a significant issue for Black residents in both the US and Canada. In the United States, Black homeownership rates remain much lower than those of white Americans, largely due to the long-term effects of redlining and discriminatory lending practices (National Association of Real Estate Brokers, 2021). Without equitable access to affordable housing in high-opportunity areas, Black families struggle to build wealth. In Canada, the rising cost of housing in cities like Toronto and Vancouver has disproportionately affected Black Canadians, who are more likely to be renters than homeowners. This limits their ability to accumulate wealth through homeownership, contributing to the racial wealth gap (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2021).
The Path Forward: Addressing Geographic Inequities
To address the systemic racial inequities facing Black communities, it is essential to consider the role of geography in shaping opportunities. Policymakers must focus on improving access to resources in under-resourced neighborhoods, including increased funding for schools, expanded healthcare access, and investments in public infrastructure. Businesses can also play a role by offering job opportunities in underserved areas and supporting community-driven initiatives aimed at uplifting Black residents. Public-private partnerships will be crucial in dismantling geographic barriers to economic mobility and creating pathways to success for Black communities in both the United States and Canada.
Conclusion
The geographic location of Black residents significantly affects their access to opportunity, and place-based inequities have deepened the racial disparities in education, healthcare, housing, and economic mobility. Achieving racial equity requires addressing these geographic disparities through targeted investments in Black communities. At Woods Kovalova Group, we are committed to understanding and dismantling the systemic barriers that geography imposes, ensuring that place no longer limits the potential for Black residents to thrive in both the US and Canada.
Citations:
Brookings Institution, "The Impact of Neighborhood Disinvestment on Racial Wealth Disparities in America," 2022.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, "Race and Employment Disparities in Canada," 2021.
Harvard Opportunity Insights, "Geography of Opportunity: Economic Mobility in the United States," 2020.
University of Toronto, "Economic Barriers and Black Communities: A Case Study," 2022.
U.S. Department of Education, "Funding Disparities in Predominantly Black School Districts," 2020.
Toronto District School Board, "Educational Outcomes in Urban Areas: Racial Disparities," 2021.
American Public Health Association, "Food Deserts and Health Outcomes in Black Communities," 2021.
Public Health Agency of Canada, "COVID-19 and Health Disparities in Racialized Communities," 2020.
National Association of Real Estate Brokers, "The State of Black Homeownership in America," 2021.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, "Housing and Wealth Inequities in Canada’s Black Communities," 2021.